Andrews man sentenced on firearms charge

A Williamsburg County man has been sentenced to seven years in prison on a federal gun charge, according to a press release from U.S. Attorney W. Walter Wilkins.

U.S. District Judge Bryan Harwell sentenced 42-year-old Billy Joe Moon of Andrews for being a felon in possession of firearms.

In September 2006, Williamsburg County sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant at Moon’s residence for alleged dog fighting. There, deputies seized five guns and a large amount of ammunition. 

Moon is a felon, prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm or ammunition. His criminal record includes two convictions for assault and battery, and multiple DUIs. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rose Mary Parham of the Florence office prosecuted the case, which also was investigated by the Florence County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosivesas part of Project CeaseFire, an initiative of the United States Attorneys Office that seeks to aggressively prosecute gun-related crimes.