District of South Carolina

FLORENCE, S.C. — Angela Crosland, 51, of Elgin, has been convicted of bribery, money laundering, distribution of methamphetamine and suboxone, and filing false income tax returns. A federal jury returned the guilty verdict following two days of trial.

Evidence presented to the jury showed that Crosland worked as a correctional officer at Federal Correctional Institution Williamsburg in Salters. While employed as a correctional officer, Crosland smuggled contraband into FCI Williamsburg in exchange for money. The contraband included suboxone, methamphetamine, K-2-soaked paper, marijuana, tobacco, food, and other items. Evidence presented to the jury included Crosland’s Cash App accounts records which reflected payments to her account totaling $56,791 from family and associates of inmates housed at FCI Williamsburg. These payments occurred over approximately a nine-month time period. In addition, Crosland failed to report this substantial income on her federal tax returns. 

“Those who work in public service, especially in law enforcement and corrections, must be held to a higher standard," said U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “Crosland’s actions damage trust in our prison systems while compromising the safety of Williamsburg FCI’s staff and inmates.”

“Crosland smuggled drugs and other contraband into the federal prison in exchange for tens of thousands of dollars in bribes,” said Eric Fehlman, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Southeast Region. “Her corrupt actions jeopardized the safety and security of the entire facility.”

“The IRS is committed to working alongside our law enforcement partners to provide financial expertise while investigating individuals who engage in corruption, money laundering, and tax fraud,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, Charlotte Field Office, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation.

United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III, presided over the trial and will sentence Crosland after receiving and reviewing a pre-sentence report from the U.S. Probation office.

This case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the Department of Justice and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bill Watkins and Winston Marosek are prosecuting the case.

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GREENVILLE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Greenville has returned a single-count indictment against Sergio Ixtepan-Toto, 36, of Mexico, for unlawfully entering the United States. Ixtepan has been deported from the U.S. three times.

According to court documents, on Dec. 6, 2024, officers with the Pickens Police Department arrested Ixtepan on charges of driving under the influence. A check of Ixtepan’s immigration file showed that he was deported from the U.S. in May 2020, November 2022, and February 2024. In order to re-enter the U.S., Itepan would require permission from the Attorney General. There is no record that Ixtepan ever obtained such permission. Ixtepan has been charged with driving under the influence and domestic violence on multiple occasions.

Ixtepan was arraigned yesterday before United States Magistrate Judge Kevin McDonald.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security and the Pickens Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Max B. Cauthen 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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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Mohammad Ebrahim Torki Harchegani, 38, has been charged with attempted enticement of a minor for sexual activity.

During a contested bond hearing, an FBI special agent testified that on Dec. 3-4, 2024, multiple agencies participated in an online chat operation targeting child sex offenders where an officer posed as a 14-year-old female. Torki, a legal permanent resident of the United States and Iranian citizen, engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the alleged 14-year-old girl. Torki ultimately traveled to the residence where he believed the girl was home alone to engage in sexual activities with her. He was arrested thereafter.

Testimony was also presented that Torki was a researcher at the University of South Carolina at the time of the chat. Upon his arrest, his employment was suspended and his contract with the university was not renewed.

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.

Torki was ordered detained at the hearing. He faces a maximum penalty of life in prison.

The FBI Columbia Field Office, the South Carolina Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department participated in the online chat operation and investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle E. Klein and Winston Holliday 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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GREENVILLE, S.C. — Ruben Enrique Chavez-Muniz, 24, of Bronx, New York and Destiny Shannon Mercado, 28, and Daquasia Catherine Mercado, 25, both of Spartanburg, were sentenced for their roles in a gun trafficking conspiracy.  

Evidence presented to the court showed that, between January of 2020 and January 2021, Destiny Shannon Mercado purchased a large number of firearms (mostly handguns) from federal firearms licensees in South Carolina. Mercado then transported the guns to New York, where Chavez-Muniz, a gang member, would sell them for a significant profit. Destiny Shannon Mercado subsequently recruited her sister, Daquasia Catherine Mercado, who also purchased and attempted to purchase several guns for the traffickers.

Over the course of the conspiracy, Destiny Shannon Mercado purchased at least 66 firearms and attempted to purchase five more. Daquasia Catherine Mercado purchased at least 12 firearms and attempted to purchase six more. To date, more than 25% of the firearms purchased by these traffickers have been recovered by law enforcement in New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. Several of these guns have been found at crime scenes or recovered from prohibited persons, and two of the guns were recovered from juveniles.

“Stopping the illegal flow of firearms to juveniles and criminal networks is a top priority for public safety,” said U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs for the District of South Carolina, “We will continue to prosecute straw purchasers and traffickers like those sentenced in this conspiracy.”

“Cutting off the supply of firearms to prohibited individuals remains a top priority,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “Firearms trafficking poses a danger to both local communities and communities across the country. Identifying and apprehending the individuals responsible for putting guns in the hands of prohibited individuals plays a major role in protecting public safety.”

Chief United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain sentenced both Ruben Enrique Chavez-Muniz and Destiny Shannon Mercado to 42 months in prison, with their sentences to be followed by three-years of court ordered supervision. Daquasia Catherine Mercado was sentenced to five years of probation. There is no parole in the federal system.

The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the New York Attorney General’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Schoen is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Hassanbunhussein Abolore Lawal (luh-wall), 24, of Osun State, Nigeria, has been extradited to the United States from Nigeria to face prosecution in a partially unsealed indictment for the sextortion of a South Carolina minor, which led to the victim’s death.

This investigation was launched after Gavin Guffey, a 17-year-old from Rock Hill, died by suicide in July 2022 after being victimized by Lawal’s scheme. Lawal allegedly posed as a young woman on social media and coerced the teen into sending compromising photos. He then extorted and sent harassing messages to the teen threatening to leak the photos and ruin his reputation unless the teen sent him money. Lawal later did the same to members of his family.

The five-count federal indictment charges Lawal with child exploitation resulting in death, the production and distribution of child sexual abuse material, coercion and enticement of a minor, cyberstalking resulting in death, interstate threats with intent to extort, and aiding/abetting. In addition to victimizing the teen in every count, the indictment alleges Lawal targeted the minor victim’s family in the stalking and extortion charges.

Lawal faces up to life in prison, and mandatory minimum prison sentences on multiple counts. The child exploitation resulting in death count carries a mandatory 30-year sentence. He also faces mandatory restitution, where the court may order Lawal to pay for losses incurred by the family as a result of his scheme.

The indictment was returned by a federal Grand Jury in South Carolina in October 2023. On Jan. 24, following extradition proceedings in Nigeria, agents with the FBI Columbia Field Office took custody of Lawal in Lagos, Nigeria and executed the removal with assistance from Nigerian law enforcement.

“We will not allow predators who target our children to hide behind a keyboard or across the ocean. Today we honor Gavin’s life and continue our fight against sextortion by holding this defendant accountable,” said U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “This investigation and extradition are the result of tremendous law enforcement coordination both in the United States and Nigeria. We’re grateful to the many agencies who helped make this day possible.”

“This indictment represents the culmination of countless hours of dedicated work done by our investigators both here and abroad,” said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “The defendant’s alleged actions are reprehensible resulting in the tragic loss of a young man’s life. We remain steadfast in our commitment to holding criminals accountable, especially those who target our children and endanger their lives, no matter where they are.”

U.S. Attorney Boroughs and SAC Jensen thanked the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs (OIA), and U.S. State Department for their help in facilitating the arrest and extradition of Lawal.

Nigerian law enforcement provided critical assistance in the identification, investigation, arrest, and extradition of Lawal. U.S. Attorney Boroughs and SAC Jensen extend their appreciation and thanks to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigerian Attorney General’s Office – Ministry of Justice, and all other involved Nigerian authorities for their important partnership in this case.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, county prosecutor's offices, the Internet Crimes Against Children task force (ICAC), federal, state, tribal, and local law enforcement are working closely together to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children. The partners in Project Safe Childhood work to educate local communities about the dangers of online child exploitation, and to teach children how to protect themselves. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit the following website: www.projectsafechildhood.gov. Individuals with information or concerns about possible child exploitation should contact local law enforcement officials.

If someone you know is being victimized by sextortion, please report to local law enforcement and to the FBI. Learn more about sextortion and find resources for parents, caregivers, and teachers.

The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the FBI's Violent Crimes Against Children Section and International Operations Division, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the York County Sheriff’s Office. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels, Lothrop Morris, and Michael Shedd are prosecuting the case. 

