Terrance Demetrius Bass, 34, of Columbia, has been sentenced to over six years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon and for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana.
According to evidence presented during the investigation, on December 16, 2022, officers from the Columbia Police Department approached Bass after receiving reports from concerned citizens about drug activity involving his vehicle. Officers detected the smell of marijuana and conducted a probable cause search. They discovered a bag containing 295 pills with methamphetamine, 91 grams of marijuana packaged for distribution, a firearm in the glove compartment, and a scale in the center console. Bass admitted that both the firearm and marijuana belonged to him.
Bass’s criminal history includes convictions for conspiracy to commit burglary and armed robbery, assault and battery, and domestic violence. These prior offenses make it illegal under federal law for him to possess firearms.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Bass to 80 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that coordinates law enforcement agencies at all levels with community members to reduce violent crime and gun violence. The program emphasizes building trust within communities, supporting organizations focused on preventing violence before it starts, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes. The Department of Justice strengthened this strategy on May 26, 2021.
The City of Columbia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall is prosecuting.
