District of South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. — United States Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs announced today that the Justice Department will monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in South Carolina for the Nov. 5 general election.

The Justice Department enforces federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all eligible citizens to access the ballot. The department regularly deploys its staff to monitor for compliance with federal civil rights laws in elections in communities all across the country.

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division will coordinate the effort. Monitors will include Justice Department personnel, who will contact state and local election officials as needed throughout Election Day.

The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act and Civil Rights Acts. The division’s Disability Rights Section enforces the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ensure that persons with disabilities have a full and equal opportunity to vote. The division’s Criminal Section enforces federal criminal statutes that prohibit voter intimidation and voter suppression based on race, color, national origin or religion.

On Election Day, Civil Rights Division personnel will be available all day to receive questions and complaints from the public related to possible violations of federal voting rights laws. Reports may be made through the department’s website www.civilrights.justice.gov or by calling toll-free at 800-253-3931.

Individuals with questions or complaints related to the ADA may call the department’s toll-free ADA information hotline at 800-514-0301 or 833-610-1264 (TTY) or submit a complaint through a link on the department’s ADA website at www.ada.gov.

Complaints related to any disruptions at a polling place should always be reported to local election officials (including officials based in the polling place). Complaints related to violence, threats of violence or intimidation at a polling place should be reported immediately to local police authorities by calling 911. These complaints should also be reported to the department after local authorities have been contacted.

More information about voting and elections, including guidance documents and other resources, is available at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section.

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. —A federal jury in Columbia has convicted Kelsey Antonio McCallum, 27, of Sumter, of illegally trafficking firearms.

Evidence presented at trial revealed that McCallum and his sister, Daeja Hodge, conspired to purchase firearms and resale those firearms for profit. At least 13 times from 2020-2022, McCallum made false statements to acquire firearms at dealers in Columbia, Sumter, and the Upstate. McCallum also purchased firearms from Georgia. During each purchase, McCallum falsely stated that the firearms were intended for his personal use, knowing that he intended to sell them. McCallum would then illegally transport the firearms to Maryland and sell them there. McCallum and Hodge acquired over 100 firearms during this scheme. Most of those firearms ended up in the hands of felons prohibited from possessing firearms or at crime scenes in the Baltimore area. A few firearms were also sold in North Carolina. At trial, the Government introduced more than 30 firearms and ammunition found by law enforcement in the Baltimore area.  

Hodge pleaded guilty to her role in the offense prior to McCallum’s trial.

McCallum faces a maximum penalty of 10 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 will sentence McCallum 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.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in South Carolina and Maryland, investigated the case along with assistance from numerous local agencies in South Carolina, Georgia, Maryland, and North Carolina. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher D. Taylor and William K. Witherspoon are prosecuting the case.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. —Ibrahim Shedid, 29, and Ahmed Shedid, 35, of Summerville, have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to sell and traffic counterfeit goods for selling counterfeit Viagra pills in a $35 million scheme.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Ibrahim Shedid owned and operated Big Boss Puff Stuff and Ahmed Shedid owned and operated A2Z Warehouse. The brothers worked together to distribute and sell counterfeit Viagra to convenience stores, knowing the pills were counterfeit. 

In January 2024, law enforcement intercepted a shipment of 19 bottles of counterfeit Viagra, which was being delivered to Big Boss Puff Stuff. After the delivery, more counterfeit Viagra was seized from a storage unit associated with both Ahmed Shedid and Ibrahim Shedid. The retail value of all counterfeit Viagra seized from the defendants was in excess of $35 million.

Ibrahim Shedid faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison and Ahmed Shedid also faces a maximum penalty of five years in federal prison. Both also face a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment.

U.S. District Judge Bruce H. Hendricks accepted the guilty pleas and will sentence Shedid and Shedid after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with assistance from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower is prosecuting the case.

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SPARTANBURG, S.C. —Bernardino de Jesus Ramirez-Ramirez, a/k/a Carlos Mendoza, 35, of Guatemala, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to kidnapping and illegal transportation of an alien.

Following two days of trial, Ramirez-Ramirez entered a guilty plea for kidnapping and illegal transportation of an alien. Evidence presented to the court showed Ramirez-Ramirez and the minor victim’s family entered into an agreement for the minor victim to be smuggled into the United States. Months later when the minor victim crossed into the United States, she encountered officers with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. As an unaccompanied minor, Border Patrol provided her with treatment for injuries sustained during her smuggling and transferred her to a residential facility until she could be released to an appropriate custodian within the United States. The U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement reviewed the minor victim’s smuggling case and learned that the minor victim owed a debt to Ramirez-Ramirez, that the minor victim had never met Ramirez-Ramirez, and that she would prefer to reside with a family member in the United States rather than her smuggler Ramirez-Ramirez. Despite Ramirez-Ramirez and the victim’s parents in Guatemala pressing for the release of the minor to Ramirez-Ramirez pursuant to their illegal smuggling agreement, the minor victim was released to an uncle residing in Newberry, South Carolina in March 2023.

Less than a week after the minor victim arrived at her uncle’s home in Newberry, Ramirez-Ramirez drove from Kansas City, Missouri to the uncle’s home. The minor victim was told she would be deported if she stayed with her uncle and that the smuggling debt would increase if she did not leave with Ramirez-Ramirez. Under these pressures, the minor victim left with Ramirez-Ramirez who drove her across the country to his home in Kansas City. When the uncle returned home from work and learned that the minor victim was missing, he notified local law enforcement.

Within 24 hours of the kidnapping, the Newberry Police Department and SLED had tracked Ramirez-Ramirez from Newberry to Kansas City and identified a home associated with Ramirez-Ramirez. The Kansas City Police Department responded to the home, recovered the minor victim, and arrested Ramirez-Ramirez. 

“Kidnapping, especially the kidnapping of vulnerable children, is a monstrous offense,” said U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “The quick collaborative response of law enforcement across multiple jurisdictions saved this child from additional harm and trauma.”

United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins sentenced Ramirez-Ramirez to 168 months in federal prison to be followed by a five-year term of court ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

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

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SPARTANBURG, S.C. —Maurice Suber, 39, of Spartanburg was sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute cocaine.

Evidence presented to the court showed that since at least 2022, Suber was distributing drugs in the Highlands area of Spartanburg. On Nov. 15, 2023, a search warrant was executed on Suber’s home and multiple firearms and cash were located. Suber had previously been sentenced for conspiracy to distribute cocaine in the same federal courthouse.

United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins sentenced Suber to 141 months in federal prison, followed by a court ordered term of supervision. The court also entered an order of forfeiture for $3.8 million dollars. 

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, Border Enforcement Security Task Force – Upstate South Carolina, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and Greenville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Schoen is prosecuting the case.

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MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Two South Carolina prosecutors were recently honored for their excellence and achievements in the criminal justice system. The awards are presented each year during the South Carolina Solicitors’ Annual Conference, which is held in Myrtle Beach.

The 2024 honorees are:

Ernest F. Hollings Award (General Sessions): Deputy Solicitor Ashley Hammack, 2nd Circuit Solicitor’s Office

Ernest F. Hollings Award (Attorney General): Assistant Deputy Attorney General Kinli Abee, South Carolina Attorney General’s Office

The Ernest F. Hollings Awards for Excellence in State Prosecution were conceived in 1996 and begun in 1997 as a means for federal prosecutors to take the lead in publicly recognizing their state court colleagues who generally must do much more with much less. As Chairman of the Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee, then United States Attorney J. René Josey enlisted the support of United States Senator Ernest F. Hollings to make the awards a reality. As a former Charleston prosecutor and longtime legislative supporter of law enforcement, Senator Hollings was more than willing to lend his aid. The Senator Hollings awards are presented annually to recognize an Assistant Solicitor in each of the following categories: (1) excellence in prosecution in the Court of General Sessions; and/or (2) excellence in prosecution in the Family Courts. In 2006, a third category was added to recognize an Assistant Attorney General.

The award selections committee is comprised of the Chairman of the South Carolina Commission on Prosecution Coordination, the President of the S.C. Solicitor’s Association, the Chief of South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office and the John Justice family.

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SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Three members of an Upstate drug ring have been sentenced to federal prison and the final member has pleaded guilty for their role in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy.

Richard Brian Walker, 49, of Chesnee, was sentenced to 270 months’ imprisonment. Walker additionally pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a short-barreled rifle, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. 

Rebecca Elizabeth Whitesides, 54, of Mooresboro, N.C., 120 months’ imprisonment. Whitesides also pled guilty to money laundering. 

Amanda Gail Tuck, 45, of Chesnee, was sentenced to 70 months’ imprisonment.

The final defendant Jeffrey Michael Wilson, 54, of Commerce, Georgia pled guilty to conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Wilson was convicted in a prior federal methamphetamine conspiracy case in 2000.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on Jan. 18, 2023, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office deputies pulled over Whitesides on I-85 and searched her car, finding almost two kilograms of methamphetamine. Investigation into her bank accounts demonstrated that she was assisting others to conceal payments for drug proceeds.

