United States of America v. Christopher Lee Scot

Florence, SC - Marion County Man Sentenced to 6 Years in Federal Prison for Selling a Firearm to a Known Felon



Christopher Lee Scott, age 37, of Marion County, was sentenced to six years in federal prison after pleading guilty to selling a firearm to a known convicted felon.



Evidence presented in court established that on January 8, 2018, a long-time acquaintance of Scott’s, whom Scott knew to be a convicted felon, approached him about purchasing a firearm. Later that same day, this individual drove to Scott’s residence in Marion County, where Scott showed him a .357 revolver and a 9mm pistol for sale. Scott then agreed to sell the individual the 9mm pistol for $400. After completing the transaction, Scott told the individual that he also had other guns to sell, including an assault rifle.



Not only does federal law prohibit selling a firearm to a known convicted felon, but Scott’s own felon status prohibited him from possessing a firearm in the first place. Prior to selling the firearm in January 2018, Scott had two convictions for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, a conviction for distribution of crack cocaine, and two convictions or possession with intent to distribute marijuana.



Chief United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell, of Florence, accepted Scott’s guilty plea and sentenced him to 72 months in federal prison followed by three years of court-ordered supervision. Scott was immediately taken into custody following his sentencing hearing. There is no parole in the federal system. Assistant United States Attorneys Christopher Taylor, Derek Shoemake, and Justin Holloway prosecuted the case.



This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) alongside officers with the Marion County Sheriff’s Department and the Marion County Combined Drug Unit. It was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in our communities and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally-based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

18 922 SELL FIREARMS TO ADDICTS, FELONS, FUGITIVES. Defendant did knowingly see a firearm to a person knowing, and having reasonable cause to believe that the person has been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year; in violation of Title 18, U.S.C., Section 922(d)(1) and 924(a)(2)

(1s)



The defendant is hereby committed to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons to be imprisoned for a total term of 72 months. The court makes the following recommendations to the Bureau of Prisons: Defendant serve his sentence at the Butner, NC facility, assuming he qualifies, or alternatively the Williamsburg, SC facility or the Bennettsville, SC facility. Defendant be allowed to participate in any and all drug rehabilitation, treatment, and counseling programs available with the Bureau of Prisons, including the Residential Drug Treatment Program. Upon release from imprisonment, the defendant shall be on supervised release for a term of 3 years. While on supervised release, the defendant shall comply with the mandatory and standard conditions of supervision outlined in 18 U.S.C. § 3583(d). The defendant shall also comply with special conditions. $100 special assessment.