All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that 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. —Marterrious Tyresse Hannah, 22, and Jaimon Tywan Hannah, 22, both of Lancaster County, have pleaded guilty to their involvement in an armed robbery of a local vape shop. Marterrious pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit an armed robbery, armed robbery, and possession of a firearm during an armed robbery. Jaimon pleaded guilty to the armed robbery of the vape shop.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on July 31, 2023, Marterrious Hannah and Jaimon Hannah, twin brothers, arranged to visit a vape shop to purchase a handgun from the store clerk, an individual they knew. At the time of sale, Jaimon brandished a handgun and proceeded to rob the clerk. While the Hannah brothers were inside the store, two other men entered through the open front door and assisted with robbery. The robbers stole a safe that contained money, cash from the store clerk, and vape products from the store. At least two defendants were armed as seen on surveillance video. The defendants also stole the firearm they had come to purchase from the store clerk. The firearm was later recovered in North Carolina during the commission of a violent crime.  

Both defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and face a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and five years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted the guilty pleas and will sentence the defendants 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 FBI Columbia Field Office, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a 22-count indictment against defendant Leon-Bobby Jones-Hubbard, 31, of Columbia, charging him with sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; two counts of sex trafficking of a minor; nine counts of production and attempted production of child sexual abuse materials; nine counts of coercion and enticement of a minor into illegal sexual conduct; and one count of distribution of child sexual abuse material.

The indictment alleges that from at least June 2023 to present, Jones-Hubbard used social media platforms including Facebook to target, recruit, and exploit 10 minor victims who ranged from 5 to 16 years old and were located in Arkansas, Michigan, Alabama, Wisconsin, and Texas. The indictment further alleges the defendant paid money through Cash App, PayPal, and Meta Pay to induce and entice minors into illegal sexual conduct, including sex trafficking and the production of child sexual abuse material.

An adult with a severe developmental disorder was also targeted and exploited, according to the indictment, by Jones-Hubbard using an intermediary to coerce the victim into sex acts through physical restraint, physical force, and violence in exchange for money.

Jones-Hubbard faces a penalty of up to life in prison. He also faces mandatory minimum penalties of 15 years, 10 years, and five years in prison on various counts charged.  He faces fines of up to $250,0o0 per count, a special assessment of $5,000 per count, mandatory restitution payable to any victims who suffered loss in connection with criminal conduct, court-ordered supervision of life to follow any term of imprisonment, and federal and state sex offender registration requirements.

Jones-Hubbard was arraigned in federal court on Jan. 23 and was ordered detained pending a detention hearing before United States Magistrate Judge Paige J. Gossett on Jan. 28 at 2:30 p.m.

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. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and E. Elizabeth Major are prosecuting the case.

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

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a 12-count indictment alleging conspiracy, wire fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering against 12 individuals for defrauding multiple victims in a nationwide scheme.

The indictment alleges that the defendants listed below were involved in a business email compromise scheme that defrauded the victims out of millions of dollars. These types of fraud target both companies and individuals.

• Demani Jawara Bosket, 50, of Saluda
• Nkem Ajoku 55, of Pflugerville, Texas
• Walter Clayron Ruff Jr., 51, of Gaston
• Tanya Lawshawn Bosket, 51, of Saluda
• Jahbir Rolando Fowle, 45, of Charlotte, North Carolina
• Anthony Jerome Savage, 46, of Charlotte, North Carolina
• Micheal Raymond Bevans-Silva, 38, of Savannah, Georgia
• Carlise Raymion Roland, 32, of Jacksonville, Florida
• Daniel Alexander Edwards, 51, of Jacksonville, Florida
• Danny Heard II, 41, of Jacksonville, Florida
• Raymone Tyshay Scott Sr., 48, of Jacksonville, Florida
• Jamian Joshaun Butler, 45, of Jacksonville, Florida

The perpetrators of these types of frauds typically employ the use of “spoofed” emails that appear to be the genuine email address of a legitimate business or banking institution. In reality, the email address is a slight variation of the true email address, and the victim is instead communicating with perpetuators of the scheme.

The indictment alleges that the defendants accessed the victims’ computer systems to monitor email communications for potential financial transactions and bank transfers.  The defendants used this information to identify the victims’ points of contact, financial accounts, communications, and business practices. The defendants then used spoofed emails to impersonate internal personnel, business partners, vendors, or other interested parties. The defendants would then initiate payments or direct financial transfers to bank accounts they controlled. The defendants then shared and intermixed the stolen funds between their own bank accounts, before sending a portion of the money out of the country. The defendants are alleged to have victimized multiple individuals and businesses, including construction companies, private equity firms, title companies, and law firms in South Carolina, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Japan.

The defendants face a maximum penalty of 30 years imprisonment and fines of $1,000,000. The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned on Feb. 4, 2025, at 10 a.m. before the Honorable Paige J. Gossett.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Secret Service.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lothrop Morris and T. DeWayne Pearson 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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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Tyrell Rakeem Sanders, 29, of Newberry, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and marijuana.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on Dec. 22, 2022, Richland County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call that a man was possibly selling drugs out of his vehicle in an apartment complex parking lot. Deputies found the suspicious vehicle with Sanders sitting in the driver’s seat.  After smelling the odor of marijuana and seeing the handle of a firearm on the floorboard in plain view, deputies detained Sanders and his passenger before searching the vehicle.  Deputies recovered a stolen .40 caliber pistol between the driver’s seat and the driver’s door, which Sanders later claimed to own. Deputies also recovered a total of 201 grams of marijuana in a backpack that was on the driver’s floorboard. Finally, deputies searched Sanders’s person and found a baggie of multi-colored pills that were later confirmed to be methamphetamine with a weight of 37.9 grams.  At sentencing, Sanders was also held accountable for two other incidents—one in Richland County and one in Newberry County—where he possessed firearms and an incident where he led police on a high-speed chase for over 20 miles. These incidents of relevant conduct served to enhance the advisory sentencing guideline range that federal judges consider before imposing a sentence.

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Tyrell Rakeem Sanders to 151 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a six-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

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

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew R. Sanford is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Christina Stevens Gregory, 71, of Rock Hill, was sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud.

Evidence presented to the court showed that Gregory defrauded her employer, Industrial Test Systems, Inc, of approximately $3.3 million over a span of 20 years from 2004 to 2023. Gregory utilized her position as an accountant for Industrial Test Systems to deposit checks that were payable to Industrial Test Systems into her personal bank account.

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Gregory to 24 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system. Additionally, Gregory was ordered to pay Industrial Test Systems a remaining balance of $2,256,900.44 in restitution.

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the Rock Hill Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. —Jake Rupert, 40, of Lexington, was sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to walkaway escape from a federal residential re-entry facility.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on the morning of March 5, 2024, Rupert walked away, without permission, from a federal halfway house in Columbia. In January 2024, Rupert transitioned to the halfway house from the Federal Bureau of Prisons to finish the last six months of the 96-month custodial sentence he received in 2017, for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Deputies with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department located Rupert, a known gang member, inside a residence in Gaston on May 27, 2024. Rupert was taken into custody to serve the remainder of his original sentence and was also charged federally with escape.

Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Rupert to 24 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 United States Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey D. Haynes prosecuted the case.

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WASHINGTON — The Justice Department announced today its findings that conditions of confinement at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center (the Jail) in Columbia, South Carolina, violate the Eighth and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The department’s report details the findings of a comprehensive investigation of the Jail, which is funded and operated by Richland County through an Administrator and Director. The Jail currently houses approximately 965 people.

The department concluded that the county and Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center violate the constitutional rights of people incarcerated at the Jail. Specifically, the department found that the Jail fails to provide reasonable safety and to protect incarcerated people from serious harm and death by physical violence from other incarcerated people, including assaults with weapons, assaults by multiple people on single victims and sexual assaults. 

“Incarceration in our nation’s jails should not expose a person to severe and pervasive violence like that in the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Most people in the jail have not been convicted of any crime — they are awaiting hearings or trial dates. They have a right to be free of violence, threats and sexual assault. The Jail has a constitutional duty to protect people in its care from the horrific violations we uncovered here. We hope Richland County and the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center will respond to our findings by working with the Justice Department to implement much-needed reforms.”

“The conditions inside the Richland County jail are a matter of life and death. Individuals accused of crimes in Richland County should not face a death sentence before they ever see a court room,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “By addressing the remedial measures outlined in our findings, we believe this can change. We hope to work with Richland County and the detention center to make it a safer place for both detainees and staff.”

