A Savannah man has been convicted of illegally possessing a firearm and designated an Armed Career Criminal after a federal jury found him guilty following a two-day trial in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia.
Duane B. Smith, also known as “Flex,” was arrested on June 13, 2023, after officers from the Savannah Police Department responded to a missing person report at the Goodwill Store located at 220 Eisenhower Drive. Authorities discovered that Smith had driven the missing individual to the store in his vehicle. After interviewing witnesses, police obtained a search warrant and found a Cobra .380 caliber firearm hidden under the backseat of Smith’s car. He was later taken into custody by the Savannah Police Department SWAT team.
Smith was prohibited from owning firearms due to three prior felony convictions in Chatham County Superior Court and one federal felony conviction. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted Smith and sought an enhanced penalty under the Armed Career Criminal Act, which mandates a minimum 15-year prison sentence for individuals with three or more previous state or federal convictions for violent felonies or serious drug offenses who are found guilty of illegally possessing a firearm.
The jury determined that Smith both illegally possessed the weapon and qualified as an Armed Career Criminal, making him subject to this mandatory minimum sentence.
“With our law enforcement partners, we continue the work of removing firearms from the hands of those who can’t legally possess them – especially those convicted of prior felonies,” said U.S. Attorney Heap. “This effort is a vital step in reducing gun violence in our communities.”
“Duane Smith posed a serious threat to the public,” said FBI Atlanta Acting Special Agent in Charge Peter Ellis. “The FBI will continue to work with our partners at all levels to protect the public from gun violence and repeat violent offenders.”
“I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their amazing work on this case,” said Lenny B. Gunther, Savannah Chief of Police. “Their efforts, along with those of our officers, have removed a dangerous individual from our community.”
The investigation was conducted by both local police and federal agents as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative led by the U.S. Department of Justice aimed at reducing violent crime through cooperation among various law enforcement agencies.
Prosecution was handled by Special Assistant United States Attorney Makeia R. Jonese and Criminal Chief Patricia G. Rhodes from the Southern District of Georgia.
