Marquise Edward Carolina, 32, of Columbia, was sentenced to more than five years in federal prison after pleading guilty being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on August 11, 2019, the City of Columbia Police Department received a call from a concerned citizen who reported that a man dressed in all black, driving a black vehicle, was waiving a gun around at a local apartment complex in the middle of the day.
Officers responded to the scene and observed Carolina wearing all black in the front passenger’s seat of a black sedan. Officers searched Carolina and found a loaded pistol in his pants.
Carolina has prior convictions for attempted armed robbery, kidnapping, burglary, possession of cocaine, and possession of crack cocaine, all of which prevent him from carrying a firearm under federal law. Additionally, Carolina has convictions for assault and battery third-degree and domestic violence third degree.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Carolina to 63 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a two-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
