Michael David Brown has admitted guilt to possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon. The 44-year-old from Myrtle Beach faced charges after an incident on January 10, 2024, when police encountered him in a parked vehicle at a motel.
According to the investigation, officers with the Myrtle Beach Police Department noticed a vehicle with a man slumped over at the wheel. Upon approaching, they determined he was intoxicated, and a subsequent search revealed a loaded handgun on the passenger seat.
Brown, who has prior convictions for domestic violence and assault and battery, is legally prohibited from firearm possession. Following his guilty plea, he now faces up to 15 years in federal prison. Additional penalties may include fines, restitution, and supervised release post-incarceration. U.S. District Judge Joseph Dawson III accepted his plea and will determine his sentence after a review of the U.S. Probation Office's report.
This proceeding is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a collaborative effort working to reduce violent crime by bolstering trust and legitimacy within communities, supporting prevention-focused organizations, establishing strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating results.
Investigative work on this case involved the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office, and the Myrtle Beach Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Hixson is handling the prosecution.
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