Greenville, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated that Travis Sanchez Hunt, age 23, of Greenville, South Carolina, entered a guilty plea this morning in federal court in Greenville to Possessing Firearms in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). Senior United States District Judge Henry M. Herlong, Jr., accepted the guilty plea and will impose the sentence after United States Probation prepares a presentence report.
Evidence presented by First Assistant US Attorney Lance Crick at the change of plea hearing established that on Saturday, May 6, 2017, officers with the Greenville Police Department (GPD) responded to a dispute at a residence in Greenville. Witnesses alerted GPD that Hunt had a gun in his waistband before placing a firearm in a laundry hamper. A search of the hamper revealed two loaded 9mm pistols and multiple clear baggies containing substances that field-tested positive for cocaine and crack cocaine. GPD also found over $2600 in cash, two digital scales, and additional baggies in a stairwell leading to Hunt’s bedroom. In Hunt’s bedroom, GPD located additional baggies and another digital scale.
On Sunday, May 7, 2017, a GPD officer cross-designated as an ATF Task Force Officer pursuant to Operation “Real Time" interviewed Hunt in the Greenville County Detention Center. During the post-Miranda interview, Hunt stated that he moved a purple towel containing two firearms and “work" (a term referring to drugs) from a shelf in the laundry room to a laundry hamper. Hunt stated he did this because he knew the police were coming.
Hunt also stated that he placed one of the firearms into his waistband because he thought he may need to defend himself from the family. Hunt stated that moved the firearm from his waistband to the laundry basket as police arrived. Hunt, who was arrested on a number of state charges from this incident as well as on outstanding state bench warrants, said he knew he was going to jail because he had previously cut off his ankle monitor. A federal arrest warrant was signed for Hunt on Monday, May 8, 2017. Hunt remains in custody, detained since his arrest on May 6.
This case underscores GPD and ATF’s continuing “real time" identification of firearms cases for federal adoption by the US Attorney’s Office, working in concert with the 13th Circuit Solicitor’s Office. The goal of this partnership is to identify cases for federal prosecution involving individuals who continue to possess firearms despite significant criminal histories. Since August of 2015, the initiative has resulted in the expedited federal prosecution of some 119 defendants and seizure of 163 firearms as well as assorted ammunition from prohibited persons.
In addition to GPD and ATF, Real Time’s core partners include the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, the Anderson Police Department, the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services, United States Probation, Department of Homeland Security, FBI, DEA, 13th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, 7th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, and the US Attorney’s Office.
Hunt faces a mandatory minimum of five years in federal prison and a maximum of life. The case was investigated by ATF and the Greenville Police Department. First Assistant US Attorney Lance Crick is handling the prosecution. ##
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
