District of South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a single-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Renardo Tyson, Jr., 24, of Columbia, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, in September 2025, Tyson knowingly possessed a firearm, which was found in Tyson’s car after he led Richland County Sheriff’s deputies on a high-speed chase and fired numerous rounds at deputies and K9s. The deputies and K9s were not injured. 

Tyson has a prior felony conviction for possession of a stolen firearm, which prohibits him from possessing firearms or ammunition under federal law. Tyson faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. 

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Parente is prosecuting the case.  

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

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — Deandre Malik Horry, a/k/a “Sosa”, 29, of Mount Pleasant, has been convicted by a federal jury following a two-day trial. Horry was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of, and during and in relation to, a federal drug trafficking crime.

Evidence introduced at trial showed that beginning in approximately 2020 and continuing until at least July 2022, Horry and others conspired to distribute fentanyl to drug dealers and customers in the Charleston area. The jury determined that Horry conspired to distribute at least 40 grams of fentanyl. 

On July 11, 2022, a Charleston County Sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop on Horry’s vehicle in North Charleston after federal agents observed a possible drug transaction involving Horry and a co-conspirator. The deputy located 11 grams of fentanyl in Horry’s sock, a loaded Glock pistol in the vehicle’s center console, more than $1,400 in cash, a digital scale, and a holster for the pistol. 

Horry faces a mandatory term of imprisonment of at least 10 years. 

U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers, II, presided over the trial and will sentence Horry after receiving and reviewing a pre-sentence report from the U.S. Probation Office. 

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. 

The case was investigated by the FBI’s Lowcountry Violent Crimes Task Force, with assistance from the Charleston Police Department, North Charleston Police Department, Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, Mount Pleasant Police Department, Summerville Police Department, Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Whit Sowards and Emily Limehouse are prosecuting the case.  

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COLUMBIA, S.C. – Birenkumar Rameshbhai Patel, 47, of Columbia, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to illegally obtain a U Visa.

A U Visa is a temporary U.S. immigration status that is reserved for victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and have been helpful to law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity. The U Visa provides a path to lawful permanent residence in the United States (commonly referred to as a “Green Card”), and therefore a path to U.S. citizenship for qualified applicants. 

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on March 9, 2025, Birenkumar Rameshbhai Patel, a/k/a “Mike Patel,” and a convenience store clerk staged a robbery at a convenience store in Fairfield County. Law enforcement received a 911 call reporting a robbery. When the authorities arrived at the scene, the clerk attempted to explain the robbery before being transported to the hospital. Patel also arrived at the scene and attempted to explain the robbery. Officers reviewed surveillance video of the event, which appeared to show a robbery, but further review showed that the robbery was staged to make it appear that the store clerk was the victim. Patel acted as the robber and attempted to disguise himself by covering his face and wearing a jacket with long sleeves. 

On March 25, 2025, Patel and the clerk requested a copy of the incident report concerning the March 9 incident. In an attempt to appear as a crime victim and qualify for a U Visa, on April 3, 2025, Patel and/or the clerk caused to be mailed a federal certification to the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Department requesting that the head of that department sign a form acknowledging that the clerk was the victim of a “felonious assault.” Officials determined that the store clerk was a citizen of India and that a U Visa would have allowed him to remain in the U.S. legally.

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

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Potterfield is prosecuting the case. 

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a single-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Karlos Damon Gibson, 20, with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to statements and filings in court, on Aug. 5, 2026, law enforcement executed a search warrant at an apartment where Gibson had been staying. They found a.40 caliber handgun and a drum magazine containing 50 rounds of ammo in Gibson’s daughter’s crib. They also found a.45 caliber pistol in the little girl’s closet.  

Gibson has a prior conviction for possession with intent to distribute. His criminal history prohibits Gibson from possessing firearms or ammunition. At the time he possessed these firearms, Gibson was out on bond after being charged with being an accessary after the fact to a felony, specifically a murder. His bond conditions further prohibit him from possessing firearms. 

Gibson 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. Gibson is currently detained pending trial.

This case is a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). PSN is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

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

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

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GREENVILLE, S.C. — Khalil DeShawn Gilliam, 31, of Greenville, has been sentenced to seven years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on July 29, 2024, a Greenville Police Department officer patrolling the area near South Pleasantburg Drive and Lowndes Hill Road observed a black sedan driven by Gilliam, whom the officer recognized from prior encounters and believed to have a suspended South Carolina driver’s license. After confirming the vehicle was registered to Gilliam and that his license was suspended, the officer conducted a traffic stop. Gilliam initially provided false identifying information but was subsequently confirmed as the driver and arrested for driving under suspension and providing false information to police. A search of the vehicle following his arrest revealed a loaded 9mm pistol with an extended magazine near the center console, along with three grams of fentanyl, four oxycodone pills, and a digital scale. Gilliam, who has four prior felony firearm convictions, is federally prohibited from possessing a firearm.

United States District Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin sentenced Gilliam to 84 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Greenville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Andrew Culbreath and Ryan Bondura prosecuted the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Wesley Keith Zimmer, 31, of Fort Mill, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for transportation of child sexual abuse material.*

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Zimmer possessed, transported, and distributed child sexual abuse material. He additionally solicited two children to produce child sexual abuse material and sent sexually explicit images to one minor.

In May 2024, FBI agents received information that Zimmer was communicating with a 13-year-old girl on the website quora.com. After learning the girl’s age, Zimmer continued to send sexually explicit images to the victim and eventually compelled the victim to send similar sexually explicit pictures of herself back to him. Zimmer directed the victim to delete their chats and provided instructions on how to remove messages from her device. Additionally, Zimmer specifically directed the child to delete the images she sent to him from her WhatsApp chat. 

A review of Zimmer’s electronic devices, including an iPad, an iPhone and a laptop, revealed Zimmer was in communication with another minor victim on Snapchat. The Snapchat communication between Zimmer, an adult male and a 15-year-old girl revealed several screenshot CSAM images taken by Zimmer, which appeared to be from “live” audio/video Snapchat groups with the three of them as participants. Zimmer distributed the screenshot CSAM images from the Snapchat group to the adult male and the 15-year-old girl. 

FBI agents reviewed several historical National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Cybertips regarding Zimmer and his alleged online activity involving CSAM.  The Cybertip indicated that the CSAM images were downloaded by Zimmer in North Carolina.  FBI agents executed a search warrant on Zimmer’s residence in South Carolina.  They found 364 “visually unique” CSAM images on Zimmer’s iPhone that were identical to many of the images found in the NCMEC Cybertips.  Zimmer transported those images from North Carolina to his residence in South Carolina.

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Zimmer to 240 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. He was also ordered to pay $48,500 in restitution to the victims. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Lothrop Morris prosecuted the case.

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

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Anthony Detemrius Reese, 56, of Columbia, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm in relation to the murder of a Columbia woman.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on the night of Aug. 29, 2025, Reese left a residence in Cayce with Angela Fuller. In the early morning of Aug. 30, 2025, Reese dumped Fuller’s dead body in a wooded area off Two Notch Road. 

The Columbia Police Department identified Reese as the last person with Fuller. On Aug. 31, 2025, Columbia Police officers spotted Reese’s vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but he instead fled, led officers on a high-speed chase, and eventually crashed the car in Lexington. Officers recovered a loaded firearm from Reese’s vehicle. Following an extensive search, law enforcement recovered Fuller’s body. Ballistic testing confirmed that the firearm found in Reese’s possession was used to kill Fuller.

Reese has prior felony convictions for domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, shoplifting, burglary, and assault and battery. He is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. 

United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson concluded that Reese was responsible for Fuller’s murder and that the firearm was used to commit the murder. Judge Anderson sentenced Reese to 180 months’ imprisonment, the statutory maximum, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system. 

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

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — Miquan Xavier Fennick, 27, of Moncks Corner, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for selling drugs, including fentanyl, and a pistol with an obliterated serial number. Fennick pleaded guilty to distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl, possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. 

Evidence presented in court showed that Fennick sold methamphetamine and fentanyl to a confidential source on three separate occasions in Summerville between March 28 and April 13, 2023. During one of those transactions, Fennick also sold the source a .380-caliber pistol with its serial number removed. His prior felony convictions prohibited him from possessing firearms. Across the three distributions, Fennick sold more than 226 grams of methamphetamine and nearly 9 grams of fentanyl. 

Then, on April 16, 2023, Fennick ran from Myrtle Beach Police Officers and dropped a shoulder bag with 189 grams of methamphetamine, 20 grams of crack cocaine, and 15 grams of powder cocaine. 

Fennick previously served a state prison sentence for offenses involving methamphetamine, heroin, and a pistol. 

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Fennick to 15 years in federal prison, to be followed by five years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, and the Myrtle Beach Police Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow prosecuted the case. 

