Hickory convicted felon sentenced to 70 months for possession of a firearm: DOJ

HICKORY, N.C. ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — A convicted felon from Hickory has been sentenced to nearly six years in prison for having an AR-15 and other firearms, according to the United States Attorney’s Office.

On Tuesday, 36-year-old Rashad Dominic Griggs was sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for possession of a firearm by a felon.

Court documents show on Aug. 20, 2022, Hickory Police Department officers responded to a call about Griggs waving a gun at his girlfriend. Officials say officers knew Griggs had active warrants for his arrest for violating a domestic protection order and carrying a concealed firearm.

When officers arrived, Griggs came out of the house and he was arrested. Officers searched the residence and found fentanyl, multiple firearms including an AR-15 type rifle, multiple magazines including a drum magazine with shotgun rounds, and multiple rounds of ammunition. Officers knew Griggs had prior convictions that prohibited him from having firearms. Court records show Griggs pled guilty to a state offense and was placed on probation.

According to court documents, about 10 months later, on June 28, 2023, authorities searched Griggs’ home due to the terms of his probation. During the search, they found a rifle magazine loaded with 30 rounds of ammo, a pistol, and several rounds of ammo. Griggs admitted that he got the pistol about seven to eight months before and said he kept it for protection.

On May 16, 2024, Griggs pled guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, officials said. He is still in federal custody until he is transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

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