COLUMBIA, SC – Edward Daniel Kimpton, Jr., 26, of Columbia, is headed to federal prison for five years after a sprawling fraud scheme bankrolled a disturbing stockpile of weapons. Kimpton was sentenced today after pleading guilty to wire fraud and possession of stolen firearms, revealing a calculated operation that spanned multiple states and amassed a dangerous arsenal.
From June 2018 until his arrest in April 2020, Kimpton ran an elaborate con, utilizing a dizzying array of false identities – 16 pseudonyms, 58 email addresses, and numerous fraudulent financial accounts. He targeted online sellers and retailers, ordering high-value goods then diverting shipments mid-transit, often by impersonating the seller or shipping company. He then claimed non-delivery, pocketing both the merchandise and the money he’d initially paid. Kimpton’s victims totaled at least 27 across 17 states.
The scheme wasn’t about luxury goods alone. Court-authorized searches in April 2020 revealed the true extent of Kimpton’s spending: 94 firearms, including an illegal short-barreled shotgun and a .50 caliber rifle. Authorities also seized seven illegal bump stocks – devices that transform semi-automatic weapons into effectively automatic firearms – along with over 23,000 rounds of ammunition, body armor, tactical gear, and an array of accessories. The haul painted a chilling picture of a man preparing for something far beyond simple resale.
The court specifically held Kimpton accountable for possessing machineguns due to the illegal bump stocks. These devices, banned under federal law, allow a semi-automatic weapon to unleash a continuous firing cycle using the firearm’s recoil. Senior United States District Judge Joe Anderson handed down the maximum sentence allowed under the plea agreement – five years in prison, followed by three years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system, meaning Kimpton will serve the full five years.
Victims won’t be left empty-handed. Kimpton is ordered to pay $44,317.15 in restitution, funded by $73,636.03 seized from a Kimpton bank account identified as fraud proceeds. The remaining funds will be forfeited. The case was part of the federal Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, a violent crime reduction initiative emphasizing collaboration between federal, state, and local law enforcement.
The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the U.S. Secret Service, with support from the Richland and Lexington County Sheriff’s Departments. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliott B. Daniels prosecuted the case, bringing Kimpton’s dangerous scheme to a definitive end. This case serves as a stark reminder of the link between financial fraud and the illegal acquisition of firearms, and the commitment of federal agencies to disrupt such operations.
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Key Facts
- Agency: U.S. Secret Service
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Press Release
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