Mark Lee Frasier, a 33-year-old resident of Summerville, South Carolina, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. This sentence follows his guilty plea for possession of a firearm and ammunition after a felony conviction.
The court was presented with evidence showing that on February 7, 2023, Charleston Police officers encountered Frasier while patrolling a high-crime area. He was found parked in front of an abandoned building with what appeared to be a bag of cocaine inside his vehicle. Upon noticing the police presence, Frasier fled the scene but was eventually apprehended after reaching a dead-end street.
A search of Frasier's vehicle revealed various illegal substances including 9.31 grams of cocaine in the center console, 3.62 grams of crack cocaine on the driver’s floorboard, 15 methamphetamine pills, and a marijuana blunt. Additionally, officers recovered a stolen .40 caliber pistol from the driver's seat where Frasier had been sitting. Due to his prior felony convictions, Frasier is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition and was eligible for a sentencing enhancement because of previous convictions for violent felonies or serious drug offenses.
At the time of this arrest, Frasier was out on bond for state charges including murder, attempted murder, domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, possession of a firearm during a violent crime, and unlawful carrying of a pistol.
United States District Judge Bruce H. Hendricks handed down the 20-year imprisonment sentence as part of a negotiated agreement between the parties involved. This will be followed by five years of court-ordered supervision. It should be noted that there is no parole in the federal system.
This case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence by bringing together law enforcement agencies and communities to create safer neighborhoods. The program emphasizes fostering trust within communities, supporting organizations that prevent violence before it occurs, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring results.
The investigation into this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case.
