United States Drug Enforcement Administration

(CHARLOTTE, N.C. - B Jucorey Deonte Pruitt, aka Corey Deonte Pruitt, 25, of Charlotte, appeared in court today and pled guilty to a perjury charge for lying under oath during a federal trial, announced Jill Westmoreland Rose, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. U.S. Magistrate Judge David S. Cayer presided Pruitt’s plea hearing. 

U.S. Attorney Rose is joined in making today’s announcement by Daniel R. Salter, Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration, which oversees the Charlotte District Office; Chief Kerr Putney of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department; Chief J. Bryan Gilliard of the Monroe Police Department; and Sheriff Eddie Cathey of the Union County Sheriff’s Office.

According to filed documents and statements made in court, Pruitt committed perjury during his testimony at the criminal trial of DeMorius Lamar (3:11-cr-3). Anderson was on trial on multiple federal charges including drug conspiracy, Hobbs Act Robbery and firearm violations. According to court records, Pruitt was a witness for the government and had agreed to testify regarding his knowledge of Anderson’s involvement in the drug conspiracy and other material information against Anderson. 

According to court records, on August 9, 2012, while under oath and in an effort to aid Anderson, Pruitt denied knowledge of Anderson’s participation in the drug conspiracy.  Pruitt’s assertions under oath were contradictory to prior statements he had made to law enforcement. During his testimony, Pruitt stated that he had previously lied to law enforcement regarding Anderson’s criminal activity, including his role in the drug conspiracy. Court records indicate that later that same evening, on jail house recordings, Pruitt admitted he lied to federal agents at trial. Anderson was eventually convicted by a jury and was sentenced to more than 37 years in prison.

“Pruitt chose to lie on the witness stand to protect one of his criminal associates. Despite Pruitt’s false testimony, the defendant was convicted by a jury and is serving a lengthy prison term.  Now it’s Pruitt’s turn to sit in the defendant’s chair for lying under oath,” said U.S. Attorney Rose.  “Perjury tarnishes our justice system and jeopardizes the integrity of judicial proceedings.  Liars do not belong in the courtroom,” Rose added.

Pruitt is currently in federal custody.  The perjury charge carries a maximum prison term of five years and a $250,000 fine. A sentencing date has not been set yet.

The investigation was handled DEA, CMPD, Monroe PD and the Union County Sheriff’s Office. The prosecution is being handled by the Assistant U.S. Attorney Sanjeev Bhasker of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte.

The DEA encourages parents, along with their children, to educate themselves about the dangers of legal and illegal drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.justhinktwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.dea.gov.