Meth & Metal: Columbia Man Joshua Sharpe Admits Gun, Drug Crimes

COLUMBIA, SC – Joshua Cain Sharpe, 39, of Columbia, is facing serious time after admitting to a double-dip in federal felonies: possessing a firearm while trafficking drugs and, separately, possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The guilty plea was entered before United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis, who will determine Sharpe’s fate after a thorough review of his pre-sentence report.

The bust originated from a mundane shoplifting call on November 20, 2015. Columbia Police Department officers responded to a Bush River Road clothing store and quickly located a vehicle matching the description of one used by the alleged shoplifters. A whiff of marijuana emanating from the car gave them probable cause to search. The search wasn’t about stolen clothes, though. Tucked away inside the vehicle’s fuse panel, officers discovered a silver Raven Arms P-25 .25 caliber pistol – safety off and loaded with two bullets. Under the driver’s seat, they found 11.2 grams of methamphetamine, along with marijuana and drug paraphernalia, including a scale coated in white residue.

Sharpe, identified as the second shoplifter, quickly confessed when confronted. He admitted the gun and the meth were his, and that he’d stashed them in the vehicle without the woman’s knowledge. She corroborated his story, claiming she was unaware of the contraband. A subsequent search of Sharpe’s cell phone revealed a trove of text messages detailing the buying and selling of drugs, solidifying the case against him.

This isn’t Sharpe’s first rodeo. Federal law already barred him from possessing firearms due to prior state convictions for trafficking in cocaine, two counts of burglary, and armed robbery. Adding insult to injury, Sharpe was already out on bond when this latest incident occurred, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the law and the judicial process. He’s clearly a repeat offender with a penchant for dangerous activity.

Sharpe now faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, a hefty $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release for the firearm charge alone. The methamphetamine possession charge carries its own penalties, adding to the potential length of his sentence. This case highlights the dangers of combining firearms and drug trafficking, and the commitment of law enforcement to take these criminals off the streets.

The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Columbia Police Department, operating under the umbrella of Project CeaseFire, a joint initiative focused on aggressively prosecuting firearm-related crimes. Assistant United States Attorney Alyssa Leigh Richardson of the Columbia office skillfully prosecuted the case, bringing Sharpe to justice. Expect a lengthy sentence when Judge Lewis delivers her ruling.