District of South Carolina

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Maco Jacome-Jacome, 30 of Guatemala, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the transportation of another for prostitution and one count of illegal reentry of an alien after removal.

Evidence presented to the Court showed that Jacome-Jacome was previously deported on two prior occasions before returning illegally. Upon his return, he recruited another individual, a citizen of Mexico also illegally present in the United States, to travel from Atlanta, Georgia, to North Charleston to engage in prostitution. Evidence established that Jacome-Jacome exploited the individual by controlling her appointments, advertising her to customers and other pimps as “carne,” and transporting her to numerous hotels, motels, and trailer parks for purposes of engaging in commercial sex activity. Jacome-Jacome further exploited the individual by providing her with only 25% of the proceeds.

United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Jacome-Jacome to a total sentence of 3o months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a 3-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system. Originally, Jacome-Jacome’s advisory Sentencing Guidelines called for a term of imprisonment ranging from 8 to 14 months. However, the Court agreed with the Government’s request that it vary above this range and impose a greater sentence to account for the seriousness of Jacome-Jacome’s offense, adequately deter him from further criminal activity, and ensure the public’s protection.

This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy F. Bower and W. Cole Shannon prosecuted the case.

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GREENVILLE, S.C. —Richard A. Sheriff, 73, of Easley, has pleaded guilty to adulteration of a drug and been sentenced to two years of probation. Sheriff also forfeited $166,000 in revenues.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Sheriff was the owner and pharmacist-in-charge of Shertech, a pharmacy providing nuclear and radiopharmaceutical drugs to medical facilities in the Greenville area. From January 2018-June 2019, Sheriff and pharmacists under his direction, would “fractionate” or “split” the active ingredient of Technescan MAG3, without ensuring the pieces were equal in size, purity or strength. This compounding was done without proper protective gear, testing, or quality assurance. The resulting diluted product was used in procedures such as renal scans to diagnose various illnesses, such as kidney disease.

Sheriff did not notify his customers when he dispensed radioactive MAG3 that the amount of active ingredient was diluted. As such, Shertech created a risk of poor-quality patient scans and potential repeated scans that would expose patients to additional radiation.

“Patients and healthcare facilities must be able to trust the quality of the pharmaceuticals they receive from providers like Shertech,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “Adhering to sanitary standards when formulating these drugs is not only the lawful thing to do, but also the ethical thing to do.”

“Adulterating a drug under insanitary conditions threatens the health and safety of U.S. consumers. In this case, the adulterated product potentially contained only a portion of the full dosage needed for renal imaging, causing a direct risk to adult and pediatric patients of poor-quality and potential repeat scans with additional radiation exposure,” said Special Agent in Charge Justin Fielder, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Miami Field Office. “We will continue to investigate and bring to justice those who threaten the health of consumers by evading FDA requirements.”

United States District Judge Kevin McDonald accepted the guilty plea and sentenced Sheriff to two years of probation and imposed a fine of $2,000. Sheriff previously agreed to forfeit over $166,000 in revenues.

This case was investigated by the Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Winston Holliday and Amy F. Bower are prosecuting the case.

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FLORENCE, S.C. — Raul Perales Guzman, 38, of San Luis, Mexico, was sentenced to more than 19 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine, and distribution of fentanyl.

Evidence presented to the court showed that in June 2023, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration observed Guzman and a co-defendant distribute one kilogram of fentanyl. Agents then obtained a search warrant for a residence in Conway, South Carolina, where Guzman was staying. During the execution of the search warrant, agents seized 43 kilograms of fentanyl, 23 kilograms of cocaine, 15 firearms, and approximately $407,000 in cash.

United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III sentenced Guzman to concurrent sentences of 230 months' imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit Sowards is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Chad Lavell Williams, Jr., 30, of Orangeburg, was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and dipentylone.

On Feb. 25, 2023, officers with the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle with a defective taillight. Williams provided a fake name when asked for identification. Officers subsequently deployed a drug detection dog in the vicinity of the car and after a positive K9 alert, searched the vehicle. The search resulted in the recovery of a Glock 22 pistol equipped with a machinegun conversion device, and an extended magazine. Machinegun conversion devices, commonly known as “Glock Switches,” allow Glock pistols to function as fully automatic machineguns.

The Glock was found in a bookbag along with Williams’ South Carolina ID, ammunition, brass knuckles, and plastic bags of methamphetamine and dipentylone intended for distribution. Post-Miranda, Williams admitted the gun and drugs belonged to him.   

Federal law prohibits Williams from possessing firearms and ammunition based on his prior convictions for strong arm robbery, grand larceny, burglary 3rd degree, and burglary 2nd degree. he also has a pending charge for burglary 1st degree.

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Williams to 84 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana N. Gore is prosecuting the case.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — Adam Baez, 46, of Summerville, was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of child sexual abuse materials.*

Evidence presented to the court showed that Baez possessed more than 600 images of prepubescent child sexual abuse materials on multiple electronic devices.  In addition to the possession of the images, evidence showed that Baez exploited a minor victim over the course of several years and produced images of this minor victim.

United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Baez to 210 months' imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system. Baez was also ordered to pay $15,000.00 in restitution to the identified victims of his offense.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy F. Bower is prosecuting the case.

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* The term “child pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Deveon Antonio Belk, 37, of Irmo, was sentenced to 49 years in prison after being convicted for a 2020 string of Midlands armed robberies.

Belk was convicted following a multi-day trial in November of 2023. He was found guilty on 15 counts: seven counts of Hobbs Act robbery, seven counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, and one count of felon in possession of firearm and ammunition.

Evidence presented to the court showed that in November of 2020, Belk began a spree of armed robberies across Richland and Lexington counties. The targets included gas stations, fast food restaurants, and drug stores. Belk would enter the store and often pretend as if he were going to purchase an item. When the cashier would open the cash register to finish his transaction, instead of paying, Belk would brandish a firearm and demand money. Belk would use physical force, including pressing the end of a handgun into his victims, and he would force them into locked rooms at their businesses. He also cocked the firearm at several victims, held his finger on the trigger during one robbery, and some victims reported believing they were going to be shot.

During trial, 14 of the 22 identified victims testified, including a 16-year-old cashier. Every robbery, as well as Belk’s approach to and flight from many of the crime scenes, was recorded on surveillance video. Numerous people who knew Belk, including Belk’s wife, testified at trial that it was Belk on video committing the robberies. His DNA was found on clothing left near four of the seven robberies, and on the firearm used in every robbery.  The Government produced evidence that Belk was responsible for at least 13 armed robberies, and law enforcement believes Belk was responsible for more, according to what was presented in court.

Belk has 13 prior criminal convictions, including strong armed robbery, in a case that involved the theft of a vehicle and money while armed with a firearm; multiple criminal domestic violence convictions, including one involving physical violence against a woman while she was holding a child; grand larceny; failure to stop for police; and drug possession.  Belk was also prohibited from possessing firearms by virtue of prior felony convictions.

“Dozens of people at businesses across the Midlands waited in fear wondering if they would be the next target of Belk’s armed robbery spree,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “Thanks to the relentless work of multiple law enforcement agencies, he will spend almost 50 years in federal prison.”

“Belk’s violent crimes profoundly impacted the safety of our communities and caused long-lasting fear for his victims,” said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “This outcome underscores the FBI’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and taking violent offenders of the street.”

“This sentencing is the result of law enforcement collaboration that ensures Deveon Belk will face federal consequences and can no longer commit additional crimes,” said Columbia Police Chief W.H. “Skip” Holbrook.

“The resolution of this case is the direct result of strong relationships between multiple law enforcement agencies and prosecutors. This convicted robber is off the streets because we shared information and worked together to investigate at multiple offenses,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said. “Our community is safer thanks to a spirit cooperation at the local and federal level.”

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Belk to 589 months' imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system. He was also ordered to pay $2,723.63 in restitution.

The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, and the Columbia Police Department, with critical assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels, Lamar J. Fyall and Ariyana N. Gore prosecuted the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Michael Wright, 46, of Columbia, was sentenced to 1o years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.

