Lancaster Man Pleads to Federal Firearm Charge

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated that Jamarcus Dontaye Patterson, age 35, of Lancaster, plead guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Chief United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten of Columbia accepted the guilty plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report, which will be prepared by the United States Probation Office.

Evidence presented in court established that on July 13, 2018, deputies with the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Plyler and Duke Streets after receiving a call that Jarmarcus Patterson had pointed a firearm at someone. Deputies observed Patterson, who had outstanding state warrants at the time, walking down Plyler Street. When deputies approached, Patterson fled on foot, was apprehended shortly thereafter and deputies recovered a loaded Hi-Point .40 caliber pistol. Patterson was arrested on state charges and thereafter, a federal arrest warrant and complaint was issued.

Patterson is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon his prior state convictions. Patterson has the following prior convictions:   2002 conviction for assault and battery with intent to kill, wherein he shot someone in the leg;  2013 conviction for burglary 2^nd degree, where he and a co-defendant allegedly were armed during a burglary in which a two-month old child was held at gunpoint; 2013 conviction for attempted strong arm robbery; and 2013 conviction for accessory before the fact to a felony. At the time of the current offense, Patterson was on state bond for a December 24, 2017, weapon charge.   

Patterson faces a maximum of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and 3 years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Project CeaseFire is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a crime reduction strategy originally launched in 2001 that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Turning the tide of rising violent crime in America is a top priority for the Department of Justice, which has reinstituted PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy.  Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office handled the case.

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