District of South Carolina

GREENVILLE, S.C. —A federal grand jury returned a single-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Michael C. Gresham, 77, of Spartanburg, with assaulting and intimidating a federal employee.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on Nov. 12, 2025, a mail carrier was delivering mail to Gresham’s residence in Spartanburg.  As the mail carrier approached Gresham’s home, the mail carrier observed Gresham in the doorway with a firearm in his hand. Gresham opened a storm door and pointed the gun at the mail carrier. As the mail carrier ran from the home, he reported hearing one gunshot coming from the homeowner.

“Postal workers connect our communities every day through their service, and their safety is non-negotiable,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “We will continue to work closely with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to ensure that anyone who threatens or harms these dedicated workers is held accountable.”

“Let this indictment serve as a reminder that the safety of all USPS employees remains one of the top priorities of the United States Postal Inspection Service,” said Atlanta Division Inspector in Charge Rodney Hopkins. “A mail carrier’s job is one of hard work and dedication and should be free from threats of violence while they carry out their duties.” 

Gresham faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Lothrop Morris is prosecuting the case. 

 All charges in an indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Derrick Gathers, 40, of Augusta, Georgia, has pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to statements made in court, on August 16, 2023, Trooper Frazier with the South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) stopped Gathers for speeding on Highway 78 in Bamberg County. Gathers gave Trooper Frazier a license and vehicle registration, and Trooper Frazier took those items back to his patrol vehicle to run a routine records check. Trooper Frazier had concerns about the driver’s license, and when Trooper Frazier reapproached the driver’s side of the vehicle to investigate, Gathers pulled out a firearm, shot trooper Frazier in the face, and sped away. A Bamberg County Sheriff’s Department (BCSD) deputy was providing support during the traffic stop, and both officers returned fire at Gather’s fleeing vehicle. Gather’s fleeing vehicle was located by law enforcement, including members of the Bamberg Police Department, SCHP, and BCSD. During the chase, Gathers lost control of the vehicle and crashed in Branchville. Gathers was thereafter taken into custody.

The Dorchester County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant on the vehicle and found a pistol loaded with 9mm ammunition under the brake pedal. SLED matched the recovered pistol to one of the fired cartridge casings left at the scene of the initial traffic stop.

Gathers has previous felony convictions for 3rd degree rape and 2nd degree criminal possession of a weapon from the state of New York, which both prevent him from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

The State Trooper, Lance Corporal Frazier, has fully recovered from the injuries he sustained during the incident.

Gathers faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and a term of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment.  United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Gathers after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office, the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bamberg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar Fyall is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. --Demetrius McIlwain, 51, of Williston, has pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed deputies with the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office responded to a location looking for a suspect alleged to have committed domestic violence. During their investigation, deputies found McIlwain in the driver’s seat of a running vehicle and a female in the passenger seat. The deputy attempted to identify McIlwain to determine if he was involved in the incident, but McIlwain refused to cooperate. When deputies asked McIlwain to step out of the vehicle, he told them that there was a shotgun in the vehicle, then he immediately drove away. After McIlwain tried to evade the deputies, he wrecked his truck and ran.

During a search of the vehicle, deputies found an AR style pistol in the front seat, a shotgun in the back seat, and a third firearm in a toolbox in the vehicle. Deputies also found a small amount of fentanyl in the driver’s side cupholder. The passenger later identified McIlwain as the driver, and deputies further connected him to the vehicle from paperwork found inside of the truck.  McIlwain was later arrested and admitted he was the driver of the vehicle.

McIlwain is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition based upon prior criminal convictions for grand larceny, burglary 2nd non-violent, criminal sexual conduct 2nd degree, burglary 1st, burglary 2nd degree, malicious injury to personal property, and assault and battery with intent to kill.

McIlwain faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted the guilty plea and will sentence McIlwain after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

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 Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Justin Isiah Hawkins, 35, and Emmanuel Lee Baldwin, 35, both of Gastonia, North Carolina have been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for a money laundering conspiracy involving theft from the United States Treasury.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Hawkins and Baldwin conspired with each other to fraudulently alter a legitimate U.S. Treasury check intended for a business based in New Hampshire. Hawkins and Baldwin altered the $191,456.30 check by making it payable to Baldwin. Baldwin previously opened a bank account in Rock Hill using a forged check from another institution. The pair deposited the Treasury check into Baldwin’s account and then laundered the money by sending it to a New York-based LLC controlled by Hawkins. The pair used the money for personal expenses, including a vehicle Baldwin purchased with the stolen funds. 

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Hawkins to 37 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  Judge Lydon sentenced Baldwin to 41 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Although a potential fine was waived, they were ordered to pay $194,075.01 in restitution to the U.S. Treasury and Bank of America. Hawkins and Baldwin are joint and severally liable for the restitution.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Rock Hill Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews prosecuted the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury has indicted Gregory L. Tischuk, 65, of Fort Mill, for the straw purchase of a firearm.

The indictment alleges that in April 2024, when Tischuk purchased a firearm from a large retailer, he lied about who the firearm was for, in violation the Firearms Transaction Record Form 4473. The Form requires buyers to affirm they are purchasing the firearm for themselves.

Tischuk faces a maximum penalty of 10 years, a fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of no more than three years in addition to any term of imprisonment, plus a special assessment of $100. Tischuk has been released on bond.

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

All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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FLORENCE, S.C.—Oliver Austin Thomas, III, 50, formerly of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, now residing in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been sentenced to more than a year in federal prison for failure to file an income tax return and tax evasion.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in 2020 and continuing into 2021 and 2022, Thomas gambled at several casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada, resulting in substantial winnings. Thomas then attempted to evade paying income taxes on his winnings by providing false social security numbers to casinos to hide the gambling income. During the investigation, Thomas denied using another individual’s social security number when interviewed by IRS agents. Thomas failed to file a tax return for tax years 2020, 2021, and 2022, despite having enough income to trigger a filing requirement, resulting in a tax loss of $446,072.    

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Thomas to a total term of 15 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 Thomas to pay $446,072 in restitution. 

“By willfully evading tax responsibilities, this defendant isn’t just cheating the government, but he is also shifting the burden of maintaining our nation’s taxpayer funded systems onto the shoulders of honest, hardworking Americans,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina.  “Our office remains committed to ensuring that the law applies equally to everyone, and we will continue to prosecute those who attempt to bypass their civic duties for personal gain.”

“It’s important for the American people to know everyone is complying with their tax obligations,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, Charlotte Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “This sentence is a positive message to honest taxpayers and further exhibits the partnership between IRS-CI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office who are committed to protecting the integrity of the tax system and ensure compliance with their tax obligations.”

This case was investigated by the IRS-CI Charlotte Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hummel prosecuted the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Brandon Chanell Joyner, 29, of Columbia, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm during a 2023 shooting on Greystone Boulevard in Columbia.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on July 18, 2023, law enforcement responded to the corner of Greystone Boulevard and Stoneridge Drive regarding witnesses seeing a man shooting a gun into the air.  Joyner saw a police car nearby and fired three shots, which hit the vehicle.  Additional units responded and pursued Joyner. He then abruptly turned and fired several shots at the group of police cars. Joyner retreated to his hotel room where he reloaded his firearm and began shooting again. Law enforcement eventually returned fire and struck the defendant in the back. The defendant again retreated to his hotel room, changed clothes, and then exited the room.  He made contact with police and told them he was an innocent bystander. Officers determined he was the shooter and immediately placed him under arrest.  Law enforcement recovered a 9mm pistol from the parking lot of the hotel where Joyner was staying. Joyner’s DNA was found on the gun. Testing showed the casings recovered at the scene matched casings from the firearm recovered from the hotel.

Joyner has previous felony convictions that prevent him from lawfully possessing a firearm.

United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr sentenced Joyner to 180 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Joyner was sentenced to 25 years in state prison after pleading guilty to 10 counts of attempted murder. These sentences will run concurrently.

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, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Columbia Police Department and the Richland County Sheriff's Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Elizabeth Major prosecuted the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Doron Guider, 27, of Columbia, has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On Jan. 9, 2025, Columbia Police officers responded to a complaint about a man with a handgun at an extended stay hotel on Forest Drive. Officers circled the area and went to a nearby store where the manager and an employee stated that the man, later determined to be Guider, had entered the business. With the help of the business’s employees, officers reviewed surveillance video and saw Guider enter the store. Officers searched the store and found Guider, who had changed into clothing marked for sale. Further review of the surveillance video revealed that Guider had hidden the handgun between two pallets in the store, along with his original clothing. Officers were able to recover the handgun and the clothing.

Guider has prior convictions for strong arm robbery, breaking into a motor vehicle, and two counts of possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a violent felony, all of which prohibit him from possessing a firearm under federal law.

United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Guider to 46 total 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the City of Columbia Police Department, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall prosecuted the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C.— Phillip O’Neal McCoy, 45, of West Columbia, has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Evidence presented in court revealed that agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives identified McCoy as a felon involved in the unlawful sale of firearms and narcotics in the West Columbia area. On Jan. 5, 2024, McCoy distributed a quantity of crack cocaine while also in possession of additional controlled substances. Five days later, on Jan. 10, 2024, McCoy sold a loaded semiautomatic pistol while in possession of additional controlled substances.