Systemic problems that have persisted at the Jail for years engender severe violence and avoidable harm. There were at least 60 stabbings in the Jail in 2023. Gangs prey on incarcerated people. Weapons, drugs and contraband cell phones are commonplace and facilitate gang control and violence in the Jail. Inadequate staffing, a deteriorating facility and systemic security lapses, such as deficient prisoner supervision, inadequate internal investigations and lax contraband prevention, yield an ongoing failure to protect incarcerated people from violence. Jail leadership knows about these conditions, and others detailed in the report, which fall far below the constitutional minimum.

The department conducted its investigation of the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), which authorizes the Attorney General to file a lawsuit in federal court seeking court-ordered remedies to eliminate a pattern or practice of unlawful conduct. The department provided Richland County and the Jail with written notice of the supporting facts for its conclusions and the minimum remedial measures necessary to address the alleged violations. The department is committed to working with the county and Jail toward a cooperative solution.

The Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section conducted this investigation jointly with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina. The findings announced today are the result of the department’s civil investigation and are separate from any criminal cases brought by the Justice Department.    

The Civil Rights Division continues to prioritize unconstitutional conditions and violations of federal law in correctional and juvenile justice facilities. It opened new investigations into prisons and jails in Tennessee, California, South Carolina and juvenile justice facilities across Kentucky. The division also issued findings in its investigations of Mississippi prisons, Texas juvenile justice system’s facilities, the Georgia Department of Corrections and San Luis Obispo County, California, Jail. The division entered into agreements, including consent decrees, covering the Fulton County, Georgia, Jail, Cumberland County, New Jersey, Jail, the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in New Jersey, the Broad River Road Complex in South Carolina, the Manson Youth Institution in Connecticut and the Massachusetts Department of Correction. The division is also litigating matters related to the constitutionality of conditions in Alabama’s prisons for men and the incarceration of people beyond their release dates in Louisiana prisons.   

For more information about the Civil Rights Division and its Special Litigation Section, please visit www.justice.gov/crt/special-litigation-section. You can also report civil rights violations by completing the complaint form available at civilrights.justice.gov/. To provide information related to the department’s investigation of the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, please call 1-888-473-3201 or email the department at Community.Glenn@usdoj.gov.

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Read the Findings Report of Investigation of the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center here. 

The Justice Department announced today its findings that conditions of confinement at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center (the Jail) in Columbia, South Carolina, violate the Eighth and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The department’s report details the findings of a comprehensive investigation of the Jail, which is funded and operated by Richland County through an Administrator and Director. The Jail currently houses approximately 965 people.

The department concluded that the county and Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center violate the constitutional rights of people incarcerated at the Jail. Specifically, the department found that the Jail fails to provide reasonable safety and to protect incarcerated people from serious harm and death by physical violence from other incarcerated people, including assaults with weapons, assaults by multiple people on single victims and sexual assaults. 

“Incarceration in our nation’s jails should not expose a person to severe and pervasive violence like that in the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Most people in the jail have not been convicted of any crime — they are awaiting hearings or trial dates. They have a right to be free of violence, threats and sexual assault. The Jail has a constitutional duty to protect people in its care from the horrific violations we uncovered here. We hope Richland County and the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center will respond to our findings by working with the Justice Department to implement much-needed reforms.”

“The conditions inside the Richland County jail are a matter of life and death. Individuals accused of crimes in Richland County should not face a death sentence before they ever see a court room,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “By addressing the remedial measures outlined in our findings, we believe this can change. We hope to work with Richland County and the detention center to make it a safer place for both detainees and staff.”

Systemic problems that have persisted at the Jail for years engender severe violence and avoidable harm. There were at least 60 stabbings in the Jail in 2023. Gangs prey on incarcerated people. Weapons, drugs and contraband cell phones are commonplace and facilitate gang control and violence in the Jail. Inadequate staffing, a deteriorating facility and systemic security lapses, such as deficient prisoner supervision, inadequate internal investigations and lax contraband prevention, yield an ongoing failure to protect incarcerated people from violence. Jail leadership knows about these conditions, and others detailed in the report, which fall far below the constitutional minimum.

The department conducted its investigation of the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA), which authorizes the Attorney General to file a lawsuit in federal court seeking court-ordered remedies to eliminate a pattern or practice of unlawful conduct. The department provided Richland County and the Jail with written notice of the supporting facts for its conclusions and the minimum remedial measures necessary to address the alleged violations. The department is committed to working with the county and Jail toward a cooperative solution.

The Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section conducted this investigation jointly with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina. The findings announced today are the result of the department’s civil investigation and are separate from any criminal cases brought by the Justice Department.    

The Civil Rights Division continues to prioritize unconstitutional conditions and violations of federal law in correctional and juvenile justice facilities. It opened new investigations into prisons and jails in Tennessee, California, South Carolina and juvenile justice facilities across Kentucky. The division also issued findings in its investigations of Mississippi prisons, Texas juvenile justice system’s facilities, the Georgia Department of Corrections and San Luis Obispo County, California, Jail. The division entered into agreements, including consent decrees, covering the Fulton County, Georgia, Jail, Cumberland County, New Jersey, Jail, the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in New Jersey, the Broad River Road Complex in South Carolina, the Manson Youth Institution in Connecticut and the Massachusetts Department of Correction. The division is also litigating matters related to the constitutionality of conditions in Alabama’s prisons for men and the incarceration of people beyond their release dates in Louisiana prisons.   

For more information about the Civil Rights Division and its Special Litigation Section, please visit www.justice.gov/crt/special-litigation-section. You can also report civil rights violations by completing the complaint form available at civilrights.justice.gov/. To provide information related to the department’s investigation of the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, please call 1-888-473-3201 or email the department at Community.Glenn@usdoj.gov.

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Perry JaQuan Jackson, 26, of Charleston, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on March 3, 2022, Jackson was wanted on outstanding state bench warrants related to weapons and narcotics violations. Law enforcement located Jackson and arrested him at the Northwoods Mall in North Charleston. Jackson told officers he had a gun under his vehicle’s driver seat. Officers searched the car and located the gun, another gun in the glovebox, marijuana, and cash. Later testing confirmed Jackson’s DNA was located on the gun under the driver seat. Jackson has multiple felony convictions on his record including previous state weapon convictions.

United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Jackson to seven years imprisonment to be followed by three years of court ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

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

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

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GREENVILLE, S.C. —Carl Lee Robert Price, 37, of Walhalla, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for possession of child sexual abuse material.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Price sent explicit images of a child to a minor living in Missouri. Price traveled to Missouri to meet the minor and brought the minor to his home in Walhalla, South Carolina. An interstate search by federal and state law enforcement authorities led them to Price’s property where they recovered the minor. Law enforcement seized Price’s s electronic devices and discovered a total of 265 images and 141 videos of child sexual abuse material, including adults sexually abusing children as young as infants and toddlers.

United States District Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin sentenced Price to 20 years in prison, to be followed by a lifetime of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins prosecuted the case. 

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — Marquine Antonio Benbow, 34, of Charleston, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to armed robbery affecting interstate commerce and two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.

Evidence presented to the court showed that Benbow committed a series of armed robberies and a carjacking. On Aug. 22, 2017, Benbow carjacked a woman at gunpoint and later drove the vehicle to a Circle K in Summerville. Benbow entered the store where he pointed a weapon at the cashier and demanded money. An hour later, Benbow entered a Circle K in Charleston and again demanded money at gunpoint. Benbow left his DNA behind in the carjacked vehicle and video surveillance at the Summerville and Charleston Circle Ks matched his description.

United States District Judge David C. Norton accepted a negotiated resolution and sentenced Benbow to 20 years in prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

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

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

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SUMTER, S.C. — Denetrick Devontae Holland, 24, of Sumter, was sentenced to more than five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute illegal drugs, including fentanyl and methamphetamine.

Evidence presented in court revealed that in 2023, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) received information regarding a “stash house” allegedly operated by Holland and his co-defendants in Sumter County. Acting on this information, the SCSO conducted a series of controlled drug purchases from the residence. During one of these transactions, Holland was caught on video distributing drugs from the location.

On Aug. 31, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the property. During the operation, authorities seized substantial quantities of illegal substances, including 109 grams of crack cocaine, 45 grams of fentanyl, 415 grams of marijuana, digital scales, individual packaging materials, cash, a stolen pistol, and a semiautomatic firearm.

Holland was not present at the time the warrant was executed, but he arrived shortly afterward, used his personal key to enter the residence, and searched the property. In a recorded jail call, Holland was heard telling a co-defendant that law enforcement had confiscated everything from the home used to distribute drugs.