On Feb. 22, 2023, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office was conducting surveillance on Walker’s home and observed Wilson’s car arrive and leave. Law enforcement conducted a traffic stop on Wilson, locating more than 5,800 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded semi-automatic pistol with 19 rounds. Over the course of the conspiracy, Wilson was responsible for trafficking 50 kilograms of methamphetamine with Walker.

A search warrant was also executed on Walker’s residence and storage building that day, and investigators located over 500 grams of methamphetamine and 85 grams of fentanyl, a loaded pistol, a rifle, and an unmarked short-barreled AR-15 style rifle, commonly referred to as a “ghost gun.” Tuck was also located on the premises.

Only a month later, on March 24, 2023, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office deputies pulled over Tuck and located almost a kilogram of her methamphetamine in a U-Haul truck.

United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins sentenced the defendants and accepted Wilson’s guilty plea.  The court ordered each sentence to be followed by a term of supervised release. Judge Coggins will sentence Wilson at a later date. The maximum penalty for the offense is life imprisonment. 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, 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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COLUMBIA, S.C. —Daisean Montez Skeeters, 30, of Columbia, has pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on July 17, 2024, Columbia Police Department officers responded to a domestic violence call at Skeeters’ home.  After arriving, police learned there might be firearms in the home. Because Skeeters was already on federal supervised release for a previous federal firearms conviction, agents also spoke to his U.S. Probation Officer, who said he was also advised of firearms in the home. Agents obtained a search warrant for the residence and located two firearms, including one loaded with 16 rounds of ammunition. Agents obtained a second search warrant for Skeeters’ DNA to compare to swabs taken from those firearms. DNA testing confirmed an extremely high probability that Skeeters’ DNA was present on one of the firearms.  Skeeters entered a guilty plea to possessing that firearm as a convicted felon.

Skeeters was already on federal supervised release following a previous conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm and faces a separate penalty for violating the terms of that release.

According to a sentencing memorandum filed by the Government in his prior case (3:19-CR-992), Skeeters has a history of leading a street gang that was responsible for a substantial disruption of local communities to include through gun violence, organized drug distribution, and fraud schemes.

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

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

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Columbia Police Department with forensic assistance from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliott B. Daniels and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew R. Sanford are prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — United States Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) John Potterfield will lead the efforts of her office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming Nov. 5 general election. AUSA Potterfield has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the District of South Carolina, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the district’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

United States Attorney Boroughs said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.

Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input.  It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice.  The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).   

United States Attorney Boroughs stated that: “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy.  We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Potterfield will be on duty in this district while the polls are open.  He can be reached by the public at the following telephone numbers: 803-919-3092.”

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The FBI Columbia field office can be reached by the public at 803-551-4200.

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C. by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.

United States Attorney Boroughs said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate.  It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”

Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and 

Two South Carolina men pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Columbia, South Carolina, to federal hate crime and other charges in connection with a string of racially-motivated armed robberies targeting Hispanic victims.

According to court documents, beginning in January 2021 and continuing through February 2021, Charles Antonio Clippard, 27, and Michael Joseph Knox, 29, both of Columbia, conspired to target people the defendants identified as Mexican or Hispanic at places of public accommodation, including gas stations and grocery stores. After identifying these targets, the defendants would rob their victims at gunpoint. The defendants targeted their victims because of their victims’ race and national origin.

Both defendants admitted their involvement in a Jan. 22, 2021, armed robbery in which the defendants followed their victims from a grocery store and restaurant to their home and then robbed the victims at gunpoint, stealing cash and a cellphone. They also admitted their involvement in a Jan. 30, 2021, armed robbery and carjacking targeting a Hispanic victim after following him from a gas station to his home. The defendants admitted their involvement in another Jan. 30, 2021, armed robbery in which they targeted a Hispanic victim, followed him from a gas station to his home and then robbed him and others at gunpoint after following him into his home. In total, the defendants pleaded to three hate crime charges, one count of carjacking, one count of conspiracy and two firearms charges. Two other co-conspirators, Gabriel Brunson, 21, and Sierra Fletcher, 34, both of Columbia, previously pleaded guilty to hate crime, conspiracy and firearm offenses.

“These defendants targeted Hispanic victims for violent acts of armed robbery because of their race, national origin and perceived vulnerability,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Every person, regardless of their race or national origin, is entitled to the full protection of the law, and no person should have to fear for their lives or property because of their race or ethnicity.  The Justice Department will continue to protect all Americans and will vigorously prosecute those who commit bias-motivated crimes.”

“While these defendants sparked fear for an entire community by targeting members of our Hispanic community, today’s hearing sends a louder message: we will not tolerate bias-based crimes in South Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “The Justice Department will continue to relentlessly protect and enforce the civil rights of everyone in South Carolina.”

“These defendants used violent acts of armed robbery to purposely target Hispanic victims simply because of their race,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division. “We hope the guilty plea by these two defendants serves notice that violence borne from hate will never be tolerated in our communities. The FBI remains steadfast in its mission to uphold the Constitution and protect the civil rights of everyone, fairly and equally.”

“Clippard and Knox egregiously sought to exploit and intimidate their victims based on their Hispanic ethnicity,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Jensen of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “Their violent robberies instilled fear in their victims and innocent working people within the Hispanic community. These criminal acts have no place in our society, and we are committed to ensuring the safety of all individuals, regardless of their background.”

The defendants face a mandatory minimum penalty of 14 years in prison for the firearms offenses, a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison on each hate crime count and a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison on the carjacking count. The plea agreements require both defendants to pay restitution to all victims. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The FBI Columbia Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Columbia Police Department, Town of Lexington Police Department and Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ben Garner and E. Elizabeth Major for the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorneys Katherine McCallister and Andrew Manns of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Nine defendants of a Spartanburg area illegal drug trafficking ring were sentenced to a total of 1,257 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to distribute illegal drugs, including fentanyl, methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine. Three defendants (Bobo, Jacobs, and Canty) were also convicted of money laundering.

The follow defendants were sentenced:

Terrance Bobo, 53, of Conyers, Georgia, was sentenced to 204 months.

Michael Jacobs, 40, of Spartanburg, was sentenced to 277 months.

Maurice Canty, 48, of Spartanburg, was sentenced to 292 months.

Kevin Jeter, 49, of Spartanburg, was sentenced to 172 months.

Shuler Holmes, 39, of Spartanburg, was sentenced to 144 months.

James Foster, 61, of Spartanburg, was sentenced to 72 months.

Daniel Gregory, 43, of Spartanburg, was sentenced to 65 months.

Jahid Warden, 29, of Spartanburg, was sentenced to 22 months.

Danny Goode, 46, of Spartanburg, was sentenced to nine months.

“These nine defendants were responsible for trafficking large amounts of illegal narcotics, including fentanyl, in the Upstate, said Adair Ford Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “Our community is safer thanks to this thorough investigation by our law enforcement partners.”

“Today’s sentencing sends a clear message we will not tolerate drug trafficking in our communities,” said HSI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant. “Homeland Security Investigations will continue to work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to dismantle these dangerous networks and protect the safety of our citizens.”

Evidence presented to the court showed that Terrance Bobo was a Georgia-based supply source for a Spartanburg drug trafficking organization. Bobo began sourcing cocaine in 2013 and was responsible for distributing more than 190 kilograms of cocaine. Bobo owned and operated a real estate business called All in One, LLC, which he used to further and conceal the drug trafficking operation. During the drug trafficking conspiracy, Bobo and another co-conspirator purchased a car garage/repair shop at 501 Textile Road.

In 2021, Michael Jacobs was released from federal prison and returned to his hometown of Spartanburg and restarted his drug trafficking business. Jacobs became the primary spoke of the Spartanburg-based distribution ring and operated the car garage at 501 Textile Road as a stash house and distribution hub, using a hydraulic press to package kilograms of illegal drugs at the location.

In at least 2023, Maurice Canty, another former federal defendant previously sentenced for drug trafficking charges in Spartanburg, joined the drug trafficking conspiracy. Canty had his own subordinates, Jahid Warden and James Foster, who drove Canty and conducted drug sales of methamphetamine and fentanyl on his behalf. 

In September of 2023, Canty and Foster were arrested in a car, which contained methamphetamine, crack cocaine, cocaine, and fentanyl. Gregory was another sub-distributor of fentanyl for Canty and began working with Jacobs directly when Canty was arrested.

Law enforcement also identified Kevin Jeter as a sub-distributor of fentanyl and cocaine, responsible for over 50 kilograms of cocaine during the conspiracy. Jeter sold drugs from a business he operated, Blood Brothers Wash and Detail, formerly known as Litt. In February of 2022, Jeter was pulled over by Spartanburg officers with crack cocaine, marijuana, and a loaded handgun.

During the investigation, Danny Goode was arrested during a traffic stop on October 26, 2023, after obtaining over four ounces of cocaine for distribution from Jacobs.

In November of 2023, law enforcement executed a targeted arrest operation on the drug trafficking organization and conducted searches in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia, including at the homes of Bobo, Jacobs, and Jeter.  Search warrants were also executed at the garage at 501 Textile Road and at Blood Brothers Wash and Detail. Officers recovered numerous firearms during the searches. Thirteen kilograms of fentanyl was also recovered.