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This press release has been edited to correct Moorer's age to 48.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a 13-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging four individuals in a wire fraud conspiracy involving counterfeit currency. 

• Octiva Rasheem Moorer, 48, of Orangeburg, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, six counts  of wire fraud, one count of manufacturing counterfeit currency and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.
• Brittney Kay Pringle, 38, of Summerville, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and six counts of wire fraud. Pringle was an employee with the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services at the time of the conduct. 
• Amy Chavis, 34, of Marion, was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, three counts of wire fraud, and four counts of passing counterfeit currency.
• Priscilla Sweeper, 50, of Orangeburg, was charged with one count of wire fraud conspiracy, three counts of wire fraud, and one count of manufacturing counterfeit currency.

The indictment alleges that Moorer coordinated a scheme to manufacture counterfeit currency by bleaching $10 bills and printing the image of a $50 bill onto the face of the bleached bill. Moorer and Chavis then loaded the counterfeit bills onto various Cash App accounts at Dollar General stores throughout South Carolina. The defendants then transferred the money to each other via Cash App. 

Each defendant faces a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and a three-year term of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service, the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office, and the Dillon County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews is prosecuting the case.  

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

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Johnathan Nathaniel Allen, 27, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for producing child sexual abuse material.* 

The investigation revealed that Allen caused eight children from across the country to produce child sexual abuse material by posing as a child on social media and enticing the children to engage in illegal sex acts on video.  He did so while serving as a sheriff’s deputy in Tennessee, where he worked since 2021.

The investigation began when a father in South Carolina found concerning text messages on his 13-year-old daughter’s cell phone and called the police. The York County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI determined that Allen was posing as a 14-year-old boy named “Josh” on internet-based accounts, which he used to exploit minors. 

Allen used the social media platforms Instagram and Reddit, the messaging platform TextMe, and the gaming platform Roblox to target, recruit, and exploit children by causing them to produce and share child sexual abuse material.  He posed as a child, pressured minors to produce sexually explicit material, and threatened to share the intimate images of one child if she refused to communicate with him.

Allen manipulated his minor victims by telling them he loved them, that they were beautiful, that he was proud of them, and that he would never do anything to harm them.  One minor rejected his request for sexual content eight times, but Allen persisted and caused the minor to speak with him on the phone using a virtual number on the TextMe platform.  During that call, he pressured the child into producing child sexual abuse material. 

Allen asked one minor to engage in sex acts with a dog, and Allen attempted to recruit the minor’s cousins, friends, and family to engage in sex acts with the minor. The minor described Allen “begging” for sexual content, and one minor was in tears during the production because she did not want to produce the content.  Allen told the minor he was proud of her and that he had taught her something new.  He then directed the minor to delete content so that no one else would see them.  One father recovered deleted content and provided it to law enforcement. 

Agents searched Allen’s home and recovered his phone, which had Reddit, TextMe, the fake “Josh” identity, and child sexual abuse material. Agents also found communications on Allens’ phone with the South Carolina minor, including calls to the minor after York County had seized the minor’s phone. Agents found clothes in Allen’s bedroom that “Josh” was wearing in explicit images sent to a minor, and one of the pictures shared by “Josh” on Reddit was a picture of Allen when he was younger.

Allen’s confirmed victims resided in South Carolina, Georgia, Kansas, Missouri, and New York, and they were as young as sixth grade. 

“This defendant was sworn to serve and protect, instead he deceived and exploited,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “This sentence serves as a reminder that no matter who you are or where you live, if you exploit children in South Carolina, you will be held accountable.” 

“The defendant went to vile lengths to pretend to be someone he was not, all to victimize a child and deprive them of their innocence,” said FBI Columbia Special Agent in Charge Anish Shukla. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will work tirelessly to protect children, and we will continue to hold accountable those who seek to harm them.”

“This is just another example of the dedication and tireless pursuit of those who want to harm our children,” said York County Sheriff Tony Breeden. “Director Hamilton and Lt. Alex Clark, with their staff, are among the best in the country when it comes to hunting these predators down and prosecuting them.” 

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Allen to 25 years’ imprisonment, to be followed by a 15-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system. Allen was ordered to pay $3,000 in restitution to the victim, plus an additional $4,000 to a victim services fund, and Allen will be required to register a sex offender. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the York County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the Hamilton County, TN Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliott B. Daniels prosecuted the case.

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

FLORENCE, S.C. — Jaremy Alexander Smith, 35, of Marion, has pleaded guilty to the 2024 kidnapping, carjacking, and murder of a Florence County EMS worker.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on March 13, 2024, Smith entered the home of Phonesia Machado-Fore in Marion where he kidnapped her and took her to a remote location near Nichols. Once there, Smith executed Machado-Fore behind an abandoned house while she was bound and blindfolded. Smith then drove Machado-Fore’s car back to her residence where he stole several firearms that he later sold. Smith then drove the stolen car to New Mexico, where he killed New Mexico State Police (NMSP) Officer Justin Hare on March 15, 2024. In April 2025, Smith was sentenced to life in prison in the District of New Mexico for killing the NMSP Officer.

“The senseless murders of Ms. Machado-Fore and NMSP Officer Hare were shocking and heartbreaking,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “Now, thanks to a multi-state law enforcement investigation, Smith faces accountability for these two heinous acts. We offer our continued condolences to both families as they heal and remember their loved ones.”

“The defendant’s violent and horrific attacks on two first responders sent shockwaves throughout South Carolina and New Mexico,” said FBI Columbia Special Agent in Charge Anish Shukla. “While his acceptance of responsibility cannot bring back Ms. Machado‑Fore or Officer Hare, we truly hope their families and friends can start healing knowing that the defendant is being held fully accountable for his despicable actions.”

Smith faces a mandatory penalty of life in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and a term of supervision to follow imprisonment. United States District Judge Joseph Dawson III accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Smith after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Everett McMillian and Christopher Lietzow are prosecuting the case with support from DOJ’s Capital Case Section Trial Attorneys Barry Disney, Julie Adams and Aria Merle. 

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Demetrius Tyare Glenn, 36, of Lexington, has been sentenced to more than 18 years in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy. 

Evidence gathered during the investigation showed that, beginning in 2023, members of a drug-trafficking organization distributed large quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana throughout the Columbia and Lexington County areas. Investigators identified Glenn as a key source of supply and determined he used four locations to store and distribute narcotics. The investigation further revealed that Glenn manufactured counterfeit pills using a pill press machine.

On Oct. 24, 2024, law enforcement executed search warrants at three of Glenn’s stash houses. Officers recovered approximately 1,423.69 grams of methamphetamine, 57.4 grams of fentanyl, 189.7 grams of cocaine, 150 grams of MDMA, 56 grams of marijuana, more than $14,000 in cash, money counters, two loaded firearms, ammunition, digital scales, packaging materials, and other drug paraphernalia. Glenn was also held responsible for an additional 9,000 grams of cocaine, 1,130 grams of methamphetamine, and 170 grams of fentanyl attributed to him over the course of the investigation.

Glenn has prior convictions for assault and battery 1st degree and possession of marijuana. Because of his prior convictions, he was prohibited by law from possessing firearms and ammunition.  

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Glenn to 220 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 the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the City of Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a four-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Lamonica “Monti” Valrie, 66, of Hollywood, Florida, for wire fraud and money laundering in a scheme that defrauded Allen University (AU), the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church (AU’s parent organization), and other victims of over $6 million.

The indictment alleges that Valrie devised a scheme to defraud Allen University and the AME Church through his business entity “50 Plus 1 L.L.C.” In August 2023, Valrie partnered with AU and promised to build a football stadium at no cost to AU. Valrie did not have sufficient funding sources to develop, construct, or build a stadium. In January 2024, he secured an amendment to the agreement obligating AU to pay him up to $3 million to expedite the construction of the stadium and to provide a playable field by the start of the 2024 football season. The agreement explicitly required Valrie to use the expedite fee to advance the project.  Valrie secured a $500,000 lump sum from AU, plus $70,000 per month from AU to expedite the construction of the stadium. The indictment further alleges that Valrie defrauded the AME Church of approximately $154,000 in other stadium related funds. No stadium was ever built.

Instead, Valrie spent the funds on personal luxury purchases including exotic supercars, jewelry, luxury goods, a Yacht charter, and a high-end rental home in south Florida. 

Valrie faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. He was arrested in Florida and made an initial appearance in federal court in the Southern District of Florida. He will have a future court appearance in the District of South Carolina.  

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

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

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — Robert W. Nazzaro, 70, of Charleston, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for attempted online coercion and enticement of a minor.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in July and August of 2023, Nazzaro identified two purported minors on Craigslist and began chatting with them. Those purported minors, identified online as a 13-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl, were undercover law enforcement officers. Nazzaro acknowledged each of the purported minors’ ages and had sexually explicit conversations with them through email and text messages. He explained sexual concepts and discussed sexual preferences, asked for explicit photographs of each of the minors, and discussed the potential of meeting in the future. Nazzaro sent nude photographs to each purported minor as well as numerous links to pornography. 

