Richland County Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Gun Charge (DOJ)

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Terrance Lopez Mayo, 33, of Columbia, has been sentenced to be more than two years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on Nov. 13, 2023, officers were called after a witness reported seeing a male passenger in a vehicle point a gun at him. Officers saw the vehicle parked. When they approached, Mayo ran from the vehicle. During the chase, Mayo threw a 9mm pistol to the ground. Investigators later determined the firearm had been reported stolen. Mayo has a prior conviction for attempted armed robbery which prevents him from possessing a firearm under federal law.

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Mayo to 31 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-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 and the City of Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Major prosecuted the case.

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