Shuler Holmes, a sub-distributor of pounds of methamphetamine and kilograms of opioids was also arrested on the federal charges, and his home was searched. In his house, law enforcement found with fentanyl, heroin, crack cocaine, and a firearm.

United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins sentenced Canty to 292 months imprisonment, Jacobs to 277 months imprisonment, Bobo to 204 months imprisonment, Jeter to 172 months imprisonment, Holmes to 144 months imprisonment, Foster to 72 months imprisonment, Gregory to 65 months imprisonment, Warden to 22 months imprisonment, and Goode to 9 months imprisonment. All sentences were ordered to be followed by a term of court-ordered supervision. 

Judge Coggins also entered the following money judgements: $4,500,000 (Bobo), $3,800,000 (Jacobs), $2,500,000 (Canty), $1,000,000 (Jeter), $50,000 (Gregory), and $50,000 (Holmes). Additionally, law enforcement seized numerous bank accounts for Jacobs and Bobo, $510,270 in cash from Jacobs, and $33,720 from Bobo. The judge also entered forfeiture judgments regarding numerous properties and vehicles including: a Tesla Model 3, a 2023 Dodge Ram TRX, a Chrysler Town and Country, a BMW X6 SUV, a Peterbilt Semi-truck, two Ford F-350s, a 1977 Caprice Classic, an ATV, a Monte Carlo, two Ford Mustangs, a RV, a dump truck, a skid steer tractor, a Chevy El Camino, a trailer, a Chevrolet truck, a semi-trailer, a F-650 Tow Truck, an Excavator. Four physical addresses were forfeited from Jacobs, and four were forfeited from Bobo.

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.

Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case with assistance from Border Enforcement Security Task Force – Upstate South Carolina, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, 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. — Four South Carolina law enforcement officers were honored for their achievements today at the 41st annual Strom Thurmond Awards for Excellence in Law Enforcement Luncheon.

State, local, and federal law enforcement officials from across South Carolina attended the awards luncheon to celebrate these officers. The awards are presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (LECC), along with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Association (SCLEOA) and the Strom Thurmond Foundation.

The 2024 honorees are:

City – Captain Marty Sawyer, Aiken Department of Public Safety

County – Chief Deputy Tom Fox, Horry County Sheriff’s Office

State – Director Bryan Stirling, S.C. Department of Corrections

Federal – Special Agent Paul Criswell, Homeland Security Investigations

The Strom Thurmond Awards for Excellence in Law Enforcement were established by then Senator Strom Thurmond in 1983 to recognize law enforcement officers whose performances demonstrate the highest ideals of excellence in professional law enforcement.  An annual award is given in each of the four categories: (1) city/municipal; (2) county; (3) state; and (4) federal.  An awards committee composed of representatives from the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Strom Thurmond Foundation, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the South Carolina Sheriffs’ Association, the South Carolina Police Chiefs’ Association, SCLEOA, and past recipients selects the winners from nominations received from across the state.

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Note: View a video statement from Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke here.

A South Carolina man, Daqua Lameek Ritter, was sentenced today to life in prison for the August 2019 murder of Dime Doe, a Black transgender woman from Allendale, South Carolina.

On Feb. 24, a jury convicted Ritter of all charges in the indictment, which included one hate crime count, one federal firearms count, and one obstruction count, all arising out of the murder of Dime Doe. This was the first guilty verdict in trial under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (Shepard-Byrd Act) for violence against a transgender person.

“Bias-motivated violence has no place in our society. With today’s sentencing, the defendant is being held accountable for the senseless murder of Dime Doe, a transgender woman of color,” said Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “We hope that the verdict and sentence in this case provides Ms. Doe’s loved ones with some sense of comfort and demonstrates that the Justice Department will vigorously prosecute those who commit violent acts of hate against the LGBTQI+ community.”

“This sentence holds the defendant accountable for the heinous and tragic murder of Dime Doe, a Black transgender woman,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Today’s sentencing will not bring Dime Doe back but hopefully provides a small measure of comfort to Dime’s family, loved ones and the community. This sentencing sends a clear message — the Justice Department vigorously defends the civil rights of every American. We will use all the resources at our disposal to safeguard the rights of the LGBTQI+ community, and we will investigate and prosecute perpetrators of transphobic-fueled violence in our country. In America, trans and gender non-conforming people, deserve to live their lives free from violence based on who they are and who they love.”

“Protecting civil rights remains at the forefront of our office’s priorities,” said U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “From the smallest of communities, like Allendale, to anywhere in South Carolina where hate and injustice occur. We will continue to fight for the rights of those targeted because of their race, their religion, their gender identity or sexual orientation, or their ability.”

“Today’s sentencing is a culmination of hard work and dedication to the pursuit of justice for Dime Doe,” said Assistant Director Chad Yarbrough of FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division. “Let me be clear, no one should live their life in fear because of their sexual identity or appearance. Charged under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, Mr. Ritter will now face the consequences for his actions. This act reminds us of the need to unite against hate and violence in our communities.”

“This sentence reflects the gravity of Ritter’s horrific crime of murdering Dime Doe,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Jensen of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “It is our hope that this outcome brings a measure of closure to Doe’s loved ones. As they continue to mourn this tragedy, the FBI remains steadfast in ensuring the protection and dignity of all citizens.”

Evidence presented at trial showed that Ritter was upset that rumors about his sexual relationship with Dime Doe were out in the community. On Aug. 4, 2019, the defendant lured Doe to a remote area in Allendale and shot her three times in the head. At trial, the government proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Ritter murdered Doe because of her gender identity. Ritter then burned the clothes he was wearing during the crime, disposed of the murder weapon, and repeatedly lied to law enforcement.

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

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

More information about the Department’s hate crimes efforts, including facts and statistics, case examples, and a searchable collection of the department’s resources for law enforcement, community groups, researchers, and others, are available at www.justice.gov/hatecrimes.

This release has been updated to reflect the correct date of Dime Doe's murder.

FLORENCE, S.C. —Orlanier Colon Menendez, 21, of Conway has pleaded guilty to possession of a machine gun and multiple machine gun conversion devices.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Conway Police Department officers responded to a vehicle crash within the city limits involving Menendez. While investigating the crash, the responding officer found a .45 caliber handgun that had a machine gun conversion device installed on the firearm. During a search, officers found a backpack that contained an additional 12 machinegun conversion devices, also known as Glock conversion switches, and a rotary tool with accessories commonly used to install the devices.

Menendez faces a maximum penalty of 10 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 Joseph Dawson accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Menendez after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Conway Police Department. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Hixson is prosecuting the case.

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FLORENCE, S.C. — Joshua Levon West, 39, of Myrtle Beach was sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on March 9, 2023, following a traffic stop, officers with the Myrtle Beach Police Department discovered West in possession of a loaded, stolen firearm.  West is prohibited from possessing a firearm based on his prior convictions for armed robbery, strong arm robbery, attempted strong arm robbery, and possession of a weapon during commission of a violent crime.  

United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III sentenced West to 30 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

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

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Myrtle Beach Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hummel is prosecuting the case.

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SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Thaddeus Deon Devlin, Jr., 29, of Greenwood was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on March 11, 2023, a victim called 911 stating that her children’s father had a gun, threatened her with it, and had taken her 5-year-old son.  Greenwood Police Department officers responded to the location where the victim indicated Devlin would likely take her child and saw Devlin pull up. When Devlin and the child exited the car, Devlin was holding a liquor bottle and stated that he had been drinking. Officers searched the car and located a loaded .40 caliber pistol. At the time of the offense, Devlin’s criminal history included multiple incidences of domestic violence, assault and battery, and a prior felon in possession of a firearm charge. Devlin was on federal supervised release at the time.

United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins, Jr., sentenced Devlin to imprisonment for a term of 84 months on the indictment and a consecutive 16 months on the supervised release violation, all to be followed by a one-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 Greenwood Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Lea Schoen is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. —Conduent State Healthcare, LLC, headquartered in New Jersey, has agreed to pay $11,358,767 to resolve False Claims Act allegations arising from Conduent’s fraudulent reporting of call center performance metrics and false claims for payment to the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS).

Two former employees of Conduent, Richard Kirchner, 71, of Branchburg, N.J., and Brian Devanney, 66, of Lexington, S.C., pleaded guilty for their role in fabricating performance metrics and adjusting invoices to SCDHHS. In connection with the settlement, the United States acknowledged that Conduent took significant steps in cooperating with the government’s investigation, entitling it to credit.

Since 2016, Conduent has been operating the South Carolina Medicaid Member Contact Center (“call center”), which takes calls from South Carolina Medicaid recipients to resolve these individuals’ questions, requests, or concerns. Conduent’s contract with SCDHHS was performance-based and used a tiered payment structure, with Conduent receiving higher payments as completed call center contacts increased, and receiving penalties if certain metrics were not met. 

Between Jan. 1, 2018, and Feb. 28, 2023, Kirchner and Devanney supplied fake reports to SCDHHS with inflated numbers for call volumes and misrepresented metrics to avoid penalties under the contract.  SCDHHS paid Conduent an excess of $8,113,405 as a result of the fraudulent reports and invoices submitted by Devanney and Kirchner.  Those payments benefitted Conduent.