Evidence presented to the court showed that Wright contacted an agent of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) over social media about the sale of methamphetamine. The agent and Wright agreed to meet. Wright sold the agent 28 grams of pure methamphetamine.  Following this sale, ATF used the same agent and bought methamphetamine from Wright four additional times purchasing more than 700 grams of methamphetamine.

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Wright to 120 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a three-count superseding indictment against Thomas Allen Bateman, Jr., 50, and Cody Lee Anderson, 37, both of Aiken for bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud.

The indictment alleges that Bateman and Anderson enticed an elderly woman to leave all her assets to Bateman through a will that designated Anderson as her personal representative. At the time, she did not have the mental capacity to make a knowing and voluntary decision regarding her assets.

Bateman and Anderson face a maximum penalty of 30 years imprisonment and will make a first appearance and be arraigned by the Honorable Paige J. Gossett on July 31, 2024.

The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Winston Holliday and Scott Matthews are prosecuting the case. 

U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs stated that all charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Montell De’Angelo Cousar, 33, of Chester, was sentenced to 33 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Evidence presented to the Court showed that on May 5, 2023, the Rock Hill Police Department officers responded to reports of a fight at a local restaurant. As officers were clearing the restaurant parking lot, Cousar dropped a loaded 9mm pistol from his clothing as he walked past an RHPD officer. The pistol was reported stolen. Cousar was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition based on his prior convictions. In 2017, Cousar was convicted of assault and battery, first degree. In that case, Cousar shot the victim twice. In 2016, he was convicted for multiple counts of distributing crack cocaine.  

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Cousar to 33 months in prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.  

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Rock Hill Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Taylor is prosecuting the case.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — Chad Michael Rabon, 34, of Lugoff, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of attempted transfer of obscene material to a minor and two corresponding counts of commission of a felony sex offense involving a minor by a registered sex offender.

Evidence presented to the court showed that from May 23 to June 30, 2022, Rabon, a previously convicted and registered sex offender, knowingly had sexually explicitly conversations with an undercover agent who Rabon believed to be a 13-year-old girl. He used the social media platform KIK Messenger for the purpose of persuading the perceived minor to engage in sexual activity.  In addition, on May 26 and June 29, 2022, Rabon sent pornographic images and obscene videos to the undercover agent, to entice the person he believed to be a 13-year-old girl to engage in sexual activity.

“Rabon, a registered sex offender, knowingly preyed on who he believed to be a child. This sentence reflects the serious nature of Rabon’s crime, and we will continue to hold such offenders accountable," said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina.

“HSI is a global leader in the fight against child predators and their exploitative behavior,” said Cardell T. Morant, special agent in charge of HSI Charlotte that covers North and South Carolina. “HSI and its partners remain steadfast in the fight to protect our most vulnerable population from exploitation.”

Rabon is a registered sex offender having previously been convicted on state charges of criminal solicitation of a minor and criminal sexual conduct with a minor, victim 11 to 14 years of age, second degree. 

United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Rabon to 300 months' imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system. Rabon will also be required to register as a sex offender upon release from prison.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Mount Pleasant Police Department, and South Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which is operated through the State of South Carolina Attorney General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dean H. Secor is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Juawn Robertson, 39, of Winnsboro, was sentenced to more than three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on May 30, 2021, an officer with the Cayce Department of Public Safety tried to conduct a traffic stop on Robertson’s vehicle. Robertson did not stop and continued to drive eventually stalling in the parking lot of a local restaurant. Robertson then ran from his vehicle. Officers caught Robertson and took him into custody.

After officers detained Robertson, they reviewed the dash camera footage of the traffic stop which recorded Robertson tossing a bag during his flight from law enforcement. Officers recovered the bag which contained a loaded firearm. Robertson has prior convictions for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, distribution of crack cocaine, distribution of cocaine, and assault and battery 2nd degree. All of which prohibit him from possessing firearms.

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Robertson to 40 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Cayce Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall is prosecuting the case.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — Michele Mancino a/k/a “Mike Mancino,” 41, of Goose Creek, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to production of child pornography.*

Evidence presented to the court showed that in late 2022, Mancino was engaging other pedophiles on the Scruff and Telegram apps in sexually explicit discussions about his grooming and sexual abuse of a 4-year-old. A search of Mancino’s accounts and devices revealed images and videos of child sexual abuse materials depicting Mancino and the 4-year-old discussed in the chats. Mancino also possessed and traded images and videos of child sexual abuse materials of other prepubescent minors as young as infants. During the investigation, Mancino confessed to creating child sexual abuse material by documenting his abuse of the 4-year-old and he also confessed to trading child sexual abuse materials with other pedophiles.

“This sentencing reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting the most vulnerable among us,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to relentlessly pursue those who exploit the innocence of children.”

“Protecting children from exploitation is one of HSI’s top investigative priorities and this sentence is a testament to our commitment to stopping these horrific offenses,” said Cardell T. Morant, special agent in charge of HSI Charlotte that covers North and South Carolina. “HSI along with its partners will use every resource available to find, arrest and hold accountable predators, like Mancino, that seek to victimize our most vulnerable population.”

United States District Judge Richard Gergel sentenced Mancino to 360 months imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime of court-ordered supervision. This is the maximum sentence allowed under the statute. There is no parole in the federal system. Mancino was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims of his crimes and to pay an assessment into the Trafficking Victims’ Fund.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.

This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations, the Charleston Police Department, and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Orville is prosecuting the case.

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NOTE: While the current federal statutes still contain the term “child pornography,” experts in the field now recognize “child sexual abuse materials” as the more accurate terminology.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Rico Green, 48, of Waxhaw, N.C. was sentenced to more than 13 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a drug trafficking offense.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on Jan. 5, 2022, Green sold fentanyl to members of the Lancaster County Drug Task Force during an undercover operation. The undercover buy was part of a larger investigation which revealed Green’s drug trafficking activity in Lancaster County, S.C. and Union County, N.C.  In March 2022, Green was found with a large quantity of fentanyl after he attempted to run from Lancaster County deputies during a traffic stop. The court also heard evidence that months after his March 2022 arrest and subsequent bond, Green attempted to sell a firearm to another undercover officer during a drug deal in Waxhaw, N.C.

Green pleaded guilty to drug trafficking on March 27, 2024. Green has two prior convictions for distribution of cocaine, two prior convictions for distribution of crack cocaine, and two prior convictions for trafficking cocaine.

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Green to 160 months imprisonment, to be followed by a six-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, the Lancaster Police Department, and the Union County, N.C. Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall is prosecuting the case.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — Terry Tyrone Pollard, 28, of Cedartown, Georgia was sentenced to more than five years in federal prison after being convicted of conspiracy to commit bank larceny and bank larceny.

Evidence presented to the court at trial established that in early January 2021, a Garda employee recruited Pollard and three others to pretend to rob him at which point he would claim to be a victim of an armed robbery. After formulating the plan over Snapchat, Pollard and the co-defendants traveled from Cedartown, Georgia to the Garda employee’s apartment in North Charleston on Jan. 15, 2021. Later that day, they drove around North Charleston scouting potential locations. On Jan. 16, 2021, the Garda employee parked his truck outside a Bank of America ATM located at 5600 Core Road. Pollard and the co-defendants approached the driver and pretended to restrain him at gunpoint. Pollard and the co-defendants then loaded $1.9 million in cash into black trash bags and immediately fled the area back to Georgia. During the investigation, North Charleston Police Department investigators became skeptical of the driver’s statements and alerted the FBI of the potential inside job. Several hours after the bank larceny, Pollard was back in Cedartown and a co-defendant posted a Snapchat video of Pollard holding a large stack of stolen cash in front of his face. He was arrested shortly after. Five days after his arrest, Pollard called an associate from jail over a recorded line and asked him to delete his phone records.

The five individuals involved were indicted in federal court. Four of those individuals pled guilty. Pollard went to trial and was found guilty of conspiracy to commit bank larceny and bank larceny in March 2023. Pollard has a prior armed robbery conviction on his record.

