CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Trevon Darnell Hopkins, 27, of Charlotte, was sentenced to 10 years in prison and two years of supervised release for illegal gun possession, announced Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In October 2021, a federal jury convicted Hopkins of possession of a firearm by a felon.
U.S. Attorney King is joined in making today’s announcement by Vincent C. Pallozzi, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Charlotte Field Division, and Chief Johnny Jennings of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD).
According to filed documents, trial evidence, and today’s sentencing hearing, on June 23, 2018, CMPD officers observed Hopkins driving a vehicle that had been reported stolen. When law enforcement attempted to execute a traffic stop of the vehicle, Hopkins refused to comply and sped away. The defendant then proceeded to drive recklessly, including into oncoming traffic and on the sidewalk. Hopkins eventually lost control and crashed the vehicle. CMPD officers arrested Hopkins at the scene. As trial evidence established, law enforcement located two firearms in the stolen vehicle. Hopkins is prohibited from possessing firearms due to multiple prior felony convictions. At the time of the incident, Hopkins was on post-release supervision with the State of North Carolina.
Hopkins is currently in federal custody. He will be transferred to the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons upon designation of a federal facility.
In making today’s announcement U.S. Attorney King thanked the ATF and CMPD for their investigation of the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Kelly and Stephanie Spaugh of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte prosecuted the case.