⏱ 2 min read
COLUMBIA, SC – Jonathan Felkel, 34, copped a plea today in federal court, admitting he intentionally terrorized his Black neighbor, identified only as J.M., with a gun and racist threats.
On July 17, 2025, Felkel reportedly blasted a shot into the air while yelling, “You better run, boy!” at J.M. as the man approached the gated community entrance. Court records show Felkel later confessed to cops he meant to scare J.M. and drive him out of the neighborhood, fueled by the twisted belief that J.M.’s race linked him to “dangerous criminals.”
The incident, investigated by the FBI and Richland County Sheriff’s Department, amounts to a federal civil rights violation. Felkel now faces a maximum sentence of 10 years behind bars, a $250,000 fine, and a period of supervised release. Judge Mary Geiger Lewis will hand down the sentence at a later date.
Prosecutors Elle Klein, Lamar Fyall, and Sarah Armstrong are handling the case for the government.
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Key Facts
- State: SC
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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