On June 8, 2023, Conduent self-disclosed this conduct to the United States Attorney’s Office. Conduent took remedial measures, which included promptly disclosing the problem to SCDHHS within days of discovering the conduct, communicating to SCDHHS its plan for completing a more extensive investigation, suspending monthly invoices to SCDHHS until a loss amount was determined, immediately terminating Kirchner and Devanney and others, engaging independent outside forensic examiners to audit call center reports and quantify damages, returning to SCDHHS the money fraudulently received, gathering evidence and producing that evidence to the United States Attorney’s Office, and cooperating with the United States’ subsequent investigation.

“Protecting taxpayer dollars from such fraud and abuse is an important part of our work,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “This settlement highlights the importance of integrity in government contracting, the benefits of voluntary self-disclosure, and our commitment to protecting government healthcare programs.”

“Individuals who exploit government healthcare programs like Medicaid divert valuable taxpayer dollars from their intended use,” said Kelly J. Blackmon, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG’s Self-Disclosure Protocol enables providers to voluntarily report potential violations of the False Claims Act, assisting us in identifying, investigating, and addressing Medicare and Medicaid fraud.”

“There is always an opportunity for businesses to do the right thing, and doing the right thing is especially important in the healthcare context,” said Attorney General Alan Wilson. “Our office has numerous men and women who work every day to ensure the Medicaid program in South Carolina functions properly; and sometimes our most important allies are those in the industry who identify when something has gone wrong and step forward.”

Under the False Claims Act, the United States is entitled to three times the amount of actual damages plus penalties of between $13,946 and $27,894 per false claim.  Damages and penalties in this case could have resulted in a judgment of up to $26,069,643.  Given Conduent’s voluntary disclosure and remedial actions, it resolved this case for $11,358,767.

The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General, and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Vulnerable Adult and Medicaid Provider Fraud Control Unit (VAMPF).

Kirchner and Devanney are awaiting sentencing for their criminal charges.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Beth Warren and Nancy Cote handled the civil matter for the United States. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lothrop Morris and Scott Matthews are prosecuting the criminal matters for the United States. 

The claims resolved by the civil settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability. The South Carolina Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, dba VAMPF, receives 75 percent of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling $2,889,252 for federal fiscal year 2025. The remaining 25 percent, totaling $963,084 for FFY 2025, is funded by South Carolina.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jacob Liticker, 27, of Houston, Texas was sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

Liticker was charged in the District of South Carolina for his role in a national fraud scheme related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress authorized the PPP program to provide emergency economic relief to businesses suffering economic harm during and as a result of the pandemic.

According to evidence presented in court, Liticker led a scheme that submitted 86 fraudulent PPP loan applications for himself and others, many of whom resided in South Carolina. The scheme resulted in more than $870,000 in fraudulent PPP loans being issued to recipients who were not entitled to the pandemic relief funds. Liticker attempted to obtain more – he requested nearly $1.8 million in fraudulent PPP loans.

Liticker drafted PPP loan applications that falsely claimed businesses suffered financial harm as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, he manufactured false and fraudulent documents submitted with the applications, he submitted the loan applications himself, he tracked the progress of the loans, and he helped co-conspirators obtain full forgiveness for the loans. He did so while having no criminal record and in college studying business.  In exchange for his services, Liticker received a portion of the fraudulently obtained funds.  During the pendency this case, Liticker also violated his bond, his bond was revoked, and he is now in the custody of the U.S. Marshals.

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Liticker to 24 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of court-ordered supervision and ordered him to pay $807,990.09 in restitution to the Small Business Administration.  There is no parole in the federal system. 

“Every dollar defrauded from the PPP program represents money stolen from legitimate businesses who needed support during a difficult time in our country,” said Adair Ford Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina.  “This scheme took advantage of the public’s generosity by stealing almost a million dollars from taxpayers.  We thank our law enforcement partners for bringing accountability in this case.”

“Jacob Liticker’s sentencing should stand as a clear warning to those who seek to prey upon and defraud government programs,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “DCIS will vigorously pursue perpetrators who employ Service Members in furtherance of their crimes, as well as Service Members who willingly participate in criminal behavior against the American people, the very people they swore an oath to protect.”

The case was investigated by the Airforce Office of Special Investigations, Department of Defense – Defense Criminal Investigative Service, with assistance from the U.S. Secret Service.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Winston Marosek, who also serves as the Office’s Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator, and Elliott B. Daniels prosecuted the case. 

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.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Seneca Moore, 43, of Sumter was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distribution of methamphetamine.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on July 28, 2020, Moore sold 112 grams of methamphetamine to FBI agents during an undercover operation. The initial meeting took place at Moore’s trucking business in Mayesville. Moore later left the location and texted the buyer to meet him in the parking lot of a local gas station where he sold 112 grams of meth with 99 percent purity to the FBI. During the sale, Moore spoke of the prices the meth could be sold for and of other drugs he could provide.

Further information presented to the court revealed that April 28, 2021, Moore conducted a second drug transaction at his trucking business. Law enforcement became aware of this transaction after the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the FBI received information that a drug courier was headed to Sumter County from Alamance, N.C. to purchase a large amount of cocaine from Moore at his trucking business. Agents with the FBI contacted the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, who established surveillance in the area. Agents observed the courier arrive at Moore’s trucking business in a blue sedan and interact with Moore before leaving the location. DEA and Sumter County reported the information back to North Carolina and the Alamance Narcotics Enforcement Team, NCSBI, and DEA established surveillance in North Carolina and observed the same car arriving back in Alamance County. The Alamance County Sheriff’s Office performed a traffic stop on the vehicle and searched the vehicle after a narcotics K-9 alerted to the presence of drugs. Officers found 16.04 kilograms of cocaine in the trunk of the vehicle.

As a condition of Moore’s guilty plea, he was required to forfeit his interest in nine properties, 31 items of personal property, including vehicles, and his business inventory. Moore has a prior federal conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine.

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Moore to 144 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

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

This case was investigated by the FBI Charlotte Field Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Alamance Narcotics Enforcement Team, the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, and the Sumter Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar Fyall is prosecuting the case.

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The Justice Department announced today a settlement agreement with the Aiken County Public School District in South Carolina to resolve the department’s investigation into allegations that English learner students were not receiving appropriate instruction and services.

The department’s investigation identified concerns that the district failed to provide hundreds of English learner students, including students with disabilities, the language instruction they needed to become fluent in English. English learner students also faced barriers to full participation in core subjects like science, math and social studies. Under the agreement, the district will ensure that English learner students receive sufficient English language instruction from qualified teachers and that teachers of core subjects are trained on instructional strategies to help support English learners in their classrooms.

“Students who are learning English deserve the same access to educational opportunities as their classmates,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department is committed to ensuring school districts comply with federal civil rights laws designed to provide equal access to education so that all students can pursue their dreams and aspirations. This agreement will help support English learner students in the Aiken County Public Schools so they can participate fully in their schools’ academic programs.”

“All South Carolina students deserve a chance to learn and engage in coursework. For English learners that means help in overcoming language barriers,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “We are pleased that the Aiken County School District is working to serve the needs of its English learners so they can fully participate in their coursework and become successful members of our community.”

The district cooperated fully throughout the investigation and has already begun making improvements to its English learner program, including hiring a full-time director and training instructional coaches on strategies to better serve students. Under the agreement, the district will ensure its teachers have the qualifications, training and support needed to help students learn English and participate fully in their core subject classes. The district will also provide language translation and interpretation of important school information to parents who are not fluent in English and create an advisory board composed of parents, educators and community members.

The department’s Civil Rights Division conducted its investigation under the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974, which was enacted 50 years ago last month.

Enforcement of the Equal Educational Opportunities Act is a top priority of the Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available at www.justice.gov/crt, and additional information about the work of the division’s Educational Opportunities Section is available at www.justice.gov/crt/combating-national-origin-discrimination-schools.

Members of the public can report possible civil rights violations at civilrights.justice.gov/report/.

View a copy of the settlement agreement here.

View the settlement summary here. (Y en español aquí.)

View the settlement cover letter here. (Y en español aquí.)

El Departamento de Justicia anunció hoy un acuerdo de conciliación con el Distrito Escolar Público del Condado de Aiken en South Carolina para resolver la investigación del Departamento de las acusaciones de que los estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés no estaban recibiendo las horas lectivas y los servicios adecuados.

La investigación del Departamento identificó inquietudes de que el Distrito no proporcionó a cientos de estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés –incluidos estudiantes con discapacidades– la enseñanza lingüística que necesitaban para dominar el inglés. Los estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés también se enfrentaron a barreras a la plena participación en asignaturas de contenido básico como ciencias, matemáticas y estudios sociales. En virtud del acuerdo, el Distrito se asegurará de que los estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés reciban suficiente enseñanza de inglés de maestros calificados y que los maestros de asignaturas de contenido básico estén capacitados en estrategias de enseñanza para ayudar a los estudiantes de inglés en sus aulas.

