Mauldin Man Sentenced to 77 Months on Conspiracy and Weapons Charges

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Denis B.L. Kearney, age 32, of Mauldin, South Carolina, was sentenced to 77 months for conspiracy to steal mail, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, and for making a false statement to purchase a firearm, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(a)(6).  United States District J. Michelle Childs of Greenville sentenced Kearney to 77 months in the Federal Bureau of Prisons.  

The evidence at the change of plea hearing established that Kearney was part of a conspiracy to steal mail, make fraudulent identification documents, create counterfeit checks, and create fraudulent prescriptions.  On January 25, 2014, law enforcement recovered fraudulent prescriptions, multiple false identification documents, and genuine means of identification, from a vehicle driven by Kearney and his associates.  The materials seized were used by Kearney to aid in the commission of fraud.

Further investigation revealed that four days prior to the search of the automobile, Kearney used a false identification document when purchasing a firearm from a licensed dealer in Anderson, South Carolina.  Multiple prior felony convictions barred Kearney from owning or possessing any firearm.