Myrtle Beach Felon who Threatened Police on Facebook Sentenced to 60 Months in Federal Prison on Gun Charge

Florence, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that Anthony Scott Hunt, age 38, of Myrtle Beach, SC, was sentenced in federal court in Florence, South Carolina, for Felon in Possession of a Firearm.  United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell, of Florence, sentenced Hunt to 60 months in federal prison with 3 years of supervised release to follow. 

The evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that on February 19, 2018, a complainant met with an officer at the Horry County Police Department (HCPD) regarding some disturbing Facebook posts by Anthony Scott Hunt, which were directed toward Horry County Police and Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU).  In the Facebook posts, Hunt referenced DEU in Horry County and stated he was “taking these…cops to war” and that he had automatic weapons, ammunition, and body armor.  He also stated he is “stalking my guns up” and that he had a “Beretta 45,” along with other specific guns, so he is “Ready for War.”  HCPD located, on the Facebook account, a picture of Hunt wearing what appeared to be a “Raiders” jersey and hat, bandana mask, and beaded bracelets while holding what appeared to be a Beretta pistol. 

Horry County detectives obtained a search warrant for the property where Hunt lived and located, in Hunt’s living quarters, a Beretta .45 caliber handgun, loaded with rounds of ammunition, along with the jersey, hat, bandana, and bracelets Hunt was depicted wearing in his Facebook picture.  Prior to his possession of the firearm, Hunt had been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year. 

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Horry County Police Department, the Horry County Sheriff’s Office, the Horry County Myrtle Beach Violent Crimes Task Force, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Bomb Team and was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project CeaseFire, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases.  Project CeaseFire is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.  In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.  Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Hummel of the Florence office handled the case.

#####