Charlotte Felon Damarious Sims Gets 6+ Years for Gun Possession

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Damarious Sims, 24, of Charlotte, is headed to federal prison after receiving a 76-month sentence for possession of a firearm by a felon. The sentence, handed down Tuesday, comes with three years of supervised release following incarceration. Sims’ rap sheet continues to grow, highlighting a pattern of brazen disregard for the law and a clear danger to the public.

The case began to unfold on August 13, 2022, when Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) officers responded to reports of gunshots near East 4th Street and South Brevard Street. Simultaneously, another call came in regarding a shooting near the Omni Hotel. There, they found Sims bleeding from a gunshot wound to his lower left calf. It quickly became apparent this wasn’t a simple case of being a victim. Investigators determined Sims was attempting a marijuana deal that was a setup – a calculated ambush by Princess Houghton and her brother, intending to rob and assault him. When the threat materialized, Sims pulled a pistol with an extended magazine. Houghton responded in kind, shooting Sims before fleeing the scene. Both guns were recovered by CMPD.

But Sims didn’t learn his lesson. While out on bond for the local charges stemming from the Omni Hotel shooting, he doubled down on the dangerous behavior. On November 30, 2022, near the same Omni Hotel, Sims engaged in an altercation with a passerby. He brandished another loaded pistol, threatening the individual. CMPD officers arrived to find Sims fleeing on foot. After a short chase, he was apprehended, and the firearm was seized. This sealed his fate, leading to federal charges and, ultimately, a lengthy prison term.

On April 26, 2023, Sims pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He has been in federal custody awaiting sentencing. Houghton, his co-conspirator in the initial shooting, received her own punishment on June 25, 2024, sentenced to eight years behind bars. U.S. Attorney Dena J. King, alongside Bennie Mims, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s Charlotte Field Division, and CMPD Chief Johnny Jennings, announced Sims’ sentencing, emphasizing the commitment to removing dangerous individuals and firearms from the streets.

“This case exemplifies the dangers posed by illegally possessed firearms and the importance of collaborative law enforcement,” stated King. Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Kent prosecuted the case, demonstrating the dedication of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte to combating violent crime. The investigation was conducted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a comprehensive program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through community partnerships and focused enforcement.

PSN, bolstered by a recent Department of Justice strategy, prioritizes building trust within communities, supporting grassroots violence prevention efforts, and strategically targeting the most significant threats. Sims’ case serves as a stark reminder that possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon carries severe consequences, and those who continue to endanger public safety will be held accountable.