Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Jeremy Jonel Frazier, age 36, of Columbia, South Carolina was sentenced to 180 months (15 years) imprisonment today in federal court.  On February 19, 2014, Frazier plead guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(e).  United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. imposed the sentence, which will be followed by five (5) years of supervised release and includes payment of a $100 special assessment fee.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that at approximately 10:20 am, deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department were looking for a fugitive by conducting surveillance at an apartment complex in Richland County. Deputies saw Frazier, who was seated in a car, drink what appeared to be a beer, exit the vehicle, and then return to the vehicle and leave. Deputies followed the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop after noticing Frazier commit a traffic violation.  As deputies approached the car, they noticed Frazier, the driver, attempt to hide something under his leg.  Deputies then noticed the barrel of a gun sticking out from under Frazier’s leg.  Deputies recovered a loaded Lorcin 9mm handgun and placed Frazier under arrest.  At the scene, Frazier stated that the gun was not his and then later told deputies that had bought it at the Jamil Temple gun show in Columbia.      

The investigation revealed that Frazier is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and/or ammunition based upon his extensive history in state court.  Frazier has previously been convicted in state court for armed robbery (5 separate convictions), attempted armed robbery, assault with intent to kill (2 counts for shooting at two victims), possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, shoplifting (4 counts), and criminal domestic violence.   In light of the prior state convictions for violent felonies, Frazier was determined to be an armed career criminal and was subject to enhanced penalties under federal law. 

The case was investigated by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), 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 case.

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