Princess Houston, a 34-year-old resident of Salisbury, N.C., was handed a sentence of eight years in federal prison for her illegal possession of a firearm. U.S. Attorney Dena J. King for the Western District of North Carolina, along with Bennie Mims, the Special Agent in Charge of the ATF's Charlotte Field Division, and the CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings, announced the sentencing today.
Law enforcement authorities said that on August 13, 2022, CMPD officers responded to reports of gunfire near East 4th and South Brevard Street, close to the Transit Center in Uptown Charlotte. The officers quickly moved to attend to a victim with gunshot wounds at the nearby Omni Hotel, as per the Justice Department's press release. The victim received immediate medical care and was transported to a hospital.
Investigations led to the discovery of surveillance footage which placed Houston's vehicle at the scene following the shooting. A subsequent search warrant executed on August 23, 2022, led law enforcement to a safe in Houston’s residence. Inside, officers found a loaded semi-automatic pistol and extra ammunition, which court documents indicated was used to shoot the victim. Given her past convictions, including assault with a deadly weapon and accessory to armed robbery, Houston was prohibited from possessing any firearms.
Following a guilty plea on October 25, 2023, Houston awaited sentencing in federal custody. She will now be serving an eight-year term in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The case was a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a national initiative aimed to reduce violent crime. Through PSN, law enforcement agencies hope to "make our neighborhoods safer for everyone," as detailed in the Department of Justice's strategy launched over three years ago.
U.S. Attorney Dena J. King credited the success of the investigation and prosecution to the collaborative efforts of the ATF and CMPD. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Kent led the charge on the prosecution. The partnership under PSN underscores the continued focus of federal, state, and local agencies working to curtail gun violence and enforce gun possession laws, particularly among repeat offenders.
