Bounty Hunter Indicted on Charges of Impersonating a Federal Officer
A federal grand jury in the District of South Carolina returned a two-count indictment against “freelance” bounty hunter Jeremy Hughes on charges of possessing a firearm after a misdemeanor domestic violence conviction and impersonating a U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) officer.
It was shortly after noon on November 22, 2021, that Hughes entered a Berkeley County business, armed with a shotgun and a pistol in a holster. Court documents reveal Hughes identified himself as “Brian Williams” and informed two employees at Creekside Mulch he was a U.S. marshal on the hunt for an individual dressed in all orange in neighboring woods.
Hughes reportedly called back the store and told employees that he had caught the suspect and they could relax. The employees then provided the authorities with Hughes' phone number.
Law enforcement arrested Hughes on December 1 with multiple firearms and ammunition on his person, according to U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesman Derek Shoemake. Due to a previous conviction for domestic violence, Hughes is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition under federal law.
USMS investigated the case with assistance from the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Justice Department initiative that brings together law enforcement and communities to combat violent crime and gun violence.
If convicted, Hughes faces up to 13 years in prison.