COLUMBIA, S.C. — A Columbia man with previous arrests for guns and drugs has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison due to what officers found during his arrest on an outstanding warrant.
The U.S. Department of Justice said in a statement on Friday that 35-year-old Deandre Lamar Davis was sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. The conviction follows Davis's May 5, 2021, arrest by the Columbia Police Department on outstanding warrants for kidnapping and domestic violence. Prosecutors said officers found a loaded 9mm pistol tucked into his waistband and about 2.8 grams of crack cocaine in his pocket. Davis was on state probation for an assault and battery conviction at the time.
Officials said this was Davis's third time being arrested while having a gun unlawfully or illegal drugs since 2020. Davis had previous convictions for aggravated assault and battery, burglary, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, second-degree domestic violence and second-degree assault and battery.
A judge sentenced Davis to 100 months in prison, followed by three years of court-ordered supervision. Authorities said there is no parole in the federal system.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Taylor as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which includes law enforcement at all levels to reduce violent crime and gun violence in neighborhoods. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was also involved in the investigation.