While engaged in this conduct, Nazzaro was a registered sex offender stemming from an April 2023 state conviction for sexual exploitation of a minor and dissemination of obscene material to a minor. 

United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks sentenced Robert W. Nazzaro to 120 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a life term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force with assistance from the Charleston Police Department and Mount Pleasant Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dean H. Secor prosecuted the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Ricardo Gonzalez Bahena, 43, an illegal alien residing in Graniteville, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for identity theft and passport fraud. Gonzalez Bahena, a Mexican national, will be deported after serving his sentence.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Gonzalez Bahena was working at the Savannah River Nuclear Site under a false identity. During his employment, he attempted to obtain an increased security clearance, but investigators discovered inconsistencies during the background investigation. Thereafter, they uncovered his scheme. On two separate occasions, he also attempted to apply for a U.S. passport in Augusta, Georgia using the same false identity. The stolen identity belonged to a vulnerable adult and American citizen in Puerto Rico who has never left Puerto Rico. 

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Gozalez Bahena to 24 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system. Bahena was also ordered to pay $35,695 in restitution to the victim. 

This case was investigated by the Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of State’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS). Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews is prosecuting the case.

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GREENVILLE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Greenville returned a single-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging William Andres Holguin Mendez, 40, of Colombia, for his role in a $135 million money laundering conspiracy.

The indictment alleges that in August 2023, FBI agents began investigating individuals believed to be involved in the international laundering of drug proceeds in the Greenville area. Law enforcement identified numerous bank accounts associated with shell corporations that were receiving proceeds from the sale of illegal narcotics. These bank accounts would then, in turn, send the drug proceeds to a single account with a United States-based cryptocurrency exchange. Know Your Customer (KYC), a compliance process used by financial institutions to verify customer identities and assess risks, revealed that the sole owner of the accounts was Holguin Mendez. The investigation revealed that the drug proceeds in this account would be converted to stablecoin cryptocurrency before ultimately being moved to an account with a foreign-based cryptocurrency exchange. KYC information provided to the foreign-based cryptocurrency exchange also revealed that the sole owner of the account was Holguin Mendez. The investigation showed that the cryptocurrency in the foreign based cryptocurrency exchange account was then converted to Colombian pesos and distributed to 207 Colombian bank accounts. Approximately $135 million in United States dollars traveled through Holguin Mendez’s account from March 2023 to May 2024.

“The Homeland Security Task Force continues to disrupt drug money laundering organizations, as is alleged in the indictment of a $135 million scheme orchestrated by Holguin Mendez,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “Law enforcement will work together across domestic and international borders to trace illegal drug profits to investigate and prosecute narcotics dealers.”

“The defendant, as alleged in the indictment, backchanneled approximately $135 million of illegal drug proceeds tied to Upstate South Carolina,” said FBI Columbia Special Agent in Charge Anish Shukla. “The FBI, along with our HSTF partners, is on a continuous mission to identify, investigate, and prosecute every criminal involved in large-scale drug operations from the dealers to the money facilitators. We are committed to making our communities safe and removing the threat of cartels.”

Holguin Mendez faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and is currently detained pending trial.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.

The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Bondura is prosecuting the case. 

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

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Antonio Marquis Nicholson, 34, of West Columbia, has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in 2023, Nicholson and his codefendants targeted vulnerable minors, specifically 16 and 17-year-old girls. One victim was a missing and runaway minor from another state. Two victims were Columbia-area high school students with clear vulnerabilities. Together, the four defendants enticed, harbored, transported, advertised, provided, and exploited the three girls into commercial sexual exploitation. They took photographs of the victims, gave them lingerie, advertised them on commercial sex websites, and confiscated the proceeds. Victims were subjected to physical violence and forced to have sex with adult men. They were exposed to drugs, guns, and dangerous encounters with violent customers. The young girls did not have access to medical care, food, or other daily necessities. 

“This is the behavior of a monster. Nicholson and his codefendants exploited these children in the most vulnerable way possible,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “I commend law enforcement for working together at the federal, state and local level to intervene and rescue these children, who are survivors of such heinous acts.”

“Antonio Nicholson targeted vulnerable kids, including runaways, and treated them like property to be advertised, sold, and controlled,” said HSI Carolinas Special Agent in Charge Mark M. Zito. “Today’s sentence sends a clear message: if you prey on children, you will pay for it. HSI and our partners will keep working to protect children and other vulnerable people and bring these predators to justice.”

“It’s heartbreaking to think sex trafficking happens in our communities. Our children are our greatest asset while also being our most vulnerable. To profit off cruelty and abuse to a child is reprehensible,” said SLED Chief Mark Keel. “In South Carolina, the local, state, and federal partnerships we have mean those who commit such disgusting crimes will face the consequences. Every survivor deserves justice.”

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Nicholson to 300 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime of court-ordered supervision. Three co-defendants were previously sentenced. Terrell Counts was previously sentenced to 135 months’ imprisonment. Rebecca Melanie Perry was sentenced to 150 months’ imprisonment. Monesha Tatayana Lapri Gary was sentenced to 165 months’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and Ariyana N. Gore prosecuted the case.

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FLORENCE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Florence, returned a nine-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging seven individuals from Chesterfield County for conspiracy to violate the Animal Welfare Act, possession of pit bull-type dogs for animal fighting ventures, and unlawful possession of firearms.

The indictment alleges that from September 2019 to July 2026, the defendants maintained properties where they bred, housed, and trained pit bull-type dogs intended for dog fighting. They are also alleged to have used training equipment and paraphernalia in their operations, including treadmills, bite sticks, heavy metal chains, and breeding stands. The defendants also allegedly shared images and videos of dogs fighting and injured dogs.

According to allegations in the indictment, law enforcement seized over 100 dogs and dog fighting paraphernalia from the defendants between April 2026 to July 2026: 

• On or about April 26, 2026, Lonnie Shane Gaskins, 28,a former Chesterfield County Sheriff’s deputy, possessed seven pit bull-type dogs, as well as dog fighting paraphernalia, including but not limited to a hanging scale, weighted collars and chains, and a carpet containing canine blood.
• On or about April 26, 2026, Terry James Gaskins, 49, possessed approximately 27 pit bull-type  dogs, as well as dog fighting paraphernalia, including but not limited to a hanging scale, heavy chains, treadmill, and pedigrees. 
• On or about June 9, 2026, Shamar O'Ryan Sutton, 32, possessed approximately eight pit bull-type dogs, as well as dog fighting paraphernalia, including but not limited to a heavy collar and chains, pedigrees, and a treadmill. 
• On or about June 9, 2026, Avery Robinson, 36, possessed approximately 77 pit bull-type dogs, as well as dog fighting paraphernalia, including but not limited to a break/bite sticks, slat mill, pedigrees, and heavy chains. This is the largest single property dog seizure in South Carolina history. 
• On or about July 22, 2026, Derwayne Terry Miller, Sr., A/K/A “Fuzz,” 46, and Derwayne Terry Miller, Jr., a/k/a “DJ,” 26, possessed approximately eight pit bull-type dogs, as well as dog fighting paraphernalia, including but not limited to a heavy collar and chains, animal medications, and animal wound treatment spray. 
• On or about July 22, 2026, Kevin Knotts, 46, possessed seven pit bull-type dogs, as well as dog fighting paraphernalia, including but not limited to a pit, breeding stand, and animal medications. 

“Dog fighting turns suffering into entertainment and violence into a business,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “We’ll continue to work with our law enforcement partners to investigate animal cruelty and speak for these defenseless dogs, who cannot speak for themselves.”

“USDA OIG will not tolerate the violent and inhuman practice of dog fighting,” said Inspector General John Walk.  “I commend our law enforcement agents for rescuing more than 100 dogs from this heinous cruelty and bringing the defendants to face justice.”

“This is yet another case that illustrates a criminal enterprise built on malicious cruelty. It doesn’t matter who you are, where you live, or what you do for a living, if you decide to fight dogs in this state, we will find you and you will be held accountable,” said SLED Chief Mark Keel. “SLED is proud to partner with local, state, and federal law enforcement, as well as with animal services organizations, to rid our state of this horrific crime. Together, we are sending a clear message: Dogfighting will not be tolerated in South Carolina.”

The defendants face a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment for the animal welfare offenses. Miller Jr. and Terry Gaskins face up to 15 years for the firearm offenses. 

The case was investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture Office of the Inspector General, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Marshal Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle E. Klein and Holly Brown are prosecuting the case.  

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

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — Jerell Emmanuel Risher, 36, of North Charleston, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to trafficking methamphetamine. 