Federal law prohibits McCoy from possessing firearms and ammunition based on prior convictions for pointing and presenting a firearm, first-degree assault and battery, domestic violence, and multiple convictions for distributing various controlled substances. McCoy was also on probation at the time of this federal offense.

U.S. District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Phillip O’Neal McCoy to 77 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the West Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — Carlin M. Krause, 28, of Roanoke, Virginia, has been sentenced to more than 16 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor and transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in October 2024, Krause began communicating with a 13-year-old girl over social media. Krause requested that the minor send him child sexual abuse material. He also informed her that he planned to travel from Virginia to South Carolina and bring her back to Virginia to have sex with her.

On Oct. 17, 2024, Krause drove from Roanoke, Virginia, to South Carolina to pick up the minor. After Krause picked her up, he began driving her back to Virginia, but law enforcement apprehended him before he made it home.

United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks sentenced Krause to 195 months imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

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 FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cole Shannon prosecuted the case.

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GREENVILLE, S.C. — David Dustin Fowler, 41, of Gaffney, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in November 2024 Fowler sought and located his estranged wife. He then fired a shotgun at her multiple times, causing her to lose three fingers and sustain other significant injuries requiring medical treatment. Cherokee County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene and found Fowler standing over the victim with a shotgun in his hand. After deputies arrested Fowler, they found an additional firearm in his truck.

Fowler has a prior felony conviction for criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature that prohibits him from possessing firearms.

United States District Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin sentenced Fowler 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 was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Seventh Circuit Solicitor’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Max Cauthen prosecuted the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Donovan Jackson, 32, of Columbia, has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on May 18, 2023, employees of a plasma donation center on Decker Blvd. called 911 because Jackson arrived to donate plasma with a firearm inside the front pocket of his sweatshirt. Deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department responded to the center, detained Jackson, and seized the firearm from his clothing.

Jackson has a prior conviction for furnishing contraband to an inmate which prevents him from possessing a firearm under federal law. He was on probation for this offense at the time of the incident. Jackson also participated in the May 2022 Ceasefire program hosted by the City of Columbia Police Department. The Ceasefire program identifies prior offenders who are at risk of future firearms offenses and introduces them to community resources such as substance abuse treatment and employment services. During participation in the program, law enforcement emphasizes the likelihood of future state and federal prosecution if participants, like Jackson, reoffend.

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

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

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Luz Granados, 34, and Johan Gonzalez-Jimenez, 40, both illegal aliens residing in the United States are set to be deported after being convicted of conspiracy and computer crimes in an ATM Jackpotting scheme.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that that Jimenez and Granados targeted older model Automated Teller Machines (ATM) throughout the southeastern United States to steal money after business hours. The defendants would approach an ATM at nighttime and remove the outer casing of the machine and then connect a laptop computer to install malware which overcame the ATM’s security protocols. Once installed, the ATMs dispersed cash to the perpetrators until the ATM’s funds are exhausted. The dispersed funds were not tethered to any specific customer accounts but rather taken from the bank that owned the ATM. Targets included banks in Rock Hill and Columbia, as well as Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia.

The District of South Carolina also provided information from this case to the District of Nebraska which aided in their indictment of 54 people in a similar ATM jackpotting scheme.

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Granados to time served and she remains in custody awaiting deportation. She was also ordered to pay $126,340 in restitution. Gonzalez-Jimenez was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and was ordered to pay $285,100 in restitution. He will be deported once his sentence is complete.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division's Computer Crime Center, the Rock Hill Police Department, and the West Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews prosecuted the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Cynthia Delores Holland, 62, of Aiken, has been sentenced to one year and one month in federal prison for theft of government funds from the Social Security Administration.

At trial, the Government proved that Holland improperly obtained her mother’s retirement benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) after her mother’s death in 2013. Those benefits continued to be paid by mistake into a joint account held by Holland and her mother. Rather than notify the SSA of the error, Holland moved the money into her personal account and spent it on personal expenses. Her theft took place until December 2022, when the error was discovered by the SSA, and the benefits were terminated. During that near-decade long span, Holland received over $168,000.

The discrepancy was identified in 2021 by the SSA during its Death Match Project. As part of the project, the SSA requested death verifications from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control going back to 2005, then compared those records with the list of SSA retirement beneficiaries. Holland’s mother’s name was on the list, which initiated the investigation.

United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. sentenced Holland to 13 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 Holland to repay to the Social Security Administration any remaining portion of the converted money not previously recouped.

This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Winston Holliday, Scott Matthews and Kerry McTigue prosecuted the case.

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FLORENCE, S.C. — According to an arrest warrant unsealed today, Ahmad Z’yiem Guilford, 21, of Georgetown, has been charged with making threats toward numerous aviation-related businesses across South Carolina, and with lying to federal agents about making the threats.  

According to the criminal complaint, beginning around November 2025 several local law enforcement authorities began receiving complaints from flight schools and aviation businesses located at airports in Charleston, Georgetown, and Florence.  The complainants stated that a caller was utilizing different phone numbers to make violent and graphic threats to both the airports and to the individuals who answered the phone calls.  The complainants provided authorities with several recorded calls which demonstrate the threats being made. For example, on or about Nov. 14, 2025, the caller stated that he was going to rape a female employee of a Charleston area flight school who answered his phone call, threatened to “shoot up” the Charleston and Georgetown airports, and taunted authorities stating, “you can’t find me!” Additionally, on or about Dec. 18, 2025, the same individual called a business at the Florence airport and stated that he was going to “shoot that *** up.”  He stated that “y’all can’t find me … because I’m making different numbers…”  He further stated, “I’m never going to stop doing that ***. I’m going to flood y’alls ***. Watch.” 

The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force became involved and determined that the threats to all three of the airports were coming from one individual that they identified as Guilford. Investigators learned that he was using websites to generate fictitious cell phone numbers that were used when making the threatening phone calls. 

On Dec. 23, 2025, agents went to Guilford’s house, which was located near the Georgetown airport, to interview him.  According to the complaint, Guilford admitted to having an issue with the noise created by airplanes flying over his residence and stated that he travelled to the Georgetown airport and revved his engine in retaliation for the noise, but he denied making the threatening phone calls.  Agents recognized, however, that his voice and speech patterns appeared to match the recorded calls, and he admitted that it sounded like his voice on the phone. 

Guilford is currently charged with making interstate threats and making false statements to a federal agent. He made an initial appearance in federal court in Florence on Jan. 20 and is currently detained pending further proceedings in this matter. A detention hearing has been set for Jan. 23 at 10:30 a.m.  He faces up to five years in federal prison as to each violation if he is convicted. 

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force with support from Georgetown Country Sheriff’s Office, Georgetown Police Department, North Charleston Police Department, Florence Regional Airport Department of Public Safety.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Everett McMillian is prosecuting the case.

 All charges in the complaint are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jalik Shykeil Tucker, 31, of Sumter, has been sentenced to more than 19 years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and a quantity of cocaine and crack cocaine.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in March 2023, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office began a joint investigation after receiving information that Tucker was selling large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl in both counties. 

RCSD deputies made several undercover buys of methamphetamine and fentanyl from Tucker over a three-week period. During this same time, law enforcement was able to identify two locations in Sumter County and one location in Richland County that Tucker was using for storing and distribution of his drugs. They obtained search warrants for all three locations. 

During the execution of the search warrants, law enforcement found more than $25,000 cash, including money they paid in purchasing the drugs. They also found methamphetamine, fentanyl, fluorofentanyl, firearms, heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, digital scales, baking soda used in the making of crack cocaine, sandwich bags used in the distribution of the drugs, and an electric mixer also used in drug distribution.

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Tucker to 235 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, Richland County Sheriff’s Department and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — James O. Helms, 73, of Chapin, was sentenced to five years of probation after pleading guilty to conspiracy to engage in illegal gambling business.

Evidence presented to the court showed that Helms was a partner of a large-scale gambling organization in Lexington. The video poker operation at times made up to $100,000 per week, according to an indictment in the case. The operation was open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily and necessitated two shifts of workers to oversee the business. The illegal scheme was operated directly from codefendant Fred McCary’s home and other buildings on his property.

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Helms to five years of probation.  There is no parole in the federal system. McCary, 63, of Gaston, was previously sentenced to six months in prison and six months home confinement.

This case was investigated by United States Secret Service and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lothrop Morris is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Robert John “RJ” May, III, 39, of West Columbia, has been sentenced to more than 17 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing child sexual abuse material.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in May 2024 the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tip indicated that on March 31, 2024, 50 videos containing child sexual abuse material were uploaded using Kik, a mobile file sharing application, from a West Columbia IP address. LCSD executed search warrants to determine where the videos originated and discovered the IP address was registered to Robert John May. Furthermore, they discovered the Kik account, “joebidennnn69”, contained 220 unique videos and distributed 479 videos to over 100 Kik users over five days. The account user also communicated explicitly with other users about child sexual abuse material by sending and receiving over 1,100 messages.

