David Antwan Johnson of Florence has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. The sentence was rendered by United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III.
Court records indicated that on December 22, 2022, Johnson was involved in an incident where he fled from a traffic stop initiated by a Florence County Sheriff's deputy. After a brief pursuit, Johnson changed direction toward law enforcement officers with a hand in his pocket. During the apprehension, a loaded .357 firearm fell from his jacket. Johnson eventually admitted to possessing the gun.
At the scene, law enforcement discovered various drugs, including a marijuana blunt near where Johnson was caught and a bag with about 26 grams of marijuana on his running path. Upon searching Johnson's vehicle, officers found nearly 4 grams of crack cocaine and nearly 7 grams of cocaine distributed among over 30 baggies. Johnson also admitted the likelihood of cocaine and crack cocaine being in his vehicle.
Johnson's sentence includes a five-year term of court-ordered supervision following his imprisonment. The federal system does not offer parole.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Florence County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by bringing together various levels of law enforcement and communities. The initiative focuses on principles such as building trust, supporting community-based violence prevention, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring results.
