GREENSBORO – A Jacksonville, Florida man was sentenced today in federal court in Greensboro for possessing an illegal machine gun, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Hairston of the Middle District of North Carolina.
Caleb Kenyetta SHEFFIELD, age 20, was sentenced to a 48-month term of imprisonment by United States District Judge William L. Osteen, Jr. In addition to prison time, SHEFFIELD was ordered to serve three years of supervised release. On August 11, 2022, following a four-day trial, the jury found SHEFFIELD guilty of two counts relating to his possession of an unregistered machinegun, that is, a Glock Model 17 9mm caliber pistol, equipped with a switch that turns it into a fully automatic weapon, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 5861(d), and Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(o).
According to court documents and evidence at trial and sentencing, the case began on July 3, 2021, when a North Carolina State Highway Patrol officer initiated a traffic stop on a Hyundai traveling 91-mph in a 65-mph zone on US Hwy 64 near Pittsboro. In response to the lights and sirens, the Hyundai stopped in the left lane of traffic and did not pull off the roadway. The Trooper got out of his marked car and started to walk to the driver’s side when the Hyundai suddenly pulled off. The Trooper got back into his car and pursued the Hyundai, which led police on a chase reaching speeds of over 130 mph. The chase ended when the Hyundai spun out and all four men in the vehicle jumped and ran. Multiple agencies were involved in the manhunt and SHEFFIELD was arrested the following day.
In the abandoned car, law enforcement found four firearms including one machine gun, over 120 rounds of ammunition, black ski masks, and a ballistic vest. SHEFFIELD posted a rap video to YouTube 13 days before the incident in which he rapped about putting a switch on a Glock. SHEFFIELD was associated with the Ace’s Top Killers (“ATK”) gang from Jacksonville, Florida. ATK is named after rapper Yungeen Ace. ATK. ATK was in a public feud with the Kill Them All (“KTA”) gang also from Jacksonville, Florida. Another rapper, Julio Foolio, was associated with the KTA gang. Both Julio Foolio and Yungeen Ace were set to perform in North Carolina over the Fourth of July weekend.
Another occupant of the car, Adrian Lowery, pled guilty to felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced November 16, 2022, to a term of 71 months in prison.
Law enforcement agencies participating in the investigation included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Special Operations and Intelligence Unit, Fayetteville Police Department, and Cary Police Department. The criminal case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nicole DuPré and Ashley Waid.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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