Evidence presented in court showed that on March 7, 2024, investigators intercepted a package that was shipped from California to a North Charleston address under a false name. The package contained nearly five kilograms of pure methamphetamine. Investigators delivered the package under surveillance, and Risher picked it up from the location. When police tried to stop him, Risher sped away, reaching 111 mph, running several red lights, and throwing the package from his vehicle. He left the vehicle on a dead-end road, climbed two fences, and ran onto a school campus while classes were in session. Investigators later obtained his phone and saw he tracked the package 13 times the day it was intercepted. 

Then, on Sept.17, 2024, while on bond for a state drug trafficking offense, Risher sold a law enforcement source 112 grams of pure methamphetamine at a North Charleston business. 

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Risher to 15 years in federal prison, to be followed by five years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Charleston Police Department, the Charleston County Sheriff's Office, the North Charleston Police Department, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow prosecuted the case.

FLORENCE, S.C. — Benjamin Lee Mercer, Sr., 54, of Florence, has pleaded guilty to stealing firearms from a dealer and illegally possessing firearms. 

Mercer’s co-defendant and son, Benjamin Lee Mercer, Jr., 31, of Florence, previously pleaded guilty to stealing firearms from a dealer and brandishing and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. 

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that around 2:52 a.m. on May 12, 2024, two men—later identified as Mercer, Sr. and Mercer, Jr.—burglarized the Palmetto State Armory, a federal firearms licensee in Florence. They stole 152 firearms. On May 22, 2024, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a trailer in Darlington associated with Mercer, Sr. and Mercer, Jr. and found 15 firearms, all of which were stolen from the Palmetto State Armory. Shortly before executing the search warrant, law enforcement saw Mercer, Sr. get into a truck and leave the trailer. Law enforcement followed Mercer, Sr., but he fled and evaded law enforcement. During the pursuit, Mercer, Sr. was captured on video discarding a firearm. Law enforcement recovered the firearm and confirmed it was stolen from the Palmetto State Armory.  

On June 17, 2024, law enforcement used a confidential informant to arrange a controlled purchase of 21 firearms from Mercer, Jr. at the Darlington trailer. During the buy, Mercer, Jr. pulled out a handgun, pistol whipped the informant, and threatened to kill the informant. Ultimately, the informant threw their car keys and the buy money on the ground, which Mercer, Jr. took and then left in the informant’s car. Law enforcement caught up to Mercer, Jr., and a high-speed chase ensued through Darlington and Florence counties. During the chase, Mercer, Jr. pointed a firearm out of the driver’s side window and repeatedly fired at law enforcement. Mercer, Jr. fled to an apartment in Florence, where he barricaded himself inside but ultimately surrendered to law enforcement. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at the apartment, where they found a loaded handgun along with the buy money taken from the informant.

Mercer, Jr. faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, and up to five years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. Mercer, Sr. faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III accepted the guilty pleas and will sentence both defendants after receiving and reviewing sentencing reports prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

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

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COLUMBIA, S.C. - William Larry Javis, Jr., 46, of Columbia, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy. 

Evidence gathered during the investigation showed that, beginning in 2023, members of the organization distributed kilograms of methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, crack cocaine, and marijuana throughout the Columbia and Lexington County areas. Investigators identified Javis as one of the organization’s leaders. He managed two stash houses, as well as hotel rooms on occasion, to store and distribute narcotics.

The investigation further revealed that Javis, despite being a convicted felon, possessed multiple firearms and facilitated their sale. At sentencing, he was held responsible for distributing more than 19,000 grams of methamphetamine, 8,000 grams of cocaine, 172 grams of marijuana, and 34 grams of fentanyl between September 2023 and January 2025.

Javis has a prior federal conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 280 grams of cocaine base. He also has previous convictions for failure to stop for blue lights, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. At the time of the conspiracy, Javis was on probation for a prior drug conviction.

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Javis to 240 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a 10-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. 

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. 

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

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Twelve members of a Midlands drug conspiracy have been sentenced to federal prison. In total, over 15 kilograms of fentanyl, 16 kilograms of cocaine, 1.5 kilograms of crystal meth, 1 kilogram of crack cocaine, and 500 grams of meth were attributed to the conspiracy.

The following individuals have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a fentanyl, meth, cocaine, and crack cocaine drug trafficking conspiracy:

• Devin Terell Faulk, 36, of West Columbia, was sentenced to 275 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a five-year term of supervised release.
• Winner Cheerbinson Cherisol, 65, of Columbia, was sentenced to 85 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a five-year term of supervised release.
• Willie Geiger, 35, of Gaston, was sentenced to 120 months’ imprisonment followed by a five-year term of supervised release.
• Bradley Jamal Foster, 31, of Gaston, was sentenced to 57 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a five-year term of supervised release.
• Darryl Pou, 52, of Columbia, was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a five-year term of supervised release.
• Dasia Mischell Reed, 24, of Gaston, was sentenced to 40 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release.
• Kevin Jerrod Mungin, 34, of Columbia, was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release.
• Wade Jerome Jenkins, 70, of Columbia, was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release.
• Allison Way, 53, of Gaston, was sentenced to 21 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release.
• Darryl Lewis Brown, 48, of Columbia, was sentenced to time served and a term of supervised release of three years.
• Shyterria Shianne Shonta Suber, 32, of Columbia, was sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release.
• Donna L. Parks 49, of West Columbia, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison to be followed by a three-year term of supervised release.

Evidence presented to the court revealed that on March 25, 2021, Lexington County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Faulk on an outstanding warrant and booked him into the Lexington County Detention Center. In October of 2023, Faulk was sentenced to prison for assault and battery 1st degree and trafficking cocaine. During his time in the detention center and continuing until August of 2024 after Faulk was transferred to the South Carolina Department of Corrections, he ran a complex and multi-faceted drug operation.

Cherisol was Faulk’s main supplier of fentanyl and cocaine. Cherisol, a Haitian national, had been previously deported for a federal drug trafficking conviction and was living in the United States unlawfully under a false identity, including false passports and driver’s licenses. Faulk would use contraband phones to set up the quantity of drugs to be purchased from Cherisol. Faulk would then contact his sister, Dasia Reed, to meet Cherisol and purchase the drugs. Reed sometimes obtained money for the purchases from codefendants Parks and Suber, who Faulk used to store his drug proceeds.  Faulk then coordinated sales with customers and instructed Reed and her boyfriend, Geiger, to deliver the drugs purchased from Cherisol and other suppliers to various customers. 

Investigators infiltrated Faulk’s drug trafficking organization and conducted several controlled purchases of large quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and ice, also known as crystal meth, from Reed and Geiger as directed by Faulk while Faulk was incarcerated. Investigators learned Faulk exchanged money and narcotics to a network of drug traffickers including Foster, Way, Mungin and Pou. In addition to supplying Faulk, Cherisol supplied Brown with cocaine and Jenkins with fentanyl. Jenkins acted as a middleman between Cherisol and other drug traffickers.

“Faulk and Cherisol continued to fuel dangerous drugs into our community,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “We will continue to marshal the full force of federal resources with the Homeland Security Task Force to attack drug trafficking at every level.”

“These significant sentences send a clear message to anyone flooding our communities with dangerous drugs,” said FBI Columbia Special Agent in Charge Anish Shukla. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners at every level are committed to dismantling criminal drug networks from top to bottom and bringing those responsible to justice. Together, we are working to make our neighborhoods safer places for everyone.”

“This investigation exposed a complex and multi-faceted drug trafficking organization that operated with no regard for the devastating impact its drugs had on our communities,” said Michael J. Connolly, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “The fact that one of the defendants continued to direct this operation from inside a corrections facility demonstrates the lengths these traffickers will go to continue their criminal enterprise. Through the dedication and collaboration of our Homeland Security Task Force partners and our local law enforcement partners, we dismantled this organization and held its members accountable. These sentences are an important step toward protecting our communities from dangerous drugs.”

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon presided over the case and sentenced each of the defendants. A final codefendant, Donat Telcy, has not yet been sentenced. There is no parole in the federal system. 

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. 

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lamar J. Fyall and Mike O’Mara are prosecuting the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Isha Yumakia Warr, 53, of Columbia, has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for wire fraud.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Warr worked as a bookkeeper for a small business in Lexington County from June 2023 to July 2024. Shortly after starting work, Warr convinced the business to change their accounting software to a new system. The new software enabled Warr to pay money directly to herself, rather than paying company invoices. The business later discovered a series of unauthorized payments and unpaid invoices during a routine financial review. With the assistance of a forensic accountant, the business discovered a total of $253,855.48 in unauthorized transfers were made from the business account into Warr’s personal account.  

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Warr to 37 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Ms. Warr was ordered to pay $253,855.48 in restitution and a $100 special assessment. 

