Demetrius McIlwain, a 51-year-old resident of Williston, South Carolina, has pleaded guilty to the federal charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The incident began when deputies from the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office were searching for a suspect involved in an alleged domestic violence case. During their investigation, deputies encountered McIlwain in the driver’s seat of a running vehicle with a female passenger. When asked to identify himself, McIlwain refused to cooperate. He informed deputies that there was a shotgun in the vehicle and then drove away. After attempting to evade law enforcement, McIlwain crashed his truck and fled on foot.
A search of the vehicle revealed an AR-style pistol in the front seat, a shotgun in the back seat, and another firearm located in a toolbox inside the truck. Deputies also found a small amount of fentanyl in the driver’s side cupholder. The passenger later identified McIlwain as the driver, and additional paperwork connected him to the vehicle. He was subsequently arrested and admitted he was driving at the time.
Due to previous convictions—including grand larceny, multiple burglary charges, criminal sexual conduct 2nd degree, malicious injury to personal property, and assault and battery with intent to kill—McIlwain is barred from possessing firearms or ammunition.
He faces up to 15 years in federal prison if convicted. Additional penalties may include a fine up to $250,000, restitution payments, and three years of supervised release following any prison term. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted his guilty plea; sentencing will take place after completion of a pre-sentencing report by the U.S. Probation Office.
This prosecution falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through coordinated efforts between law enforcement agencies and community organizations.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives worked with the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office on this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is leading the prosecution.
