Columbia Gang Member Sentenced to Four Years in Federal Prison on Gun Charge

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Donald Benson, 30, of Columbia, was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on October 5, 2018, an officer with the Columbia Police Department, who knew Benson and knew he had a suspended driver’s license and outstanding warrants, approached Benson. Benson fled on foot as the officer attempted to make contact with him. During this flight, Benson tossed a loaded firearm from his jacket and continued to flee before the officer finally apprehended Benson. Evidence was also presented of Benson’s status as a validated gang member.

Federal law prohibits Benson from possessing firearms and ammunition because he has numerous state felony convictions, including attempted murder; assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature; unlawful carry of a pistol; and participating in a riot while in prison.

United States District J. Michelle Childs, of Columbia, sentenced Benson to 50 months in federal prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. 

This case was investigated by the Midlands Gang Task Force, a team of federal and local law enforcement agencies committed to identifying violent gang members. The Task Force agencies involved in this investigation include the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Columbia Police Department. The case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), 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 the community 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.

Assistant United States Attorney Alyssa Leigh Richardson of the Columbia office prosecuted the case. 

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