Because May was a sitting member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, the case was referred to Homeland Security Investigations. HSI executed a search warrant on May’s home in August 2024 and seized 35 electronic devices, including May’s phone. A forensic analysis of May’s phone revealed the phone contained a Kik app in March and April 2024 that was subsequently deleted. May’s user dictionary, a feature that stores commonly typed phrases on a cellphone, contained the term “joebidennnn” along with an email address that connected him to the joebidennnn69 account. Analysis of May’s phone and the Kik records revealed the 479 videos were sent using either May’s home IP address or IP addresses associated with his cellphone.

Over the five-day period for which data was available, May distributed 220 unique videos, which he sent to 100 different users in 18 states and six countries.  The videos included toddlers depicted in physical pain and extreme and humiliating sexual abuse. At sentencing, the court heard from victims through written victim impact statements on the lasting harm caused by their abuse and the continued distributions.

May was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 10, 2025, for 10 counts of distributing child sexual abuse material and arrested the following day. On Sept. 29, 2025, May pleaded guilty to five counts of distributing child sexual abuse material.

“He was elected to make a positive impact on his community, but instead he exploited the most innocent and vulnerable in our society. This is simply inexcusable,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to investigate and prosecute those who harm children.”

“Those who exploit and abuse children are among the most reprehensible offenders in our society, and today’s sentencing sends a clear message: no one is above the law, regardless of their position or title,” said Kyle D. Burns, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI in North Carolina and South Carolina. “HSI is unwavering in our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community and will relentlessly pursue anyone who preys on children. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who commit these horrific crimes are brought to justice and held fully accountable for their actions.”

United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced May to 210 months imprisonment, to be followed by a 20-year term of court-ordered supervision.  At sentencing, Judge Currie noted that the sentence was higher than the average for similar charges because May’s content was the most severe the court had seen. There is no parole in the federal system. He was also ordered to pay $58,500 in restitution to eight identified victims and will be required to register as a sex offender for life.

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 and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Matthews, Elliott B. Daniels, and Dean Secor prosecuted the case along with Department of Justice Trial Attorney Austin Berry.

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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. The Associated Press Stylebook also discourages the use of the phrase “child pornography.”

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Courtney Jeanine Brown, 49, of Goose Creek, has been sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison for thefts from nursing home residents.

Brown worked as the business office manager for Riverside Health and Rehabilitation, a nursing home in North Charleston. Over more than three years, Brown stole approximately $146,000 from 132 residents in that facility, most of whom were physically and/or mentally incapacitated. Brown exploited her position of private trust by writing checks to cash from personal funds that belonged to the residents. Brown then deposited the checks into her personal account and used the funds for personal expenses.   

United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendrickssentenced Brown to 33 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system. The court ordered Brown to pay $160,300.69.

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, and the North Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Limehouse prosecuted the case.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. —Levi Phillip Miles, 48, of Goose Creek, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and oxycontin, and distribution of fentanyl.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Miles regularly distributed what he believed were prescription pain pills to a South Carolina man from at least January 2022 until the man’s fatal overdose on Jan. 2, 2023. By the summer of 2022, Miles could no longer obtain legitimate prescription pain pills from his suppliers. Nevertheless, in December 2022, the victim continued to request pain pills. Miles’ final distribution of pills to the victim occurred on Jan. 1, 2023. The victim was found dead in his home on Jan. 2, 2023. An autopsy of the victim revealed the presence of fentanyl in his system, and subsequent investigation revealed that the fentanyl was present in the pills the victim received from Miles on Jan. 1. As part of his guilty plea, Miles agreed not to contest the fact that the victim’s death was caused by the controlled substances that were distributed by Miles.

Miles faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $1 million, restitution, and at least three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Miles after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Limehouse and Whit Sowards are prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Stephen Todd Greene, 55, of West Columbia, has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places, producing child sexual abuse material, and coercion/enticement of a minor and aiding/abetting.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Greene initiated an online relationship with a woman in Brazil that had access to two minor females, one was 8 years old, and the other was 2 years old. Greene solicited child sexual abuse images and videos of the minors for his own sexual gratification, which he directed via livestream. He later had cameras installed in one of the child’s bedrooms, which provided him with 24/7 remote access to the child.

Subsequently, in July 2024, Greene travelled to Brazil and sexually abused one of the minor victims on several occasions. He further admitted to prior sexual abuse of at least one child in South Carolina. Upon his arrest, FBI obtained and searched his devices, which contained over 250 images and 100 videos of child sexual abuse material.

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Greene to 480 months imprisonment, to be followed by a 15-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the Brazilian Federal Police.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and Elle E. Klein prosecuted 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. — Pierre Desmond Morgan, 36, of Orangeburg, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  

Evidence presented in court showed that agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives identified Morgan as an individual involved in trafficking firearms in the Orangeburg area. On April 24 and May 8, 2024, Morgan sold six firearms and ammunition to law enforcement. The firearms included weapons capable of accepting large-capacity magazines, as well as firearms without serial numbers. During these transactions, Morgan disclosed that he had access to additional firearms and switches—devices designed to convert semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic machine guns.

On Dec. 6, 2024, officers with the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Morgan. During the stop, a drug-detecting K-9 alerted to the vehicle. A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of a loaded firearm and distribution quantities of marijuana and methamphetamine.

Morgan has prior felony convictions and is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition. At the time of the offenses, Morgan was on federal supervised release for a prior firearm conviction.

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Morgan to 120 months in prison, to be followed by three years of court-ordered supervision. Morgan was also sentenced to an additional 15 months’ imprisonment for violating the terms of his supervised release related to a 2017 firearm conviction. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case.

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Clinical laboratory LTD Holding LLC, formerly known as Labtech Diagnostics LLC (Labtech), of Anderson, South Carolina, and its founder and CEO Joseph Labash, of the United Arab Emirates, have agreed to pay at least $6.8 million to the United States to resolve False Claims Act allegations involving illegal kickbacks to doctors. With this settlement, the Department of Justice has secured over $11.5 million in civil False Claims Act settlements relating to Labtech, including recoveries from nine doctors.

In addition to the civil settlement, Labtech has agreed to plead guilty to five counts of offering and paying health care kickbacks in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute, Title 42, United States Code, Sections 1320a-7b(b)(2)(A) and (B). Pursuant to the terms of the plea agreement in the criminal matter, Labtech will pay $103,551.90 in restitution, in addition to the civil recoveries above.

“Patients trust doctors to exercise their unbiased medical judgment in ordering clinical testing,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “Companies and executives who pay illegal kickbacks to referring doctors corrupt those doctors’ independence, leaving patients vulnerable to expensive and unnecessary testing.”

“Every dollar spent, and every decision made in health care must prioritize the patient’s wellbeing and care,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “We will continue to work with our partners to pursue those engaged in illegal kickback schemes and hold them accountable.”

“This settlement reaffirms the FBI’s unwavering commitment to investigating fraud and holding accountable anyone who seeks to undermine our healthcare system,” said Special Agent in Charge Kevin Moore of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “The public deserves complete confidence in the integrity of medical practices, and the FBI — alongside our law enforcement partners—will continue to ensure fairness and integrity of healthcare for all citizens.”

“When medical decisions are bought and sold, patients suffer and public trust erodes,” said Deputy Inspector General for Investigations Christian J. Schrank of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Kickback schemes like this violate the core of federal healthcare programs, and HHS-OIG will continue to relentlessly pursue anyone who exploits these programs and hold them fully accountable for their actions.”

“When corrupt companies entice health care providers with kickbacks, it threatens patient care and degrades federal health care programs, such as TRICARE,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “In coordination with our law enforcement partners, DCIS is committed to bringing to justice companies and individuals that engage in collusive financial relationships that defraud taxpayers and jeopardize the wellbeing of America’s warfighters.”

The Anti-Kickback Statute prohibits offering, paying, soliciting, or receiving remuneration to induce referrals of items or services covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and other federally funded healthcare programs. It is intended to ensure that medical providers’ judgments are not compromised by improper financial incentives and are instead based on the best interests of their patients. Claims that are knowingly submitted in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute are ineligible for payment and can violate the False Claims Act.

Under the settlement with the United States, Labtech and Labash have agreed to pay $6.8 million, plus up to an additional $3,271,536 if a financial contingency occurs. The settlement resolves allegations that Labtech and Labash knowingly and willfully paid five types of kickbacks to induce laboratory testing referrals. From August 2018 to November 2021, Labtech and Labash allegedly paid doctors kickbacks disguised in three ways — as purported office space rental, phlebotomy, and toxicology payments — to induce the doctors to order Labtech’s laboratory tests. In an attempt to cover up the kickbacks, Labtech and Labash allegedly hand-delivered money orders for some such payments; entered into contracts that falsely described the payments as being made for office space rental or phlebotomy or toxicology services; and falsified square footage and hours in “fraud and abuse” certification forms. In addition, the settlement resolves allegations that, from September to December 2016, Labtech and Labash arranged to pay a physician practice in Charlotte, North Carolina an inflated amount for used laboratory equipment to induce the healthcare provider to order Labtech’s testing. Lastly, from March 2018 to November 2021, Labtech and Labash allegedly provided a pain management practice in Landis, North Carolina with free services and supplies in connection with drug screen testing, in return for the practice referring its lucrative drug confirmation testing to Labtech.