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

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COLUMBIA, S.C. —Sha’Juan Princess Johnson, 24, of Sumter County, has pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine and crack cocaine. 

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office were investigating a drug conspiracy involving Johnson’s co-defendant Jalik Tucker, after narcotics agents made several undercover buys of methamphetamine and fentanyl from him. During this same time, law enforcement identified two locations in Sumter County and one location in Richland County that the co-defendant was using to distribute drugs. They obtained search warrants for all three locations. One of the locations was Johnson’s home in Sumter. 

During the execution of a search warrant at the address, officers found Johnson in the residence. In one of the bedroom’s closets, the police found fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, crack cocaine, a glass measuring cup with a powder residue, multiple digital food scales, a box of baking soda, an electric mixer with a powder residue, and sandwich bags. Further investigation revealed that neighbors had observed a car, driven by Johnson’s co-defendant, coming and going from the residence.

Johnson’s cellphone contained pictures of illegal narcotics and text messages she had with others referring to illegal narcotics.  

Johnson faces a maximum penalty of 20 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 District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Johnson after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case. 

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Pearish Pierre Pretty, 43, of Columbia, has been sentenced to more than 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. 

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Pretty was a major cocaine and methamphetamine supplier for a drug trafficking organization operating in the Columbia and Lexington County areas. Pretty was held responsible for distributing more than 18,000 grams of methamphetamine and 9,000 grams of cocaine between November 2022 and December 2024. 

Pretty has prior federal convictions for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Pretty committed the offenses while on federal supervise release.

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Pretty to 250 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 the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the City of Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — Sheree Michelle Alexander, 50, of Summerville, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to making a false statement on a firearm purchase form.

Evidence presented in court showed that between January 2020 and September 2023, Sheree Alexander purchased at least 11 firearms for her son, Jaidan Latrell Alexander, who had a prior felony conviction and was prohibited from purchasing or possessing firearms. Law enforcement later recovered 10 of those firearms from Jaidan Alexander. An eleventh firearm was recovered from another prohibited person associated with him.

Court records established that Sheree Alexander knew Jaidan Alexander was prohibited from possessing firearms but continued to buy them for him. Over a four-year period, law enforcement repeatedly recovered firearms purchased by Sheree Alexander from Jaidan Alexander’s possession. Sheree Alexander was present during some of these encounters and later retrieved firearms from law enforcement after they had been seized.

Social media messages and recorded jail calls also showed that Sheree Alexander knew Jaidan Alexander was distributing drugs and engaging in violent conduct. On April 13, 2023, Jaidan Alexander was involved in a shooting outside his Ladson apartment complex. Law enforcement later recovered firearms purchased by Sheree Alexander from the apartment, along with drugs, a money counter, digital scales, and cash. About five months after the shooting, Sheree Alexander purchased another firearm for him.

On Aug. 30, 2024, ATF agents arrested Sheree and Jaidan Alexander at their residence. Agents obtained a search warrant and found a stolen pistol and a loaded rifle in Sheree Alexander's bedroom.

Jaidan Latrell Alexander, 26, of Ladson, was previously sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his role in the offense conduct. 

United States District Judge Bruce H. Hendricks sentenced Sheree Alexander to 46 months in federal prison, followed by two years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system. 

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

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Carlos Antwon Lewis, 46, of Columbia, has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm. 

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on March 4, 2025, a Richland County Sheriff’s deputy conducted a traffic stop on an SUV and contacted the driver.  Lewis was the front passenger.  The deputy smelled the odor of marijuana, which the occupants admitted to smoking before leaving their residence. The deputy asked both occupants to step out and asked Lewis if he had any firearms or narcotics on his person. Lewis admitted that he had a firearm, and the deputy recovered a loaded 9mm pistol from his waistband.   

Lewis is prohibited from possessing a firearm based upon prior convictions for arson, burglary, criminal domestic violence, unlawful carrying of a firearm, possession of less than one gram of methamphetamine or cocaine base, possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance near a school, and distribution of methamphetamine or cocaine base.   

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

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

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

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Derrick Gathers, 40, of Augusta, Georgia, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for unlawfully possessing a firearm when he shot a patrolman. Eighty months of his 180-month sentence will be served consecutively to his current state sentence. 

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

The Dorchester County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant on the vehicle and found a pistol loaded with 9mm ammunition under the brake pedal. SLED confirmed that the pistol found on Gather’s floorboard matched the firearm used to shoot Trooper Frazier.

“This case highlights two realities: law enforcement put their lives at risk every day, and felons with guns pose a serious threat to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “We will continue to support our law enforcement partners by federally prosecuting offenders that put law enforcement and the public’s lives at risk.”

“An attack on law enforcement is an attack on the entire community,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Alicia Jones. “Threats against our law enforcement cannot be tolerated, and ATF will apply every resource we have available to help protect our partners.”

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

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Gathers to 180 months in federal prison. Eighty months of his 180-month sentence will be served consecutively to his current state sentence. One hundred months of the federal sentence will be served concurrently to the state sentence.  He will also have a three-year term of supervised release following imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. 

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

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Nathan Johnson, Jr., 45, of Richland County, has pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and possession of a firearm in a drug trafficking crime. 

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on April 20, 2024, a Richland County Sheriff’s deputy responded to a service call at a residence in Richland County. Upon arrival, the deputy observed a vehicle sitting in the middle of the road with the brake lights on. The deputy approached and found Johnson asleep in the car with the car in drive and Johnson’s foot on the brake. After the deputy woke Johnson up, the deputy told him to put the car in park, but Johnson put the car in reverse and struck the marked unit.  After getting Johnson out of the vehicle, the deputy searched him and found more than 100 grams of cocaine in his pocket and a .45 caliber pistol in the glove compartment. 

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

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case. 

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Trevor Jerremy Jones, 36, of Lexington County, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a stolen firearm.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on Nov. 6, 2021, a University of South Carolina patrolman conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle after determining that the car tag had expired.  The officer made contact with the driver, Trevor Jones and smelled the strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Jones denied that there was any marijuana in the car, but the officer searched the car and located a clear plastic bag containing marijuana in the driver’s side door and a large clear plastic bag containing a large amount of marijuana in the center console. Jones was arrested and stated that the property in the vehicle belonged to him.  

Officers also found a .40 caliber pistol loaded with 13 rounds of ammunition in the glove box.  The gun had been reported stolen.  Jones claimed he bought the firearm from a friend. Jones also had a large amount of money, grouped into small denominations consistent with the sale of narcotics. 

United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Jones to 24 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a two-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. 

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the University of South Carolina Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon prosecuted the case. 

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On August 12, 2026, Andrew Worrall, 56, a citizen of the United Kingdom currently residing in Knox County, Tennessee, was sentenced to 235 months imprisonment by the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville.  Following his imprisonment, Worrall will be on lifetime supervised release, will be required to register with state sex offender registries, comply with special sex offender conditions, and will be deported back to the United Kingdom following his sentence.  As part of his sentence, Worrall was also required to sell his Farragut, Tennessee home where he conducted the offenses of conviction.  Criminal forfeiture was ordered in the amount of $249,805.29, which is his equity from the sale of the property.

As part of the universal plea agreement filed with the Eastern District of Tennessee (EDTN) and the District of South Carolina (DSC), Worrall agreed to plead guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a child, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a) and (e) for the EDTN indictment, and one count of production of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a) and (e) for the DSC indictment.                       

While at his home on July 7, 2025, Worrall contacted a 17-year-old minor female on the Snapchat application using the internet.  Knowing the age of the child, Worrall requested nude pictures of her, to which the child complied.  Worrall then requested the child send a video of her inserting a foreign object into her body, again, to which the child complied.           

On the same day, and continuing into July 8, 2025, Worrall contacted another 17-year-old minor female, who resided in DSC, using his Snapchat account.  Worrall had similar communication with the child, asking to prove she was real by sending him pictures.  After the victim complied, he requested that she engage in sexual activity on video for Worrall’s pleasure, to which the child complied. 

“The 19-year sentence in this case hopefully brings a sense of justice and dignity to Worrall’s victims and deters others from committing similar crimes,” said U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee.  “With our federal, state, and local partners, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to vigorously investigate and prosecute criminals who prey on and sexually exploit minors.”

“Worrall’s exploitation of minors is reprehensible,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina.  “This case is yet another example of how U.S. Attorney’s Offices will work together with law enforcement agencies – across this country - to ensure child predators are brought to justice.”

“Our investigators will continue doing everything they can to identify and investigate instances of child exploitation within the Department.  We know all too well the damage caused by these crimes to our communities, and we will continue working with the Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney’s Offices around the country to investigate and prosecute the offenders,” said Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Lewe Sessions.

The criminal indictments were the result of an investigation by the United States Department of Energy, Office of the Inspector General, led by Special Agents Paul Gilbride and Owen Igo. 