«Los estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés se merecen el mismo acceso a oportunidades educativas iguales como sus compañeros de clase», afirmó Kristen Clarke, la Fiscal General Auxiliar de la División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento de Justicia. «El Departamento de Justicia se compromete a garantizar que los Distritos escolares cumplan con las leyes federales de derechos civiles diseñadas para proporcionar la igualdad de acceso a la educación para que todos los estudiantes puedan perseguir sus sueños y aspiraciones. Este acuerdo ayudará a apoyar a los estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés en las Escuelas Públicas del Condado de Aiken para que puedan participar plenamente en los programas académicos de sus escuelas».

«Todos los estudiantes en South Carolina se merecen la oportunidad de aprender y participar en los trabajos de curso. Para aquellos estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés, esto significa que se debe ayudarles a superar las barreras lingüísticas», declaró Adair F. Boroughs, el Fiscal Federal para el Distrito de South Carolina. «Nos complace ver que el Distrito Escolar del Condado de Aiken esté trabajando para servir las necesidades de sus estudiantes que están aprendiendo inglés para que estos puedan participar plenamente en sus trabajos de curso y convertirse en miembros exitosos de nuestra comunidad».

El Distrito cooperó plenamente durante toda la investigación y ya ha comenzado a realizar mejoras en su programa de aprendizaje de inglés, lo que incluye la contratación de un director a tiempo completo y la provisión de capacitación a los instructores sobre estrategias para servir mejor a los estudiantes. En virtud del acuerdo, el Distrito se asegurará de que sus maestros tengan las cualificaciones, la formación y el apoyo necesarios para ayudar a los estudiantes a aprender inglés y participar plenamente en sus asignaturas de contenido básico. Por otra parte, el Distrito también proporcionará traducción e interpretación de información escolar importante a los padres que no dominen el inglés y creará un consejo consultivo compuesto de padres que están aprendiendo inglés, educadores y miembros de la comunidad.

La División de Derechos Civiles del Departamento llevó a cabo su investigación en virtud de la ley de Igualdad de Oportunidades Educativas de 1974.

La aplicación de la ley de Igualdad de Oportunidades Educativas es una de las principales prioridades de la División de Derechos Civiles. Puede encontrar información adicional sobre la División de Derechos Civiles en su sitio web en www.justice.gov/crt, e información adicional sobre el trabajo de la Sección de Oportunidades Educativas de la División está disponible en www.justice.gov/crt/combating-national-origin-discrimination-schools.

Los miembros del público pueden denunciar posibles infracciones de los derechos civiles en civilrights.justice.gov/report/.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Kenneth J. Brown, 45, and Nicholas R. Shepard, 45, of Lexington pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud for their involvement in a business email compromise and romance scam scheme.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Brown and Shepard coordinated with others to receive checks from victims of the business email compromises and romance scams through the United States mail to their business, Golden Eagle Precious Metals Exchange, based in Irmo. After receiving the checks, Brown and Shepard deposited them into their business account and then converted the money into cryptocurrency.

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

This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Matthews and Winston Holliday are prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. —Lontre Jason Wise, 52, of Columbia was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with the intent to distribute both crack cocaine and marijuana.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that the Columbia Police Department Organized Crime and Narcotics Unit received an anonymous complaint about the sale of illegal narcotics at a residence located on House Street. The complainant stated there was constant foot and vehicle traffic at the residence, which people were only observed being at the residence for minutes at a time. Based on the information provided from the complainant, a confidential informant went to the residence on two different occasions to purchase marijuana. During both occasions, the confidential informant purchased the marijuana from Wise. Based on the complaint and controlled purchases, a search warrant was obtained for the residence and executed by CPD.

During the search, the police located Wise and immediately took him into custody on arrest warrants for the distribution of marijuana. Wise was searched and the police found a clear container containing crack cocaine on him.

During the search of the residence, a black book bag was located and contained a large clear plastic bag of marijuana. The book bag also contained a 9mm caliber handgun and a .38 caliber revolver.  The police located a safe underneath the couch with a black pouch that contained pieces of crack cocaine, Wise’s South Carolina driver’s license, social security card, debit card, and money.  Wise told the officers that the safe was his.  There was multiple hand rolled cigars containing marijuana found throughout the living room of the residence and on a plate on the couch.

United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. sentenced Wise to 156 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 Columbia Police Department’s Organized Crime and Narcotics Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Johnny Mercer Vanover, 49, of Columbia was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to assault on a federal employee.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on June 29, 2023, officers with the South Carolina Department of Corrections transported Vanover to federal court in Columbia to be arraigned on federal charges. When Vanover arrived, a Deputy U.S. Marshal asked him to turn around so his restraints could be removed. Vanover refused to comply, and a deputy placed a hand on Vanover’s shoulder to turn him around and access his restraints. Vanover resisted and began cursing and yelling. He also clinched his fists and told one of the deputies, “I’ll eat you up.” Deputies assisted Vanover to the ground and during the struggle, Vanover bit one deputy on the bicep causing bleeding. The bitten Deputy U.S. Marshal was admitted to the hospital and released with minor injuries.

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Vanover to 30 months imprisonment, to be followed by a two-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Marquise Edward Carolina, 32, of Columbia was sentenced to more than five years in federal prison after pleading guilty being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on Aug. 11, 2019, the City of Columbia Police Department received a call from a concerned citizen who reported that a man dressed in all black, driving a black vehicle, was waiving a gun around at a local apartment complex in the middle of the day. Officers responded to the scene and observed Carolina wearing all black in the front passenger’s seat of a black sedan. Officers searched Carolina and found a loaded pistol in his pants.

Carolina has prior convictions for attempted armed robbery, kidnapping, burglary, possession of cocaine, and possession of crack cocaine, all of which prevent him from carrying a firearm under federal law. Additionally, Carolina has convictions for assault and battery 3rd degree and domestic violence 3rd degree.

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Carolina to 63 months imprisonment, to be followed by a two-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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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Tron Martelle Harrison, 40, of Columbia, was sentenced to more than five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to unlawfully possessing a firearm.

Evidence presented to the court showed that Harrison was stopped by the Columbia Police Department (CPD) for a traffic infraction on Oct. 27, 2023. While speaking to the officer, Harrison ate two multi-colored pills that were sitting on the center console.  When the officer asked if he just consumed MDMA, Harrison nodded in agreement before spitting out one of them. Instead of complying with the officer’s order to turn the car off, Harrison put it in gear and sped away. CPD officers chased Harrison’s vehicle for more than nine miles at speeds exceeding 100mph before Harrison finally stopped after almost flipping his vehicle. During the chase, an officer saw Harrison throw an object from his vehicle and notified other officers of the location.  Officers eventually recovered a 9mm pistol from the exact location where the officer saw it being thrown.

Harrison is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to prior felony convictions.  In 2011, Harrison was convicted of criminal conspiracy related to an armed robbery.  In 2012, Harrison was convicted of misprision of a felony related to a murder. Most recently, Harrison was convicted of the same federal firearm offense in 2016.

United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Tron Martelle Harrison to 63 months' imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system. This sentence came after the Government made a motion for an upward variance based on the extremely reckless nature of the chase and the number of firearm-related offenses Harrison has been convicted of in recent years. Judge Currie granted this motion in part, which allowed her to sentence Harrison above the sentencing guidelines applicable to his 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 Sanford is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jamel Lamont Lewis, 35, of Columbia, was sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of ammunition.

Evidence presented to the court showed that in December 2020, Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call of gunshots in the Ridgeway area of Fairfield County. Lewis and another man were firing shots as deputies approached.  Deputies found 90 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition in Lewis’s pants pocket along with a quantity of crack cocaine. In July 2021, investigators with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department stopped a car that Lewis was riding in. During the stop, Lewis had to be restrained after he reached for a loaded .22 caliber pistol hidden in his waistband. Lewis also had approximately 65 grams of methamphetamine on him.  The pistol was equipped with a large-capacity ammunition magazine.

Lewis is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to previous felony convictions. In 2007 and 2009, Lewis was convicted of aggravated assault for shooting two different victims. In 2011, Lewis was convicted of assault and battery, first degree, after being involved in a drive-by shooting. In 2018, he was convicted of failure to stop for a blue light and unlawful possession of a firearm after leading police on a vehicle chase and ultimately losing control of the vehicle and tossing a firearm while fleeing on foot.

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Lewis to 85 months in prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.  

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

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Taylor is prosecuting the case.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia recently returned a one-count indictment against Deangelo Montrel Lamont Simmons, 31, of Moncks Corner and Raynard Dewayne Williams, 36, of North Charleston for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine.

Both face a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $20,000,000. Both are currently detained pending trial.

The case was investigated by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the North Charleston Police Department, the City of Charleston Police Department, the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, the Goose Creek Police Department, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the Summerville Police Department, and the  Mount Pleasant Police Department.

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. — Kevin Lamont Clinton, 50, of Lancaster, was sentenced to more than five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Evidence presented to the court showed that in 2019, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Department of Homeland Security, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were investigating unlawful drug activity in the Lancaster County area. In December 2019, agents served a search warrant at Clinton’s residence in Lancaster after making a controlled purchase of heroin from Clinton at the residence. Clinton was found sitting on a bed with a loaded .40 caliber pistol next to him. A further search of the bedroom uncovered plastic baggies containing over 18 grams of a drug mixture containing fentanyl. More ammunition was found scattered throughout the house. In July 2020 and August 2020, Clinton was also found with firearms and illegal drugs at different locations in Lancaster County.

