Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Gun Charges in Federal Court

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Bobby Joe Drakeford, JR., age 27, of Wallace, SC, pled guilty in federal court in Florence, to Felon in Possession of a Firearm, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g) and 924(a)(2).  United States District Judge Bryan Harwell of Florence accepted the plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

The evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that on January 5, 2017, deputies with the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office observed a vehicle that matched the description of a vehicle involved in an attempted sale of suspected stolen firearms.  After deputies attempted to make a stop on the vehicle, Drakeford, who was driving the vehicle, failed to stop, and a vehicle chase ensued.  During the vehicle chase, Drakeford ran a stop sign, slammed the driver side of his car into the passenger side of a deputy’s patrol vehicle, struck a metal light pole, and caused his vehicle to roll into a parked car after exiting the vehicle and fleeing on foot.  During the foot chase, a deputy observed Drakeford throw a small pistol over a fence and then climb over the fence.  Eventually, Drakeford succumbed to verbal commands to stop, and deputies were able to detain Drakeford and recover the pistol he had thrown over the fence.  The evidence presented also established that prior to his possession of the firearm, Drakeford had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.  

Ms. Drake stated the maximum penalty Defendant can receive is a fine of $250,000 and/or ten years imprisonment.

The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office, and the Cheraw Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Hummel of the Florence office handled the case.

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