A Columbia man was sentenced Wednesday to 180 months in federal prison after a judge found that a firearm recovered from his vehicle was used in the killing of a Columbia woman, federal prosecutors said.
Federal conviction, state case still pending
U.S. District Judge Joseph F. Anderson Jr. imposed the 15-year sentence for Anthony Detemrius Reese, 56, who was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina.
The federal sentencing follows an investigation into the death of Angela Fuller, whose body was recovered after an extensive search in September 2025. Prosecutors said Reese left a residence in Cayce with Fuller the night of Aug. 29, 2025, and that Fuller’s body was dumped in a wooded area near Two Notch Road early the next morning.
Ballistic testing later determined that the firearm officers recovered from Reese’s vehicle was the weapon used in Fuller’s killing, the release said.
- Federal sentence: 180 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Supervised release: Three years to follow the federal term.
- State charges: Murder and multiple related charges remain pending in Lexington and Richland County records.
Arrest and evidence
Columbia police identified Reese as the last person seen with Fuller. On Aug. 31, officers in the area spotted Reese’s vehicle and attempted a traffic stop; he fled, leading officers on a high-speed chase that ended in a crash in Lexington County, prosecutors said.
Law enforcement recovered a loaded firearm from Reese’s vehicle at the crash scene. State prosecutors later charged Reese with murder, unauthorized removal of a dead body, possession of a weapon during a violent crime and possession of a stolen pistol. Those state-level charges remain pending, according to court records.
Timeline at a glance
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Aug. 29, 2025 | Reese left a Cayce residence with Angela Fuller, according to prosecutors. |
| Aug. 30, 2025 (early) | Fuller’s body was discarded in a wooded area near Two Notch Road, prosecutors said. |
| Aug. 31, 2025 | Officers tried to stop Reese’s vehicle; he fled and crashed in Lexington. A loaded firearm was recovered. |
| Sept. 11, 2025 | Investigators located Fuller’s body after an extensive search. |
| Sept. 23, 2026 | Reese sentenced to 180 months in federal prison. |
Federal prosecutors said Judge Anderson found Reese responsible for Fuller’s death when imposing the federal sentence. The burglary of that finding at the federal level does not replace the pending state proceedings; state court records continue to show murder and other charges remaining open.
Local impact and next steps
The case drew attention in Columbia after Fuller’s disappearance and the subsequent discovery of her body in a wooded area near Shakespeare Road. Investigators say the sequence of events began with Reese and Fuller leaving a Cayce residence together late in August 2025.
Community members and local officials have said they want accountability and clarity as the criminal process continues. Federal prosecutors note the 15-year sentence was the maximum authorized on the federal charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm; it will be followed by three years of supervised release.
The state-level prosecutions — including murder and unauthorized removal of a dead body — will proceed in state courts. Those cases can carry separate penalties and are handled independently of federal gun-possession prosecutions.
As the matter moves forward, Columbia police and state prosecutors will handle the state charges while federal authorities complete the enforcement of the federal sentence.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office released the sentencing notice. Court records show the state charges remain pending. Further hearings in state court have not been publicly scheduled.