United States District Judge Bruce Hendricks sentenced Pollard to 63 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the North Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Limehouse and Chris Lietzow prosecuted the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Kenneth Archie, 44, of Columbia, was sentenced to more than five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on June 14, 2021, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department responded to an apartment complex on Old Manor Rd. in Columbia because a caller stated that Archie was trying to enter the front gate of the complex without permission. When the deputies spoke to Archie at his front window, they could smell marijuana coming from his vehicle and searched his car for further drug evidence. Deputies found a backpack containing methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, and a firearm. Archie admitted to possession of the drugs and the firearm.

Archie is prohibited from having a firearm due to prior convictions for armed robbery, domestic violence 2nd degree, and failure to stop for a blue light.

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Archie to 70 months imprisonment, to be followed by a six-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. —Ashley Clark Ingram, 34, of Columbia, has pleaded guilty to one count of theft of government funds for misappropriating funds from Habitat for Humanity of Central South Carolina.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that while employed as the director of finance and operations for Habitat for Humanity, Ingram applied for an employee retention tax credit for retaining employees during the COVID-19 pandemic from the IRS on behalf of Habitat for Humanity, but without the knowledge of the nonprofit. Ingram then received checks totaling $388,550.75 from the United States Treasury and deposited the funds into a Habitat for Humanity account that she controlled. Ingram transferred the money from the Habitat for Humanity account into multiple personal bank accounts and appropriated it to her own use. In total, Ingram misappropriated approximately $514,672.37 from Habitat for Humanity and the United States Government. 

Ingram faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. She also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and a total of three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Ingram at a future date after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews is prosecuting the case.

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FLORENCE, S.C. — John Henry Stack, 76, of Myrtle Beach, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison after being convicted of committing a 2023 bank robbery. At the time of the 2023 robbery, Stack was on supervised release from previous federal bank robbery convictions.

Evidence presented by the Government at a two-day jury trial in March established that around midday on March 10, 2023, Stack entered the Anderson Brothers Bank in Aynor wearing a blue medical scrub shirt over a black jacket, a winter hat, sunglasses, and a medical-style mask.  Stack placed a pillowcase on the teller’s counter, and pulled a long-handled lighter from his pocket.  Stack concealed the lighter under his hand to look like a gun, pointed it at the teller, and demanded money. The teller placed $2,130 in cash in the pillowcase, and Stack took the money and left the bank. 

Following the robbery, local, state, and federal law enforcement worked together to identify and apprehend the suspect. Law enforcement identified the vehicle the robber drove to and from the robbery as a Ford Focus with significant passenger side damage; Stack had recently purchased the Focus.  About 10 p.m. on March 10, an officer with Myrtle Beach Police Department stopped the Focus driven by Stack. On the rearview mirror of the Focus was hang tag for a nearby hotel.  Hotel records showed Stack had rented a room that afternoon and paid in cash.

Law enforcement searched the Focus and the hotel room and found clothing consistent with that worn by Stack during the robbery, including a blue medical scrub shirt, pillowcases like the one Stack placed on the teller’s counter, a bag that contained Stack’s medications and $765 in cash, and a red long-handled lighter.

Following the traffic stop, Stack confessed to law enforcement that he robbed the bank. He detailed for them how he robbed the bank, what he wore while robbing the bank, and explained that he concealed the lighter under his hand to make it look like a gun and “fake out” the teller, so that she would hand over the money.

Stack previously served time in federal prison for multiple bank robberies in South Carolina and North Carolina. He was released in 2022.

“Even after a significant sentence for the same crime, Mr. Stack continued to threaten the safety of the community by committing another bank robbery,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina.  “We commend the work of Aynor and Myrtle Beach Police Departments in responding to this incident and the assistance of SLED and the FBI Columbia Field Office to bring this defendant to justice.”

“Stack’s actions put innocent lives in harm’s way,” said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “This sentence reflects the weight of the crime and should serve as a reminder that such criminal behavior will be met by swift justice. The FBI, along with our local, state, and federal partners, reaffirm our commitment to maintaining public safety and upholding the rule of law.”

“South Carolina local and state law enforcement agencies and our federal team members continuously show how we work together to make a difference within our communities,” Chief Prock said. “From start to finish this is what we do to help. We care, we are focused, and we will continue to work to ensure that those that endanger the lives and take advantage of our community members, will be held accountable. This case is a perfect example of how communication and partnerships work hand and hand.”

Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie presided over the trial and sentenced Stack to 120 months in prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.  As part of the sentence, the Court also ordered Stack to pay $2,130 in restitution – the amount he stole from the bank.  In imposing the sentence, the Court noted that Stack violated the Court’s trust by committing a new bank robbery while on supervised release.

The case was investigated by Aynor Police Department, Myrtle Beach Police Department, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Flynn and Lauren Hummel prosecuted the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Deandre Lamar Davis, 35, of Columbia, was sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison after pleading guilty to felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on May 5, 2021, Columbia Police Department officers arrested Davis on outstanding state arrest warrants for kidnapping and domestic violence. A loaded 9mm pistol was found tucked into Davis’s waistband along with approximately 2.8 grams of crack cocaine in his pants pocket. This was the third time Davis was arrested while in unlawful possession of a firearm or illegal drugs since 2020. Davis had prior convictions for aggravated assault and battery, burglary, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, domestic violence, second degree and assault and battery, second degree. At the time of the May 2021 incident, Davis was on state probation for his most recent assault and battery conviction. 

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Davis to 100 months in prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Taylor is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Keisha Carroll Banks, 52, of Lexington, was sentenced to 14 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud.

Evidence presented to the court showed that Banks was an employee of Ridgeway Manor Health Care in Ridgeway. In her role, she was able to access money in an account of Ridgeway Manor that included funds held for the residents of the facility. The defendant diverted some of those funds and used some of the money for her own benefit. Some of the residents of Ridgeway Manor are considered vulnerable adults.

United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Banks to 14 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. The court also ordered the defendant to pay $58,544.61 in restitution.

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the South Carolina Attorney General's Office Vulnerable Adult Medicaid Provider Fraud Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Potterfield is prosecuting the case.

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Aaron T. Simmons, 26, of Greenville, South Carolina, was sentenced today to 365 months in prison and a lifetime of supervised release after he pleaded guilty in November 2023 to one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion and one count of sex trafficking of a minor.

“This significant prison sentence reflects the seriousness of the defendant’s brutal conduct inflicted on victims, including a minor, for many months” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The sexual exploitation of victims in this manner robs them of their freedom, dignity and sense of security, and stands to scar them for life. Such venal, rapacious conduct is unacceptable in our society. The Justice Department will use all the tools at its disposal to prosecute sex traffickers and to seek justice for the survivors of human trafficking.”

“Our office will continue to bring every resource we have to bear to stop human trafficking in South Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “Those who victimize human beings, especially children, in this heinous manner will be held accountable.”

According to court documents, the defendant used physical beatings, threats, intimidation, control and psychological manipulation to coerce three adult victims to engage in repeated commercial sex acts in the Greenville area between August 2019 and August 2020. The defendant also provided a 17-year-old minor victim for commercial sex acts in the Greenville area between August 2019 and November 2019. 

The FBI Columbia Field Office and Greenville Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie Fisher Sherard for the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorney Francisco Zornosa of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit prosecuted the case.

Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org.  Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Five of eight individuals who were charged for their role in a COVID-19 loan fraud scheme were sentenced this week.

In March 2020, Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) to help businesses impacted by COVID-19 to continue paying their employees.  Pursuant to the CARES Act, there were two sources of relief.  One was through a program called the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and a second was through Emergency Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDL”). The CARES Act also authorized the SBA to issue emergency advances, also referred to as grants, of up to $10,000.00 depending on the number of employees a small business employed. 

Evidence presented to the court showed that the below individuals, and their co-defendants, devised and participated in a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration, and its approved third-party lenders, in their application and receipt of PPP loan funds and EIDL advances. The evidence introduced showed that these individuals submitted fraudulent loan documents, which included the creation of fraudulent companies as well as the submission of falsified tax documentation, to induce the SBA and its third-party lenders to fund the loans.  Between the eight individuals charged, three EIDL advances, and 12 PPP Loans were funded by the SBA or their approved third-party lenders for a total of $295,841.00 in loans.  

