A Savannah man has been convicted in federal court for illegally possessing a firearm and being an Armed Career Criminal. Duane B. Smith, also known as “Flex,” was found guilty after a two-day jury trial in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, according to Margaret E. Heap, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
The incident leading to Smith’s conviction occurred on June 13, 2023. Officers from the Savannah Police Department responded to a missing person report at the Goodwill Store on Eisenhower Drive in Savannah. They located the missing individual with Smith, who had driven them to the store. Following witness interviews, officers obtained a search warrant and discovered a Cobra .380 caliber firearm hidden under the backseat of Smith’s vehicle. Smith was later arrested by the Savannah Police Department SWAT team.
Smith was prohibited from possessing firearms due to three previous felony convictions in Chatham County Superior Court and one federal felony conviction. The case was referred to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution, where prosecutors pursued enhanced penalties under the Armed Career Criminal Act. This law mandates a minimum sentence of 15 years for individuals convicted of illegal firearm possession who have three prior convictions for violent felonies or serious drug offenses.
The jury determined that Smith had illegally possessed the firearm and qualified as an Armed Career Criminal, making him subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years.
“With our law enforcement partners, we continue the work of removing firearms from the hands of those who can’t legally possess them – especially those convicted of prior felonies,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “This effort is a vital step in reducing gun violence in our communities.”
“Duane Smith posed a serious threat to the public,” said FBI Atlanta Acting Special Agent in Charge Peter Ellis. “The FBI will continue to work with our partners at all levels to protect the public from gun violence and repeat violent offenders.”
“I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their amazing work on this case,” said Lenny B. Gunther, Savannah Chief of Police. “Their efforts, along with those of our officers, have removed a dangerous individual from our community.”
The investigation was conducted under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative by the U.S. Department of Justice aimed at reducing violent crime through cooperation among various law enforcement agencies.
The case was investigated by both the Savannah Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Makeia R. Jonese and Criminal Chief Patricia G. Rhodes from the Southern District of Georgia.