The settlement resolves certain allegations in a lawsuit originally filed by relator Mahmod Altwam under the whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private parties to sue on behalf of the government when they believe that a defendant has submitted false claims for government funds and receive a share of any recovery. Relator will receive $1.36 million of the proceeds from the settlement. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Altwam v. Labtech Diagnostics LLC, et al., No. 8:21-cv-2844 (D.S.C.).

The civil settlement announced today was the result of a coordinated effort between the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, with assistance from HHS-OIG, DCIS, and the FBI. The civil matter was handled by Senior Trial Counsel Christopher Terranova in the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Beth C. Warren for the District of South Carolina. The United States previously resolved allegations that healthcare providers in South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, and Illinois received kickbacks to induce their laboratory referrals to Labtech.

The government’s pursuit of these matters illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services, at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

Except to the extent that Labtech’s admissions are part of its criminal resolution, the claims resolved by the civil settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.

Today, the Justice Department announced that Teledyne RISI Inc., also known as Teledyne Electronic Safety Products (Teledyne ESP), an aerospace and defense electronics company based in Chatsworth, California, has agreed to pay $1.5 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by supplying aircraft parts to the military that did not meet contract specifications.

The settlement resolves allegations that Teledyne ESP, as a subcontractor for U.S. Navy contracts, knowingly caused false claims to be submitted to the U.S. Navy in connection with its manufacture of Digital Recovery Sequencer (DRS) units containing a microelectronic part that did not conform with the specifications reviewed and approved by the Navy. DRS units were a component of ejection seat systems used by various types of military aircraft. Teledyne ESP allegedly obtained the non-conforming parts from a third-party broker that was neither an Original Equipment Manufacturer nor an authorized re-seller of the part. The DRS units with the alleged non-conforming part were delivered to the Navy between November 2011 and June 2012 and installed as part of ejection seat systems in military aircraft.

“Our military aviators rely on defense supply chains to provide them with equipment that they can depend on, even in the most difficult conditions,” said Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “We will continue to hold accountable those who supply equipment to the U.S. military that does not conform to the contract specifications.”

“Our military should not only expect the correct, conforming parts for the equipment they need to serve and defend our country, they deserve that proper equipment,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office is proud to support this multi-agency investigation to protect our servicemembers from risks introduced by non-conforming parts in our military supply chains.”

“The Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the law enforcement arm of the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Inspector General (OIG), remains committed to safeguarding the integrity of the DoD supply chain,” said Special Agent-in-Charge John E. Helsing of the DoD-OIG, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Western Field Office. “Non-conforming parts in the DoD supply chain presents a risk to our warfighters and threaten our Nation’s security.” 

“The Air Force Office of Special Investigations remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting the warfighter by rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse in the defense supply chain,” said Special Agent in Charge Derrell Freeman of Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI), Southeast Field Office. “Today’s $1.5 million settlement demonstrates that AFOSI, working shoulder-to-shoulder with our Department of Justice, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, and Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and Air Force Materiel Command partners, will aggressively pursue and hold accountable any contractor that fails to meet contract requirements that protect the safety and readiness of U.S. military personnel.”

In connection with the settlement, the United States acknowledged that Teledyne ESP took a number of significant steps entitling them to credit for cooperation with the government’s investigation, including identifying witnesses and facilitating their interviews; and providing investigative updates to the United States and other customers, including through the Government-Industry Data Exchange Program. Teledyne ESP received credit under the Department of Justice’s guidelines in Justice Manual § 4-4.112 for taking cooperation into account in cases involving False Claims Act allegations.   

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, DCIS, AF OSI, and the Air Force Materiel Command Law Office, Procurement Fraud Division. This matter was handled by Fraud Section attorney Richard W. Hagner and Assistant U.S. Attorney James Leventis for the District of South Carolina.

The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

CHARLESTON, S.C. — A Lowcountry firefighter accused of the sexual exploitation of a child has been arraigned in federal court. A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment against John Lewis Cottrell III, 46, of Johns Island, for sexual exploitation of a child and possession of child sexual abuse material.

According to the unsealed complaint affidavit, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Cottrell’s residence on Oct. 3. During the execution of that warrant, law enforcement located child sexual abuse material as well as hidden cameras that had been used to create child sexual abuse material of minor victims.

Cottrell faces up to 30 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker on Dec. 30 and remains detained at this time.

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 Homeland Security Investigations, the South Carolina Attorney General Office’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force and the Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Orville is prosecuting the case. 

All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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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. The Associated Press Stylebook also discourages the use of the phrase “child pornography.”

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A Columbia man accused of a hate crime was arraigned in federal court this morning. The Government moved for the defendant to be detained pending trial. The defendant waived his right to a detention hearing and will remain in custody.

Jonathan Andrew Felkel, 34, was indicted by a federal grand jury with violating the housing rights of his Black neighbor, J.M., and for using a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence.

According to court documents, on July 17, Felkel, while driving into the gated community where both he and J.M. lived, fired a gun and shouted at J.M., “You better keep running, boy!” while J.M. was standing at the gate to the community.

If convicted, Felkel faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the housing charge, and an additional 10 years in prison on the firearms charge.

The FBI Columbia Field Office and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle Klein and Lamar Fyall of the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorney Sarah Armstrong and Special Legal Counsel Mark Blumberg of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.

All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. —Jamar Tywone Kimpson, 52, of Swansea, has pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in 2021, workers at a local FedEx hub found three suspicious packages with a strong odor of marijuana. All three were addressed to the same person at an address in Swansea, South Carolina with return addresses of the recipient’s same name and address. Law enforcement executed a search warrant on the parcels, and they were found to contain marijuana and THC edibles. Another search warrant was obtained for the residence, and a controlled delivery was made at the address. Kimpson took possession of the parcels and took them into the residence. 

During the search of the residence, three packages that were delivered were found unopened in the living room. Between the three packages, investigators found 28 packages of THC edibles, 65 bags of marijuana (approximately 1 pound each), 28 glass jars of marijuana, and quantities of marijuana in other forms. Investigators also located the receipt for the packages that listed tracking numbers for each. Another receipt indicated that an additional package was sent. It was seized by SLED and turned over to Lexington County Sheriff’s Department and was also found to contain marijuana and THC products. 

Multiple guns were found throughout the house and in cars in the yard, including a rifle hidden in the kitchen table’s bench seat.  A 9mm pistol was found in Kimpson’s bedroom on a dresser on top of paperwork with Kimpson’s name on it. Two pistols were located on the driver’s side floorboard of a sedan that had paperwork with Kimpson’s name on it. A shotgun and a 9mm pistol were in another vehicle belonging to Kimpson.   

Kimpson is prohibited from possessing firearms based upon prior convictions for a weapons violation, an armed robbery, resisting arrest, possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a stolen pistol, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, possession of crack cocaine, and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.

Kimpson faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Kimpson after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

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, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Columbia Police Department, and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Brentton Timmons, 30, of Chester, has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on Aug. 24, 2024, deputies with the Chester County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic safety check point and saw Timmons attempt to evade the check point by turning onto a dirt road. Deputies conducted a traffic stop on Timmons’ vehicle and saw an open container of alcohol in the cupholder. Deputies searched the vehicle further and found a loaded pistol under the driver’s seat. Timmons admitted to possession of the pistol and the alcohol.

Timmons has prior convictions for discharging a firearm into a dwelling, assault and battery 1st degree, pointing and presenting a firearm, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, all of which prohibit him from possessing a firearm under federal law.

United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Curriesentenced Timmons to 77 total 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Chester County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Pasqual Perez Duckett, 41, of Newberry, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl which resulted in the death of a 28-year-old Columbia woman.

In July 2023, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration, in collaboration with the City of Columbia Police Department and the Richland County Sheriff's Department, initiated an investigation into Duckett after receiving credible information about his involvement in distributing large quantities of counterfeit prescription pills, cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine throughout Richland and Newberry Counties.

The investigation revealed that Duckett had ordered approximately 125 kilograms of pill binder to be shipped to his residence, which he then used to manufacture thousands of counterfeit pills. These pills were falsely marketed as Percocet and Oxycodone but were laced with fentanyl.

On August 30, 2023, Duckett distributed a counterfeit pill to a 28-year-old woman from Columbia, who believed the pill to be Percocet. After ingesting the pill, the victim was found dead the following morning by her mother. Toxicology and autopsy reports confirmed that the cause of death was acute fentanyl toxicity.

After learning that the pill he distributed caused the victim’s death, Duckett took steps to distance himself from the incident, including checking out of a hotel the following day, deleting text messages from his phone, and moving his vehicle in an apparent attempt to establish an alibi. Despite this knowledge, Duckett continued to distribute fentanyl-laced pills, falsely marketed as Percocet, on at least three separate occasions after learning of the victim's death.

