Greenville Man Enters Guilty Plea in Federal Court on Gun-Related Charge

Contact Person: Lance Crick (864) 282-2105

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Brandon Neal Hart, age 27, of Greenville, pled guilty in federal court in Greenville to making a false statement in the purchase of a firearm, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(a)(6). United States District Judge Henry M. Herlong, Jr., accepted the plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Hart faces a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison. 

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that on September 28, 2015, Hart, in connection with his acquisition of a .380 caliber pistol, and a 9mm caliber pistol, knowingly made a false statement intended to deceive the firearms dealer with respect to a fact material to the lawfulness of sale in that Hart represented on the purchase form that he was the actual purchaser of the firearms, when in fact, he was purchasing the pistols for another individual who is not allowed to possess firearms. 

Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Max Cauthen in the Greenville U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.

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