AUSA Jennifer Kolman of the Eastern District of Tennessee and AUSA Dean H. Secor of the District of South Carolina prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.  Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. 

For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.  For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click the tab "resources.”

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FLORENCE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Florence returned a three-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Joseph Templeton, 30, of Elgin, for bribery, money laundering, and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute.

The indictment alleges that while employed as a correctional officer at the Bennettsville Federal Correctional Institution, Templeton accepted more than $60,000 in bribes from a BOP inmate and others associated with the inmate. The indictment further alleges that in exchange for those bribes, Templeton smuggled contraband into FCI Bennettsville, including cell phones, cell phone accessories, cigarettes, and THC. Templeton falsely processed the contraband as a contraband seizure before distributing the contraband within FCI Bennettsville. 

Templeton faces a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment. He was arraigned in federal court today before United States Magistrate Judge Kaymani D. West.

The case was investigated by the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General, the FBI Columbia Field Office, and the Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hummel is prosecuting the case.  

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

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Paubon Ojo, 27, of Columbia, has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison for possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on May 27, 2023, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department responded to a store on Decker Blvd after receiving a call about a man shoplifting, later determined to be Ojo. When officers arrived, Ojo attempted to flee from the store and was detained. Officers search Ojo and found a stolen firearm in Ojo’s pocket and 447.3 grams of marijuana and a scale in his backpack.

Ojo has prior convictions for shoplifting, burglary, grand larceny, and strong-arm robbery, all of which prevent him from possessing a weapon under federal law.

United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. sentenced Ojo to 100 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system. 

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

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

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Herbert Leon Kimble, 60, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and failure to appear. 

In 2019, Kimble was charged for his role in a $1.2 billion telemedicine and durable medical equipment scheme. Kimble previously plead guilty to conspiring to commit healthcare fraud, violate the anti-kickback statute, and defraud the United States. Kimble was scheduled to be sentenced in Fall 2024, but he failed to appear in federal court on three separate occasions. He fled to the Philippines and remained a fugitive. 

On June 4, 2026, the FBI announced the creation of the Most Wanted Fraudsters List and identified Kimble as one of FBI’s eight most wanted fraudsters. On June 8—just four days later—Kimble was apprehended in the Philippines and sent back to the United States. Shortly thereafter, he was charged with three counts of failing to appear for a statute conference and two sentencing hearings, as part of the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. 

As part of the plea agreement, Kimble and the United States stipulate that the Court should impose a sentence between 15 and 20 years’ imprisonment. Kimble has further agreed to pay nearly $200 million in restitution, including $9 million at his sentencing. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson Jr. accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Kimble after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.

This case was investigated by the FBI, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General and the IRS Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Samantha Usher is prosecuting the case. 

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a five-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Douglas Melvin MacAlpine, 38, of York, for possession and distribution of child sexual abuse material. 

The indictment alleges that Douglas MacAlpine used the Kik social media application at least four times to distribute files containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to other Kik users in the fall of 2024. Subsequent state and federal search warrants revealed MacAlpine’s cell phone and Kik accounts contained hundreds of CSAM files. The indictment further alleges that MacAlpine possessed CSAM material in March 2025.

MacAlpine faces a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, special assessments of up to $40,000, and lifetime supervision. He also faces sex offender registry requirements, if convicted. MacAlpine is currently detained pending trial.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the York County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews is prosecuting the case.  

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

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

Today, a vessel operating company pleaded guilty and was sentenced, and the company’s chief engineer was sentenced to pay a fine, following a June 2024 incident where the vessel MSC Michigan VII caused the evacuation of a large bridge in Charleston, South Carolina, and created a large wake that injured two people, damaged ships and piers, and led to the clearing of local beaches.

MSC Shipmanagement Limited (MSC), a vessel operating company, was sentenced to pay a criminal fine of $6 million and to serve a four-year term of probation for failing to report a hazardous condition on board the containership MSC Michigan VII and to obstructing a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) investigation. MSC must also conduct a root-cause analysis of the circumstances relating to the hazardous conditions onboard the MSC Michigan VII.

MSC’s chief engineer, Fernando San Diego San Juan, was sentenced to pay a $2,000 fine. He previously pleaded guilty, also for failing to report a hazardous condition and obstructing the investigation.

“The hazardous condition onboard this vessel, and MSC’s failure to report it, could have ended in a fatal bridge strike as occurred months earlier in Baltimore. Had the MSC Michigan VII been heading into port instead of out to sea, the result would likely have been catastrophic,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “By their reckless actions, these defendants put a coastal community, critical infrastructure, and the marine environment at risk. Congress made clear in the Ports and Waterways Safety Act that safe navigation and the protection of our waterways are matters of national importance. The Department of Justice will continue to ensure that vessel operators who violate these obligations are held accountable.”

“The Charleston Harbor is the lifeblood of the iconic Lowcountry coastal region, facilitating $88 billion in economic impact to our state each year, serving thousands of local residents and welcoming millions of visitors each year,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan P. Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “The defendants’ actions put all of that and lives in grave danger when it disregarded maritime law in a time of potential crisis. The true heroes here are our local law enforcement, who evacuated the Ravenel bridge and local beaches, and the harbor pilot who navigated the vessel safely out to sea. Today’s sentencing reminds mariners and their operating companies that they have a responsibility to protect our waterways and communities when operating these enormous vessels.”

“This guilty plea highlights the vital role that independent, rigorous law enforcement investigations play in protecting our nation's infrastructure,” said Supervisory Special Agent Brian O’Sullivan of the Coast Guard Investigative Service. “This guilty plea is a direct result of the meticulous work of CGIS special agents working closely with the Department of Justice and the local Captain of the Port. We will continue to dedicate our resources to ensuring the safety and security of the Port of Charleston.” 

On June 5, 2024, the MSC Michigan VII departed from Charleston. The vessel intended to travel up the Cooper River to a turning basin. Once it turned around, it was to proceed down along the Cooper River, beneath the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, and through Charleston Harbor and out to sea. The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge is an eight-lane, major thoroughfare that spans two-and-a-half miles and connects Charleston with Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. 

During this outbound transit, the linkage rod disconnected from the vessel’s governor after the MSC Michigan VII’s crew made a manual adjustment to it. The governor regulates engine speed. Because it was not connected to its governor, the MSC Michigan VII’s main engine could not be slowed and the vessel sped along at approximately 16-17 knots. The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge was evacuated over concern the vessel could strike the bridge, though it was successfully navigated under the bridge and out to sea. Local beaches were also cleared because of concern that the wake of the MSC Michigan VII could cause injuries to people on the beach, and it did injure two people. The vessel’s wake also damaged ships and piers. 

In pleading guilty, MSC and San Diego San Juan admitted that, on occasion, the exact revolutions per minute (rpms) ordered by the MSC Michigan VII’s bridge telegraph could only be achieved if the length of the linkage rod between the governor and fuel rack was manually adjusted. Only trained technicians should manually adjust a vessel’s governor and linkage rod, and none of the engineering crew onboard the MSC Michigan VII were qualified to make the adjustments. Despite this, when the vessel was maneuvering (entering or departing a port) the engineering crew had to pay attention to the bridge telegraph order that could be seen in the engine control room. As needed, they would go to the governor and manually adjust the length of the linkage rod until the desired rpm was reached. 

Additionally, bridge crewmembers would occasionally call the engine control room and request the rpms be raised or lowered to match the telegraph order. San Diego San Juan admitted that he knew that this practice was hazardous because manually adjusting the length of the linkage rod could cause it to fail. Nevertheless, he allowed the practice to continue. The nuts on both ends of the linkage rod were loosened by the MSC Michigan VII’s engine department crew so that the rod could be more easily turned to adjust its length and, therefore, the main engine rpms. The system was designed so that on each end of the linkage rod was a locking washer that would hold the nuts in place so they could not back out. However, on the M/V MSC Michigan VII, both the upper and lower locking washers were removed and the USCG found one of the locking washers on the deck beneath the governor.

Both the failure of the engine to achieve the rpms dictated by the bridge telegraph and the manual adjustment to the linkage rod during maneuvering constituted hazardous conditions that should have been but were not reported to the USCG.

During their investigation, the USCG and the NTSB interviewed San Diego San Juan and asked him if the linkage rod was ever adjusted. He lied and said that the crew never adjusted the linkage rod and only a qualified technician would adjust the linkage rod. The NTSB and USCG later interviewed San Diego San Juan again and asked him whether there had been a delay between the bridge telegraph and the main engine response in the past. He lied and said there had not been. However, when he made that statement, he knew that the governor linkage rod had at previous times been manually adjusted to match the engine order telegraph input which caused a delay for the main engine to reach the desired rpm. San Diego San Juan was asked again if anyone had ever adjusted the linkage rod and he falsely answered “no.” He also stated that the crew should never adjust the linkage rod and that only a technician should adjust the linkage rod. He was asked whether he knew that the crew were making manual adjustments to the linkage rod and he lied and said that he was unaware. 

