A Charleston man has been sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon. Dontrell Lamar Watson, 34, was the driver and only occupant of a vehicle stopped by the Charleston Police Department for a traffic violation on May 5, 2022.
Evidence presented to the court showed that officers smelled marijuana and told Watson they were going to search his vehicle. Watson then claimed there was a gun in the trunk. During the search, officers located a fully loaded 9mm pistol with a 15-round magazine under the driver seat where Watson was located.
Watson has multiple felony convictions on his record prohibiting him from possessing a firearm. This was his third conviction for possessing a firearm as a felon.
United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Watson to 60 months imprisonment, to be followed by three years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case.
The Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Key Facts
- State: South Carolina
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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