West Columbia man sentenced to more than 8 Years in federal prison for gun charge

Columbia, SC 08/13/2025 - 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.

Evidence presented to the court showed that from April through June 2023, Jones sold 13 firearms to undercover agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The firearms sold consisted of stolen firearms and firearms capable of accepting large capacity magazines.

Jones was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to prior felony convictions for criminal conspiracy, assault and battery, failure to stop for blue light, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, forgery, driving under suspension, and multiple drug related offenses, including distribution of crack cocaine.

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Jones to 107 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

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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, 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.