Columbia Man Sentenced on Firearm and Drug Trafficking Offense

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated that Michael D. Quattlebaum, age 45, of Columbia, South Carolina, was sentenced in federal court to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A)(i), and possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, in violation of  Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(b)(1)(C). United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Quattlebaum to 68 months imprisonment with 3 years of federal supervised release to follow.

Evidence presented at the earlier change of plea hearing established that on April 17, 2016, Quattlebaum attempted to allude officers of the Columbia Police Department during a routine traffic stop. Evidence showed that Quattlebaum left his vehicle and led officers on a foot chase. During the foot chase, officers observed Quattlebaum opening large packages of cocaine and attempting to get rid of the controlled substance. Officers eventually apprehended Quattlebaum and discovered a quantity of cocaine on his person. From the vehicle, officers also recovered a firearm, a Walther PPX, 9mm pistol, ammunition, and various drug paraphernalia, which all belonged to Quattlebaum.  Quattlebaum is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms based upon his prior state convictions and adjudications for pointing and presenting a firearm and assault and battery.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Columbia Police Department and was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases.  Assistant United States Attorney Alyssa L. Richardson of the Columbia office handled the case.

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