Rock Hill Man Sentenced to 57 Months in Federal Prison for Firearm Charge

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA — Sharif Ahmad Laguda, 32, of Rock Hill, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Evidence presented to the Court showed that in the early morning hours of July 31, 2022, Laguda was driving to his home when he was involved in a traffic incident with another motorist. During the encounter, Laguda retrieved a 9mm pistol from his car and fired the pistol at the other motorist’s car, striking the car five times. Laguda later turned over the pistol to Rock Hill Police Department investigators.

Laguda was prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition based on a 2010 conviction for two counts of assault and battery with intent to kill. 

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced James to 57 months in prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system. 

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Rock Hill Police Department (RHPD). Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Taylor is prosecuting the case.

###