Greenville Man Enters Guilty Plea on Federal Firearms Charges

Greenville, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Oran Kenta Crisp, age 37, of Greenville, South Carolina, pled guilty in federal court in Greenville pursuant to a federal indictment for felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. United States District Court Judge Timothy M. Cain accepted the plea and will impose sentence after United States Probation has prepared a presentence investigation report.  Crisp faces up to ten years in federal prison and remains in custody.

Evidence presented by the government during the plea established that on March 23, 2017, members of the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) deputies responded to a shots-fired call at a residence in Greenville. Pursuant to their investigation on scene, GCSO recovered a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber pistol, a magazine loaded with .40 caliber ammunition in the back yard, and a spent .40 caliber cartridge in the front yard. When interviewed by GCSO, Crisp told responding Deputies that he was arguing with a friend over the return of a car and fired the weapon.

Crisp’s case was expedited for federal prosecution pursuant to Operation “Real Time.”  The goal of this program is to identify individuals for federal prosecution with significant criminal histories who continue to actively possess firearms in the Upstate community.  “Real Time” is a working collaboration between local, state, and federal law enforcement as well as state and federal prosecutors.  Since August of 2015, the initiative has resulted in the expedited federal prosecution of over 120 defendants and seizure of over 165 firearms as well as assorted ammunition from prohibited persons in the upstate.

U.S. Attorney Beth Drake commended the partnership between local, state, and federal agencies that led to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the U.S. Attorney’s Office adopting the case. “We work best when we work together.  This ‘real time’ identification of high risk offenders is smart policing and we welcome the opportunity to work alongside our state chiefs, sheriffs, and solicitors in taking violent repeat offenders out of our communities.”

The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and ATF investigated the case.  Assistant United States Attorney Max Cauthen is prosecuting the case.

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