“Fentanyl continues to plague our communities, showing up in illicit substances and counterfeit pills,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “We are fighting this evil head on with our law enforcement partners and hope this sentence brings a measure of peace and closure to our victim’s family and loved ones.”

“This sentence reflects the devastating reality of fentanyl trafficking,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “A life was lost because of this defendant’s actions, and no punishment can ever undo that harm. Today’s sentencing holds the offender accountable and sends a clear message that those who profit from distributing this deadly poison will face severe consequences.”

“Those who put fentanyl on our streets should be treated as murderers; it’s no different than shooting someone,” said Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott. “They know these drugs kill people and continue to do it.”

“I have witnessed first-hand the devastatingly harmful and lethal effects of fentanyl and opioids," said Columbia Police Chief William H. "Skip" Holbrook. "This sentencing is another example of law enforcement working together to arrest and prosecute opioid traffickers and distributors who have zero regard for the sanctity of life or the harm being inflicted in our communities.”

Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Pasqual Perez Duckett to 240 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision and ordered restitution to the victim’s family to cover funeral costs.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the City of Columbia Police Department, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jack Keegan Davis, 22, of Columbus, Ohio has pleaded guilty to cyberstalking, coercion and enticement of a minor, and receipt and distribution of child sexual abuse material* for a scheme where he posed as a minor while operating 130 social media accounts, which he used to exploit minors. 

According to court documents and statements made in court, from August 2022 through October 2024, Davis operated 130 display names on the social media platforms Snapchat, Instagram, Wizz, and Discord, where he posed as a minor and caused others to believe they were speaking with a minor. He used those platforms to convince minors to engage in sexual conduct and to produce child sexual abuse material. 

Once Davis received the explicit material, he sent it to others on the internet, including to other minors and classmates of one of his victims. He caused one minor to believe they were in a relationship with Davis, and when the minor began to withdraw, Davis began a campaign of stalking and threats towards the minor and their family, despite being served with a restraining order.

Davis repeatedly threatened to kill the minor and their family by direct message and through public posts, including: “Im going to kill [the minor] and [the minor’s] family,” “[Minor Victim] ur ded,” “Im going to f***ing kill [the minor],” “I am not kidding I am going to kill [the minor] and [the minor’s] family,” “If [the minor] doesn’t answer me I’m going to [the minor’s] house,” and “I won’t stop until you’re dead.”

Davis also shared the minor’s home address and said he would be there when the minor’s father was in another town, where he worked.  He promised “revenge if it’s the last thing I do,” and wrote, “lol I just want [the minor] to suffer.”  Davis has multiple minor victims in multiple states.

Davis faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison a maximum of life in prison, and he will be required to register as a sex offender upon release from prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000 fine, restitution, and supervision by the U.S. Probation Office following any prison term. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Davis after receiving and reviewing a pre-sentence report from the U.S. Probation Office.

The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Kershaw County, S.C. Sheriff’s Department, and the Franklin County, OH Sheriff’s Department. Critical assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and Ariyana N. Gore are 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. The Associated Press Stylebook also discourages the use of the phrase “child pornography.”

FLORENCE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a two-count indictment against John Paul Miller, 46, of Myrtle Beach, for cyberstalking and making false statements to federal investigators.

The indictment alleges that beginning in November 2022, Miller sent unwanted and harassing communications to his estranged wife until her death on April 27, 2024. The harassing behavior included Miller posting a nude photo of the victim online without her consent, causing tracking devices to be placed on her vehicle, and in one instance, contacting her over 50 times in a single day. The indictment also alleges he interfered with her finances and her daily activities and on one occasion damaged her vehicle tires.

Federal investigators interviewed Miller about these allegations and Miller lied in his responses.  Miller said he did not damage the victim’s tires, when in fact he purchased a tire deflation device online and sent messages to others regarding the victim’s vehicle.

Miller faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison for cyberstalking and two years in prison for his false statements. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000. His arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 12, 2026, in federal court in Florence.

The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Myrtle Beach Police Department, the Horry County Police Department, the Horry County Sheriff’s Office and the Robeson County, NC Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle E. Klein and Katie Stoughton are prosecuting the case.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle E. Klein and Kathleen Stoughton are prosecuting the case. 

All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – A federal grand jury in Columbia, South Carolina returned an indictment charging Jonathan Andrew Felkel, 34, with violating the housing rights of his black neighbor, J.M., and for using a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence.

According to court documents, on July 17, Felkel, while driving into the gated community where both he and J.M. lived, fired a gun and shouted at J.M., “You better keep running, boy!” while J.M. was standing at the gate to the community.

If convicted, Felkel faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on the housing charge, and an additional 10 years in prison on the firearms charge.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; U.S. Attorney Bryan P. Stirling for the District of South Carolina; and Special Agent in Charge Kevin Moore of the FBI Columbia Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Columbia Field Office and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle Klein and Lamar Fyall of the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorney Sarah Armstrong and Special Legal Counsel Mark Blumberg of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.

All charges in the complaint are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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A federal grand jury in Columbia, South Carolina returned an indictment charging Jonathan Andrew Felkel, 34, with violating the housing rights of his black neighbor, J.M., and for using a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence.

According to court documents, on July 17, Felkel, while driving into the gated community where both he and J.M. lived, fired a gun and shouted at J.M., “You better keep running, boy!” while J.M. was standing at the gate to the community.

If convicted, Felkel faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison on the housing charge, and an additional ten years in prison on the firearms charge.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division; U.S. Attorney Bryan P. Stirling for the District of South Carolina; and Special Agent in Charge Kevin Moore of the FBI Columbia Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Columbia Field Office investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle Klein and Lamar Fyall of the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorney Sarah Armstrong and Special Legal Counsel Mark Blumberg of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Lucas Brandon Rousso, 30, of Easley, has been arrested by federal agents and charged with making threatening communications online.

Investigators were alerted to a YouTube account posting threatening comments alluding to violence and harm, including the Jewish community. The comments were posted to videos the account uploaded and escalated over the last few months. Most recently, the defendant posted, “I’m going to commit a mass shooting.”  

Investigators traced the account to an IP address, email address and device belonging to Rousso. When interviewed by law enforcement, Rousso stated he posted the comments to YouTube.

If convicted, Rousso faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Rousso made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge William S. Brown on Dec. 17 and will have a detention hearing on Dec. 19. 

The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office, and the Easley Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Max Cauthen is prosecuting the case. 

All charges in the complaint are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Kendall Kyleek Dow, 28, of Sumter, was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes.

Evidence presented in court revealed that agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, in coordination with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office and the Sumter Police Department, working as part of a joint initiative targeting violent crime and drug trafficking in Sumter, identified Dow as being involved in illegal firearms trafficking and narcotics distribution.

Between February and May 2023, Dow sold 17 firearms, fentanyl, and ammunition to law enforcement. The firearms sold included semi-automatic weapons, multiple stolen firearms, firearms capable of accepting large-capacity magazines, two machine gun conversion devices—designed to convert semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic machine guns—and firearms without serial numbers, along with approximately 170 rounds of ammunition.

In addition to the firearms offenses, Dow distributed more than 153 grams of fentanyl during the same three-month period. Dow has prior felony convictions and is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law.

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Dow to 132 months imprisonment to be followed by five years of court ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sumter Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore is prosecuting the case.

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GREENVILLE, S.C. — Luis Alfred Romero, 37, of Omaha, Nebraska, has been sentenced to more than nine years in federal prison for distributing child sexual abuse material.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in May 2024, the mother of a minor girl reported to the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office that she located concerning messages from Romero on her daughter’s Discord account.  Romero knew the child was 13 years old and solicited explicit images and videos from the child. Romero cultivated a relationship with the child and chatted with her online for several months before discovery by the mother. In addition to persuading the child to send explicit images, Romero also urged the victim to engage in sexual relationships with other minors and adults. 

With the assistance of Homeland Security Investigations, Romero was apprehended. During a search of his devices, investigators found hundreds of images of child sexual abuse material on his phone.

“We urge parents and caregivers to talk to their children and be vigilant about the dangers of online communications especially chatting with strangers,” said Bryan Stirling, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “The U. S. Attorney’s Office and our partners at every level of law enforcement remain committed to identifying, arresting, and prosecuting those who exploit and harm our children.”

“This sentencing sends a clear message that those who exploit children and distribute child sexual abuse material will be held accountable,” said Homeland Security Investigations Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant who also oversees North and South Carolina. “HSI, together with our local partners, remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community and ensuring that offenders face the full consequences of their actions.”

“I hope everyone from here to Nebraska sees Romero’s face and realizes there is no level of prosecution high enough for offenders like this,” said Anderson County Sheriff Chad McBride. “Our detective said this case generated some of the most disturbing content to ever come across his desk. To echo our partnering agencies, we will continue to track down those who prey on our children and they will be pursued, prosecuted and brought to justice.”