The five individuals sentenced this week were:

• Staci Harley, 41, of Summerville, was sentenced to three years after pleading guilty to wire fraud;
• Anthony Harley, 40, of North Charleston, who was an inmate incarcerated with the South Carolina Department of Corrections at the time he committed these offenses, was sentenced to two years after pleading guilty to wire fraud;
• Benjamin Blue, 42, of Summerville, was sentenced to one year and one day after pleading guilty to wire fraud;
• Sheniqua Mitchell, 37, of North Charleston, was sentenced to 33 months after pleading guilty to wire fraud;
• Roberta Harley, 61, of North Charleston, received a time-served sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

“These sentencings mark another victory against this large-scale criminal operation that tormented the Charleston area with illegal drugs, guns, and financial crimes,” Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “We will continue to prosecute those who threaten the safety of our communities with illegal trafficking rings.”

“The Secret Service is diligent in our investigation and pursuit of those who engage in fraudulent criminal activity. We appreciate the commitment from our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to see that justice was served in this case,” said Resident Agent in Charge, Ben Stafford, of the Secret Service’s Charleston, SC Resident Office. “These sentencings reflect the seriousness with which the government handles financial crimes and should act as a warning to those who aspire to exploit government relief programs that are put in place to help those in need.”

“These individuals deceptively lined their pockets with federally approved loans during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when so many struggling businesses tried to survive,” said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “The FBI, along with our law enforcement partners, are committed to the vigorous pursuit of justice against those who pose harm to our financial systems, and this outcome should send a strong message that offenders will be held fully accountable.”

“This sentencing highlights a significant achievement in dismantling a criminal network engaged in fraudulent activities,” said SBA OIG’s Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Braithwaite. “Our unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of SBA’s programs ensure that fraud is met with the full force of the law. I want to thank our U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their collaboration and dedication to pursing justice in this case.”

“The City of Charleston Police Department is grateful for the collaboration with its federal partners and will continue to assist in bringing to justice Charleston area residents who commit these financial crimes,” said Charleston Police Deputy Chief Andre Jenkins.

United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced the five individuals and each of their sentences will be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system. The judge also ordered a total restitution in the amount of $286, 272.05 be paid. 

This case was brought through a joint investigation called Operation Trendsetter, announced in May 2023. Assistant United States Attorneys Amy Bower and Whit Sowards are prosecuting the cases with assistance from the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

This prosecution was also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. —Iric Bolden, 31, of Columbia, was sentenced to 24 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime, robbery, and attempted robbery.

Evidence presented to the court showed that over the course of nine days in the fall of 2019, Bolden robbed three Midlands convenience stores while armed with a handgun and attempted to rob another.

On Sept. 29, 2019, Bolden entered the 76 gas station located at 2538 Two Notch Rd. He pretended to ask the clerk a question and then walked behind the counter and pointed a gun at the clerk. Bolden demanded the clerk to open the cash register before taking money out of the register, cigarettes from the shelf, and the clerk’s cell phone, which was sitting on the counter. During the robbery, a customer tried to leave but Bolden detained the customer at gun point as well. After taking the items, Bolden ran from the store.

On Sept. 30, 2019, Bolden entered the Marathon Corner Stop located at 1901 Faraway Dr. Bolden entered the store with his gun drawn and a mask over his face. However, Bolden was frightened by one of the clerks, his mask dropped from his face, and he ran from store.

On Oct. 3, 2019, Bolden entered the Mini Mart Located at 900 S. Kilbourne Rd. He walked around as if he was browsing for items and then ran behind the counter and pointed a firearm at the clerk. He forced the clerk to lay on the ground and took the clerk’s cell phone, money from two cash registers, and cigarettes before leaving the store.

On Oct. 6, 2019, Bolden entered Percival Grocery located at 301 Percival Rd. He entered the store and immediately began pulling a firearm from his waistband. He went behind the counter and demanded the clerk to open the cash register. Bolden took money out of the register, cigarettes from the shelf, a cell phone and money from the clerk and ran away from the location.

Law enforcement recovered surveillance footage for all of the incidents which clearly depict Bolden’s actions. Bolden was arrested by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and confessed to the robberies. Prior to these incidents Bolden had multiple convictions for shoplifting and was on probation for strong arm robbery.

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Iric Bolden to 288 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the City of Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall is prosecuting the case.

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FLORENCE, S.C. — Three men from the Pee Dee region and three men from New York were sentenced after pleading guilty to their roles in a robbery and related firearms crimes.

• Elijah N. Fitts, 23, of Rochester, New York, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. 
• Zion Hezekiah Fitts, 24, of Rochester, New York, was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
• Dorian Javon Godbolt, 24, of Darlington, was sentenced to more than five years in prison after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting robbery.
• Harkeem Dewayne Siequan Kennedy, 26, of Florence, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
• Fanotti Nacier Neal, 21, of Effingham, was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to deal in firearms without a license. 
• Nasir Schifano, 21, of Greece, New York, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to deal in firearms without a license.

Evidence presented to the court showed that just after midnight on March 29, 2022, officers with Florence Police Department responded to a shooting at an apartment complex in Florence.  Investigators learned that Godbolt had arranged for Kennedy to come to the apartment complex to sell E. Fitts and Z. Fitts a quantity of marijuana, knowing that E. Fitts and Z. Fitts planned to rob Kennedy. Kennedy arrived at the apartment complex in the passenger seat of a car. Z. Fitts came to the passenger window of the car to conduct the drug deal while E. Fitts stood at the rear of the car. Kennedy provided Z. Fitts a quantity of marijuana. Z. Fitts then pulled a firearm from his hoodie, pointed it at Kennedy and told Kennedy to "give him everything." At that point, shots began to be fired. Several witnesses reported shots coming from the rear of the car, where E. Fitts was standing. Kennedy also pulled a gun and fired shots.

After obtaining information indicating that the robbers came from a particular apartment, law enforcement executed a search warrant at that apartment. Inside, law enforcement found several of those charged, a number of firearms, magazines, ammunition, and a receipt for the purchase of a firearm. Further investigation showed that Neal, Schifano, and others were involved in a conspiracy to deal in firearms without a federal firearms license. The conspirators would purchase firearms in South Carolina, display them in social media videos, negotiate the terms of sale for the firearms via text, and transfer the firearms to others. 

“This violent incident has resulted in six defendants spending more than two decades in prison,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “Outstanding investigative work, led by the Florence Police Department and ATF, has made this community safer.”

“The individuals sentenced throughout this case were responsible for a number of violent crimes and sought to put more firearms in the hands of prohibited individuals,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “ATF and our law enforcement partners are focused on shutting down illegal firearms sales and preventing those with criminal intent from harming our communities.”

“We want to take this opportunity to thank our federal law enforcement partners for the indictment of these violent offenders and their subsequent guilty pleas, said Florence Police Chief Allen Heidler. “Law enforcement partnerships, as evidenced here, are a key element in the fight against violent crime. It serves as another notice to violent offenders that Florence area law enforcement, from the federal level down to the local level, will continue our collaborative efforts to bring them to justice.”

United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III sentenced all six individuals. Elijah N. Fitts was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment.  Zion Hezekiah Fitts was sentenced to 84 months imprisonment.  Dorian Javon Godbolt was sentenced to 63 months imprisonment.  Harkeem Dewayne Siequan Kennedy was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment. Fanotti Nacier Neal was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment; Neal’s term of imprisonment on the firearms conspiracy will be run concurrently with a 40-year term of imprisonment on an unrelated State conviction.  Nasir Schifano was sentenced to 30 months of imprisonment.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Neal’s term of imprisonment will be followed by an 18-month term of court-ordered supervision. Kennedy, Godbolt and Schifano’s terms of imprisonment will be followed by three-year terms of court-ordered supervision. E. Fitts and Z. Fitts’ terms of imprisonment will be followed by five-year terms of court-ordered supervision. 

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. 

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Florence Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn prosecuted the case.

