Newberry Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Federal Firearm and Narcotics Convictions

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Tyrell Rakeem Sanders, 29, of Newberry, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on Dec. 22, 2022, Richland County Sheriff's deputies responded to a call that a man was possibly selling drugs out of his vehicle in an apartment complex parking lot. Deputies found the suspicious vehicle with Sanders sitting in the driver's seat. After smelling the odor of marijuana and seeing the handle of a firearm on the floorboard in plain view, deputies detained Sanders and his passenger before searching the vehicle. Deputies recovered a stolen .40 caliber pistol between the driver's seat and the driver's door, which Sanders later claimed to own. Deputies also recovered a total of 201 grams of marijuana in a backpack that was on the driver's floorboard. Finally, deputies searched Sanders's person and found a baggie of multi-colored pills that were later confirmed to be methamphetamine with a weight of 37.9 grams. At sentencing, Sanders was also held accountable for two other incidents-one in Richland County and one in Newberry County-where he possessed firearms and an incident where he led police on a high-speed chase for over 20 miles. These incidents of relevant conduct served to enhance the advisory sentencing guideline range that federal judges consider before imposing a sentence.

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Tyrell Rakeem Sanders to 151 months' imprisonment, to be followed by a six-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

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 the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Richland County Sheriff's Department, and the Newberry County Sheriff's Office. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew R. Sanford is prosecuting the case.

###