South Carolina Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing a Firearm

Gulfport, Miss. – Damien S. Pinkney, 36, of Goosecreek, South Carolina, entered a guilty plea Friday before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to possession of firearms by a convicted felon, U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst announced.

Pinckney admitted he brought a .50 caliber rifle, a multi-caliber rifle with two 30-round magazines, and a multi-caliber pistol to a confidential informant as down payment for cocaine on September 23, 2017. Pinckney and others were part of conspiracy that was attempting to purchase as much as 50 kilos of cocaine from a DEA confidential informant. Pinckney and others wired money to Gulfport along with bringing cash and the firearms. Pinckney has three previous convictions for possession with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine in South Carolina.

Pinckney faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release. He will be sentenced on August 21, 2018, at 9:30 a.m.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Annette Williams.