An Elizabeth City man, Rashawn M. Baum, has been sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for possessions with intent to distribute fentanyl. Baum, 29, pled guilty to the charges on February 27, and was sentenced last Thursday. Baum's encounter with the law came to a head after he attempted to flee a traffic stop, leading to his arrest and the seizure of drugs and a firearm.
According to information provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the chase ensued when officers from the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement and Elizabeth City Police Department observed Baum driving at high speeds and in an erratic manner. The pursuit ended with Baum crashing into two cars before being apprehended near a family restaurant, along with a passenger who also attempted an escape on foot. Upon searching Baum's car, officers discovered 29.66 grams of a substance confirmed to be fentanyl, along with an illegal .357 semi-automatic pistol.
U.S. District Court Judge James C. Dever, III imposed the sentence and took the chance to highlight the dangers of fentanyl, stating that "fentanyl is destroying thousands of lives," as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Baum’s sentence was issued in consideration of the risks associated with the distribution of substances linked to overdoses and their documented impact on community health and safety.
Elizabeth City Chief of Police Eddie Graham, and acting U.S. Attorney Daniel P. Bubar both highlighted the danger fentanyl distribution has brought to the community. "Drugs ruin people’s lives, break up families, and have a disastrous effect on our community," Chief Graham said in the press release, insisting that such conduct "will no longer be tolerated." The outcome of the case reflects the coordinated efforts of federal and local law enforcement agencies to address distribution networks associated with public health risks.
The investigation was a joint effort by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement, and Elizabeth City Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phil Aubart and Logan Liles. Baum's 78-month federal sentence will commence sequentially following an unrelated state sentence slated for completion in 2031.
