Operation “Real Time”: Greenville Man Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Felon in Possession of Firearms and Ammunition

Greenville, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Johnny Ray Hamby, age 53, of Travelers Rest, South Carolina, pled guilty in federal court in Greenville pursuant to his federal indictment for felon in possession of firearms 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 report.  Hamby is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition based on his prior felony convictions.  He faces up to ten years in federal prison.

Evidence presented by the government during the guilty plea hearing established that on March 10, 2017, members of the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) responded to Hamby’s residence in relation to a possible drug overdose victim.  During the initial investigation, GCSO observed a revolver and ammunition in plain view inside the residence.  After then obtaining a search warrant for the residence, GCSO searched the house and recovered twenty-one firearms and assorted ammunition.

Hamby’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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