Holland has a criminal history that includes prior convictions for second-degree assault and battery, possession of marijuana, unlawful carrying of a pistol, and third-degree assault and battery.

United States District Judge Mary Geiger-Lewis sentenced Holland to 70 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

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

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

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LEXINGTON, S.C. — R’Mani Jy’Mere Holloway, 26, of Gaston, was sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Evidence presented in court revealed that on Feb. 9, 2023, deputies from the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department arrested Holloway on outstanding state warrants related to probation violations. During the arrest, authorities recovered a loaded .45 caliber handgun, 16.12 grams of N, N-Dimethylpentylone (commonly known as MDMA), ammunition, and digital scales from Holloway’s car. In addition, a search of a hotel room he was living in revealed additional ammunition and gang-related artwork.

Holloway has a criminal history that includes prior convictions for third-degree burglary, third-degree domestic violence, public disorderly conduct, and discharging a firearm into a dwelling. At the time of the February 2023 incident, he was serving probation for the firearm-related conviction. Due to his prior felony convictions, Holloway is legally prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

United States District Judge Mary Geiger-Lewis sentenced Holloway to 60 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

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

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Joseph Nayquan Kelly, 30, of Eastover, was sentenced to more than six years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on Dec. 28, 2021, Richland County Sheriff’s Department deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a license plate that came back to another type of vehicle. Kelly was a passenger in the vehicle. During that traffic stop, deputies smelled the odor of marijuana and the driver of the vehicle admitted there was a small amount of marijuana in the car. Deputies searched the vehicle and found approximately 1 pound of marijuana in a shoebox alongside a 9mm pistol with an extended magazine that had been reported stolen. Kelly claimed ownership of that pistol and the marijuana. The court ultimately held him responsible for possession of several other pistols as well as for a reckless vehicle pursuit in other incidents. Kelly is convicted felon and is unable to lawfully possess firearms or ammunition.

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Smith to 78 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. Notably, Kelly was a prior participant in the City of Columbia’s Project Ceasefire initiative, which works to put at-risk probationers in connection with a variety of social service providers in and around Columbia with the goal of preventing recidivism but also stresses that consequences will be more significant if they choose to re-offend. Kelly’s sentence in this case is more than double the length of his longest previous sentence.

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

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Julia Renae Mullinax, 43, of Batesburg-Leesville, was sentenced to 13 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Evidence presented to the court showed that Mullinax participated in a wire fraud conspiracy to defraud Lowe’s Home Improvement by purchasing items on the commercial credit accounts of local businesses while posing as the authorized representative of those accounts. Mullinax and others perpetuated this fraudulent scheme at multiple Lowe’s stores in South Carolina and other states in the southeast from 2023 to 2024.

United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. sentenced Mullinax to 13 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Additionally, Mullinax was ordered to pay Lowe’s $47,234.10 in restitution.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews is prosecuting the case.

FLORENCE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Florence returned a four-count indictment against Jawan Rayel White, 37; Derrell Sherald, 38; Amon Rasheem Rutledge, 34; Alexis Nicole Loscar, 30; and Christian Vargas, 21, for conspiracy to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl.

The indictment alleges that White, while incarcerated in the South Carolina Department of Corrections on a 25-year sentence for drug distribution, conspired with his co-defendants to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl into South Carolina and surrounding states.

White faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and is currently incarcerated in SCDC on an unrelated state conviction. Rutledge faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and is currently detained pending an initial appearance and detention hearing before the Honorable Kaymani D. West, United States Magistrate Judge. Sherald, Loscar, and Vargas each face penalties of 20 years in prison and are currently detained pending an initial appearance and detention hearing before the United States District Court.

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 Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, and the South Carolina Department of Corrections Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Ellis is prosecuting the case. 

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

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Monesha Tatayana Lapri Gary, 24, of Clinton, and Rebecca Melanie Perry, 30, of Columbia, have pleaded guilty to human trafficking conspiracy in federal court in Columbia.

According to evidence presented in court, from at least December 2022 through August 2023, Gary and Perry worked together with co-defendants Antonio Marquis Nicholson and Terrell Counts to exploit three minors in the commercial sex trade, despite several members of the conspiracy knowing they were minors.

Nicholson and Perry recruited one minor victim when they encountered her at a hotel as a runaway. They drove her across state lines, told her that she was going to work in commercial sex, bought her lingerie, took photos of her, advertised her for commercial sex on the internet, and arranged for customers to exploit her at hotels in the Columbia area and elsewhere in the state. Nicholson set prices, collected proceeds, decided which minor victims would receive some portion of the proceeds, and how much they would receive. Gary chatted with customers as if she was a minor victim, transported a minor to another city to be exploited, collected proceeds, and turned them over to Nicholson, and intervened with customers when problems arose, all while the minor was multiple states away from her family. Perry helped in a similar way.

Two additional minor victims were recruited near a high school, and they were exploited on days they were not in school. Members of the conspiracy used the internet to advertise the minors, communicate with customers, arrange encounters, and collect proceeds.

The conspiracy exercised high levels of control over the operation, one minor victim was subjected to physical assault, and several of the members of the conspiracy carried firearms and distributed drugs around the minor victims.

Gary and Perry face a penalty of up to life in prison. They also face a fine of up to $250,000 and lifetime supervision to follow a term of imprisonment and mandatory sex offender registry requirements. Pursuant to a plea agreement, Gary and Perry agreed to pay restitution to the victims.

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Gary and Perry after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

The indictment remains pending against Nicholson and Counts. Charges in an indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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 Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, with assistance from the Columbia Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, West Columbia Police Department, Darlington County Sheriff’s Office, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Horry County Sheriff’s Office, Myrtle Beach Police Department, and Jefferson County (Alabama) Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and Ariyana N. Gore are prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Tyrek Jacquez Carroway, 25, of Columbia, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.

Evidence presented to the court showed that undercover agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made 12 controlled purchases of narcotics from Carroway from November 2022 to May 2023. Carroway was trafficking narcotics from Texas and Georgia into South Carolina through hidden compartments in his vehicle. He was held responsible for possession with intent to distribute or distribution of varying quantities of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and crack cocaine. Additionally, on 10 of these 12 controlled purchases, Carroway possessed or sold firearms while engaged in drug trafficking crimes.

United States District Judge Sherri Lydon sentenced Carroway to 180 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

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

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the West Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein is prosecuting the case.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — Anthony Cobbs, 26, of Charleston, was sentenced to more than six years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on Sept.21, 2022, Charleston Police Department officers initiated a traffic stop on a sedan for an expired temporary tag. A female was driving and Anthony Cobbs, the defendant, was the front passenger. During the stop, an officer observed Cobbs attempt to conceal a black handgun from his waistband. After Cobbs was removed from the vehicle and taken into custody, officers recovered the firearm and ammunition under the front passenger seat where Cobbs was seated.

United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Cobbs to 78 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

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

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Holmes is prosecuting the case.

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SPARTANBURG, S.C. —Sergio Magallan-Tinoco, a/k/a “John Migo,” 45, of Michoacan, Mexico, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking crime.

Evidence presented to the court showed that in the Fall of 2023, law enforcement in the Upstate conducted controlled purchases of fentanyl and cocaine from Magallan-Tinoco. Law enforcement later obtained a search warrant for Magallan-Tinoco’s residence, locating additional fentanyl and cocaine, along with a money counter, scales, and a loaded .380 caliber handgun. Magallan-Tinoco was found to be responsible for trafficking 20 kilograms of cocaine. Magallan-Tinoco has a prior conviction for possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins sentenced Magallan Tinoco to 180 months imprisonment to be followed by a five year term of supervised release. A $400,000 forfeiture judgment was also issued against him. There is no parole in the federal system.

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

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Border Enforcement Security Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, and Greenville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Schoen is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. —Shiloh Wright, 42, of Columbia, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on Sept. 1, 2022, officers with the City of Columbia Police Department went to a local truck stop to arrest Wright on an outstanding warrant. The officers found Wright driving a vehicle and took him into custody. Officers searched Wright in preparation to take him to the detention center and found plastic baggies containing crack cocaine and cocaine in his underwear. Officers also searched Wright’s vehicle and found a digital scale, a black bookbag containing a loaded firearm, fentanyl pills, marijuana, and a debit card belonging to Wright.

Wright has previous convictions for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, distribution of crack cocaine, resisting arrest, domestic violence, and assault and battery.

