Armed career criminal sentenced to more than 30 years in prison for illegal gun possession

SAVANNAH, Georgia: A Savannah man has been sentenced to more than 30 years in federal prison for being an armed career criminal in possession of a firearm.

The sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Judge J. Randal Hall, and announced by Margaret E. 'Meg' Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

Duane B. Smith, aka "Flex," aka "Dwayne Kelvin Smith," 53, of Savannah, was sentenced to 405 months in prison, fined $1,200 and ordered to serve five years of supervised release upon completion of his prison term after being convicted at trial of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Smith was adjudicated as an Armed Career Criminal, which requires imposition of a mandatory minimum 15-year term of imprisonment for recidivists convicted of illegally possessing a firearm who have three prior state or federal convictions for violent felonies or serious drug offenses.

As described in court documents and testimony, on June 13, 2023, officers with the Savannah Police Department responded to the Goodwill Store at 220 Eisenhower Drive in response to a missing person report. Officers found the missing individual with Smith, and learned that Smith had driven the missing person to the Goodwill Store in his vehicle.

Investigators searched Smith's vehicle and located a Cobra .380 caliber pistol under the back seat of the vehicle. Smith later was arrested by the Savannah Police Department SWAT team. Smith was prohibited from possessing firearms because of three previous state felony convictions and one federal felony conviction.

"Our partnership with local and federal law enforcement agencies is vital in our efforts to remove firearms from the hands of those who can't legally possess them - especially those convicted of prior felonies," said U.S. Attorney Heap. "This conviction is a positive step in reducing violence in our communities."

This investigation took place under the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Justice's Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make neighborhoods safer.

"This should send a clear message that there are serious consequences for illegally possessing a firearm in Savannah," said Savannah Police Chief Lenny B. Gunther. "I'm proud of my officers for getting both him and the weapons off our streets."

This case was investigated by the FBI, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Savannah Police Department, and prosecuted for the United States by Southern District of Georgia Assistant United States Attorneys Makeia R. Jonese and Patricia G. Rhodes.