COLUMBIA, SC – In a shocking turn of events, Kevin Shacqile Roney, a/k/a ‘Kevo,’ a/k/a ‘Valentine Roney,’ 26, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition in federal court.
Roney, a known gang member, was arrested after officers observed him stash a loaded 9mm handgun under bushes adjacent to a parking lot in the Five Points area of Columbia on August 18, 2019. The arrest was made after officers set up surveillance and apprehended Roney when he returned to retrieve the firearm an hour later.
According to court documents, Roney admitted to placing the firearm underneath the bushes. The evidence presented to the court revealed that Roney has prior state convictions for unlawful carrying of a weapon, burglary 3rd degree, and assault and battery 2nd degree.
Roney’s prior felony convictions render him ineligible to possess firearms and ammunition. As a result, he now faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Roney after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the United States Probation Office.
The charges against Roney were the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Columbia Police Department, as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program.
Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes is prosecuting the case. Roney’s guilty plea marks a significant victory for law enforcement agencies in their efforts to reduce violent crime in the community.
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Key Facts
- State: South Carolina
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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