Neko Andre Tisdale Gets 10 Years for Felon Firearm Possession

Neko Andre Tisdale, 33, of North Charleston, South Carolina, is headed to federal prison for the next decade after being convicted of illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The sentence, handed down in Charleston federal court, marks the end of a violent trail that began with a routine traffic stop and ended with a federal indictment.

U.S. District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Tisdale to ten years in prison, followed by two years of supervised release. The ruling stems from events that unfolded on June 12, 2014, when Charleston police pulled over a vehicle in which Tisdale was a passenger. Officers reported smelling burnt marijuana and conducted a search—uncovering a Bersa Firestorm pistol hidden beneath a child seat.

Tisdale admitted on the scene that the weapon was his. Despite being released on bond, he was back in police custody by January 31, 2015, caught again in possession of another firearm. That repeat offense, days after release, sealed his fate in the eyes of federal prosecutors.

The case was aggressively pursued by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in tandem with the Charleston Police Department. Investigators emphasized the danger posed by repeat offenders armed with illegal weapons, particularly in high-crime urban zones.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Bianchi, who prosecuted the case out of the Charleston office, underscored the importance of removing guns from the hands of violent criminals. ‘Tisdale made a choice—to carry a weapon despite a prior felony conviction,’ Bianchi said. ‘Today’s sentence protects the public and sends a clear message.’

Tisdale’s conviction is a stark reminder of the federal zero-tolerance stance on illegal gun possession. With a clean criminal record, he might have walked free that June night. But as a documented felon, his decision to carry a firearm cost him ten years of his life behind bars.