United States District Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin sentenced Romero to 110 months imprisonment, to be followed by a life-time term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system. Romero was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to help cover expenses for the victim’s mental health counseling. He must register as a sex offender for life.

Parents and caregivers can find resources to protect their kids online at dhs.gov/know2protect

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Watkins prosecuted the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Matthew Valkinburg, 35, of Pueblo, Colorado, has been sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing child sexual abuse material. Valkinburg was a solider at Fort Jackson at the time of the crime.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Valkinburg began uploading child sexual abuse material to his Discord account in 2023 when he was stationed in Colorado. Local authorities in Colorado determined that accounts tied to Valkinburg were responsible for the child sexual abuse material. After Valkinburg transferred from Colorado to Fort Jackson, Army investigators obtained a search warrant for Valkinburg’s home at Fort Jackson. Upon executing the warrant, investigators discovered child sexual abuse material on multiple electronic devices within Valkinburg’s home, including his cell phone. 

United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Valkinburg to 87 months imprisonment, to be followed by a 25-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system. He is also required to pay $124,000 in restitution and register as a sex offender for life.

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 Army Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda Beckham are prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Taylor Molic Morris, 23, of Columbia, has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison after being convicted at trial for being a felon in possession of ammunition.

On June 6, 2025, a jury found Taylor Morris guilty of being a felon in possession of ammunition. Evidence presented during trial and at sentencing revealed that on June 11, 2023, around 5:00 a.m., Morris was involved in a shooting at a night club on Broad River Road in Columbia. During the shooting, Morris possessed a loaded firearm that she purchased approximately three weeks prior. The evidence revealed Morris fired the gun four times, leaving behind four shell casings, which were fired from the same firearm. After the shooting, Morris fled from the scene. Prior to this incident, the Midlands Gang Task Force identified Morris as a validated gang member.

Morris has prior convictions for strong arm robbery and bank fraud which prohibit her from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law. Morris was on probation for these charges at the time of the night club shooting.

United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson Jr. sentenced Morris to 46 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lamar Fyall and Ariyana Gore are prosecuting the case.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — An illegal alien residing in the United States has been charged with assaulting a federal officer during a lawful removal enforcement operation. Alexander Garcia Vargas, 24, is charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal officer. He was illegally residing in North Charleston.

On Dec. 6, agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officers were supporting an immigration enforcement operation being led by ICE – ERO in North Charleston.

During the operation, officers encountered Garcia Vargas driving a vehicle registered in Garcia Vargas’ name. According to ICE records, Garcia Vargas is residing in the United States illegally and has a court order for his removal.

During a traffic stop, Garcia Vargas refused to roll down his window but produced an ID confirming his identity as Garcia Vargas. When an officer attempted to remove Garcia Vargas from the vehicle, he began intentionally driving his vehicle, hitting two police vehicles and injuring the officer.

After Garcia Vargas fled the scene of the vehicle stop, Garcia Vargas lost control of his vehicle and struck a third vehicle, which was occupied by two CBP Officers. ERO and CBP officers were then able to remove Garcia Vargas from his wrecked vehicle and place him under arrest.

Garcia Vargas made an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker on Dec. 8 and will have a detention hearing and preliminary hearing on Dec. 10.

The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cole Shannon is prosecuting the case. 

All charges in the complaint are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — Jaidan Latrell Alexander, 26, of Ladson, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Evidence presented in court showed that Alexander obtained multiple firearms through a straw purchasing scheme involving a family member, despite being prohibited from possessing firearms because of his prior criminal convictions. Investigators also recovered social media evidence showing that Alexander was actively involved in narcotics distribution, and he was arrested several times while armed.

According to court records, on April 13, 2023, Alexander exchanged gunfire outside his Ladson apartment during an attempted robbery. A later search of the apartment uncovered firearms, illegal drugs, and equipment used to package and distribute narcotics.

On Aug. 30, 2024, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives arrested Alexander at his residence and executed a search warrant. Inside, they found additional firearms, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, drug-distribution tools including scales, vacuum sealers, and packaging materials, and more than 2.5 pounds of marijuana.

United States District Judge Bruce H. Hendricks sentenced Alexander to 10 years imprisonment to be followed by five years of court ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

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

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — Gordon “Rudy” Connell, 28, of Summerville, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Connell has numerous felony convictions, including for illegally possessing firearms (including sawed off shotguns), theft, and violent assaults. Since Connell turned 18, he has been arrested on 53 warrants in 20 incidents with 24 convictions. He was on probation at the time of this crime.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Connell was arrested in Laurens County on Sept. 9, 2023, for stealing a motorcycle. After the arrest, he sold his motorcycle to Timothy Lattimer to raise money for bond. When Connell posted bond and was released from jail, he demanded that Lattimer return the motorcycle. Lattimer refused. Days later on Sept. 15, Connell stole the motorcycle back from Lattimer’s yard.

That night, Lattimer drove to where Connell was staying and saw him working on the motorcycle. Surveillance videos recovered from the residence by Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office detectives showed that Lattimer drove down the driveway where Connell approached him in his car. Both exchanged threats and Lattimer drove off and returned later with a firearm. Connell, who was again working on the motorcycle, approached Lattimer, who had begun backing away toward the street. Connell pulled out a gun from his waistband and pointed the gun at Lattimer.

The two exchanged gun fire, and Connell ran from the scene. One of Lattimer’s shots hit another person in the yard, severely injuring her. Detectives recovered spent shell casings from the crime scene. Lattimer was arrested and a 9mm pistol was recovered. Lattimer was convicted and is currently incarcerated in the South Carolina Department of Corrections.

Arrest warrants were also issued for Connell. On Sept. 18, 2023, Connell was spotted by Dorchester County Sheriff’s deputies riding a white motorcycle and attempted to arrest him. Connell fled. Deputies found the white motorcycle in a ditch behind a business with a loaded 9mm handgun strapped to the handlebar. Connell was found hiding inside the business and was arrested.  

“Career criminals, like Connell, propel violence into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “Law enforcement is working together at every level to identify, investigate and prosecute offenders who continue to break the law and put others in danger. Thank you to our partners at ATF and Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office for seeing this investigation through.” 

“Repeat offenders often become bolder criminals and bigger threats to the community,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “This case illustrates that fact. ATF is dedicated to working closely with the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, and all our law enforcement partners to lessen community violence by taking habitual criminals off our streets. This always increases public safety in our neighborhoods.”

“This case shows how local and federal partners have been working closely together to protect the people of Dorchester County,” said Dorchester County Sheriff Sam Richardson. “This was a dangerous, relentless offender, and our streets are safer with him serving a federal sentence. Connell is well known to police, and his criminal record speaks for itself. We are grateful to ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their commitment to justice and accountability on behalf of our citizens.”

United States District David C. Norton sentenced Connell to 120 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 made possible by investigative leads generated from the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin

This case is also 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 South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Kittrell is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Samuel Alexander Gray, 53, of Leesville, has been sentenced to a year and three months in federal prison after pleading guilty to operating a dogfighting venture and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in September 2023, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department and Animal Services responded to a citizen’s concern about animals on a rural property. Investigators found a large fight pit with a carpeted floor, covered in blood. There were also lawn chairs set up around the pit for spectating. Investigators found dog training items and a dogfighting rule book on the property.

Investigators found multiple dogs on the property. Many had heavy chains around their necks with weighted collars, a training method used to strengthen dog’s necks. Several had injuries and scarring consistent with dogfighting. There was no food or clean water nearby. Several animal carcasses and skulls were also found. Ultimately, 14 dogs were seized from Gray’s property.

Gray also had six firearms and 400 rounds of ammunition. He is prohibited from possessing both due to prior felony convictions.

“Gray’s cruel and illegal dogfighting operation trapped these helpless dogs in a living nightmare,” said Bryan Stirling, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “We will continue to prosecute those who torture and harm vulnerable animals for entertainment and profit. Thank you to our partners at the FBI and Lexington County for their work on this case.”

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Gray to 15 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system. As a condition of his supervised release, he cannot own a dog.

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department and Animal Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle Klein is prosecuting the case.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — A federal grand jury returned a 10-count indictment against Marvin Rashad Pendarvis, 36, of Charleston, for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and money laundering.

The indictment alleges that Pendarvis, who was a personal injury attorney licensed by the State of South Carolina and member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, pursued claims, filed lawsuits, and negotiated settlements on behalf of his clients and, in some instances, would forge client signatures and not pay clients any portion of the settlement funds. Through the scheme, Pendarvis received at least $532,000 in settlement funds to which he did not pay his clients any portion of the funds.

Pendarvis faces a maximum penalty of 20 years for the wire fraud and money laundering counts. Further, for each count of aggravated identity theft, Pendarvis faces a mandatory two-year term of imprisonment.

Pendarvis was arraigned by United States Magistrate Judge Molly Cherry on Nov. 18 and released on a $50,000 personal recognizance bond. 

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy Bower and Whit Sowards are prosecuting the case.

All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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NOTE: This press release is about a case that occurred during the 43-day government shutdown and is now available after the return to normal operations.