United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Wright to 84 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case 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 City of Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall is prosecuting the case.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — Antwon Rashad Brown, 30, of Charleston, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.

Evidence presented to the court showed that Brown engaged in a multiple year conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Between May 2021 and July 2022, Brown was arrested four times and charged with multiple narcotics and firearms violations.

On July 22, 2021, law enforcement searched Brown’s residence and located more than 1.5 kilograms of marijuana, extended firearm magazines, ammunition, digital scales, a money counter, more than $1,000 in cash, a loaded AR-15 style pistol, and a loaded 9mm pistol throughout the residence and his bedroom.

Brown had multiple felony convictions preventing him from legally possessing a firearm and ammunition, including multiple violent acts involving firearms.   

United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Brown to 1o years imprisonment followed by four years of court-ordered supervision.

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

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

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FLORENCE, S.C. — Five men from across the Pee Dee and Grand Strand were sentenced to multi-year terms in federal prison after pleading guilty to a fentanyl trafficking conspiracy operating in and around Horry County and related firearms crimes.

• Joshua Rodriguez, 33, of Myrtle Beach, was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl;
• Derrick Adrien Hooks, Jr., 27, of Chesterfield, was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl;
• Christopher Brown, 32, of Pawleys Island, was sentenced to 84 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl;
• Jonathan Thien Ta, 32, of Myrtle Beach, was sentenced to 50 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition; Ta’s federal sentence will run consecutive to a state sentence he is serving on separate firearms-related conduct; and
• Neil Alexander Torres, 32, of Myrtle Beach, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition.

Rodriguez and Brown’s terms of imprisonment will be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. Hook’s term of imprisonment will be followed by a four-year term of court-ordered supervision. Ta and Torres’s terms of imprisonment will be followed by three-year terms of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

As to Ta and Torres, evidence presented to the court showed that on Nov. 26, 2020, officers with Myrtle Beach Police Department arrived at a restaurant in Myrtle Beach with a warrant to arrest Ta. Officers tried to take Ta into custody, but Ta disobeyed law enforcement commands, reaching into his waistband and pulling out a loaded 9mm handgun, which he passed to Torres before Ta attempted to flee on foot. At the time of the incident, both Ta and Torres were convicted felons who could not legally possess either the firearm or the ammunition with which it was loaded.

Additional evidence presented to the court showed that from 2018 to 2023, Rodriguez, Hooks, and Brown were involved in trafficking pressed pills containing fentanyl in and around Horry County. Fentanyl is potentially lethal in very small doses.

Rodriguez, who was a high-level distributor, was accountable for distributing some 14 kilograms of fentanyl over the course of the conspiracy. He frequently possessed firearms in connection with his drug trafficking and threatened to use violence against others.

On July 1, 2021, law enforcement in Horry County attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a car driven and solely occupied by Hooks. Hooks fled from officers and threw pills and suspected marijuana out of the car during the ensuing chase. Law enforcement then obtained a search warrant for the home in Little River Hooks had come from just prior to the traffic stop. In Hooks’ room at the house, law enforcement found approximately 3.5 kilogram of pills, multiple kilograms of suspected marijuana, a 5.56 caliber firearm, assorted magazines, and ammunition and more than $10,000 in cash. Further investigation revealed that over the course of his involvement in the conspiracy, Hooks was accountable for trafficking 1.6 kilograms of fentanyl.

Investigation showed Brown was involved as a lower-level distributor within the conspiracy. In approximately five years, Brown was accountable for trafficking 2.7 kilograms of fentanyl. Like Hooks, Brown had a history of fleeing from law enforcement. In 2023, Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Brown in Pawleys Island. Brown fled, reaching speeds of 91 miles per hour while trying to evade law enforcement.

United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III, sentenced all five men.

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 the FBI Columbia Field Office, Myrtle Beach Police Department, Horry County Police Department, Horry County Sheriff’s Office, and the 15th Circuit Drug Enforcement Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a single-count indictment against James Robert Peterson, 37, of Prosperity, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The indictment alleges that on June 11, Peterson was found in possession of firearm during an incident where he allegedly shot and killed South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) K9 Agent Coba while law enforcement was attempting to arrest him. Peterson has been charged in state court for a number of other charges related to the incident. Peterson has a previous felony conviction that prevents him from possessing a firearm.

Peterson faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison and is currently detained awaiting trial.

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 Newberry County Sheriff's Office, and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein is prosecuting the case. 

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

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CHARLESTON, S.C. —Jeffrey McWhorter, 63, of Awendaw, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, which was committed during his time as President and CEO of Palmetto Railways.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that McWhorter introduced a known co- conspirator, referred to as T.B., to a company headquartered in Texas. T.B. hoped that McWhorter’s introduction would facilitate him being awarded a contract for work in the Charleston area by the Texas company.

Prior to the contract being awarded to the Texas Company, McWhorter, TB, and an employee of the Texas company (Employee 1), had meetings and discussions about T.B. paying McWhorter and Employee 1 if his company was awarded the contract.

McWhorter and his known coconspirators further agreed that T.B. would send money to a to Employee 1, and evidence revealed that TB did in fact wire the money to a bank account was in Employee 1’s wife’s business name. The agreement was that Employee 1 would then pay McWhorter his portion in cash.

Throughout the course of the conspiracy, the evidence revealed that the payment McWhorter and Employee 1 were receiving caused, or could have caused, economic harm to the Texas company.

T.B. ultimately wired at least $400,000 to Employee 1 in Texas and McWhorter received at least $90,000 of this in cash.

McWhorter faces a maximum penalty of five 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 David C. Norton accepted the guilty plea and will sentence McWhorter after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

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

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FLORENCE, S.C. — Kenyatta Defondrael McLaughlin, 45, of Dillon, was sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Evidence presented to the court showed that, on the evening of Sept.16, 2022, an officer with Dillon Police Department made a traffic stop on a vehicle driven and solely occupied by McLaughlin. As McLaughlin exited the car, a loaded 9mm handgun fell from his lap. As the officer approached the car, he saw what appeared to be a marijuana joint in plain view in the car center console. Law enforcement searched the vehicle, finding approximately 25 grams of cocaine, 14 grams of crack cocaine, and 219 grams of suspected marijuana. At the time of the traffic stop, McLaughlin was a convicted felon who could not legally possess either the firearm or the ammunition with which it was loaded.   

United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III, sentenced McLaughlin to 35 months of imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

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

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

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SPARTANBURG, S.C. —Stacey Bentley, 53, of Blacksburg, was sentenced to more than three years in federal prison after she pleaded guilty to a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy. 

Evidence presented to the court showed that Bentley was part of a drug trafficking conspiracy when she was caught attempting to pick up a package of three kilograms of methamphetamine from a U.S. Post Office in April of 2023.

United States District Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin sentenced Stacey Bentley to 40 months imprisonment to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  The court also ordered $400,000 in forfeiture against Bentley.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, and Greenville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Schoen is prosecuting the case.

COLUMBIA, S.C. —Donald Ray Hurst, Jr., 35, of Sumter, has pleaded guilty to destruction of an energy facility and possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on Aug. 11, 2023, Duke Energy called law enforcement to respond to a power outage near Fish Road in Dalzell. FBI agents and deputies with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office arrived and saw that the regulator bank, which helps distribute power to the local community and businesses, had multiple holes in it that appeared to be from bullets. The damage resulted in a power outage to several thousand customers. The cost of the clean-up and replacement of the regulators was over $100,000.

Investigators spoke to witnesses who stated they heard gunshots near the regulators on Aug. 9. After speaking with witnesses, agents installed a pole camera at that location. Two days later, they returned and found that the regulators had been shot again. They also recovered a 9mm shell casing at the scene.

A review of the pole camera footage revealed that a white van arrived near the regulators. The van stopped and gunshots were seen being fired toward the energy facility.  Agents located the owner of the van, with the help of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and interviewed the owner who was in possession of the vehicle. The owner stated that Hurst and another individual possessed the van during the time of the shooting. Agents searched the van and found a spent 9mm shell casing.

Agents later executed a search warrant on Hurst’s residence and recovered a firearm in his room and a 9mm handgun in a safe in another room of the house. Forensic analysis determined that the shell casing found at the scene of the shooting on Aug. 14 and the shell casing recovered from the van were fired from the 9mm handgun. Hurst’s fingerprint was also found on the trigger of the 9mm handgun, and the key to the safe containing the firearm was located with Hurst’s car keys.