Clinton is prohibited from possessing firearms due to previous felony convictions. Clinton had a 1997 federal conviction for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. In 2006, Clinton had convictions for resisting arrest and possession of crack cocaine.  

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Clinton to 71 months in prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.  

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

This case was investigated by the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Taylor is prosecuting the case.

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FLORENCE, S.C. — Mark McGarret Lewis, 52, of Mullins, was sentenced to nearly 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to five counts of distribution of crack cocaine.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on five separate occasions in April 2019, Lewis distributed a quantity of crack cocaine to a confidential informant. Lewis committed the offense after having two prior federal convictions, one for bank fraud and one for possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of crack cocaine, as well as two other state drug convictions for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and distribution of crack cocaine. 

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Lewis to 110 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 (ATF), the Marion County Combined Drug Unit, and the Mullins Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hummel is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Reginald Travis Pearson, 40, of West Columbia, was sentenced to more than 1o years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distribution of methamphetamine.

Evidence presented to the court showed that between November 2022 and January 2023, Pearson distributed more than 900 grams of methamphetamine and 28 grams of cocaine to undercover agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Additionally, Pearson sold seven firearms, despite being a convicted felon and legally prohibited from possessing firearms.

Pearson's criminal record includes previous convictions for petty larceny, and multiple drug-related offenses, including possession with intent to distribute marijuana, cocaine, and heroin, as well as heroin distribution. Pearson was sentenced as a career offender based on his six prior drug convictions.

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Pearson to 200 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 (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), West Columbia Police Department, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, and Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Leroy Antonio Belin, 31, of Columbia, was sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on July 6, 2023, following a traffic stop, officers with the Columbia Police Department discovered Belin in possession of a loaded firearm, ammunition, marijuana, psilocybin mushrooms, ecstasy, and oxycodone. The firearm in Belin's possession was reported stolen from Charlotte, North Carolina. As a result of prior felony convictions, Belin was prohibited from possessing firearms.

Belin has previous convictions for attempted murder, discharging firearms into a dwelling, common law robbery, strong arm robbery, and two counts possession of a firearm or ammunition by a person convicted of a violent felony.

United States District Judge Mary Geiger-Lewis sentenced Belin to 100 months' imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

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

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

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CHARLESTON, S.C. —Angel Cooper Vause, 56, of Georgetown, has pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators about her role in the 2009 kidnapping, rape, and murder of Brittanee Drexel.

After abandoning her previous plea agreement, Vause pleaded guilty to a three-count indictment unsealed in March. The indictment alleged that Vause lied to FBI agents about the events of April 25, 2009. Vause’s previous bond was also revoked, and she was taken into custody.

Vause faces a maximum penalty of 24 years in federal prison. She also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker accepted the guilty plea. United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel will sentence Vause 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. Attorneys Winston Holliday and Elle E. Klein are prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Lawrencium Germaine Martin, 47, of Chester, has pleaded guilty to tax evasion, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and making false statements to federal investigators.

At the plea hearing, the Government presented evidence that from at least 2019 through 2021, Martin operated a business known as Lancaster Tactical Supply (LTS) through the website LTacticalSupply.com.  LTS appeared to customers to be a legitimate business that sold firearm accessories and parts, including Glock and Sig Sauer build kits, slides, imitation suppressors, optics, and body armor. However, at least 380 customers from 43 states lodged complaints with the Better Business Bureau and the S.C. Department of Consumer Affairs, generally alleging that LTS took their money and failed to ship the products, ultimately leaving the customer without their money or the products they paid for.

Investigators with the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and IRS Criminal Investigation determined that the revenue LTS was generating was significant. Through one payment processor alone in 2020, LTS generated more than $2,000,000 in revenue. Although those proceeds were deposited into Martin’s personal bank accounts, and LTS was operated out of Martin’s residence and Martin’s business location, the investigation also revealed Martin failed to pay state or federal income tax for any year from 2015 through 2022. 

As for tax evasion, Martin admitted that he evaded federal income tax. IRS Criminal Investigation has determined that figure is more than $800,000 for 2020 alone, but Martin did not admit to a specific figure. Martin further admitted that he obtained the personal identifying information of another person through a legitimate employment relationship, and then operated LTS in that person’s name without authorization so that revenue was reported to the IRS as attributable to that person rather than Martin.

As for felon in possession of a firearm, when agents searched Martin’s residence and business in Chester pursuant to a federal search warrant, Martin was found to be in possession of a 9mm handgun despite multiple felony convictions, including for theft by deception, possession of stolen property, obtaining property under false pretenses, fraudulent check, larceny after breaking and entering, possession of implements used in a crime, burglary, and larceny of a motor vehicle. Agents also found shipping labels and material associated with LTS during that search.

Finally, Martin admitted that when the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office interviewed Martin, he claimed to have never heard of LTS, to have never received money from LTS or its customers, and to not know how his name became associated with LTS.  Those statements were false and material to the investigation.

Martin faces up to 10 years in federal prison, mandatory restitution, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of Court-ordered supervision following any term of imprisonment.  Martin was placed on bond by United States Magistrate Judge Paige J. Gossett. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Martin at a later date.

The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and IRS Criminal Investigation, with critical assistance from the Chester County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliott B. Daniels is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Interactive Research and Development South Africa NPC (IRD SA) has agreed to pay $671,914 to resolve allegations that the company violated the False Claims Act by knowingly submitting to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) false claims for payment related to employees of IRD SA who were allegedly not working.

In October 2019, USAID awarded a Cooperative Agreement (the Award) to IRD SA to provide healthcare services in South Africa. The Award’s period of performance was between Oct. 15, 2019, and Jan. 30, 2023. Federal funds were used to make payments to IRD SA under the Award. These federal funds were processed through a service center in Charleston, South Carolina. Under the Award, IRD SA agreed to provide a comprehensive package of tuberculosis treatment and prevention services across various provinces or districts in South Africa. Performing such services required a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between IRD SA and certain local South African authorities. Because the execution of the MOU with the local authorities in one of the provinces or districts was delayed for several months, approximately 62 employees of IRD SA were unable to perform Award-related services between January and June 2021. During this time, IRD SA failed to inform USAID that the idled employees weren’t performing such services. Instead, between March and July 2021, IRD SA submitted six vouchers to USAID that falsely certified compliance with the Award, and that improperly sought reimbursement for non-allowable labor costs and other costs associated with the idled workers. As a result, IRD SA received and/or retained approximately $335,957 in federal funds related to the idled workers covering the period of January to June 2021.

“We are committed to protecting federal funds and holding companies accountable that fraudulently obtain federal dollars,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “We are thankful for the great work of the USAID Office of Inspector General agents. Their work helps ensure that foreign companies only receive federal funds for services actually rendered.”

“The USAID Office of Inspector General is committed to pursuing those who defraud USAID programs by submitting false claims for services that were not provided,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Sean Bottary. “This resolution demonstrates our office’s resolve to hold U.S. foreign assistance award recipients accountable.”

The case was investigated by USAID’s Office of Inspector General, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Stan Ragsdale of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina.

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

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SPARTANBURG, S.C —Six individuals in the Upstate have pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.

The following defendants entered guilty pleas in federal court:

Jonathan Sarratt, 38, of Gaffney

Christopher Biggerstaff, 41, of Chester. Biggerstaff also pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Mikenzi Walker, 25, of Gaffney

Sondra Walker, 66, of Gaffney

Aa’lyah Tukes, 29, of Anderson

Brenda Mincey, 34, of Shelby, N.C.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that since at least early 2023, Jonathan Sarratt, while incarcerated in the South Carolina Department of Corrections, was facilitating supplying the ring with at least 250 kilograms of methamphetamine for distribution in the Upstate. Mikenzi Walker, Christopher Biggerstaff, and Brenda Mincey distributed the methamphetamine. In July of 2023, Mincey was arrested with approximately 390 grams of methamphetamine and approximately 100 blue pills containing fentanyl she obtained from co-defendants. Biggerstaff was arrested in January 2024, with three loaded handguns and ounce quantities of methamphetamine. Both Sondra Walker and Aa’lyah Tukes moved methamphetamine into their residences for distribution during the conspiracy. Law enforcement seized $150,000 in drug proceeds from Tukes during the takedown operation in this case.

Sarratt and Biggerstaff face a maximum of life in federal prison and a $10,000,000 fine. Sondra Walker, Mikenzi Walker, Tukes, and Mincey face up to 20 years in federal prison and a $1,000,000 fine. Biggerstaff faces an additional five years consecutive to any sentence he receives due to his firearms charge. All defendants face a maximum of lifetime supervision.

United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins, Jr., accepted the guilty pleas and will sentence the defendants after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

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 (BEST), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, and Greenville Drug Enforcement Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Lea Schoen is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – James Brewer, 36, of Columbia was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distribution of fentanyl. 

