SPARTANBURG, SC – Xavier Lee Gist, 22, is staring down a potential decade behind bars after entering a guilty plea in federal court on charges stemming from a 2016 traffic stop. Gist admitted to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c), and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1). The case highlights the aggressive federal crackdown under “Operation Real Time,” targeting repeat offenders with firearms.
The bust unfolded on May 19, 2016, when Spartanburg Police Department officers spotted a silver Nissan Maxima with North Carolina plates running a red light and failing to signal a left turn. When officers attempted a traffic stop, Gist floored it, leading police on a brief chase. Officers identified Gist as the driver based on prior encounters. After ditching the vehicle, Gist was quickly apprehended after a short foot chase. It didn’t take long to find the evidence.
A quick search of the abandoned Maxima revealed a Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun brazenly displayed on the passenger seat. Digging deeper, officers discovered a silver whisk and digital scales stashed in the center console – tools of the trade for any serious crack cocaine operation. Nearby, where Gist bailed out of the vehicle, approximately 4.4 grams of crack cocaine were recovered from the street. The evidence painted a clear picture: Gist was moving weight and packing heat.
United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks of Charleston accepted Gist’s guilty plea and will determine his sentence after reviewing a pre-sentence report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. He currently remains in federal custody awaiting his fate. Gist faces a maximum sentence of ten years in federal prison for the combined offenses, a harsh reminder that possessing a firearm while trafficking drugs carries serious consequences.
This case was a collaborative effort, spearheaded by the Spartanburg Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Special Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Wells, designated by 7th Circuit Solicitor Barry Barnette, secured the federal prosecution. The ‘Operation Real Time’ initiative, launched in August 2015, is designed to fast-track federal charges for individuals with extensive criminal histories who continue to illegally possess firearms in the Upstate.
U.S. Attorney Beth Drake praised the interagency cooperation, stating, “We work best when we work together. This ‘real time’ identification of high-risk offenders is smart policing, and we welcome the opportunity to work alongside our state chiefs and sheriffs in taking violent repeat offenders out of our communities.” Since its inception, ‘Operation Real Time’ has led to the federal prosecution of 97 defendants and the seizure of approximately 130 firearms, effectively removing dangerous individuals and weapons from the streets. The program includes the Greenville Police Department, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, Anderson City Police Department, SC Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services, SC Highway Patrol, Department of Homeland Security, FBI, DEA, and both the 7th and 13th Circuit Solicitor’s Offices.
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Key Facts
- State: South Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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