Arthur Ryans, Jr., a 42-year-old resident of Columbia, South Carolina, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
According to investigators, Ryans was arrested by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department at a local motel following his involvement in a shooting incident. During the arrest, Springdale Police officers obtained a search warrant for the motel room where Ryans was staying. Officers found a loaded 9mm pistol inside a gym bag, along with multiple plastic baggies containing substances suspected to be narcotics, a digital scale, and other packaging materials typically used for drugs. Ballistics testing confirmed that the firearm had been used in the earlier shooting.
Ryans was legally prohibited from having a firearm due to a previous conviction for assault with intent to kill.
United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. imposed the sentence of 120 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Federal inmates are not eligible for parole.
The investigation relied on leads generated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is described as “the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms.” According to ATF officials, “NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles.” More information about NIBIN is available at https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
This prosecution is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative designed to reduce violent crime and gun violence through partnerships between law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department of Justice launched an updated strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021, focusing on building trust within communities, supporting organizations that work to prevent violence before it occurs, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and Springdale Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon handled the prosecution.
