Justin David Crenshaw, Home Invasion Gunfire, SC 2023

Justin David Crenshaw, 31, of Salem, South Carolina, stood silent in federal court Wednesday morning as he admitted to firing two shots during a violent home invasion in Oconee County last fall. The plea, entered in Greenville before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin F. McDonald, marks a critical turn in a case rooted in assault, illegal gun possession, and a life already tethered to the criminal justice system.

Crenshaw pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition, a federal charge under Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). The indictment, handed down December 13, 2016, by a federal grand jury, followed his arrest on federal warrants earlier that month. At the time of the October 25, 2016, incident, Crenshaw was under federal supervision after being released from the Bureau of Prisons months earlier. He has remained in custody without bond since his December arrest.

According to evidence presented at the plea hearing, Crenshaw and an accomplice forced their way into a residence in Oconee County and physically attacked a man inside. The victim fled outside, pursued by Crenshaw, who then fired two rounds from a 9mm firearm during the confrontation. Deputies later recovered two spent casings at the scene. Crenshaw admitted to firing the weapon when questioned by investigators.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) led the investigation, with critical support from the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office. Agents traced the ammunition and witness statements to build a case that left little room for denial. Crenshaw’s criminal history as a convicted felon made any possession of ammunition a federal offense, compounding the gravity of the shooting.

First Assistant United States Attorney Lance Crick is prosecuting the case, which now moves to sentencing after the U.S. Probation Office completes a presentence investigation report. Crenshaw faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release following incarceration.

“This defendant was already under federal supervision when he chose to escalate a violent encounter with gunfire,” said U.S. Attorney Beth Drake in a statement. “The use of firearms in crimes of violence endangers entire communities. We will continue to hold individuals like Mr. Crenshaw accountable under federal law.”

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