During the USCG inspection of the MSC Michigan VII after the incident, San Diego San Juan told another crew member that he had said to the USCG that he did not see anyone adjust the linkage rod. He told that crew member and two others to say what he had said to the USCG so they would be on “the same page.” In doing this, he was attempting to persuade these witnesses not to admit to the USCG that there had been manual adjustments to the linkage rod. 

The USCG Sector Charleston, the Coast Guard Investigative Service, and the NTSB investigated the case. 

Assistant Section Chief Stephen Da Ponte of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dean H. Secor and W. Cole Shannon for the District of South Carolina prosecuted the case.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Everett Sabb, 37, of Summerton, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine and 28 grams or more of cocaine base, felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. 

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Sabb was a supplier of cocaine, crack, and marijuana in the Clarendon County area. On at least one occasion, he traveled to California to meet with potential drug suppliers on behalf of his coconspirator.  

Law enforcement discovered Sabb with firearms or ammunition on two occasions. Sabb was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to his prior state felony convictions, which included convictions for Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine Base, Distribution of Cocaine Base with the Proximality of a School or Park, and Unlawful Carrying of a Pistol. 

United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson Jr. sentenced Anderson to 240 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a 4-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein is prosecuting the case.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Davon Jermaine Mickle, 40, of Kershaw, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on Aug. 19, 2023, the Camden Police Department responded to a shooting near a nightclub. Three victims reported that they were at the nightclub when Mickle began harassing one of them.  They saw Mickle walking around the parking lot with an AR-style rifle and then place the rifle in a car.  After a short argument with Mickle, the three victims left together.  As they were leaving, they saw Mickle run back to the car, return with the rifle, and shoot at their car nearly two dozen times. During the investigation, officers found 23 cartridges in the road near the shooting. The victims’ car had one bullet hole in the bumper.

The victims identified Mickle as the shooter, and investigators determined he had an outstanding arrest warrant.  Deputies from the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office located Mickle sitting in the driver’s seat of a vehicle at his residence and saw an AR-style rifle in the passenger seat.  The police detained Mickle and secured the firearm.  The police reviewed surveillance footage of the shooting and observed that the shooter was wearing the same shoes, blue jean shorts and black boxers that Mickle was wearing. Investigators determined the gun in the vehicle was not the same gun used in the shooting, however a gun residue test proved that Mickle had recently fired a firearm. 

Mickle is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon previous convictions for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, distribution of crack cocaine near a school, distribution of crack cocaine 1st, and distribution of cocaine base 3rd.

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

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office, and the Camden Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case. 

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a nine-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Jonathan Andrew Monk, 44, of Columbia, for attempted production, distribution, and possession of child sexual abuse material.

Monk faces a maximum penalty of 30 years’ imprisonment and a mandatory minimum of 15 years’ imprisonment. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.

The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein is prosecuting the case. 

All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. If you have any information to report to law enforcement, please contact the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or (803) 551-4200.

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

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Davante Jamar Moore, 34, of Columbia, has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on March 29, 2024, officers with the Columbia Police Department (CPD) conducted a lawful traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Moore. Moore was the driver and sole occupant. During the stop, a CPD K9 alerted to the scent of narcotics. 

When officers searched the vehicle, they located a yellow backpack with a plastic bag containing marijuana, various bags, a scale, container with white powder inside, and a loaded firearm. 

Moore is prohibited from possessing firearms based upon previous convictions for strong arm robbery and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.

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

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

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

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CHARLESTON, S.C. —According to a criminal complaint filed in federal court, Dejuan Ravenel, 21, of Charleston, has been charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition.

According to court documents, on July 4, 2026, North Charleston Police officers responded to a large disturbance on Spruill Avenue. While NCPD officers and officers from assisting law enforcement agencies were attempting to disperse the crowd and restore order, several individuals, including juveniles, became combative and physically assaulted responding officers. 

While one officer was being violently assaulted by multiple juveniles, their department-issued taser and two firearm magazines, each containing 13 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition, became dislodged and unsecured from their duty holster. Following the assault, law enforcement was unable to locate the officer’s taser or loaded firearm magazines.

Investigators reviewed body worn camera and surveillance footage and identified Ravenel taking the taser and magazines. Officers arrested Ravenel and during a search of his home located the taser and magazines. 

Ravenel has a previous felony conviction and is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition under federal law. At the time of the crime, Ravenel was on probation for a previous conviction and out on bonds for possession of stolen vehicle, possession of stolen gun, financial transaction card theft, and receiving stolen goods from a December 2024 incident and burglary 2nd degree from September 2025.

“Federal investigators, assisted by SLED task force officers, immediately assisted with this multi-agency investigation and found the appropriate charge to bring against Ravenel, whose actions as convicted felon were a violation of federal law,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our federal law enforcement partners will resolutely support our local law enforcement in keeping our communities safe.” 

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

Ravenel faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison, a fine of $250,000 and three years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by FBI Columbia Field Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the North Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carra Henderson is prosecuting the case.  

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

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CHARLESTON, S.C. — Thomas Lamont Ancrum, 37, of Goose Creek, has been sentenced to more than nine years in federal prison for possessing two firearms as a convicted felon.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Ancrum led officers with the North Charleston Police Department on a dangerous highspeed chase on the night of Aug. 12, 2024. During the chase, Ancrum reached speeds of over 100 miles per hour, weaving in and out of interstate traffic. Eventually, officers used stop sticks to puncture the vehicle’s tires which quickly ended the pursuit. Ancrum then exited the vehicle, dropped a book bag, and ran across the interstate. He was quickly apprehended by a police K9 and arrested. Inside the backpack, officers found two firearms and small quantities of cocaine and marijuana.

As a previously convicted felon, Ancrum is prohibited from legally possessing firearms or ammunition. He was indicted in federal court on one count of felon in possession of a firearm in 2025.

United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Ancrum to 115 months' imprisonment—the maximum term called for by the United States Sentencing Guidelines.  Ancrum will be under court supervision for three years upon his release from federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the Department of Justice’s nationwide initiative that brings federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement, prosecutors, and other public safety partners together to coordinate efforts to combat violent crime and make communities safe. Coordinated by U.S. Attorneys’ offices in each of the 94 federal districts, PSN is tailored to particular communities to strategically address specific violent crime and public safety challenges. As a key component of Operation Take Back America, PSN serves a central role in the Department’s commitment to make our country safe. PSN emphasizes three core principles: rapid federal response to violent crime and criminal offenders; strong, strategic partnerships among law enforcement at all levels; and accountability and deterrence through the prosecution of the most serious, readily provable offenses and other strategies. These efforts complement and strengthen President Trump’s Homeland Security Task Forces, ensuring a comprehensive federal response to the most pressing public safety issues facing communities.

This case was investigated by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the North Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cole Shannon prosecuted the case.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. —Five individuals charged in a $550K prison bribery scheme entered guilty pleas in federal court this week.

• Lowanda Atkinson, 52, of Kershaw County, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud. Atkinson served as a corrections officer in SCDC and was assigned to Lee Correctional Institution.
• Jason Brown, 43, an SCDC inmate, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud.
• Adriana Conyers, 37, of Sumter County, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud.
• Christopher Hickman, 46, of Richland County, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud.
• Mary Ann Hickman-Brown, 64, of Clarendon County, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Lowanda Atkinson, a 16-year corrections officer with SCDC, accepted more than $550,000 in bribes from inmates Larry Williamson and Jason Brown, along with Jason Brown’s mother Mary Ann Hickman Brown, Jason Brown’s brother Christopher Hickman, Jason Brown’s nephew’s mother Adrianna Conyers, and Jason Brown’s friend Courtney Briggs.  

In exchange for the bribes, Atkinson smuggled contraband, including cell phones, cell phone accessories, tobacco, and controlled substances, into Lee Correctional Institution.  The contraband was later sold to other inmates by Brown and Williamson and the proceeds of the contraband sales were split between Brown, Williamson, and Atkinson. Atkinson later spent the proceeds on designer purchases, plastic surgery, and a luxury SUV.

Larry Williamson and Courtney Briggs were charged in a separate Indictment.  Briggs was arraigned on July 7, 2026 on count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud and one count of honest services wire fraud. Williamson is pending arraignment on one count of conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, five counts of honest services wire fraud, one count of use of an interstate facility to facilitate bribery, and one count of drug conspiracy.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to working with SCDC to root out corruption within our correctional system, whether it originates inside the walls or through networks that support it from the outside,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “Atkinson’s scheme is an example of law enforcement corruption, and we will not tolerate that in South Carolina.” 