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FLORENCE, S.C. — Kendric Lanorris Cannon, 47, of Florence, was sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on the evening of Feb. 2, 2022, officers with Florence Police Department encountered Cannon as the sole occupant of a vehicle, which was parked in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Florence. Officers approached the vehicle to verify who Cannon was and why he was there. Cannon said he lived there and exited the vehicle.  As Cannon exited, law enforcement could see a firearm and a bag of white powder on the driver’s side floorboard. In a subsequent search of the car, law enforcement found a .380 caliber handgun, more than 100 grams of cocaine divided up into baggies, and a digital scale. Cannon later admitted that the firearm was his and that there was cocaine in the car.

United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III sentenced Cannon to 60 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Florence Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. —Michael Eugene Bowers, 51, of Columbia, has pleaded guilty to fraud related to COVID benefits.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Bowers electronically submitted an Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) application through the Small Business Administration (SBA) and received $480,900 on Dec. 20, 2021. That money was wired into a bank account that he had control of. Bowers then used the funds for personal expenses, such as purchasing a Suzuki motorcycle and paying off his BMW automobile.

Bowers faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment.  United States Senior District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Bowers after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department's response to the pandemic, please visit Justice.gov/Coronavirus and Justice.gov/Coronavirus/CombatingFraud.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by using the Department of Justice's National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF)’s Web Complaint Form.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Winston Holliday and Scott Matthews are prosecuting the case.

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GREENVILLE, S.C. — Alvin Bernard Parks, 44, of Greenville, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to threatening a federal judge.

According to court documents, Parks sent a letter to a specifically-named United States District Court Judge for the District of South Carolina. The handwritten letter contained threats to harm the judge. An excerpt from the letter reads: “I have watched you leave the courthouse numerous times and plotted to get my revenge.” The letter goes on to say, “you best to make sure they lock me away for good cause I’m going to kill you or blow that courthouse up.” The return address on the letter was listed as Alvin Parks with the address to the Greenville County Detention Center, where Parks was detained.

“Threats like this endanger our justice system,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “We remain committed to prosecuting illegal threats against public officials to ensure that such officials can do their jobs free from intimidation.”

United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins, Jr. sentenced Parks to 84 months' imprisonment, to be followed by a term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system. Parks pled guilty in February.

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Max Cauthen is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. —Christopher Miles Huntington, 33, of Lugoff, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and distribution of methamphetamine.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on multiple occasions in March through May 2023, Huntington sold 37 firearms, including stolen weapons, short-barreled rifles, and firearms with high-capacity magazines to undercover agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Huntington also sold more than 2,400 grams of methamphetamine to undercover agents during these transactions. On June 29, 2023, Huntington was arrested with 23 additional firearms. Huntington is a felon and prohibited from possessing firearms. Huntington has prior convictions for assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, burglary, grand theft of motor vehicle, and safecracking.

United States District Court Judge Sherri Lydon sentenced Huntington to 168 months in prison to be followed by a term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), West Columbia Police Department, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, and Richland County Sheriff’s Department. The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office is handling the prosecution of additional defendants facing state charges related to this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein prosecuted the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. —Joseph Dean Dyches, 42, of Orangeburg, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on Nov. 13, 2019, Dyches sold a .45 caliber handgun and a loaded, stolen, unregistered, short-barreled shotgun to an undercover agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). During the transaction, Dyches admitted to being a “five-time felon.” Approximately one week later, Dyches was pulled over by the South Carolina Highway Patrol and found to be in possession of a .40 caliber handgun, a loaded .22 caliber handgun, multiple rounds of ammunition, and methamphetamine. Dyches is a felon and prohibited from possessing firearms. Dyches has prior convictions for assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, strong armed robbery, assault and battery 1st degree, and criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature.

United States District Court Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Dyches to 120 months in prison to be followed by a term of court-ordered supervision. Dyches was also ordered to pay a $35,000 fine. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elle E. Klein.

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GREENVILLE, S.C. —Dennis S. Lepka, Jr., 42, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was sentenced to six and a half years in federal prison for his role in a real estate fraud scheme. 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began an investigation after they received multiple complaints that Lepka was engaging in fraudulent real estate transactions. Lepka’s business model was built upon misleading both sellers and buyers of residential properties. He promised the sellers that he would purchase their home and take over their outstanding mortgage. In some instances, Lepka told them they would stay on the mortgage as a credit repair service. He assured the buyers that they were in a rent-to-own agreement with Lepka. In truth, Lepka did not own the properties he was selling. He concealed information about existing mortgages from the buyers and did not disclose to the banks holding mortgages that real estate transactions were taking place. He required the buyers to provide substantial down payments and then make monthly payments to him. Lepka did not make the mortgage payments to the original lenders and multiple properties went into foreclosure. Some victims became homeless as a result.

Evidence showed that Lepka targeted members of the Hispanic community because of their immigration status. Lepka believed that victims without legal status would be reluctant to report fraud to the authorities. Lepka also expressed to his victims that they should trust him because he was a practicing Christian. Victims who spoke at the sentencing expressed hurt that Lepka appealed to their faith to lure them into transactions.

United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain sentenced Lepka to 78 months imprisonment. He also ordered him to pay $2,020,213.50 in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Watkins prosecuted the case. 

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — Donovan Young, 60, of Hartsville, Aaron Young, 34, of Florence, and James Hoffman, 47, of McBee, have pled guilty to wire fraud conspiracy for their role in a scheme to defraud a chain of home improvement stores.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that the Youngs and Hoffman would purchase Lowe’s merchandise cards, for a discounted value, from known coconspirators who had fraudulently obtained the merchandise cards.  Evidence presented shows that the Youngs and Hoffman were aware that the merchandise cards had been fraudulently obtained by the known coconspirators by stealing merchandise from the home improvement stores throughout the District of South Carolina and then, through fake identities, returning the stolen merchandise for merchandise cards.  

The Youngs and Hoffman face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. They also face a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment.  United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Donovan Young, Aaron Young, and James Hoffman after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower is prosecuting the case.

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FLORENCE, S.C. — William Dallis, 57, of Murrells Inlet, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison after pleading guilty to money laundering.

Evidence presented to the court showed that from June 2021 to April 2022, Dallis conducted financial transactions with cash he believed was obtained from transporting and harboring illegal aliens. To conceal and disguise the nature of the illegal cash, Dallis would take the cash received and deposit it into a bank account he controlled. Dallis would then write a check to the individual that had provided the cash after taking a percentage fee per transaction.  The evidence presented revealed that Dallis received approximately $560,000.00 in cash from the individual.

United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III sentenced Dallis to 12 months and one day imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system. As part of his plea agreement with the Government, Dallis also forfeited approximately $75,000.00.

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy F. Bower is prosecuting the case.

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GREENVILLE, S.C. — Marlon Michael Bruff, of Fairburn, Georgia, Ramaro Alsworth Higgins, of Los Angeles, California, and Reuben Dunn, of Anderson, South Carolina, were sentenced to federal prison for helping to run a gun trafficking operation, which bought guns in multiple southern states and smuggled them into Canada. Bruff and Higgins were also convicted of conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Four other defendants have also been convicted and sentenced in connection with the case.

Evidence presented to the court showed that in June of 2021, an officer with the Duncan Police Department stopped a Sprinter van traveling north on Interstate 85. A search of the van revealed suitcases containing 73 pistols, including 39 guns with obliterated serial numbers. The driver of the vehicle claimed that she was transporting personal protective equipment (PPE) for APA Logistics, a company owned by Bruff, which was used as a front for criminal activities. Investigators also discovered hidden compartments in the van, which contained marijuana. Bruff was driving alongside the van in a separate vehicle and was not initially arrested.

Over the course of a multi-year investigation led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), law enforcement learned that Bruff, Higgins, Dunn, and several others were involved in a scheme to buy guns in Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina and to smuggle them across the border into Canada, where several of the guns have been recovered in connection with violent crimes. Members of the conspiracy also obtained marijuana from Canada, which was sold in the United States and used to fund the purchase of additional guns. Bruff and Higgins recruited straw purchasers and traveled throughout the United States to transport the guns and traffic marijuana. In May of 2021, they were stopped in North Carolina with over 20 pounds of marijuana and over $37,000.00 in cash. Dunn assisted the organization by acquiring guns, which the smugglers picked up from his home in Anderson, South Carolina. 

