Davante Jamar Moore, 34, of Richland County, pleaded guilty on Mar. 25 to illegally possessing a firearm discovered during a traffic stop.
The case centers on a March 29, 2024 incident when Columbia Police Department officers stopped Moore’s vehicle. According to investigators, Moore was the only person in the car at the time. A police K9 alerted officers to possible narcotics in the vehicle.
During their search, officers found a yellow backpack containing marijuana in a plastic bag, several other bags, a scale, a container with white powder inside, and a loaded firearm. Moore is not allowed to possess firearms due to previous convictions for strong arm robbery and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.
Moore now faces up to 15 years in federal prison if convicted. He could also be fined up to $250,000 and may be required to pay restitution. If sentenced to prison time, he would face three years of supervision after his release. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted his guilty plea; sentencing will occur after review of the U.S. Probation Office’s report.
This prosecution is part of Operation Take Back America—a national initiative by the Department of Justice aimed at fighting illegal immigration and organized crime while protecting communities from violent offenders.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with the City of Columbia Police Department investigated this case. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is handling prosecution.
