Jonathan Andrew Felkel, a 34-year-old resident of Columbia, pleaded guilty on Mar. 19 to violating the housing rights of his Black neighbor, identified as J.M.
The case centers on an incident that occurred on July 17, 2025, when Felkel encountered J.M. at the gate of their shared gated community. According to court documents, Felkel fired a gun into the air and shouted at J.M., “You better run, boy!” Authorities said Felkel later admitted he intended to scare J.M. and wanted him to leave the neighborhood because he believed J.M., who is African American, was connected to “dangerous criminals.”
Felkel faces up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and supervised release following any term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted Felkel’s guilty plea and will determine sentencing at a future date.
The FBI Columbia Field Office and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle Klein and Lamar Fyall from the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorney Sarah Armstrong from the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting.
This case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to address violations of civil rights laws related to housing discrimination.