While incarcerated, Hurst was heard on a recorded jail phone call informing someone about a hard drive in his room that needed to be recovered because it “could get someone in trouble.” In a subsequent recorded phone call, Hurst admitted to shooting the regulator bank. He also stated that the hard drive found at his home contained images of child sexual abuse material that he acquired from the dark web.

Agents retrieved the hard drive from the home. A search warrant on the hard drive revealed several images that were confirmed to be CSAM by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Hurst faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and a lifetime of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment for each charge.  United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Hurst after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

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 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 also 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, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sumter Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lamar J. Fyall and Michael Shedd are prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Tyre Amahdikeem Brooks, 23; John Matthew Railey, 36; and Ricky Shane Underwood, 43, all of Lancaster, were sentenced to a total of 27 years federal prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking charges.

Evidence presented to the court showed the three men conspired together in the Lancaster area to distribute methamphetamine beginning in January 2020. In June 2020, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office narcotics investigators made two controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Brooks. In July 2020, Brooks was arrested on outstanding state drug trafficking warrants. He was in possession of a loaded AR-15 style assault rifle, a 9mm pistol equipped with an extended ammunition magazine, and a quantity of methamphetamine. In 2022, Brooks was also arrested in Rock Hill for possessing firearms and unlawful narcotics.  

In January 2021, Railey was found with nearly an ounce of 99% pure methamphetamine during a domestic incident. The following month, Railey sold a quantity of methamphetamine to Lancaster County narcotics investigators during an undercover controlled buy.

In February 2021, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office narcotics investigators made a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Underwood. Investigators searched Underwood’s home a few days and found more methamphetamine and a firearm. In March 2023, investigators made another controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Underwood. A second search was made of Underwood’s home and more methamphetamine, and another firearm were found in the home.

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis presided over the case.

• Brooks pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute and distribution of five grams or more of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 108 months in prison, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision.
• Railey was sentenced to 144 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute methamphetamine.
• Underwood pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and was sentenced to 72 months in prison, to be followed by a four-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office and the Rock Hill Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher D. Taylor and William K. Witherspoon are prosecuting the case.

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The Justice Department sued the State of South Carolina today for unnecessarily segregating adults with mental illness in adult care homes, in violation of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Supreme Court’s decision in Olmstead v. L.C. The department previously notified South Carolina of its findings of civil rights violations in a July 2023 letter, which identified steps that the state should take to remedy the violations.

“People with disabilities in South Carolina can and must be able to receive services in their own homes, rather than being isolated in institutions,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division will continue to ensure that people with disabilities can receive the services necessary to enable and empower them to leave institutions, and participate fully in community life.”

“The ADA requires public entities to administer services, programs and activities in the most integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals with disabilities,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “South Carolina must remedy the alleged violations identified by the Justice Department so that these individuals can obtain services in their own communities, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.”

The ADA and Olmstead decision require state and local governments to ensure that the services for adults with mental illness are provided in the most integrated setting appropriate. Community-based services, such as Assertive Community Treatment and supportive housing, are effective in supporting people in their own homes and communities rather than institutional settings. Absent these services, many South Carolinians with mental illness who could live in the community remain in, and continue to enter, adult care homes.

The lawsuit alleges that South Carolina violates the ADA by failing to provide community-based services to prevent the unnecessary segregation of adults with mental illness in adult care homes. As a result, over a thousand adults with mental illness are segregated in adult care homes for years, and more continue to enter these facilities each month.

The Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section investigated this case with assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina. Individuals with information relevant to this matter can contact the department by emailing Community.SouthCarolina@usdoj.gov.                                                          

For more information on the ADA, please call the department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (TDD 800-514-0383) or visit www.ada.gov/topics/community-integration/.

For more information on the Civil Rights Division, please visit www.justice.gov/crt.

Evidence presented to the court showed that agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) discovered an Internet user associated with an address in Conway who engaged in Bitcoin transactions with a Darknet site from which users purchased CSAM.  HSI discovered that the user engaged in several Bitcoin transactions with Bitcoin addresses within the website between March 2016 and August 2016 and that the username on the account was Laine Clark.  HSI obtained a federal search warrant for the residence in Conway, and during the search, agents found multiple electronic devices.  During a forensic examination of the seized devices, HSI found 10,910 images and 1,210 videos of CSAM. Clark was present during the search and admitted to his involvement in CSAM-related activities.

United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III sentenced Clark to 78 months imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Clark was ordered to pay $41,000.00 in restitution.

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

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

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — Derrick Santell Brown, 33, of Ravenel, was sentenced to 1o years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and possessing with intent to distribute marijuana.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on Jan. 12, 2023, an officer with the Goose Creek Police Department conducted a traffic stop on an SUV for having an inoperable headlight.  Immediately upon stopping in a nearby parking lot, Derrick Brown, the defendant, and sole occupant, exited the vehicle.  After a brief interaction with the officer, Brown fled the traffic stop. He was apprehended by another officer about 300 yards away.  Brown had more than $10,000 in cash, 43 grams of marijuana split in two bags, and two cell phones on his person.  A search of the car revealed an AK-47 style firearm with an extended magazine containing 48 rounds.

United States District Judge Bruce H. Hendricks sentenced Brown to 120 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

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

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Goose Creek Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Holmes is prosecuting the case.

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FLORENCE, S.C. —Troy Benjamin Bittner, 55, of Myrtle Beach, was sentenced to more than three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and filing a false tax return. 

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that from November 2020 to December 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Bittner was employed as a general manager at the Carolina Pines RV Resort in Conway. During that time, when it was not uncommon for guests to cancel reservations, he fraudulently generated $828,516.00 in customer refunds that were neither authorized nor requested by guests for completed reservations. After generating the fraudulent refunds, Bittner then wired the refunds to his personal bank accounts.  Bittner also stole cash from the Carolina Pines RV Resort’s cloud-based point-of-sale system and documented it as refunds.  In addition, in both 2020 and 2021, Bittner electronically filed with the IRS a Form 1040 in which he substantially understated his total income for calendar years 2020 and 2021, resulting in a total tax loss of $281,727.00.  

United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III sentenced Bittner to 37 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.  Bittner was ordered to pay a total of $1,219,894.72 in restitution. 

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

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the IRS Criminal Investigation, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hummel is prosecuting the case. 

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Freddie Antwon Thompson, 34, of Rock Hill, was sentenced to more than 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and crack cocaine.

Evidence presented to the court revealed that on Nov. 2, 2022, officers with the Rock Hill Police Department discovered Thompson, in possession of a loaded firearm, ammunition, marijuana, crack cocaine, and oxycodone following a routine traffic stop. During his arrest on federal charges, Thompson was found with another loaded firearm, additional marijuana, and a digital scale.

As a result of prior felony convictions, Thompson was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law. His criminal history includes convictions for offenses such as distribution of imitation controlled substances, distribution of marijuana, distribution of ecstasy, trafficking in methamphetamine and cocaine base, unlawful carrying of weapons, unlawful possession of stolen firearms, and resisting arrest. Due to his prior drug convictions, Thompson was sentenced as a career offender.

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Thompson to 170 months imprisonment, to be followed by a six-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

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

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Rock Hill Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has announced the recipients of the Seventh Annual Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in Community Policing, including Lance Corporal Justin Boyd of the Columbia Police Department.

This prestigious award recognizes law enforcement officers who demonstrate exceptional dedication to strengthening trust, promoting community engagement, and enhancing public safety.

“Community policing is essential to building trust and ensuring public safety,” said Attorney General Garland. “These officers have gone above and beyond their duty to foster partnerships with the communities they serve. Their work is an inspiration to us all and a reminder of the profound impact law enforcement can have on individuals, neighborhoods, and society.”

The best of community policing is demonstrated throughout the work of Lance Corporal Boyd – from the partnerships he forms, to the community outreach that’s a regular part of his work, to the investigations he successfully conducts to make his community safer. And that involves all segments of the community -- including those disenfranchised residents who often go unseen and unheard. Thanks to his efforts, their voices are now part of the conversation, and the community is safer for it. 

“Lance Corporal Boyd represents the best of South Carolina law enforcement. Our community is stronger and safer thanks to his dedicated service,” said U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “Now, more than ever, we need officers like him, dedicated to community policing. Congratulations, LCpl Boyd.”

“This prestigious award is proof that law enforcement officers care about the people who live, work, and play in the various communities in which they serve. And that is exactly the gift that Lance Corporal Boyd offers City of Columbia citizens,” said Columbia Police Chief W.H. ‘Skip’ Holbrook. “He has a genuine way of connecting with people in a relatable, caring level. For him, community policing goes beyond a daily assignment -- he embraces it wholeheartedly.”