Evidence presented to the court showed that on April 22, 2022, Brewer and the victim, R.B., discussed the exchange of drugs and that Brewer sent R.B. a picture with a syringe loaded with the drugs, which Brewer subsequently gave to R.B. When Brewer had not heard back from the victim, he drove down the road where he knew R.B. had planned to use the drugs and found R.B. unresponsive in his vehicle. Paramedics responded, but R.B. later died. The pathology report determined the victim’s cause of death was mixed drug toxicity including toxic levels of fentanyl. The pathologist stated but for the fentanyl in the R.B.’s body, he most likely would not have died. 

United States District Judge Mary G. Lewis sentenced Brewer to 120 months in prison to be followed by three years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Major prosecuted the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Martrell Johnson-Cooke, 28, and Krishawn Shykeice Allen, 23, both of Camden, were sentenced to 10 years and seven years in federal prison, respectively, after pleading guilty to attempted possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

In 2021, law enforcement received information that Johnson-Cooke was a drug distributor attempting to purchase kilogram quantities of narcotics. An undercover agent, posing as a dealer, contacted Johnson-Cooke, who expressed interest in fentanyl and methamphetamine. Johnson-Cooke inquired about the cost of a kilogram of fentanyl, and the agent told him $30,000. Two months later, Johnson-Cooke contacted the agent to arrange the purchase of one kilogram of fentanyl, five ounces of cocaine, and two pounds of methamphetamine. They agreed to meet on May 20, 2021, in Columbia.

On May 20, Johnson-Cooke arrived at the agreed upon location with $35,000 in cash, two armed associates, and three people to test the drugs he intended to buy. Allen accompanied Johnson-Cooke inside the establishment to meet with the agent, acting as security for Johnson-Cooke and the cash. As Johnson-Cooke gave the money to the agent, Richland County deputies intervened and arrested the two men. Allen tried to run, and a loaded gun fell out of his back pocket. Allen is a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.

United States District Judge Mary Geiger-Lewis sentenced Johnson-Cooke to 120 months imprisonment, followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. Judge Lewis sentenced Allen to 84 months imprisonment, 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, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore is prosecuting the case.

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Spartanburg, S.C. — Esteban Colon Pacheco, 27, of Ponce, Puerto Rico, was sentenced to more than 23 years in federal prison after he pled guilty to possessing a machine gun in furtherance of drug trafficking, distributing methamphetamine, and conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine.

Evidence presented to the Court showed that in 2022 and 2023, Pacheco was a cocaine and methamphetamine dealer in the Upstate of South Carolina. While dealing drugs, Pacheco also conscripted women to purchase guns for him so that he could modify them into fully automatic weapons. Law enforcement learned that Pacheco sold some of the machine guns that he illicitly manufactured, and he kept at least one of the machine guns with him during his drug deals.  On one occasion, Pacheco shot the machine gun within a neighborhood to demonstrate its capabilities.

Noraimi Burgos Torres and Elizabeth Delzo Jaramillo pled guilty to charges related to purchasing firearms for Pacheco.  Delzo, who also pled guilty to drug trafficking related charges, was sentenced to 102 months in federal prison.  Torres, who pled guilty to a firearms charge on August 21, 2024, is awaiting sentencing.

United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins sentenced Esteban Pacheco to 276 months imprisonment, to be followed by a 5-year term of court-ordered supervision.

“People who sell illegal guns and drugs are a threat to the safety of our communities and must be stopped,” said United States Attorney Adair Boroughs.  “I’m proud and grateful for the collaboration of so many law enforcement partners to achieve this significant measure of justice.” 

“Putting criminal organizations like this out of business greatly reduces the flow of drugs, violence and crime into our communities, which makes everyone safer,” said Cardell T. Morant, Special Agent in Charge of HSI Charlotte that covers North and South Carolina. “HSI is a proud partner in the fight to identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible for flooding our streets with illicit drugs.” 

ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims said, “Possessing or selling firearms that have been modified to function as fully automatic weapons is a serious threat and an issue law enforcement around the country is currently dealing with. We’re proud to be a part of this collaborative effort to identify and apprehend those that threaten our community.”

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

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

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FLORENCE, S.C. —David Carlos Rodriguez, Jr., 50, of Florence, has pleaded guilty to distributing Oxycodone outside the scope of medical practice and without a legitimate medical purpose.

Evidence obtained during the investigation revealed that Rodriguez, who was a doctor practicing in Lake City, prescribed Oxycodone to a patient 15 times between May 2018 and January 2019. The individual had been a patient of Rodriguez in 2013-2014 but had not been his patient between 2014 and 2018. When the patient first returned to see Rodriguez in 2018, purportedly for treatment of pain, Rodriguez did not ask the patient about her current medical history, did not ask her for a pain rating, and did not ask her what controlled substances she might be taking despite clear indicators she was using illicit drugs. The patient requested an Oxycodone prescription at the first appointment, and Rodriguez provided the first of the 15 prescriptions, starting at a very high dosage. Rodriguez also touched the patient at the first appointment in manner not consistent with any medical examination.

Over the following months, Rodriguez provided the patient his Snapchat, and began sending her nude pictures. The patient believed this to be a “sex for scripts” trade, where if she engaged in sexual behavior, Rodriguez would write her prescriptions for Oxycodone.

During the summer of 2018, the patient sought substance abuse treatment from another provider and was given a prescription for Suboxone. A patient should not be taking both Suboxone and Oxycodone. After the patient was prescribed Suboxone, Rodriguez wrote the patient another prescription for Oxycodone. When the patient tried to have this Oxycodone prescription filled, the pharmacist noted the conflict between Suboxone and Oxycodone, and contacted Rodriguez’s office to notify him he could not prescribe Oxycodone because the patient was prescribed Suboxone. Rodriguez responded by sending the patient’s prescription for Oxycodone to another pharmacy the following day. Rodriguez would prescribe Oxycodone for the patient 10 more times, despite being on notice she was prescribed Suboxone.

During the fall of 2018, the patient twice filmed her appointments with Rodriguez. Those videos show Rodriguez entering the exam room, and begin hugging, kissing, and fondling the patient, not in a manner related to any medical exam. On one occasion, the patient performed a sexual act on Rodriguez. Shortly after the sexual activity concluded, Rodriguez wrote the patient a prescription for Oxycodone. 

During the time the patient saw Rodriguez, he never asked her for a pain rating, never drug tested her, never sent her for imaging, never sent her to a pain specialist, never discussed alternative pain treatment, and never attempted to wean her off Oxycodone despite the medicine not effectively controlling her pain. Rodriguez also kept only basic records for the patient without details about why she was being seen and what treatment she was receiving. Rodriguez only added the necessary details about the patient’s treatment to her records months after he saw her after repeated legal requests for the records. 

United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III, accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Rodriguez after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. Rodriguez faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $1,000,000, and at least three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment.  As part of his guilty plea, Rodriguez surrendered both his state and federal prescribing privileges. 

This case was investigated by the South Carolina Department of Public Health and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Flynn and Lauren Hummel are prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Dennis Wayne Brite, 72, of Aiken, was sentenced to probation pleading guilty to tax evasion. He also immediately paid more than $669,000 in back taxes and interest.

Evidence presented to the court showed that for nearly a decade, Brite used a complex scheme involving foreign shell companies and overseas banks to hide over $2 million of income from the Internal Revenue Service. IRS criminal investigators learned of the scheme when one of the overseas banks involved in the scheme, Euro Pacific Bank, became a target of a federal investigation.

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Brite to probation after his payment of $669,249.86 for his back taxes and interest. Evidence introduced in court indicated that defendants do not typically repay the entire tax loss amount including the interest and that Brite had made extraordinary efforts to come into compliance with his taxes.

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney T. DeWayne Pearson is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — James Austen Gillespie, 33, of Lexington, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to production of child sex abuse materials. *

Evidence presented to the court showed that on July 11, 2021, Gillespie used his cellphone to edit himself into two compromising images of a nude minor child.

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Mr. Gillespie to 180 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system. Mr. Gillespie was ordered to pay a total of $25,000 in restitution to his victims and to register as a sex offender.

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, the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews prosecuted the case.

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

GREENVILLE, S.C. —Johnathan C. McCaslan, 51, of Calhoun Falls, was found guilty by a federal jury of stalking, mailing threatening communications and perpetuating letter hoaxes.

Evidence presented to the jury showed that while McCaslan was in divorce proceedings, he attempted to have his wife arrested by sending threatening letters to a Calhoun Falls police officer and to the Calhoun Falls Police Department. Both letters contained a white powdery substance and were written to appear as if his wife was the author. The State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) twice deployed the bomb squad to investigate the powder, which law enforcement feared was fentanyl, anthrax, or another deadly substance. Fortunately, powder was harmless.

The SLED laboratory examined the letters and found McCaslan’s DNA on the stamps of the letter sent to the police officer. SLED investigators also determined that some of the information contained in the letters was known only by McCaslan and not his wife.

“The letter hoaxes in this case had the potential to have an innocent woman arrested for a crime she did not commit,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for this District of South Carolina. “Caslan’s criminal actions were a terrible abuse law enforcement resources, and we are committed to prosecuting such abuse.”

