Freddie Grant Convicted Following Trial

COLUMBIA, SC—Freddie Grant, age 53, of Elgin, South Carolina, was convicted yesterday morning following a one-day trial Monday in federal court in Columbia. Jurors deliberated just over two hours Tuesday morning before returning the verdict. Grant was convicted of being a felon in possession of ammunition in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie will impose sentence after she has reviewed a presentence investigation report, which will be prepared by the United States Probation Office. Grant’s sentencing hearing has been scheduled for April 18, 2013, at 2:00 p.m.

Evidence presented during the trial established that on August 21, 2012, investigators with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department executed a lawful search warrant at the Kelly Street residence of Freddie Grant in Elgin, South Carolina.

The search warrant was executed as a part of a missing persons investigation. The details of that investigation were not made a part of this trial, which focused on the unlawful possession of ammunition charge. Grant was present at the residence during the search. During the search of the inside of the residence, investigators located a box of 12-gauge shotgun shells on a table in the living room area and a box of .38 caliber ammunition in a nightstand in a bedroom.

As investigators knew prior to execution of the search warrant, Grant’s prior record revealed prior felony convictions, which prohibited him under federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition. Therefore, investigators seized the ammunition and notified federal authorities. Federal authorities confirmed that Grant was a prohibited felon, had not received a pardon, and that the 12-gauge shotgun shells and .38 caliber ammunition were all manufactured outside the state of South Carolina.

Grant is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and/or ammunition based upon his prior felony convictions. Grant has prior convictions for assault by inflicting grievous bodily harm, resisting apprehension, assault upon an officer, kidnapping, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of cocaine, carrying concealed weapon, resisting arrest, shoplifting, driving under suspension, and criminal domestic violence.

The penalty for the charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000. However, if deemed an armed career criminal by the court, Grant faces an enhanced penalty of a mandatory minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum of life imprisonment, along with a fine of $250,000 and five years of supervised release to follow imprisonment.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia Office handled the prosecution of the case.