Charlotte Man, Gregory Fondren, Sentenced to Prison for Possession of Firearm by a Felon

Accident – Death – Obituary News : CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A Charlotte resident has been sentenced to several years in prison for the illegal possession of a firearm, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

Gregory Fondren, a 26-year-old individual with a history of domestic violence, was handed a sentence of 3 years and 10 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. Additionally, Fondren will be placed on probation for a period of 3 years following his incarceration.

U.S. Attorney King emphasized the seriousness of armed domestic abusers, stating that they pose a significant threat not only to their intimate partners but also to innocent bystanders and law enforcement officers. She reaffirmed her office’s commitment to utilizing federal gun laws to prevent and prosecute individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms.

Court documents revealed that on September 17, 2021, a witness contacted emergency services to report a man, later identified as Fondren, physically assaulting and strangling a woman in a grocery store parking lot. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) officers responded to the scene and discovered Fondren’s girlfriend at the time, who was injured and bleeding from the assault. A witness informed the officers that Fondren had placed his girlfriend in a headlock and proceeded to punch and kick her.

Fondren attempted to flee from the police but was swiftly apprehended. During the pursuit, Fondren discarded a backpack, which was later found to contain his identification and a .38 caliber revolver. It is worth noting that Fondren was legally prohibited from possessing firearms due to previous convictions for Assault by Strangulation and Common Law Robbery.

The investigation into this case was conducted jointly by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and CMPD. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte handled the prosecution of the case.

The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence has reported that the presence of a gun in a domestic violence situation increases the likelihood of homicide by 500%, and 19% of domestic violence incidents involve a weapon. Alicia Jones, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the ATF, expressed concern over the lethal consequences that often arise when firearms are involved in cases of domestic violence. She emphasized that the ATF is dedicated to preventing dangerous and prohibited individuals, especially those with a history of domestic violence, from accessing firearms.

This news comes in the wake of two recent tragic incidents in North Carolina. Just two days ago, a man from Statesville was charged with brutally assaulting and strangling his wife to death. Additionally, a murder-suicide occurred in Salisbury during a reported domestic dispute.

As law enforcement agencies and advocacy groups continue their efforts to combat domestic violence and illegal firearm possession, the hope is that stricter enforcement of gun laws and increased awareness will help prevent further tragedies in the future..