“The United States Postal Inspection Service is always proud to work with our law enforcement partners to bring to justice those who misuse the U.S. Mail, to elicit fear and frame the innocent victims we work so diligently to protect,” said US Postal Inspector in Charge Tommy D. Coke of the Atlanta Division.

“Everyone deserves to feel safe in their community, and targeting law enforcement to frame someone for a crime is appalling,” said SLED Chief Mark Keel. “The hard-working professionals at SLED are subject matter experts committed to conducting thorough investigations. I’m grateful that no one was hurt, and that SLED could help find the facts that led to justice.”

United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins presided over the trial and will sentence McCaslan after the United States Probation Office prepares a presentence report.  McCaslan faces a statutory maximum of five years on each of the four counts of the indictment.

This case was investigated by SLED and U.S. Postal Inspection Service.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Winston Marosek and Bill Watkins prosecuted the case. 

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Benjamin Johnathan Newman, 38, an inmate in the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC), was sentenced to more than 26 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin.

Newman has been incarcerated in the state prison system since 2012, serving a 25-year sentence for drug trafficking.  SCDC has seized 16 illegal contraband cellphones from Newman during his time in SCDC, according to evidence presented in court.

Newman used those contraband phones to lead a large-scale drug distribution operation since at least January 2018. Newman used the phones to order the importation of large quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana, including directly from sources in Mexico. Newman recruited drivers to pick up the drugs in Georgia, Texas, and Florida and to deliver the drugs to stash houses in the Lexington County area, where the conspiracy would then supply drug dealers in South Carolina. The conspiracy also used threats of violence to protect against cooperation with law enforcement and to protect its drug supply.

More than 350 kilograms of methamphetamine, four kilograms of heroin, nearly one kilogram of cocaine, 18 kilograms of marijuana, and 250 grams of crack cocaine were distributed in South Carolina by Newman and the conspiracy.

Newman and each of his seven co-defendants have been convicted in federal court. Four have been sentenced by United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon:

• Benjamin Johnathan Newman, 38, of Lexington, was sentenced to 320 months in federal prison to be followed by five years of court-ordered supervision.

• Chelsea Grace Wynn, 32, of Lexington, was sentenced to 220 months in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervision.

• Nehemiah Jimmy Mayes, III, 29, of Lexington, was sentenced to 170 months to be followed by five years of supervision.

• Josiah Daniel Dailey, 38, of Aynor, was sentenced to 63 months to be followed by five years of supervision.

“Some of our highest volume drug traffickers are working from a prison cell,” said Adair Ford Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “We thank Director Stirling and the investigators at the South Carolina Department of Corrections for their work to put an end to their continued criminal conduct.”

“This man is a very large-scale drug dealer in South Carolina, and he was able to continue his crimes from behind bars using illegal cellphones,” SCDC Director Bryan Stirling said. “His conviction highlights the urgent need for state prisons to be able to jam illegal contraband cell phones. I am grateful to the U.S. Attorney and everyone involved for helping us bring this criminal to justice.” 

There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, and the South Carolina Department of Corrections Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and E. Elizabeth Major are prosecuting the case.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — Evan Riley Bucci, 23, of Charleston, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of production of child pornography* and one count of possession of child pornography.

Evidence presented to the court showed that in 2022 law enforcement was alerted that Bucci had been seeking out minors on social media apps, such as Omegle and Instagram, and was engaging in sexually explicit conversations centering around bondage and sexual servitude. There were multiple female victims ranging in age from 12 to 16 years old. Bucci cultivated relationships with these minors, gained their trust, and then coerced them into sending him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves. Bucci would threaten to harm or kidnap the child’s family members if they did not send the materials.

United States District Judge Richard Gergel sentenced Bucci to 240 months' imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Bucci was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims of his crimes.

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

This case was investigated by the Homeland Security Investigations, with valuable assistance the Steamboat Springs, Colorado Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Orville is prosecuting the case.

HSI’s Know2Protect: Together We Can Stop Online Child Exploitation campaign offers valuable resources to combat the escalating crisis of online child sexual exploitation and abuse. Visit www.dhs.gov/know2protect to learn strategies to stop future victimization.

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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. — Pedro Huerta Ramon, 39, of Mexico, was sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and unlawfully reentering the United States after prior deportation.

Evidence presented in court revealed that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) became aware of Pedro Huerta Ramon in 2018, after receiving information that Ramon was a high-level cocaine distributor operating in Lexington County. As a result of this investigation, Ramon was arrested and convicted for trafficking cocaine in 2019. Ramon was unlawfully present in the United States and after his conviction, he was deported to Mexico in November 2019.

In 2023, DEA agents received information that Ramon was back in the United States and trafficking kilogram quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine imported from Mexico. The investigation revealed Ramon unlawfully returned to the United States in December 2020. Law enforcement developed and used a confidential informant to conduct a series of controlled purchases from Ramon. Ramon sold over a kilogram of pure methamphetamine to the confidential informant and a search of his residence resulted in the seizure of one kilogram of cocaine.

Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson sentenced Ramon to 135 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Homeland Security, and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore is prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Steven Lefemine, 68, of West Columbia was sentenced to 60 days imprisonment and fined $1,000 after being found guilty of a misdemeanor violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinics (FACE) Act.

Evidence presented during his trial showed that Lefemine blocked the entrance to the Columbia Office of Planned Parenthood. Testimony from the trial indicated that Lefemine was a frequent protester of the clinic and, on this occasion, physically sought to bar employees and patients from entering the facility. Lefemine recorded his activities and presented the audio/video recordings during the trial. Lefemine was arrested by the Columbia Police Department for trespassing and removed from the site.  During the sentencing hearing, United States District Court Judge Joseph F. Anderson noted that Lefemine has multiple previous convictions for similar behavior.

The FACE Act was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in May 1994 in response to the escalation of violence surrounding abortion clinics in the early 1990s. The Act criminalizes violence toward or obstruction of health care facilities or places of worship.

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the City of Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney T. DeWayne Pearson prosecuted the case.

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MEDIA CONTACT:   Veronica Hill, Public Affairs Specialist, U.S. Attorney’s Office, veronica.hill@usdoj.gov, (803) 929-3000

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a 21-count indictment against 13 individuals for drug trafficking offenses. The indictment alleges that beginning in January 2016, 13 individuals engaged in a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute large quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. 

Ten defendants were arraigned in federal court today:

Quincey Jackson, 40, of Columbia

Timothy Gayton, 32, of Rock Hill

Elijah Rhodes, 42, of Columbia

Desane Washington, 19, of Summerton

Shane Bennett, 32, of Summerton

Byron Canty, 35, of Rowesville

James Croslen, Jr., 48, of Summerton

Kenneth Robinson, 46, of Columbia

Clifton Mickles, 43, of Rock Hill

Richard Ragin, 46, of Columbia

Three defendants remain at large.

This investigation 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.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), FBI Columbia Field Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Marshals Service, Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, City of Columbia Police Department, and Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Major 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. — Kathy Drawdy Stewart, 62, of Columbia, was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to multiple counts of wire fraud.

Evidence presented to the court showed that Stewart embezzled more than $270,000 from at least late 2016 through May 2023 from her longtime employer, LTC Associates, Inc., while she served as the company’s business manager. During this time, Stewart regularly made unauthorized payments from the company’s bank accounts to her personal American Express account. Stewart’s crimes were ultimately uncovered after she attempted to make an unauthorized $20,000 transfer from the company’s bank account to her American Express account in May 2023. A review of her American Express account revealed that Stewart spent over $100,000 on cosmetic procedures, travel, interior decorating, and retail over the course of her criminal conduct.

United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson sentenced Stewart to 15 months imprisonment, to be followed by a two-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Judge Anderson also ordered restitution of over $270,000, which Stewart paid prior to her sentencing, and a fine of $10,000.

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle E. Klein and Elliott B. Daniels are prosecuting the case.

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GREENVILLE, S.C. — Da’Ron Jerome Collins, 47, of Boiling Springs, has pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and witness tampering in connection with an ongoing federal kidnapping investigation.

Evidence obtained during the investigation revealed that 44-year-old Casey Lavonne Young was last seen on May 15, 2023, after she left work and arrived at the residence she shared with Collins in Boiling Springs. Collins initially stated that Young did not come home after work, but later admitted to investigators that he last saw Young when she arrived home at approximately 5:00 p.m. on May 15, 2023. The same day, Collins was captured on security cameras as he wiped surfaces of Young’s car down and hid it in a parking lot away from their residence. Two days before Young disappeared, police responded to the couple’s residence after a 911 caller reported a domestic violence incident where Collins was accused of strangling Young.  No arrest was made at that time.  

During the guilty plea, prosecutors stated that the evidence showed Collins destroyed and attempted to hide and destroy physical and electronic evidence, including home security video clips, Young’s vehicle and other personal identifying items, material to the federal investigation.  Collins also provided investigators with the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office false and misleading information to prevent the communication of information relevant to the investigation to federal law enforcement.  To date, Young has not been found.

Collins was denied bond on the federal charges, and he remains in custody. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment as to each offense.  He also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and up to six years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Collins after he reviews a presentence report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. 

The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI Columbia Field Office, and the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Leesa Washington is prosecuting the case.

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