“South Carolina will play no part in illegal gun trafficking,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “Our office will continue to work to ensure the safety of our community and our neighbors.”

“Illegal firearms trafficking is a serious threat to communities everywhere,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “ATF and our law enforcement partners continue to make the prevention of illegal firearms sales a top priority. Stopping illegal firearms sales and disrupting gun trafficking networks plays a critical role in preventing violent gun crime and keeping neighborhoods safe.” 

United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins sentenced Bruff to 120 months in prison, Higgins to 48 months in prison, and Dunn to 27 months in prison, with all of the sentences to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Duncan Police Department, and several Canadian law enforcement agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Schoen is prosecuting the case.

*Note: an earlier version of this release included reference to the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in error. It has been removed. 

GREENVILLE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Greenville returned a three-count indictment against Tyler Michael Berlick, 35, of Muskego, Wisconsin, for traveling across state lines with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, transporting a minor across state lines with the intent to engage in sexual conduct, and production of child sexual abuse materials.*

The indictment alleges that in February of this year, Berlick traveled from Wisconsin to South Carolina with the intent to engage in sexual activity with a minor and then traveled with the minor to Florida with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Berlick met the child in an online game and believed she was 13 years old. Berlick is also charged with one count of production of child sexual abuse materials. 

Berlick faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. He is scheduled to be arraigned on May 23 at 10 a.m. before Magistrate Judge Kevin McDonald.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.

The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI Miami Field Office, the Lantana Police Department (Florida), the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (Florida) and the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department (Wisconsin).  Assistant U.S. Attorney Winston Marosek is prosecuting the case. 

U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs stated that all charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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* The term “child pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Joseph Anthony Johnson, 34, of Irmo, was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing fentanyl and for two convictions of felon in possession of a firearm.

On Jan. 24, 2022, according to evidence presented in court, officers with the West Columbia Police Department found Johnson in possession of fentanyl and a loaded .380 caliber handgun with an obliterated serial number.  That firearm was stolen, and Johnson was prohibited from possessing any firearm at the time due to multiple prior felony convictions. Johnson had 19 prior convictions, including for assault and battery 3rd degree, methamphetamine distribution, seven drug possessions, an illegal firearm possession, resisting arrest, failure to stop on police command, and financial transaction card theft.  

On Feb. 15, 2022, and again on Feb. 24, 2022, while out on bond for the conduct above, Johnson sold heroin and another loaded .380 caliber pistols to an undercover source.  Johnson was armed with a firearm in his waistband during one of the drug transactions.  On July 22, 2022, when Johnson was arrested for the conduct above, he was again found with heroin and fentanyl.

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Johnson to 11 years in federal prison with six years of court-ordered supervision to follow. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the West Columbia Police Department, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliott B. Daniels prosecuted the case.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — Ashlee Richardson-Barley, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison after pleading guilty to her role in smuggling contraband into the Federal Correctional Institution, Estill (“FCI Estill”), located in Estill, South Carolina. 

Evidence presented to the court showed that while Richardson-Barley was employed as a correctional officer at FCI Estill and between November 2019 and April 2020 she smuggled contraband, to include cigarettes, marijuana, cellphones, and suboxone, into FCI Estill.  In exchange for the bringing the contraband into the facility, she was paid approximately $15,700.00 by inmates. 

“Federal employees, especially those who enforce the law, are held to a higher standard,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “ This sentence sends a clear message that no one is above the law, and we will prosecute those who threaten the safety of our correctional facilities.”

“Contraband, including cell phones, in prisons can be dangerous weapons. The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General is committed to bringing to justice any correctional officer that violates their oath and smuggles contraband into federal prison facilities,” said Eric R. Fehlman, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Southeast Region. 

United States District Judge David Norton sentenced Richardson-Barley to one year and one day imprisonment, to be followed by a one-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Winston Marosek and Amy Bower are prosecuting the case.

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GREENVILLE, S.C. — Javarius G. Teague, age 31, of Greenville, was sentenced to 33 months for his role in laundering extorted funds. 

Evidence presented to the court showed that Teague, while incarcerated in the South Carolina Department of Corrections, led a conspiracy to conceal the source of extorted funds. The extortion involved servicemen who were beguiled into sending compromising photos of themselves to women they met on dating sites. The servicemen would be confronted by an extortioner claiming to be the woman’s father and alleging she was underage. The extortioner then demanded money and threatened that if money was not paid a report would be made to law enforcement or military authorities. The service member would send money via MoneyGram or a similar service and Teague’s co-conspirators, at his instruction, would collect that money at MoneyGram locations in South Carolina. This money would be passed on to other members of the conspiracy and Teague through Green Dot and J Pay. The extortion came to light in December 2017 when a service member died from suicide rather than pay the money demanded by fraudsters.

United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain sentenced Teague and ordered him to pay $2,210 in restitution. 

This case was investigated by the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division with assistance from the South Carolina Department of Corrections. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins prosecuted the case. 

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SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Logan Holmes, 21, of Piedmont, was sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison, and Christian Cruz, 28, of Enoree was sentenced to more than eight years after both pled guilty to a drug trafficking conspiracy involving cocaine and methamphetamine.

Evidence presented to the court showed that Logan Holmes was a source of supply for kilograms of methamphetamine, and Christian Cruz was a source of supply for kilograms of cocaine to co-conspirators in the case. Holmes was on home detention for a state conviction of possession with intent to distribute cocaine at the time he was supplying others in this conspiracy with methamphetamine. When state officers executed arrest and search warrants at Holmes’ residence, they located methamphetamine and five guns, two of which were stolen. When law enforcement conducted a search warrant at Cruz’s house, officers found another five guns, including an unregistered short barrel rifle.

United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins sentenced Logan Holmes to 135 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. Judge Coggins sentenced Christian Cruz to 98 months imprisonment, to be followed by a four-year term of supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit, and Anderson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Schoen is prosecuting the case.

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A South Carolina man was sentenced today for obstructing an investigation into the December 2019 murder of a transgender woman.

Xavier Pinckney, 24, was sentenced to 45 months in prison for providing false and misleading information to state authorities investigating the murder of Dime Doe. He previously pleaded guilty on Oct 26, 2023.

“The defendant’s sentence is part of our effort to fully seek justice and accountability following the tragic murder of a Black transgender woman,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The message should be clear: The Justice Department will fully investigate and prosecute those who target the Black transgender community and that includes those who unlawfully obstruct investigations into these heinous crimes. We want the Black trans community to know that we stand with the LGBTQI+ community, we reject transphobic-fueled violence, and that we will seek justice for victims and their families.”

“Pinckney’s obstruction delayed our investigation and delayed justice for Dime Doe,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “Fortunately, Pinckney confessed his lies and his role in the coverup of her murder. This sentence underscores that no one who stands in the way of justice will go unpunished.”

“Pinckney’s obstructive actions delayed justice for Dime Doe and accountability for his co-defendant,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Jensen of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “No matter the obstacle, the FBI and our law enforcement partners are poised to defend the rights and protections of all citizens, and those who engage in criminal activity will be met with the full weight of our investigative and prosecutorial power.”

According to court documents, Pinckney admitted that he concealed from the state authorities the use of his phone to call and text Doe the day of her murder, and he lied to state investigators about seeing his co-defendant, Daqua Ritter, on the morning of Doe’s murder. Ritter was convicted of a hate crime, firearms charge and obstruction of justice in a jury trial arising out of the Ritter’s murder of Doe. Ritter was the first defendant to be found guilty by trial verdict for a hate crime motivated by gender identity under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

The FBI Columbia Field Office investigated the case, with the assistance of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Allendale County Sheriff’s Office and Allendale Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brook Andrews, Ben Garner and Elle Klein for the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorney Andrew Manns of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.

FLORENCE, S.C. — Tyquan Raheem Bellamy, 30, of Sellers, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and marijuana.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on Jan. 15, 2022, officers with Latta Police Department made a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Bellamy. As they approached the vehicle, officers smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and noticed a trash bag between Bellamy’s feet. A search of the vehicle revealed that the trash bag contained approximately 25 grams of marijuana divided amongst several baggies. Officers also found in the car a loaded 9mm handgun with an extended magazine and two additional magazines, and pills which contained methamphetamine and fentanyl. 

