Jalon Amari Britt, Drug and Firearm Charges, South Carolina 2022

A 22-year-old Columbia man has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for drug and firearm charges.

Jalon Amari Britt, 22, of Columbia, was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

On March 30, 2022, deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department were conducting surveillance on Britt at his apartment to serve him with outstanding arrest warrants. During surveillance, officers observed Britt leave his apartment unit and enter a car registered in his name. A traffic stop was initiated, and when the deputy approached the vehicle, he smelled marijuana.

A search was conducted of Britt and his vehicle, and law enforcement recovered a bag of marijuana, two cell phones, and a large sum of cash. Investigators also obtained and executed a search warrant of Britt’s apartment which resulted in the recovery of approximately eight pounds of marijuana, two pistols with extended magazines, two loaded rifles, and various rounds of assorted ammunition.

The investigation revealed that Britt was the sole occupant of the residence and that one of the pistols had previously been reported stolen. Evidence was also presented that Britt was a validated member of a street gang. Federal law prohibits Britt from possessing firearms and ammunition based on prior state convictions that include two convictions for Failure to Stop for Blue Lights, Breaking into Motor Vehicle or Tanks, Pumps, Where Fuel, Lubricants Stored, Grand Larceny, Value More Than $2,000.00, but Less Than $10,000.00, and Use of Vehicle Without Owner’s Consent for Temporary Purposes.

Senior United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten sentenced Britt to 100 months imprisonment, to be followed by a two-year term 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 federal government’s 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), the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana N. Gore is prosecuting the case.

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