COLUMBIA, S.C. – A 33-year-old man from Lugoff has been handed a hefty prison sentence after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and distribution of methamphetamine.
Christopher Miles Huntington, 33, of Lugoff, was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison to be followed by a term of court-ordered supervision by United States District Court Judge Sherri Lydon. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence.
According to evidence presented to the court, on multiple occasions in March through May 2023, Huntington sold 37 firearms, including stolen weapons, short-barreled rifles, and firearms with high-capacity magazines to undercover agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The illicit transactions also involved the sale of over 2,400 grams of methamphetamine to undercover agents.
Huntington’s illegal activities were brought to a halt on June 29, 2023, when he was arrested with 23 additional firearms. As a convicted felon, Huntington was prohibited from possessing firearms, and his prior convictions include assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, burglary, grand theft of motor vehicle, and safecracking.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), West Columbia Police Department, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, and Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein prosecuted the case.
The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office is handling the prosecution of additional defendants facing state charges related to this investigation. This case highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement agencies to combat gun violence and drug trafficking in the community.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a program that brings together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence. Launched in 2001, the program has seen success in several cities across the United States.
As Huntington begins his 14-year prison sentence, the community can take solace in knowing that those responsible for perpetuating gun violence and drug trafficking are being held accountable.
Related Federal Cases
- Six Beaufort Men Indicted in Drug and Gun Trafficking Ring · South Carolina
- Meth & Metal: Columbia Man Joshua Sharpe Admits Gun, Drug Crimes · South Carolina
- Warren Lamar Forrest Locked Up for 12 Years for Gun and Pot Trafficking · South Carolina
- 15 Charged in Prison-Run Meth Ring Spanning CA to SC · South Carolina
- Rock Hill Gangster Johnson Sentenced for Gun Possession · South Carolina
Key Facts
- State: South Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime|Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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