Ohio Man Who Shot at Police During Four County High Speed Chase Enters Guilty Plea in Federal Court for Firearms

Case prosecuted as part of “Summer of Silence”

          COLUMBIA, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins, stated today that, TOBY LEE ROGERS, age 19, of Spartanburg, pled guilty Wednesday in federal court in Spartanburg, South Carolina, to the charge of felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). United States District Judge Henry F. Floyd of Spartanburg accepted the plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

          Evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that on June 29, 2007, officers with the South Carolina Highway Patrol attempted to stop a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on Interstate 85 in Spartanburg County. While continuing the pursuit into Woodruff, officers learned that the vehicle was stolen. The driver of the stolen vehicle, maintaining a high rate of speed, refused to stop and fired shots at the officers. The pursuit continued into Laurens County, the city of Clinton (Newberry County), and finally ended in Saluda County, when the driver wrecked the stolen vehicle. The driver, identified as Toby Lee Rogers, was taken into custody shortly thereafter. A search of the vehicle turned up seven stolen firearms, spent shell casings, and assorted rounds of ammunition. With previous state court convictions for burglary, Rogers is a convicted felon, and is prohibited, under federal law, from possessing firearms or ammunition.

          Mr. Wilkins stated the statutory maximum penalty Rogers can receive is a fine of $250, 000 and/or imprisonment for 10 years, plus a special assessment of $100.

          The case was investigated by agents of the South Carolina Highway Patrol, Woodruff City Police Department, Laurens County Sheriff’s Office, Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Lance Crick of the Greenville office handled the case. This prosecution was a part of Operation CeaseFire. CeaseFire is a joint local, state, and federal initiative which seeks to prosecute aggressively individuals who unlawfully use, possess, or transfer firearms.

          Additionally, this prosecution of this case was a part of Spartanburg County’s “Summer of Silence” initiative. Under this banner, all levels of law enforcement and Solicitor Trey Gowdy’s office are working in concert with ATF and the US Attorney’s office to review every firearm or ammunition case made in Spartanburg County this summer for possible adoption and prosecution in the federal system.

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