The Attorney General’s Award recognizes individual state, local, and Tribal sworn officers, deputies, and troopers for exceptional efforts in community policing. The awarded individuals have demonstrated active engagement with the community in one of three areas: criminal investigations, field operations, or innovations in community policing.

The awardees were selected from a nationwide pool of nominees for their outstanding achievements in fostering safer, more inclusive communities.

The Department of Justice commends these officers for their service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to their communities. For more information about the awards, visit www.justice.gov.

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FLORENCE, S.C. — Margaret Ward Heilman, 66, of Darlington County and Katherine Ward Gray, 60, of Florence County, were sentenced to federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Evidence presented to the court showed that Heilman was the bookkeeper for a business in Florence County. As bookkeeper, she had access to the business’s bank accounts and had signature authority. Beginning in 2014, Heilman began to write checks to herself and others, to include her sister, Gray, for personal expenses. When Heilman wrote the checks to herself, and others, she made them look like legitimate business expenses on the business’s general ledger.

Through the course of the scheme, Heilman defrauded the company out of $1.5 million.

United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III sentenced Heilman to 20 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  Heilman was also ordered to pay $1.5 million in restitution. Gray was sentenced to seven months in imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  Gray was ordered to pay $234,131.82 in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Florence County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy F. Bower is prosecuting the case.

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SPARTANBURG, S.C. — The final defendant in an Upstate drug trafficking conspiracy, Jeffrey Michael Wilson, 54, of Commerce, Georgia, was sentenced to nearly 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, after having served a prior federal sentence on similar charges.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on Feb. 22, 2023, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on Wilson, locating more than 5,800 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded semi-automatic pistol with 19 rounds. The investigation revealed that over the course of the conspiracy, Wilson was responsible for trafficking over 89 kilograms of methamphetamine.

United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins sentenced Wilson to 235 months imprisonment, followed by 120 months supervised release, and ordered a forfeiture judgement of $311,000.

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

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, South Carolina Department of Corrections Office of the Inspector General, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, and Greenville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Schoen is prosecuting the case.

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FLORENCE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Florence returned a four-count indictment against Samual Earl Ramu, 33; Kathy Denise Roberts-Poston, 57; Michael Allen Dorsey, 56; Justin Allen Cox, 40; and Ryan Marie Lovell, 37, all of Florence, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl.

The indictment alleges that the five named defendants conspired to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl in South Carolina since at least May 2021. Ramu faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and is currently incarcerated and serving a 15-year sentence with the South Carolina Department of Corrections. Dorsey faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and is currently detained on related state charges. Roberts-Poston, Cox, and Lovell each face maximum penalties of 20 years imprisonment and are currently detained awaiting their initial appearances before the Honorable Kaymani D. West, United States Magistrate Judge.

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 Homeland Security Investigations and the Florence County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from the South Carolina Department of Corrections Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Ellis is prosecuting the case. 

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

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury has returned a six-count indictment charging Jack Keegan Davis, 21, of Columbus, Ohio, with coercion and enticement of minors, production, distribution, and possession of child pornography*, and cyberstalking.

The indictment alleges that from August 2022 through October 2024, Davis used at least four social media platforms and 130 social media display names to pose as a minor and interact with minors on social media. Davis used those accounts to persuade minor victims to engage in sexual conduct and to produce child sexual abuse material. Davis allegedly received that material, possessed it, and distributed some of that content to other minors, including classmates of one of his victims. He also allegedly used the material to harass and threaten at least one of his minor victims and their family. Although one minor obtained a restraining order, Davis continued to contact the minor and the minor’s family after the no contact order was served on Davis.

Davis also allegedly threatened to kill one minor and the minor’s family, including: “Im going to kill [Victim] and [Victim’s] family,” “[Victim] ur ded,” “Im going to f***ing kill [Victim],” “I am not kidding I am going to kill [Victim] and [Victim’s] family,” “If [Victim] doesn’t answer me I’m going to [Victim’s] house,” and “I won’t stop until you’re dead.” Davis allegedly shared the victim’s home address, said he would be there when the minor’s father was out of town, promised “revenge if it’s the last thing I do,” and wrote, “lol I just want [Victim] to suffer.” Davis is alleged to have minor victims in multiple states, including South Carolina.

FBI agents arrested Davis in the Southern District of Ohio, where he was ordered detained following a contested bond hearing. He was transported by the U.S. Marshals to South Carolina and appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Paige J. Gossett in Columbia, where he was ordered detained pending trial. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson will preside over the case.

Davis faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison on the production of child pornography charge and a maximum of life on the coercion and enticement charge.  Davis also faces up to a $250,000 fine, restitution, a special assessment of $5,000, supervision by the U.S. Probation Office for a period of up to life following any term of incarceration, and potential sex offender registry requirements.

The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Kershaw County, South Carolina Sheriff’s Office, the Franklin County, Ohio Sheriff’s Office, and critical assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio.

U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and Ariyana N. Gore are prosecuting the case. 

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

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

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Contaurus Dermont Smith, 46, of Columbia, was sentenced to more than five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on June 30, 2023, Columbia Police Department (CPD) officers responded to a shooting on the 900 block of House Street. Upon arrival, officers found Smith laying in the street with a gunshot wound to his leg. CPD’s Real Time Crime Center surveillance camera in the area captured the incident and showed Smith accidentally shooting himself in the leg. The surveillance also showed another person go back to the spot of the accidental shooting, pick up an object, and move it inside the home at 940 House Street. Based on that footage and a statement from another witness, CPD officers secured a search warrant for that home. Inside, they found four different firearms, including one with a machinegun conversion device attached to it that would allow it to function as an automatic weapon. Smith accepted responsibility for possessing the firearm with which he shot himself as a convicted felon and the court held him responsible for possession of the machinegun found alongside that pistol. Smith is convicted felon and is unable to lawfully possess firearms or ammunition.

United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Smith to 63 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Based primarily on Smith’s lengthy record of violence convictions and a prior federal conviction for the same firearm possession charge, Judge Currie granted in part the Government’s motion for an upward variance and imposed a sentence above the guidelines for this case.

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 Columbia Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew R. Sanford is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jeffrey Alan Benjamin, 62, was sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison after pleading guilty to causing SCANA, a publicly-traded company, to keep false records in connection with the failed V.C. Summer nuclear construction project in Jenkinsville, South Carolina.

Evidence presented to the court showed that Benjamin served as senior vice president for new plants and major projects at the Westinghouse Electric Company and directly supervised all new nuclear projects worldwide during the V.C. Summer project.  Westinghouse was the primary contractor on the project, tasked with designing and building two new nuclear units in Jenkinsville.

Evidence revealed that Benjamin’s failure to provide truthful information to SCANA enabled SCANA executives to deceive shareholders, regulators, and ratepayers about the schedule and costs of the new nuclear construction project.  In late 2016, confronted with information that the project was delayed and that up to $2.2 billion in federal tax credits were at risk, SCANA executives withheld that information from regulators in an effort to keep the project going.  Their false and misleading statements allowed SCANA to obtain and retain rate increases imposed on SCANA’s rate-paying customers.

Benjamin is the fourth and final defendant to be sentenced in this multi-year investigation.  Three other executives were previously convicted and have served their respective sentences.

Kevin B. Marsh, former SCANA Corporation chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors, was sentenced to two years in federal prison and ordered to pay a $5 million penalty after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

Stephen Byrne, former executive vice president of SCANA and former chief operating officer of South Carolina Electric & Gas Company (SCE&G) was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison and ordered to pay over $1 million after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud.

Carl Churchman, former Westinghouse Electric Corporation vice president and the project director of the V.C. Summer Nuclear project, was sentenced to six months of home detention after pleading guilty to lying to federal investigators.

In addition, in 2021 the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced an agreement securing Westinghouse’s cooperation in the V.C. Summer criminal investigation and payment of $21.25 million for low-income ratepayer relief.

“The defendants in this case did not simply make a corporate error. They intentionally misled, and their dishonesty in the V.C. Summer project caused a great deal of harm to the people of South Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “This sentence sends a clear message of deterrence to executives and corporations who believe they are above the law: deceit and fraud will be met with accountability and justice.”

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Benjamin to 12 months and one day in federal prison to be followed by a two-year term of supervised release. Benjamin was also ordered to pay a $100,000 fine.

