Salem Man Justin David Crenshaw Indicted on Federal Gun Charges

Justin David Crenshaw, 31, of Salem, South Carolina, is facing federal time after being indicted on charges of illegally possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. The indictment, returned by a federal grand jury on December 13, 2016, accuses Crenshaw of knowingly possessing 9mm ammunition that had moved through interstate and foreign commerce—a clear violation of federal law.

The charge stems from an alleged incident on October 25, 2016, in the District of South Carolina, where Crenshaw, previously convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison, possessed the live rounds. Under Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1), 924(a)(2), and 924(e), such conduct carries stiff penalties, including mandatory minimum sentences under the Armed Career Criminal Act.

Crenshaw was taken into custody in early December on federal arrest warrants tied to the offense. Since then, he’s been held without bond, locked up as the federal machinery moves toward prosecution. No prior details of his criminal record were released in the DOJ filing, but the presence of a prior felony conviction is central to the federal charge.

The investigation was a joint push by the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), agencies that routinely target illegal firearm and ammunition possession in high-crime and rural zones alike. Their collaboration led to the federal indictment, reinforcing the government’s crackdown on repeat offenders armed with lethal tools.

Assistant United States Attorney Lance Crick, based in the Greenville office, has been assigned to prosecute the case. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, under Acting U.S. Attorney Beth Drake, confirmed the indictment and emphasized that charges are accusations only. Crenshaw is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Contact for the U.S. Attorney’s Office is Nancy Wicker at (803) 929-3000. As the case moves forward, Crenshaw awaits a trial date in federal court, where the weight of his past convictions could land him behind bars for years—if the government proves its case.