Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake announced today that Nicolas LaShawn Finley, a/k/a “Shy," a/k/a “Shy Money," a/k/a “Shakim Karim," entered a guilty plea in federal court in Greenville to three counts of Possession of a Firearm By a Convicted Felon, in violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) and (9) and one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841. Senior United States District Judge Henry M. Herlong, Jr., of Greenville, accepted the guilty plea and will impose the sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report, which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. Finley faces up to Life in prison and remains in custody.
Evidence presented at the guilty plea demonstrated that on Dec. 20, 2016, Finley was the passenger in a car that was pulled over by a Greenville County Sheriff’s Office Deputy. When the deputy requested registration documents, Finley opened the glove compartment, revealing a.40 caliber Taurus handgun. Finley reached for the glove box which contained the Taurus, but eventually was removed from the car without incident. When deputies secured the firearm, they found it was missing its magazine. The magazine, loaded with five bullets, and 2.06 grams of heroin were found on Finley.
On May 10, 2017, deputies executed a search warrant at the Red Roof Inn, Room 131 where Finley was staying. Officers recovered 9mm ammunition among Finley’s belongings and a 9mm SCCY handgun hidden in the bathroom. Finley was searched and officers located a.22 caliber bullet in his sock. Finley is prohibited from carrying firearms because of his prior felony convictions and a prior misdemeanor domestic violence conviction.
Finley’s case was expedited for federal prosecution as part of Operation “Real Time" with ATF Task Force Officers at the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. The goal of this program is to identify individuals for federal prosecution with significant criminal histories who continue to actively possess firearms. Assistant United States Attorney Jamie Schoen prosecuted the case. ##
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