This case was investigated by U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI Columbia Field Office, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

First Assistant United States Attorney Brook Andrews, along with Assistant United States Attorneys Winston Holliday and Emily Limehouse, Trial Attorney Bill Schurmann, and Special Assistant United States Attorney John O’Halloran prosecuted the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. —Robert Namath Emory, 54, of Lancaster, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud after embezzling funds from his employer.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Emory was the head of the accounting department for Mar Mac Protective Apparel, a company in McBee that makes hazardous materials (HAZMAT) suits. Mar Mac used an invoice system that attached a blank, physical check to invoices of large vendors, but would submit payment electronically. Mar Mac used check numbers internally and never submitted them to the bank, thereby avoiding using duplicate checks numbers. Beginning in January 2016, Emory would exploit a flaw in this system by doubling the amount of the invoices, making an electronic payment to the vendor and then use the check numbers to write physical checks to himself or his personal LLC.

Emory pleaded guilty to count one of his 50-count indictment for submitting a fraudulent check for $9,583.79 in February 2021. Through this scheme, Emory was able to obtain nearly $5 million. Emory was previously convicted of wire fraud in 2008.

Emory faces a maximum penalty of 20 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 Emory after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Winston Holliday and Scott Matthews are prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. —Antonie Albert Eaddy, 49, of Arizona, has pleaded guilty in Columbia to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, a quantity of crack cocaine and a quantity of marijuana.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Eaddy was supplying multiple people in Columbia, Florence, and Lee Counties in South Carolina with cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, and fentanyl pills. The police learned of his operation while investigating a person in Columbia who was purchasing cocaine from Eaddy. During their investigation, the police learned that Eaddy was supplying him with cocaine and fentanyl pills. Eaddy was shipping the drugs through the postal service and through couriers who picked up the drugs from Eaddy and transported money and drugs to and from South Carolina.  During their investigation, the police, with the help of the United States Postal Inspection Service, seized two packages that contained approximately one kilogram of cocaine, 500 grams of marijuana, five grams of crack cocaine and 344 gross grams of fentanyl pills that was set to be delivered to another co-conspirator in Columbia for a wider distribution. Police also learned that Eaddy was shipping fentanyl pills through the mail to other co-conspirators in Miami, Florida. Three other co-conspirators have pleaded guilty to their involvement in this conspiracy and are awaiting sentencing.

Eaddy faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least five years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Eaddy after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

This operation and 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 Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, Department of Homeland Security, Richland County Sheriff’s 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. — Booker Henley, 30, of Columbia, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison after being found guilty at trial of being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense.

Evidence presented at trial showed that on March 10, 2023, a deputy with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Henley’s vehicle in northeast Columbia. Henley fled from the deputy but crashed his vehicle moments later. Members of the public reported the crash and multiple RCSD deputies responded to the crash site believing the vehicle was the same vehicle that had escaped earlier. Henley ran from the crash before deputies arrived. The vehicle smelled of marijuana, and when deputies searched the vehicle, they found a loaded firearm with an extended magazine, a bag containing 252 grams of marijuana, and a bill of sale for another vehicle in Henley’s name.

Prior to the crash, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), observed Henley’s social media accounts where he posted pictures of himself and marijuana that he advertised for sale using the deceptive hashtag #notforsale. ATF obtained surveillance footage from the crash site which showed Henley running from the vehicle wearing unique clothing. Henley had previously posted pictures of himself wearing the same unique clothing on social media. Law enforcement also obtained a search warrant for his social media account which confirmed that he was using social media to advertise and sell drugs in the days before and after the crash. Notably, social media messages revealed that he had completed a drug sale in Columbia approximately 45 minutes before the chase with law enforcement. The search warrant revealed that he messaged someone four days after the crash admitting to wrecking his “skat” which is a term used to reference certain models of Dodge Chargers.

Lastly, Henley’s DNA was found on both the firearm and the extended magazine. Henley has prior convictions for pointing and presenting a firearm at a person, breaking into a motor vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of a stolen pistol, and failure to stop for a blue light.

United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Henley to a total 144 months imprisonment consisting of concurrent sentences of 84 months and 60 months for the felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute marijuana convictions followed by a consecutive sentence of 60 months for the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense conviction. The sentence of incarceration will be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

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

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

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Ten defendants have been convicted in federal court for their participation in an identity theft and fraud ring based out of Columbia, South Carolina with victims in at least South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, Georgia, Virginia, Missouri, and New York.  The following defendants have been convicted of the following offenses:

• Ronda Weston, a/k/a “Lisa Caldwell,” a/k/a “Lisa Baker,” 49, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, and wire fraud related to PPP loans.  Weston faces up to 20 years in federal prison, plus an additional mandatory two years in prison consecutive to any other time, forfeiture of assets and property seized from Weston during the investigation, and mandatory restitution. Weston is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 21.  This is Weston’s third federal prosecution.
• Kashon Harrison, 46, of Elgin, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy. Harrison faces an agreed-upon two years in prison, forfeiture of assets and property, and mandatory restitution.  Harrison is awaiting sentencing.  This is Harrison’s second federal prosecution.
• Michael Terrance Butler, 54, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft. Butler faces up to 20 years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. 14. 
• Kasaun Dante Simons, 27, of Blythewood, pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy.  Simons faces up to 20 years in prison, forfeiture of assets and property seized from Simons during the investigation, and mandatory restitution. Simons is awaiting sentencing.  
• William Charles Brown, 37, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft. Brown faces a mandatory two years in federal prison, forfeiture of assets and property, and mandatory restitution. Brown is awaiting sentencing. This is Brown’s second federal prosecution.
• Monique Sherrie Corbett, a/k/a “Monique Sumter,” 52, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and was sentenced to two years in prison, to be followed by one year of supervision, and more than $37,000 in restitution.
• Stanzetta Teresa Johnson, 63, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft.  Johnson faces a mandatory two years in prison, forfeiture of assets and property, and mandatory restitution.  Johnson is awaiting sentencing.
• Shakirah Khalidah Chapman, 28, of Columbia, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft. Chapman faces a mandatory two years in prison, forfeiture of assets and property, and mandatory restitution.  Chapman is awaiting sentencing.
• Ashley Nicole Drummond, 39, of Lugoff, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft.  Drummond faces a mandatory two years in prison, forfeiture of assets and property, and mandatory restitution. Drummond is awaiting sentencing.
• Darryl Dewayne Dumas, 61, of Palatka, Florida, pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft and was sentenced to two years in prison, to be followed by one year of supervision.

According to evidence presented in court, from at least July 2020 through August 2023, the conspirators obtained the stolen personal identifying information of identity theft victims from the dark web, including the names, home addresses, social security numbers, dates of birth, and credit scores of victims from at least nine states. One defendant’s home was searched by federal search warrant, and that search led to the recovery of a ledger with 151 identity theft victims listed in alphabetical order.  Agents recovered fraudulent identity documents and financial records from numerous conspirators.

Weston generally led the scheme and recruited others to participate.  The conspirators used the stolen identities to manufacture fraudulent driver’s licenses, utility bills, pay stubs, social security cards, and bank statements using their identity theft victims’ names and credit but with photos of the conspirators on the driver’s licenses. They then obtained money and property through fraudulent means, including:

• A vehicle purchase scheme, where conspirators obtained luxury vehicles including a Jaguar, a Maserati, a Range Rover, RVs, pickup trucks, sports utility vehicles, sedans, golf carts, motorcycles, three-wheel side-by-side vehicles, and all-terrain vehicles;
• A vehicle title loan scheme, where conspirators obtained title loans from financial institutions in the name of their identity theft victims by claiming they were selling vehicles between themselves;
• A personal title loan scheme, where conspirators obtained personal loans from financial institutions in the name of their identity theft victims by claiming planned home renovations or the purchase of appliances; and
• A residential rental scheme where conspirators fraudulently leased and rented residences in the name of their identity theft victims but for their own personal use, often leaving the residence owner unpaid and a debt in their identity theft victims’ names.

Individual conspirators were responsible for as much as $650,000 fraud through this scheme, and during the investigation, agents seized residences, real property, boats, vehicles, golf carts, cash, and other property as fruits and proceeds of the scheme. Many of the vehicles have been returned to the sellers.

Some conspirators also obtained fraudulent loans through the PPP program, which provided fully forgivable loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration to provide emergency relief to businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson accepted the guilty pleas of the defendants and will sentence the eight defendants awaiting sentencing at a later date.  All of the defendants will be subject to court-ordered supervision by the U.S. Probation Office following any term of incarceration.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department with assistance from the Columbia Police Department and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliott B. Daniels is prosecuting the case.

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