A man charged with fatally shooting Memphis Police Department Officer Sean Bolton has pled guilty to federal charges of armed carjacking and being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition.
The defendant, Tremaine Wilbourn, 31, has pending state charges for capital murder.
Lawrence J. Laurenzi, Acting U.S. Attorney announced the guilty plea today.
On August 1, 2015, Wilbourn, was in the passenger seat of a vehicle parked on a street in East Memphis when Officer Bolton approached the vehicle.
Officer Bolton attempted to detain Wilbourn before the defendant pulled a 9mm pistol and shot Bolton several times.
(Tremaine Wilbourn, wanted in connection with the shooting death of Memphis police officer Sean Bolton, has surrendered to federal marshals. Courtesy of CNN and YouTube. Posted Aug 3, 2015)
Facts from the hearing outline that shortly after the shooting, Wilbourn used a firearm to carjack a man of a 2002 Honda Accord.
Wilbourn faces a mandatory 25-years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000. There is no parole in the federal system.
The defendant is scheduled to be sentenced on July 28, 2017, by U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman.
(Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong delivers a message at the memorial service of Officer Sean Bolton. Courtesy of the Bellevue Baptist Church and YouTube. Posted Aug 6, 2015)
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in conjunction with the Memphis Police Department.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting this case on the government’s behalf.
