Conway Felon Sentenced to Nearly 12 Years in Federal Prison for Weapon Violation

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Brian Justin Canty, 37, of Conway, was sentenced to nearly 12 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Evidence presented in court showed that Canty possessed guns and drugs during two separate traffic stops in 2023.

On March 1, 2023, Georgetown County Sheriff's Office deputies stopped a vehicle in Georgetown. Canty was in the front passenger seat. During a search of the vehicle, deputies found a red backpack beneath Canty's feet. The backpack contained a loaded 9mm pistol with 17 rounds of ammunition, packaged marijuana, and a digital scale.

On April 28, 2023, less than two months later, the South Carolina Highway Patrol stopped another vehicle in Myrtle Beach. Canty was again in the front passenger seat. Officers found a stolen pistol under Canty's seat. They also found approximately 133 grams of marijuana, 100 dosage units of MDMA, and a hydrocodone pill.

Canty is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he has previous felony convictions, including multiple drug distribution offenses and firearms offenses.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks sentenced Canty to 141 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow prosecuted the case.

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