Kendolius Cortez Jones, a 32-year-old resident of West Columbia, has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison after admitting guilt to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to evidence presented in court, between April and June 2023, Jones sold 13 firearms to undercover agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The firearms included stolen guns and weapons capable of accepting large capacity magazines.
Jones was barred from possessing firearms or ammunition due to previous felony convictions. These prior offenses include criminal conspiracy, assault and battery, failure to stop for blue light, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, forgery, driving under suspension, and multiple drug-related crimes such as distribution of crack cocaine.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Jones to 107 months in prison followed by three years of court-ordered supervision. Federal law does not allow parole.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that coordinates law enforcement agencies and communities with the goal of reducing violent crime and gun violence. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy for PSN based on principles such as building community trust and legitimacy, supporting organizations that work to prevent violence before it happens, setting targeted enforcement priorities, and tracking results.
The investigation involved the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations; West Columbia Police Department; Lexington County Sheriff’s Department; and Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case.
“There is no parole in the federal system.”
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