Kendolius Cortez Jones, a 32-year-old resident of West Columbia, has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison after admitting guilt to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to evidence presented in court, Jones sold 13 firearms between April and June 2023 to undercover agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The firearms included stolen weapons and guns capable of accepting large capacity magazines.
Jones was not allowed to possess firearms or ammunition due to previous felony convictions. His record includes criminal conspiracy, assault and battery, failure to stop for blue light, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, forgery, driving under suspension, and several drug-related offenses such as distribution of crack cocaine.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Jones to 107 months in prison. After his release, he will be subject to three years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that brings together law enforcement agencies and communities with the goal of reducing violent crime and gun violence. The Department of Justice launched an updated violent crime reduction strategy for PSN on May 26, 2021. This strategy emphasizes building trust within communities, supporting organizations that work on violence prevention, focusing enforcement efforts strategically, and tracking results.
The investigation involved multiple agencies: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations; West Columbia Police Department; Lexington County Sheriff’s Department; and Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case.
“Kendolius Cortez Jones, 32, of West Columbia, was sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.”
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