Jesse James Quarles, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, South Carolina 2014

Jesse James Quarles and Kenneth Islar Sentenced on Federal Gun Charges

COLUMBIA, South Carolina - Two Aiken men, Jesse James Quarles, 34, and Kenneth Islar, 29, were sentenced in federal court in Columbia, each on charges of felon in possession of a firearm, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).

Quarles, classified as an Armed Career Criminal based on his extensive criminal history, was subject to a statutory mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 180 months. The Court sentenced Islar to 75 months in prison.

Quarles and Islar were indicted in July 2014 by a federal grand jury in separate indictments and entered guilty pleas in October. As to Quarles, evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing revealed that Quarles possessed a 9mm pistol while at a residence in Aiken County in April 2013. As to Islar, on May 30, 2014, he possessed and discharged a .380 caliber pistol in the Bi-Lo parking lot in Aiken.

Both cases were investigated by the ATF Regional Anti-Gang Enforcement (RAGE) Unit, a joint gang/violent crime task force with the Aiken Department of Public Safety, Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, North Augusta Department of Public Safety, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the 2nd Circuit Solicitor’s Office (Aiken, Bamberg, and Barnwell counties), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The prosecutions as well as the United States Attorney’s Office ongoing commitment to the Aiken Safe Communities Initiative are part of Operation CeaseFire. CeaseFire is a joint local, state, and federal initiative which seeks to prosecute aggressively individuals who unlawfully use, possess, or transfer firearms.

Contact Person: Lance Crick (864) 282-2100

The Aiken Safe Communities Initiative is a unified, proactive community approach to engage, educate, and encourage recurring offenders to change their behavior and make healthy life choices. The initiative also bands together local, state, and federal law enforcement to expedite the investigation and prosecution of individuals who reoffend in lieu of accepting opportunities and assistance offered by the community during public notification meetings held in Aiken several times a year.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/aiken-safe-communities-two-men-sentenced-federal-gun-charges