Arthur Ryans, Jr., a 42-year-old resident of Columbia, South Carolina, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. The sentencing was handed down by United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr., who also ordered Ryans to serve three years of supervised release after his imprisonment. Federal parole is not available.
Ryans was arrested by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department at a local motel following his involvement in a shooting incident. During the arrest, Springdale Police obtained and executed a search warrant for the motel room where Ryans was staying. Inside the room, officers found a loaded 9mm pistol inside a gym bag. They also discovered multiple plastic baggies containing purple powder and crystal substances, along with narcotics packaging materials and a digital scale. Ballistics testing later confirmed that the firearm recovered from the scene had been used in the earlier shooting.
Due to a previous conviction for assault with intent to kill, Ryans was legally prohibited from possessing firearms.
The investigation benefited from leads generated through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN allows law enforcement agencies across the country to compare ballistic evidence and connect firearms used at different crime scenes quickly. More information about NIBIN can be found at https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by fostering cooperation among law enforcement agencies and community organizations. In May 2021, PSN adopted new strategies focused on building trust within communities, supporting prevention efforts led by local organizations, prioritizing strategic enforcement actions, and tracking results.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and Springdale Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon prosecuted the case.