Chief United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell sentenced Bellamy to 180 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was investigated by Latta Police Department, Florence County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn is prosecuting the case.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — Da’Shawn Marquis Richards, 25, of North Charleston, was sentenced to more than three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon.

Evidence presented to the court showed that Richards was wanted for murder and attempted murder Charleston County in November 2021. During his arrest on those charges, law enforcement officials found a loaded handgun with an extended magazine in his vehicle. Later, on March 22, 2023, during another encounter with law enforcement while out on bond for the murder and attempted murder charges, officers searched his car again and located another loaded handgun.

United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Richards to 46 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of court-ordered supervision. This was the maximum sentence based on the applicable sentencing guideline range.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI Columbia Field Office, and the North Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case.

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SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Bernardino de Jesus Ramirez-Ramirez, a/k/a Carlos Mendoza, 35, of Guatemala, pleaded guilty to kidnapping and illegal transportation of an alien following two days of trial in federal court.

Evidence introduced during the trial revealed that in October 2022, Ramirez paid for a 16-year-old girl to be smuggled into the United States from Guatemala. Ramirez directed the minor’s journey into the United States. He instructed her to turn herself in to immigration officials after she crossed the border and provide them his name and contact information as the person who was supposed to receive her. The minor was taken into the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement and placed in a shelter for unaccompanied alien children.

Officials at the shelter learned that the minor was not related to Ramirez and had never met him before, that he had paid her smuggling debt, and that he had work lined up for her in the United States.  They determined Ramirez posed a risk of labor trafficking and was not a suitable sponsor for the minor. In March 2023, they released the minor to an uncle in South Carolina.

A forensic examination of Ramirez’s phone revealed that he was fixated on gaining control over the minor. For months, he exchanged messages with members of the minor’s family regarding her smuggling debt and indicating he would do whatever it took to get her into his custody.  He told the minor that because of the “favor” he extended her in helping her get to the United States, she had to live with him. He also told her that if she stayed with her uncle in South Carolina, her smuggling debt, and the interest on it, would increase. 

On April 5, 2023, Ramirez drove from Missouri to the victim’s home in South Carolina and told her that if she did not come with him, she would be deported back to Guatemala. The victim, believing her debt would be increased and she would be deported if she did not go along, agreed to leave with Ramirez. He drove her to his home in Kansas City, Missouri, where she was recovered by law enforcement officials the following day. 

“Every child deserves to grow up in a safe environment, free from the threat of harm,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “Crimes that exploit and endanger our young people will be met with swift accountability.”

“Finding and stopping predators like Ramirez, who seek to exploit minors, is one of the highest priorities of our office,” said Kyle D. Burns, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Charlotte that covers North and South Carolina. “Rescuing this victim saved her from unspeakable horrors and I am thankful for the great work done on this case and the amazing support of our law enforcement partners.”

Ramirez faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $500,000 and at least three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins presided over the trial, accepted the guilty plea, and will sentence Ramirez after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the Newberry Police Department, with assistance from the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carrie Fisher Sherard and Kathleen Stoughton are prosecuting the case.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Franklin Valverde Jr., 40, of Melbourne, Florida was sentenced to one year and one day after pleading guilty to providing illegal access to digital streaming services. The conviction is believed to be the first in the nation under the “Protecting Lawful Streaming Act” (PLSA) that went into effect in 2021.

Evidence presented to the court showed that Valverde made hundreds of thousands of dollars illegally selling access codes to individuals that allowed them to view the entire video libraries of Dish Network and Sling TV. Valverde is now retired from the Air Force but was stationed at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter when he began his involvement in the scheme to illegally sell the access codes. According to evidence presented before the court, Valverde sold access codes to individuals, typically for $10 per month. The codes allowed the customers to illegally access all the copyrighted content of Dish Network and Sling TV, including pay-per-view sporting events, movies, and television programs. Valverde also provided websites and apps to his customers so that they could view the copyrighted materials.

The PLSA was introduced in Congress in 2020 as a provision of the Covid-19 Stimulus Bill. The purpose of PLSA is to punish commercial, for-profit streaming piracy services that make money from illegally streaming copyrighted material. The PLSA specifically does not criminalize users of the illegal apps.

United States District Judge Mary G. Lewis sentenced Valverde to 12 months and one day imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. Valverde was also ordered to pay $22,639.27 in restitution, plus a fine of $250,000. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney T. DeWayne Pearson is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Casey William Degolyer, 48, of Blair, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to threatening interstate communications.

Evidence presented in court showed that the FBI received numerous complaints regarding Degolyer’s posts on social media. Degolyer posted almost daily calling for the execution of public officials, including the need to hang certain public office holders from a rope, killing law enforcement and their families, dragging judges and their family “out of their households” to be “brutalized in the streets,” opposing the government by violence and force, and killing members of certain racial and ethnic groups. Degolyer targeted both specific public office holders and groups of people based on their jobs or ethnicity. He wrote that he was “about to go dark and take action.”  Degolyer’s threats continued even after being contacted by law enforcement.

Degolyer has prior convictions for criminal domestic violence, violating an order of protection, violating a restraining order, and unlawful use of a telephone.  When he was arrested, he was found with four firearms and ammunition, which he was not allowed to possess under federal law.

Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Degolyer to 18 months imprisonment, a sentence that was above the advisory sentencing guidelines, to be followed by three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office with support from the U.S. Secret Service, the York County Sheriff’s Office, the Rock Hill Police Department, and the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliott B. Daniels prosecuted the case.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — Elisha Shaleel Patterson, 21, of Charleston, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon.

Evidence presented to the court showed that Patterson gathered with a large group of individuals to gamble on Allway Street in downtown Charleston on April 24, 2022. Investigators were paying close attention to the area after a shooting occurred there the previous day. Investigators observed Patterson remove a firearm from his pants and place it in a vehicle. Once investigators arrived, they located the firearm, which was reported stolen, a digital scale, and marijuana. Patterson is federally prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition because of his previous felony conviction.

United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Patterson to 57 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of court-ordered supervision.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Charleston Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case.

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Warren Lamar Forrest, 32, of North Charleston, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm after a felony conviction, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Evidence presented to the court showed that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted a search warrant at Forrest’s residence. While searching his specific room, law enforcement located a black bag that contained a stolen loaded 9mm pistol, three 9mm caliber magazines, an assault rifle, two assault rifle magazines, two digital scales, plastic baggies and a pound and a half of marijuana. Forrest is federally prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition because of multiple prior felony convictions.

United States District Judge Bruce Hendricks sentenced Forrest to 12 years imprisonment, to be followed by a four-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This prosecution is part of Operation Yellow Jacket which is an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

This case was investigated by the ATF, FBI Columbia Field Office, North Charleston Police Department, and Charleston County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Together with state and federal partners, U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs announced the formation of the Palmetto Health Care Fraud Task Force (PHCF Task Force), which has been created as a dedicated task force to combat health care fraud and recover taxpayer money in the District of South Carolina through criminal and civil actions. Other agencies that have joined the PHCF Task Force include investigators from the Department of Labor and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.  

In February 2023, the FBI, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, and other federal, state, and local agency partners began meeting as part of a Health Care Fraud Working Group with the goal of combatting health care fraud in the District of South Carolina. The PHCF Task Force was created after the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office saw great success from the Working Group meetings. The creation of the PHCF Task Force demonstrates an increased effort to bring to justice those who defraud the health care system, to deter future health care fraud and abuse, and to promote trust in the healthcare system. Additional resources available to the PHCF Task Force will include the FBI's Data Analytics Response Team (DART), numerous forensic accountants, and Intelligence Analysts from various agencies, which all will promote efficiency in prosecuting cases.

