Joseph Nayquan Kelly, a 30-year-old resident of Eastover, South Carolina, has been sentenced to over six years in federal prison for unlawful firearm possession. The sentence follows his guilty plea for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The case arose from an incident on December 28, 2021, when deputies from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department stopped a vehicle due to a license plate discrepancy. Kelly was a passenger in the vehicle. During the stop, deputies detected marijuana odor and discovered approximately one pound of marijuana and a stolen 9mm pistol with an extended magazine in the car. Kelly admitted ownership of both items. The court also held him accountable for possessing other pistols and engaging in reckless driving incidents. As a convicted felon, Kelly is prohibited from legally possessing firearms or ammunition.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Kelly to 78 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. It is important to note that there is no parole option within the federal system.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. On May 26, 2021, PSN launched a strategy focused on building community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes. Previously, Kelly participated in Columbia’s Project Ceasefire initiative designed to connect at-risk probationers with social services while emphasizing severe consequences for re-offending.
The investigation involved multiple agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Richland County Sheriff’s Department; and Columbia Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew R. Sanford is handling prosecution duties.