GREENVILLE, S.C. — A federal grand jury has returned a five-count indictment against Mark Weinberger, 62, of Lake Worth Beach, Florida, for health care fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud.

The indictment alleges that Weinberger, who was excluded from Medicare for a minimum of 15 years because of a prior conviction, was a beneficial owner and/or managing employee of a durable medical equipment (DME) company enrolled with Medicare and submitted a false enrollment document to Medicare to conceal Weinberger and another’s true ownership and control over the DME company. It is further alleged that Weinberger and his coconspirators generated doctors’ orders for orthotic braces using call centers, including a call center in Greenville, South Carolina, and submitted to Medicare, through the DME company, false and fraudulent claims in the approximate amount of $6.7 million that were obtained by the payment of illegal kickbacks and bribes, medically unnecessary, and/or otherwise ineligible for reimbursement. Medicare paid approximately $3.4 million on those claims.

Weinberger faces a maximum penalty of 20 years for the wire fraud and wire fraud conspiracy counts and a maximum penalty of 10 years for the health care fraud and health care fraud conspiracy counts. Weinberger was arrested in the Southern District of Florida on Nov. 6, 2025. Weinberger is scheduled for arraignment in the District of South Carolina on Nov. 24, 2025, in front of the United States Magistrate Judge Kevin McDonald. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General. Trial Attorney Catherine Wagner of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower for the District of South Carolina are prosecuting the case.

All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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NOTE: This press release is about a case that occurred during the 43-day government shutdown and is now available after the return to normal operations.

CHARLESTON, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Charleston returned a nine-count indictment charging four Beaufort-area defendants with sex trafficking of a minor, sex trafficking conspiracy, coercion and enticement, and child sexual abuse material offenses:

• Jaquan Duvall Barnes, 30, of Port Royal, was charged with human trafficking conspiracy, sex trafficking of a minor, distribution and receipt of child sexual abuse material, and coercion and enticement of a minor.
• William James Youmans 35, of Beaufort, was charged with human trafficking conspiracy, sex trafficking of a minor, distribution and receipt of child sexual abuse material, and coercion and enticement of a minor.
• Guy Frank Talley, 28, of Beaufort, was charged with coercion and enticement of a minor.
• Alban Bryan, 64, of Saint Helena Island, was charged with sex trafficking of a minor, distribution and receipt of child sexual abuse material, and coercion and enticement of a minor. 

According to the indictment and evidence presented in court, a minor female victim had particular vulnerabilities—including drug dependance and status as a runaway—which were known to one or more of the defendants. 

Between December 2023 and January 2024, Bryan recruited, enticed, harbored, coerced, and trafficked a minor victim, knowing her status as a runaway, and obtained sex acts from the minor in exchange for drugs and housing.  It is further alleged that Bryan received and distributed child sexual abuse material depicting the minor victim. At a detention hearing, evidence was presented that Bryan, who had a familial relationship with the minor, also produced child sexual abuse material of the minor.  

Between January 2024 and March 2024, Barnes, Youmans, and Talley coerced and enticed the minor victim to engage in sex acts that violate federal and state law. Specifically, the indictment alleges that Barnes and Youmans trafficked the minor victim into the commercial sex trade in exchange for drugs, housing, and money, all while knowing the victim was a minor. Barnes and Youmans are accused of working together to exploit the minor, including by obtaining child sexual abuse material and compromising photographs of the minor, advertising her on the internet for commercial sex, communicating with customers to arrange commercial sex acts, transporting the minor to hotels, supplying the minor with illegal narcotics, and confiscating proceeds from the commercial sex scheme. Talley facilitated the exploitation by advertising the minor on the internet for commercial sex. The indictment further alleges that Youmans and Bryan received and distributed child sexual abuse material depicting the minor victim.

Each defendant faces a mandatory 10 years and up to life in federal prison. The defendants also face a lifetime supervision by the federal court system following any term of imprisonment, sex offender registration, and mandatory restitution payable to victims.

Barnes, Talley, Youmans were arraigned in federal court on Oct. 9 and were all ordered detained.  Bryan was ordered detained by U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker pending trial after a contested detention hearing on Oct. 16.  U.S. District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks will preside over the case.

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 jointly investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), with assistance from the Hardeeville Police Department, Beaufort County Sheriff's Office, Georgia Highway Patrol, and Jacksonville (Florida) Sheriff's Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amy F. Bower and Elliott B. Daniels are prosecuting the case. 

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. The Associated Press Stylebook also discourages the use of the phrase “child pornography.”

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Charles “Chuck” Wright, 60, the former sheriff of Spartanburg County; Amos Durham 61, a former chaplain for the department; and Lawson B. Watson 63, a former employee, have pleaded guilty for their participation in a public corruption scheme that defrauded the county of public funds for years.

Wright pleaded guilty to Counts 1, 2 and 3 of the Information.  Count 1 charges conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, and he faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment.  Count 2 charges conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and Wright faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and 3 years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. Count 3 charges obtaining controlled substances by misrepresentation, which carries a maximum penalty of four years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment.  Wright must pay a special assessment of $100 for each count.

Amos Durham pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds, and he faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment, plus a special assessment of $100.  Lawson B. Watson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment, plus a special assessment of $100.

Chief United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain accepted the guilty pleas and will sentence the defendants after receiving and reviewing sentencing reports prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

According to court documents, the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office Chaplain’s Benevolence Fund (the Benevolence Fund) is a non-profit organization that provides financial and emotional assistance to officers of the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office during times of need, such as bereavement, financial difficulties, and traumatic line-of-duty events. Wright, in his capacity as sheriff, hired Durham as the Director of the Benevolence Fund. In that position, Durham was responsible for administering the fund.  Durham and Wright abused their positions and conspired to siphon public funds from the Benevolence Fund for their private use.

In March 2005, Wright hired Watson as an employee of the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office. From at least as early as January 2021 through March 2025, Watson certified on his timesheet that he worked a full-time job.  In fact, Watson received a full salary and benefits for work that he did not perform. Wright allowed Watson to continue to fraudulently receive a paycheck and benefits of approximately $200,000 for work that he did not perform.

In May of 2023 through September 2023, Wright knowingly and intentionally obtained 147 pills of oxycodone and hydrocodone by misrepresentation from an individual after representing that the pills would be turned in and destroyed as part of the “take back” narcotic disposal program administered by the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office. In fact, Wright was obtaining the narcotics for his own personal use.

“Thank you to our investigation and prosecution partners and their respective offices, to Solicitor Micah Black, Chief of SLED Mark Keel, FBI Special Agent in Charge Kevin Moore, and the federal prosecutors and support members in our office,” said Bryan Stirling, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “In South Carolina we are so fortunate to have local, state, and federal law enforcement in lock step in every case and defendant brought to justice. I want to make it very clear no one is above the law, especially those that wear the badge. Stealing from a fund that’s supposed to benefit law enforcement families in their darkest hours is not something that can be condoned. Finally, if you hold a position of trust and abuse that trust, your misconduct will meet the full force of the law.”

“The defendants held positions of power within the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office but chose to abuse the public’s trust,” said Kevin Moore, special agent in charge of the FBI Columbia field office, “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will always pursue and hold accountable anyone who misuses the power and trust granted to them – no matter who they are or where they serve.”

“The task of investigating a popular and powerful local sheriff is never an easy one,” said Micah Black, 10th Circuit Solicitor. “I would like to thank Chief Keel and his team at the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division, including Special Agent Austin Mills, for their persistence in this case.  They worked closely with their counterparts at the Federal Bureau of Investigation during this joint investigation. Additionally, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina has been relentless in their pursuit of justice in this case, and we were proud to partner with them in this prosecution.  Without the hard work of all involved, today’s guilty plea would not have happened.”

“I’d like to thank our state and federal law enforcement and prosecution partners who worked together to ensure that justice was served. These offenses aren’t just against the law – these actions by public servants violate the public’s trust,” said SLED Chief Mark Keel. “No one, no matter their title, is above the law.”

The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Lothrop Morris is prosecuting the case.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — A long-term investigation concluded today with the unsealing of an indictment in the District of South Carolina charging two foreign nationals with conspiring against the United States to illegally divert U.S.-funded global health commodities from a Kenyan government-run corporation, Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA).

Eric Ndungu Mwangi, 40, a Kenyan national, and Davendra Rampersaud, 42, a Guyanese national, and their associated businesses were charged in a 2021 superseding indictment brought by a federal grand jury in the District of South Carolina. The superseding indictment was originally filed under seal to protect the ongoing investigation.

The investigation, led by the Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), focused on the approximately $650 million USAID-funded KEMSA Medical Commodities Program (MCP). The purpose of KEMSA MCP was to establish and operate a safe, secure, reliable, and sustainable supply chain management system for HIV/AIDS commodities needed to provide care and treatment of persons with HIV/AIDS in Kenya, and to support the warehousing and distribution of select family planning, nutrition, and malaria commodities.

