Richland County Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Gun (DOJ)

Columbia, S.C. - Carlos Antwon Lewis, of Columbia, has pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on March 4, 2025, a Richland County Sheriff's deputy observed an SUV committing a traffic offense. The deputy conducted a traffic stop on the SUV and made contact with the driver. Lewis was the front passenger. The deputy smelled the odor of marijuana, which the occupants admitted to smoking before leaving their residence. The deputy asked both occupants to step out and asked Lewis if he had any firearms or narcotics on his person. Lewis stated that he had a firearm in his waistband. The deputy recovered a loaded 9mm pistol from Lewis's waistband. Upon further inspection of the firearm, the firearm was equipped with a silver Glock switch.

Lewis is prohibited from possessing a firearm based upon prior convictions for arson/attempts to burn, willful & malicious, burglary, criminal domestic violence 1st offense, criminal domestic violence 2nd offense, unlawful carrying a firearm, possession of less than one gram of methamphetamine or cocaine base, possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance near a school, distribution of methamphetamine or cocaine base, and arson.

Lewis faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, and 3 years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Lewis after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Richland County Sheriff's Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.