Source: Office of United States Attorneys
RALEIGH, N.C. – Sakwon Artavas Bowser, age 29, was sentenced on Friday to 5.5 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Bowser pleaded guilty to the charge on February 18, 2025.
According to court records and evidence presented at sentencing, in June 2024, Bowser was wanted on outstanding warrants for common law robbery by the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO). On June 6, 2024, law enforcement saw Bowser exit a local mobile home park and attempted a traffic stop. Instead of stopping, Bowser drove through a restaurant parking lot and then accelerated at a high rate of speed. The officer pursued Bowser as he drove recklessly, passing a vehicle at a stop sign, traveling in the center lane, and reaching speeds of 60 mph in a 35-mph zone. Bowser continued driving through residential yards of a mobile home park before he jumped from the moving vehicle and continued to flee on foot. HCSO noticed that Bowser had a backpack in his possession when he jumped out of the car, which he dropped in a wooded area during the foot pursuit. HCSO found Bowser hiding inside one of the mobile homes. A subsequent search of Bowser’s backpack revealed multiple baggies of marijuana packaged individually for distribution, a loaded Glock 17 handgun, a digital scale, and U.S. currency.
Bowser has a criminal history that spans a decade and includes a prior felony conviction from 2018 for conspiracy to obtain property by false pretenses.
Daniel P. Bubar, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III. Agencies involved in the investigation include the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Dixon prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-CR-00074.
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