Beginning in 2014, Mwangi and his company, Linear Diagnostics (LD), systematically stole HIV test kits and other commodities intended for KEMSA. The stolen goods found a buyer in Rampersaud and his Guyanese company, Caribbean Medical Supplies, Inc. (CMS). In 2015, Rampersaud fraudulently secured a "Letter of Authority" to operate as an authorized distributor. This allowed him to secure a lucrative, sole-source contract with the Guyana Ministry of Health for the products he was acquiring illegally.

Between 2015 and 2019, Rampersaud paid Mwangi over $177,000 for the diverted medical supplies, including the stolen, USAID-funded HIV test kits meant for Kenya. Rampersaud then profited again by selling these stolen health commodities to the Guyanese government. Rampersaud and CMS also acquired and sold test kits stolen from another separate USAID program.

“This was an incredibly complicated investigation, spanning years and an ocean,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina “These defendants jeopardized a vital public health mission and caused a significant loss to the American taxpayers.”

In February 2021, Kenyan authorities arrested Mwangi on charges relating to theft and fraud. He is currently awaiting trial in Kenya. On the American charges, Mwangi faces up to 20 years on various counts, fines, and a term of supervised release.

In January 2023, Rampersaud was arrested on charges arising out of the superseding indictment when he flew into Miami in the United States during a flight layover, while attempting to travel back to Guyana. He was transported to Charleston, South Carolina, and pleaded guilty to conspiracy and to stealing or converting health commodities that USAID paid for as part of a health care benefit. He was sentenced by United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel. Rampersaud received credit for time served and was additionally sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay an $84,000 fine.

This case was investigated by Office of the Inspector General for the U.S. Agency for International Development. The Justice Department and USAID OIG appreciate the substantial assistance provided by the Office of International Affairs, the Department of State’s Regional Security Offices in Nairobi, Kenya, and Georgetown, Guyana, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Kittrell and Dean Secor are prosecuting the case. 

All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. —Robert John May, III, 38, of West Columbia, has pleaded guilty to five counts of distributing child sexual abuse material.*

“The conduct May pleaded guilty to represents some of the most depraved and exploitative conduct we investigate,” said Bryan Stirling, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “Our office will bring every resource available to protect children from violence and abuse. This prosecution was made possible through excellent law enforcement coordination between Homeland Security Investigations, the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department and all those who work to protect the most vulnerable in our society.”

According to court documents and statements made in court, in May 2024, a tip was sent by Kik, a social-media platform, to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), which indicated that over a five-day period in March and April 2024 a Kik account with the username “joebidennnn69” distributed videos depicting the sexual abuse of children to other Kik users 50 times. 

Investigators connected the account to the home IP address and mobile device of May and determined videos depicting the sexual abuse of children were distributed from the account at least 479 times over the five-day period, with the majority resolving to May’s home address or cell phone.  Kik records showed the account connected to May’s home Wi-Fi account at least 958 times and to his cell phone 67 times. A federal grand jury charged May with distributing 10 videos depicting child sexual abuse that were shared from the account.

Evidence indicated May was responsible.  A forensic analysis of May’s phone revealed that the user dictionary included the term “joebidennnn” and the same email used to register the Kik account. It also revealed Kik, along with Telegram, Mega, and Sessions messenger—all applications referenced in Kik messages—were deleted on April 4, 2024, within 20 seconds of each other. May’s phone also received more than 450 alerts from the Kik application during the time the joebidennnn69 account was active, and several conversations on the joebidennnn69 account correlate with internet searches and application downloads that occurred on May’s phone and laptop at the same time.  The investigation further revealed that May and the Kik account user shared the same pseudonym, Eric Rentling.

May faces a minimum penalty of five years in federal prison and a maximum of 20 years. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, up to lifetime supervision to follow the term of imprisonment, and he will be required to register as a sex offender upon release from prison. 

United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie accepted the guilty plea and will sentence May on Jan. 14, 2026, after receiving and reviewing a pre-sentence report from the U.S. Probation Office.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Matthews, Elliott B. Daniels, and Dean Secor are prosecuting the case with Austin M. Berry of the Department of Justice’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section.

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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. The Associated Press Stylebook also discourages the use of the phrase “child pornography.”

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Former banker Russell Lucius Laffitte, 54, of Estill, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud; wire fraud; bank fraud; and three counts of misapplication of bank funds.

“As of today, Russell Laffitte and Alex Murdaugh have both been sentenced to federal prison, and their victims have been made financially whole,” said Bryan Stirling, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “The victims put their trust in Laffitte and Murdaugh after suffering serious injuries and losing loved ones, and they were exploited for financial gain. We appreciate the dedicated work of our partners at the FBI, SLED, and South Carolina Attorney General’s Office in ensuring justice for them.”

Laffitte was an officer and executive at Palmetto State Bank in Hampton, South Carolina. His co-conspirator, Alex Murdaugh, was a personal injury attorney at a law firm in Hampton.

Laffitte admitted that he agreed to serve as conservator and personal representative for several of Murdaugh’s clients, knowing that he would personally profit from doing so. Beginning in 2011, Laffitte began extending himself and Murdaugh loans from conservator accounts Laffitte was charged with managing. Laffitte did not disclose the loans to the conservatees, despite owing them a fiduciary duty.

Around that time, Murdaugh devised a scheme to obtain money belonging to his clients. In furtherance of the scheme, Murdaugh directed law firm employees to make clients’ checks payable to Palmetto State Bank. The checks were drawn on the law firm’s client trust account, identified the clients on the memo lines, and corresponded to amounts set forth in the clients’ disbursement sheets.

As to two of Murdaugh’s clients, Laffitte—their conservator—saw their disbursement sheets and knew that the bank was supposed to receive their settlement funds. Murdaugh presented the clients’ checks to Laffitte and directed that they be used for Murdaugh’s personal benefit, including to pay off loans Laffitte had extended from conservator accounts. Laffitte negotiated nine separate transactions for Murdaugh’s benefit, knowing that the funds belonged to the clients.

Laffitte also aided and abetted the structuring of transactions from a second check belonging to one of the clients, disbursing the funds at Murdaugh’s direction and for Murdaugh’s personal benefit.

As to a third client of Murdaugh’s, Laffitte negotiated 12 separate transactions, disbursing $1,325,000 in client settlement funds for Murdaugh’s benefit. Despite knowing they were client funds, Laffitte allowed Murdaugh to use the funds to repay Murdaugh’s personal loans, repay loans Laffitte extended from a conservator account, purchase vehicles and equipment, and receive cash back. Laffitte also deposited some of the funds into Murdaugh’s personal account.

Laffitte received $75,000 in conservator fees and $35,000 in personal representative fees from these three clients. He intentionally failed to report this income on his tax returns, knowing that he could hide the income because the fee checks were drafted to Palmetto State Bank rather than to him personally. Laffitte also structured transactions to avoid reporting requirements and intentionally failed to file suspicious activity reports.

In 2015, Laffitte misapplied bank funds by extending over $284,000 from a line of credit that was supposed to be for farming to repay Murdaugh’s remaining loans from the conservatorship.

Laffitte also misapplied bank funds on two other occasions. In July 2021, he extended Murdaugh a $750,000 loan for the stated purpose of beach house renovations. But Laffitte authorized a $350,000 wire transfer to an attorney and then transferred $400,000 of “loan proceeds” to Murdaugh’s account to cover over $367,000 in overdraft, knowing that these funds had nothing to do with beach house renovations.

In October 2021, the law firm uncovered that Murdaugh had stolen from clients. Laffitte knew he had negotiated stolen checks at Murdaugh’s direction despite knowing the funds did not belong to Murdaugh. Laffitte then paid the law firm $680,000 in bank funds without the knowledge or consent of the full bank Board of Directors or Executive Committee in an attempt to settle the matter with the law firm.

Laffitte paid $3,555,884.80 in criminal restitution before sentencing and will also forfeit $85,845.73 to the government. He also agreed that his guilty plea prohibits him from controlling or participating in the conduct of any federally insured bank or credit union, and he cannot serve as a director or officer of any such bank or credit union without permission.

United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel imposed the 60-month sentence, to be followed by a three-year term of supervision. The court also ordered Laffitte to pay a $20,000 fine and a $600 special assessment.

The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Limehouse, Kathleen Stoughton, and Winston Holliday are prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Timothy Antonio Flanagan, 38, of Lancaster, has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of cocaine.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Flanagan and others were responsible for selling drugs that were obtained from other members of a drug conspiracy operating out of Rock Hill. Agents learned the group obtained cocaine, crystal methamphetamine, and pills that resembled 30 mg Oxycodone tablets, also known in the generic form as Roxicodone.  The pills were produced by members of the conspiracy with fentanyl at various locations in the Rock Hill and Charlotte areas. Flanagan was also supplied with cocaine which he distributed to others. 

United States District Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Flanagan to 144 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of supervision.  Flanagan must complete his current federal sentence on unrelated federal charges before beginning this sentence. 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 FBI Columbia Field Office, York County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, IRS Criminal Investigation, Rock Hill Police Department, York County Sheriff’s Office, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the South Carolina Department of Corrections.  Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.

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