Health care fraud is an enormous burden on South Carolina taxpayers. In 2023, taxpayer funded healthcare programs spent approximately $23 billion in South Carolina alone. Although it is difficult to approximate the amount of money lost to waste, fraud, and abuse each year, the Government Accountability Office estimates it could be as much as 10% of money spent. The PHCF Task Force will better equip the United States to detect wrongdoers and recoup money lost to fraud in South Carolina—which costs taxpayers billions each year. 

The PHCF Task Force and agencies involved in the Health Care Fraud Working Group will meet regularly to aggressively investigate allegations of false billings, COVID-19 fraud, violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, and other schemes that victimize patients, health care providers, private insurers, and government insurers, such as Medicare, TRICARE, and Medicaid, in the District of South Carolina.

“Health care fraud impacts our citizens, both as patients and taxpayers,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “The Palmetto Health Care Fraud Task Force demonstrates our commitment to working with our partners to protect those seeking quality medical care and the federal programs meant to support them. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina commends our partners for the creation of the Palmetto Health Care Fraud Task Force and will continue to vigorously prosecute and pursue those who abuse and take advantage of health care programs.”

“Fraud committed within our health systems affects everyone and weakens public trust,” said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “The FBI created the PCHF Task Force to bolster the local, state, and federal posture against health care fraud, and it will enhance our investigative approaches to hold offenders accountable. We appreciate our federal and state partners that have joined the task force in this effort.”

“We welcome the PHCF Task Force and will continue to assist investigative partners combatting health care fraud,” said Tamala E. Miles, Special Agent in Charge with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). "Our unwavering commitment at HHS-OIG remains steadfast in protecting Medicare, Medicaid, and the well-being of their beneficiaries from fraudulent schemes. The impact of defrauding federal health care programs diverts crucial resources from those deserving of vital medical attention and will not be tolerated."

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina anticipates broader enforcement as a result of the PHCF Task Force, building on its past success. For example, in April 2019, the District of South Carolina announced its participation in a nationwide operation aimed at dismantling one of the largest Medicare fraud schemes in history. In March 2024, one of the Defendants, Andrew Chmiel, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for his role in this scheme.  The District of South Carolina also recently announced the successful prosecution of Jeffrey Brooks for submitting false durable medical equipment claims. Mr. Brooks pled guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and was sentenced to seven and a half years in federal prison. He also paid $850,000 to the United States as part of a civil settlement. 

If you suspect healthcare fraud, please report it by phone at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Gregory Ellison, 42, of Orangeburg, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to assault on a federal employee.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on March 20, 2023, a U.S. Postal Mail Carrier stopped to deliver mail at a daycare facility in Orangeburg. Ellison, who had a prior relationship with the carrier, arrived at the facility. When Ellison arrived, the carrier tried to escape into the daycare, but Ellison caught her and began assaulting her inside of the facility where children and workers were present.

The carrier convinced Ellison to leave the premises and talk outside. Once outside, Ellison pinned her against the mail truck, ripped out her earing, and took her cell phone. The carrier managed to distract Ellison long enough to jump into her mail truck and drive away. However, Ellison caught up to the truck, punched the carrier in the head, and pulled her out of the moving vehicle by her hair causing her to land on dirt and concrete resulting in visible injuries. The truck continued to roll and crashed into a nearby ditch.

Further investigation revealed that Ellison previously visited the carrier’s place of employment multiple times in the weeks leading up to the assault. Additionally, Ellison’s social media revealed he had sent multiple messages to the victim before and after the assault threatening to kill her with a firearm. Prior to the assault, he also sent messages to two other individuals asking for a firearm. Ellison has prior convictions for domestic violence 3rd degree and harassment 2nd degree.

“Keeping our citizens, and federal workers, safe is a core to our mission,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “Such intentional violence against federal workers will be prosecuted.”

“While this incident stemmed from domestic violence, this sentencing clearly illustrates that individuals who endanger the safety and wellbeing of USPS workers will be held accountable for their actions,” said Tommy D. Coke, Inspector-in-Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Ellison to 40 months' imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office, and the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall is prosecuting the case.

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Omar Sexton, 43, of Charleston, was sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.

Evidence presented to the court showed that a K-9 trained to detect narcotics alerted on a package at a mail shipping center in Louisville, Kentucky. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the package and discovered the package contained approximately one kilogram of a white powdery substance that was determined to be cocaine, and what appeared to be mushrooms and marijuana. The package was shipped from Los Angeles, California on June 19, 2023, and was addressed to a residence in North Charleston. The government obtained surveillance footage of Sexton shipping the package at the shipping center. 

Airline records also indicated Sexton travelled between Charleston and Los Angeles several times during the summer of 2023, including from Los Angeles to Charleston on June 19, 2023.  Phone records indicated that the subscriber of the phone number on the package was Omar Sexton. SC DMV records showed that Omar Sexton resided at the same address to which the package was sent. 

United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Sexton to 60 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a four-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Holmes is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Eric Rashun Jones, 31, of Newberry, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to human trafficking conspiracy, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and witness tampering.

Evidence presented in court showed that from August 2018 through November 2022, Jones violently exploited women in the commercial sex trade for his financial gain. He did so by means of physical violence and force, including beating victims with a pistol and other objects and hitting victims with closed fists causing victims multiple surgeries, hospitalizations, broken bones and teeth, permanent injuries, and scarring. He also directed and recorded on his phone the assault of many victims, preventing victims from trusting others involved in the Jones conspiracy. He also used sexual violence, including compelling women to engage in sex acts against their will. 

He abducted two of his victims and restrained them for multiple days. He introduced drugs to some victims, promoted the drug addictions of others, including fentanyl, and exploited withdrawal symptoms to coerce commercial sex. He used fear and threats of violence and death of victims spoke with the police. He used fraud, including recruiting victims under false pretenses, and high levels of control, including controlling how many victims worked, ate, showered, travelled, spent money, who they spoke to, and access to phones. He isolated his victims from others, and tattooed many with his name, which victims described as Jones signifying ownership. 

After initially splitting commercial sex proceeds, Jones commonly confiscated proceeds for his financial gain. Evidence presented indicated 19 women were connected to the conspiracy he led, many of whom were identified as victims in the case. Victims described fearing Jones would kill them, feeling trapped, and feeling like they had no option to leave. He also tampered and interfered with the investigation by directing victims to not speak with agents and threatening to harm their families if they did.  

“Our office will continue to bring every resource to bear to vindicate victims’ rights and hold traffickers like Jones accountable,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina.  “The cruelty, violence, and exploitation Jones showed his victims has no place in our society, and we are grateful for the accountably he’s received. I want to particularly acknowledge the courage and resilience of the victims and the hard work of law enforcement to see this case through.”

“Jones’ crimes revealed the depth of human depravity and outright evil he casually and continuously imposed upon his victims,” said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “His heinous crimes yielded lifelong trauma that will be hard to reverse. This stiff sentence of justice removes him from the innocent victims’ lives and places him where he will no longer be able to inflict harm. The FBI is grateful for our local law enforcement partners for conducting this joint comprehensive investigation to hold this violent offender accountable. We also recognize the diligent work of the Victim Specialists who supported and continue to support the victims with valuable resources.”

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Jones to 40 years imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime term of court-ordered supervision, no contact with victims, and $65,000 in restitution payable to eight victims. There is no parole in the federal system. Jones’ co-defendant, Brittany Cromer, previously pleaded guilty to human trafficking conspiracy, and was sentenced to five years earlier this month.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, with assistance from the Simpsonville Police Department, Greenville Police Department, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, Newberry Police Department, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Carolina Department of Corrections.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and Elle E. Klein prosecuted the case.

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COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA — Sharif Ahmad Laguda, 32, of Rock Hill, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Evidence presented to the Court showed that in the early morning hours of July 31, 2022, Laguda was driving to his home when he was involved in a traffic incident with another motorist. During the encounter, Laguda retrieved a 9mm pistol from his car and fired the pistol at the other motorist’s car, striking the car five times. Laguda later turned over the pistol to Rock Hill Police Department investigators.

Laguda was prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition based on a 2010 conviction for two counts of assault and battery with intent to kill. 

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced James to 57 months in prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system. 

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime.  Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.  As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Rock Hill Police Department (RHPD). Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Taylor is prosecuting the case.

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