A Cumberland County man with a history of felony convictions, including human trafficking charges, has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for illegal possession of a firearm. Markus Odon McCormick, 39, a known felon, was barred from possessing firearms due to previous convictions. The sentence was handed down after a federal jury found McCormick guilty on May 23, according to a report by the Department of Justice.
During an incident on December 10, 2020, Cumberland County deputies responded to a 911 call regarding gunfire and an assault. They found McCormick near a vehicle and a victim who had sustained head injuries. The firearm, along with narcotics, was discovered underneath a nearby mobile home owned by the victim, and further evidence revealed McCormick's DNA on the 9mm caliber pistol, the Department of Justice reported.
Prior to this federal conviction, McCormick had faced judgment by state law, being found guitly of human trafficking after an investigation led by the Fayetteville Police Department. The culmination of his criminal activities led to his recent federal trial, where the firearm charge was the focal point of his conviction.
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Michael Easley announced the sentencing, which was overseen by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan. The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) spearheaded the investigation of this case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie A. Childress and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Gainer leading the prosecution against McCormick.
