Orangeburg Man Indicted for Robbing, Pointing a Firearm at an FBI Confidential Source

CHARLESTON, S.C. - A federal grand jury in Florence returned a three-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney's Office, charging Demondre Laquari Wright, 26, of Orangeburg, for robbery, brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and felon in possession of ammunition.

According to the allegations supporting the federal arrest, in early March, the FBI set up an undercover gun buy operation in St. George, whereby Wright would sell three firearms, including one equipped with a machine gun conversion device, to an FBI confidential human source. The FBI gave the source $4,000 to purchase the firearms.

During the transaction inside the source's vehicle, Wright allowed the source to examine the only gun that Wright brought with him. While examining the gun, the source discovered that the gun was loaded and proceeded to empty the magazine. Wright then took the gun, reloaded it, and pointed it at the source's chest and head. Wright demanded that the source give him all the money. The source complied with Wright's commands and gave him $4,000 in FBI buy money.

Wright then exited the source's vehicle and returned to his car. FBI agents then approached the vehicle with their lights and sirens activated. Wright quickly ran from the vehicle but after a brief chase, was apprehended and arrested.

The indictment alleges that, on March 3, 2026, Wright robbed the source of money and put the source's life in jeopardy by using a firearm. The indictment further alleges that Wright brandished a firearm in furtherance of the crime of violence and unlawfully possessed ammunition.

Wright was prohibited from possessing ammunition under federal law due to his prior felony convictions of assault and battery first degree and discharging firearms into a dwelling.

Wright faces a mandatory minimum sentence of seven years and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Wright is currently detained.

The case was investigated by FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kim Hamlett and Cole Shannon are prosecuting the case.

All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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