Greenville Man Sentenced to 17 Years for Felon in Possession of a Firearm
Michael Lee Westbrook, a 41-year-old man from Greenville, South Carolina, was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison for felon in possession of a firearm, a violation of 18 U.S.C. 922(g).
According to the United States Attorney’s Office, on September 3, 2016, members of the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in Greenville in an attempt to locate and serve an arrest warrant on Westbrook. Upon their arrival, Westbrook was located in the back yard of the home and arrested. During a search incident to arrest, the GCSO recovered a loaded .380 caliber pistol in Westbrook’s pants pocket.
Westbrook was arrested federally as a part of ‘Operation Real-Time,’ a program aimed at identifying individuals with significant criminal histories who continue to actively possess firearms in the Upstate. This initiative has resulted in the expedited federal prosecution of some 118 defendants and seizure of approximately 162 firearms, as well as assorted ammunition, from prohibited persons.
The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, along with agents from the ATF, investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Max Cauthen prosecuted the case.
United States Attorney Beth Drake commended the partnership between local, state, and federal agencies that led to the adoption of the case.
Westbrook’s sentence was a result of his significant prior criminal history, which classified him as an Armed Career Criminal for sentencing purposes. He faced a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison.
The goal of Operation Real-Time is to identify individuals who pose a significant risk to public safety. This program is a collaborative effort between the ATF, the Greenville Police Department, the Anderson Police Department, the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services, the South Carolina Highway Patrol, United States Probation, the Department of Homeland Security, FBI, DEA, the 13th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, and the US Attorney’s Office.
This case is a prime example of the success of Operation Real-Time. The partnership between local, state, and federal agencies has led to the removal of violent repeat offenders from our communities.
Key Facts
- State: South Carolina
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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