Operation "Real Time": Federal Jury Finds Greenville Felon Guilty in Firearms Trial

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake announced today that a jury returned a guilty verdict following a one-day jury trial in federal court in Greenville, South Carolina Monday.   The jury found Alvin Andrae Drummond, age 41, of Greenville, guilty of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a person who had been convicted of both a felony and a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.  The trial was held before Senior United States District Judge Henry M. Herlong, Jr., of Greenville.  Judge Herlong will impose a sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report, which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.  Drummond faces up to Life in prison and remains in custody.

Witness testimony and the evidence presented by the government at trial established that on May 10, 2017, deputies from the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office went to the RedRoof Inn in Greenville to investigate information they had received about methamphetamine, heroin, and pills being sold from Room 131 of the motel.  The deputies were allowed into the room and found 8 people, including Alvin Drummond.  The deputies saw drug paraphernalia and other indicators of drug activity and obtained a search warrant for the room.  During the execution of the search warrant, deputies found a book bag that contained a loaded Smith & Wesson 38. caliber revolver, 23 additional rounds of ammunition, and Alvin Drummond’s wage paperwork. 

A Greenville County Sheriff’s Office Investigator and Task Force Officer (TFO) with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) interviewed Drummond.  After being advised of his Miranda rights, Drummond admitted the book bag was his, but denied knowledge of the gun.    The TFO then questioned each person who had been in the room in front of Drummond, asking them if they: (1) put the revolver in the book bag; (2) saw anyone else put the gun in the book bag; or (3) if anyone else had left the room since Drummond arrived.  Each person answered no to all of the questions, and Drummond stated that he did not think any of them were lying.

A Greenville County Forensic Technician arrived on scene and collected the evidence.  The Forensic Technician processed the gun and found a fingerprint on the cylinder of the Smith & Wesson revolver.  A Latent Print Examiner from the Greenville County Forensics Division identified the fingerprint as belonging to Alvin Drummond.

Drummond’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.

“ATF is extremely appreciative of our partners and this collaborative effort to make our communities safer,” said Charlotte Field Division’s Special Agent in Charge C.J. Hyman. “ATF has committed our resources to help tackle illegal firearms possession and violent crime.  That commitment, combined with the cooperation of the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and other local law enforcement agencies, our federal partners, the 13th Circuit Solicitor’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, has resulted in a very successful effort with a long-term impact on violent crime in the upstate and beyond.”

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 case was investigated by the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, the Greenville County Forensic Division, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant United States Attorney Jamie Schoen prosecuted the case.

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