Please E-mail suggested additions, comments and/or corrections to Kent@MoreLaw.Com.
Help support the publication of case reports on MoreLaw
Date: 02-03-2023
Case Style:
United States of America v. Marek Cortez Brewer, Jr.
Case Number: 3:22-cr-00158
Judge: Terry L. Wooten
Court: United States District Court for the District of South Carolina (Richland County)
Plaintiff's Attorney: United States Attorney’s Office in Columbia
Defendant's Attorney:
Description: Columbia, South Carolina criminal defense lawyer represented Defendant charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and to possession of a firearm in connection with drug trafficking.
Between February 2020 and February 2022, Marek Cortez Brewer, Jr., age 24, of Columbia, was in illegal possession of at least 5 firearms on 5 separate occasions, 3 of which were stolen firearms and several of which were used in other felony crimes such as attempted murders, shootings, armed robbery, drug trafficking, and flight from the police.
First, on February 22, 2020, Brewer was arrested in Columbia with a 9mm pistol and drug trafficking tools – a digital scale, five plastic bags with marijuana inside, numerous empty plastic bags, and a plastic bag with pills.
Second, on November 14, 2020, Brewer was arrested again in Columbia with a stolen and loaded.40 caliber pistol and marijuana after Richland County deputies responded to an area following a report of 6 shots fired.
Third, on January 11, 2021, Brewer was arrested in Fairfield County after taking S.C. Highway Patrol on a car chase that reached 125 miles per hour and crossed into two counties. The vehicle Brewer was driving was stolen out of Cayce, and when Brewer fled on foot, he dropped a stolen and loaded 9mm pistol. From jail, Brewer made a recorded call that he got into a “high speed” with a firearm and that he was going to have to go “back up the road,” but that he was “not even mad.” An ATF forensic investigation determined the firearm recovered from this incident was used in a shooting on Assembly Street in Columbia on December 8, 2020, about one month before it was recovered from Brewer.
Fourth, on May 18, 2021, Brewer was arrested in Columbia for his alleged involvement in the armed robbery of a firearm from a victim. In that robbery, three armed males approached the victim and told him to empty his pockets and hand over the “thing.” A firearm was in the victim’s pocket. The victim handed over the firearm and fled, and as he did, shots were fired. When Brewer was arrested on this date, he was found with the .40 caliber pistol stolen from that victim.
Fifth, on February 26, 2022, Brewer was arrested again in Columbia for his alleged involvement in the shooting of two victims – one in the back and one above the left eye – from a vehicle travelling on River Drive in Columbia. Brewer again took the police on a chase that exceeded 100 miles per hour before he was arrested with suspected narcotics, a digital scale, $900 in U.S. currency, and a 9mm pistol.
Evidence presented in Court also indicated that Brewer is affiliated with a documented street gang.
Senior United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten sentenced Brewer to 15 years in federal prison, to be followed by 3 years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) as well as the Columbia Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, South Carolina Highway Patrol, and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), who conducted firearm and shell casing forensic examinations. Assistant United States Attorney Elliott B. Daniels prosecuted the case.
UNLAWFUL TRANSPORT OF FIREARMS, ETC. in violation of 18:922(g)(1); 924(a)(2) and 924(e) with forfeiture allegations
(1)
VIOLENT CRIME/DRUGS/MACHINE GUN in violation of 18:924(c)(1)(A)(i) with forfeiture allegations
(3)
Outcome: The defendant is hereby committed to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons to be imprisoned for a total term of One Hundred Twenty (120) months as to Count One and Sixty (60) months as to Count Three, said terms to run consecutively. Upon release from imprisonment, the defendant shall be on supervised release for a term of Three (3) years as to Count One and Three (3) years as to Count 3, said terms to run concurrently. The defendant must comply with the standard and mandatory conditions of release as well as additional conditions. A special assessment of $200 is due immediately.
Plaintiff's Experts:
Defendant's Experts:
Comments: