Columbia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Gun Charge

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Deandre Lamar Davis, 35, of Columbia, was sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison after pleading guilty to felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on May 5, 2021, Columbia Police Department officers arrested Davis on outstanding state arrest warrants for kidnapping and domestic violence. A loaded 9mm pistol was found tucked into Davis’s waistband along with approximately 2.8 grams of crack cocaine in his pants pocket. This was the third time Davis was arrested while in unlawful possession of a firearm or illegal drugs since 2020. Davis had prior convictions for aggravated assault and battery, burglary, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, domestic violence, second degree and assault and battery, second degree. At the time of the May 2021 incident, Davis was on state probation for his most recent assault and battery conviction. 

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Davis to 100 months in prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system. 

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.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Taylor is prosecuting the case.

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