“This person took advantage of the trust given to her and conspired with inmates and their families to flood our prison with deadly contraband,” SCDC Director Joel Anderson said. “I'm glad they are all being held accountable for their crimes. Her conduct is not characteristic of our values or of the people who work in our department.”

Each of the defendants faces up to 20 years imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon accepted the guilty plea and will sentence the defendants after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the South Carolina Department of Corrections Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and Samantha Usher are prosecuting the case.  

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Marco Antonio Lopez Gutierrez, an illegal alien residing in Lancaster, was sentenced to four years in federal prison for a decades-long aggravated identity fraud scheme.

The defendant’s crimes involved an elaborate and extensive identity theft scheme that spanned approximately 28 years while living in three separate states. Gutierrez used the victim’s Puerto Rican birth certificate and social security number to obtain a U.S. Passport, multiple state drivers licenses, credit cards and even an FHA loan all under the victim’s information. In the mid-1990s the defendant was convicted of fraud, larceny, and assault and served time in a North Carolina state prison under the victim’s identity.

Gutierrez’s victim estimated that he spent thousands of hours contacting banks, law enforcement, and creditors before Gutierrez’s arrest trying to clear his name and establish that he was a victim and not a debtor.

Gutierrez’s scheme negatively affected his victim’s ability to borrow from financial institutions, prevented his victim from obtaining a state driver’s license, because one was already issued in his name, and Gutierrez caused his victim, a United States citizen, to be questioned by law enforcement on at least two occasions after Gutierrez falsely reported to the police that Gutierrez was the identity theft victim and that the victim had stolen his identity.  

After Gutierrez was arrested on federal charges, he lied to the presiding United States Magistrate, and the United States Probation Office, about his identity, so that he could obtain appointed counsel at the taxpayer’s expense under the victim’s identity. 

U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Gutierrez to 48 months’ imprisonment. The Court also ordered Gutierrez to pay $79,010.44 in restitution to the victim of his crimes.  Following his incarceration, he will be deported.

The case was investigated by the U.S. Diplomatic Security Services and the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General. Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kerry B. McTigue prosecuted the case. 

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SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Joseph F. Wallace, 51, of Duncan, has been convicted by a federal jury following four days of trial. Wallace was found guilty on nine counts of wire fraud and one count of credit card fraud.

Evidence introduced at trial showed that Wallace marketed himself as “a self-made serial entrepreneur leading multiple business entities and living the American Dream in Upstate, South Carolina.”  He owned and operated YMA Financial through which he offered various services such as credit repair, business planning, and establishment of business credit.   Beginning in late 2022, Wallace overextended himself in his pursuit of other business endeavors and he needed substantial infusions of cash to pay back previous clients.  This precarious financial situation led Wallace to make misrepresentations to new clients and to withhold material information. 

Wallace would direct clients to obtain various credit cards in aid of establishing the clients’ business credit. To ensure the clients qualified for the new cards, Wallace often directed them to provide false information to the credit card companies.  The clients followed the instructions without questioning him because of his claimed expertise and involvement in community organizations.

Wallace would then obtain large cash advances on the new credit cards and the clients’ existing credit cards. (Some of the advances were made with the clients’ permission, others were not.) Wallace explained to clients that he would pay off the newly acquired balances within 30 days.  By paying off the advances promptly, Wallace told clients that this would demonstrate to creditors the clients’ trustworthiness and thus boost their credit scores and borrowing potential.  However, when the credit card bills came due, Wallace did not pay the balances in full as he had promised.  Often Wallace would pay the minimum due or nothing at all.  He provided the victims with multiple excuses.  The victims later learned that Wallace had used the credit card advances to pay other debts or to make purchases for other businesses. 

In total, Wallace stole more than $971,051.44 from the affected clients. 

“Fraud is not a victimless crime,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan P. Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “It undermines trust, devastates families, and steals from hardworking people who have done nothing wrong. Our office is committed to aggressively investigating and prosecuting those who exploit others for financial gain. We will continue working with our law enforcement partners to hold offenders accountable and protect our communities from these serious crimes.”

Wallace faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and restitution. U.S. District Judge Donald C. Coggins, Jr. presided over the trial and will sentence Wallace after receiving and reviewed a pre-sentence report from the U.S. Probation Office.

The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Watkins and Elle E. Klein are prosecuting the case. 
 

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Johnny Lee Dickerson, 45, of Columbia, has been sentenced to more than 16 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a federal drug trafficking offense involving methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana.

According to the facts presented in court, the Columbia Police Department and long with the DEA,  launched an investigation identifying Dickerson as a supplier of multiple controlled substances in Columbia and Lexington County. Between February and June 2024, Dickerson sold approximately 453.6 grams of methamphetamine to confidential informants and undercover officers.

At the sentencing hearing, Dickerson was held responsible for approximately 3,906 grams of cocaine, 56.7 grams of crack cocaine, 453.6 grams of methamphetamine, and 43 grams of marijuana.

Dickerson has prior felony convictions for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, possession with intent to distribute within proximity of a school, criminal domestic violence, and distribution of crack cocaine. Based on his prior controlled substance convictions, he was designated a career offender under the federal sentencing guidelines.

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Dickerson to 200 months in federal prison, 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, City of Columbia Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Three Sumter County men have been sentenced to a combined 205 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and fentanyl.

• Zuri Laxenda Cokley, 23, of Sumter
• Jashai Dyrell Mellette, 26, of Sumter
• Denetrick Devontae Holland, 24, of Sumter

According to facts presented in court, the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, launched an investigation in 2023 after receiving a tip that the men were operating a stash house containing large quantities of various narcotics. Agents determined that Cokley was managing the drug operation and that Mellette and Holland used the stash house to sell narcotics. Agents utilized confidential informants to conduct controlled purchases of fentanyl and crack cocaine from the residence. Cokley, Mellette, and Holland each sold informants fentanyl and crack cocaine during those transactions. 

On Aug. 31, 2023, agents executed a search warrant at the property. During the search, investigators recovered 45 grams of fentanyl, 109 grams of crack cocaine, 415 grams of marijuana, digital scales, packaging materials, cash, a stolen pistol, and a semiautomatic firearm. Cokley and Mellette were present and arrested at the scene.

Cokley was released on bond in October 2023 but continued distributing narcotics. In April 2024, he sold additional fentanyl to an informant while on bond. He was arrested again in June 2024 and charged with distribution of a controlled substance.

All three defendants had prior criminal histories. Cokley had multiple prior drug‑related convictions and convictions for failure to stop for blue light, driving under suspension, and hit-and-run resulting in property damage and minor injury. Mellette had prior convictions for failure to stop for a blue light, driving under suspension, unlawful distribution to a minor, and public disorderly conduct. Holland had multiple convictions for assault and battery, possession of marijuana, and unlawful firearm possession.

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Cokley to 78 months’ imprisonment, Holland to 70 months’ imprisonment, and Mellette to 57 months’ imprisonment, each to be followed by a three-year term of court ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

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

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The Justice Department announced that Jonathan Andrew Felkel, 34, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Columbia, South Carolina to 9 years in prison for violating the housing rights of his black neighbor, J.M., in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 3631.

“Today, we have delivered justice for Jonathan Andrew Felkel’s disturbing, racially motivated attack on the victim,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Hate crimes not only harm individuals, but undermine the fabric of our communities. The Justice Department will continue to vigorously prosecute such cases to restore safety and confidence in our neighborhoods.”

“Racially motivated violence will not be tolerated in South Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina.

“The defendant’s violent actions last July caused irreparable harm,” said Special Agent in Charge Kevin Moore of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “It is our hope that the victim and this community can begin to heal, knowing that we remain fully committed to their safety. Anyone who commits a crime motivated by race or by any other class under the Fair Housing Act will be met with the full weight of the justice system.”

At his earlier plea hearing, Felkel admitted that on July 17, 2025, he was driving into the community where both he and J.M. lived when he fired a gun and shouted at J.M., “You better keep running, boy!” while J.M. was standing at the community gate. During the investigation, Felkel admitted to law enforcement officers that he believed black people were committing crimes in his neighborhood, that he had assumed J.M. was a criminal due to his race, and that he had hoped to convey to J.M. that he should “leave” and “not be around this area.”

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

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle Klein and Lamar Fyall of the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorney Sarah Armstrong of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.

COLUMBIA, S.C. —The Justice Department announced that Jonathan Andrew Felkel, 34, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Columbia, South Carolina to nine years in federal prison for violating the housing rights of his black neighbor, J.M., in violation of 42 U.S.C. § 3631. 

“Today, we have delivered justice for Jonathan Andrew Felkel’s disturbing, racially motivated attack on the victim,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Hate crimes not only harm individuals, but undermine the fabric of our communities. The Justice Department will continue to vigorously prosecute such cases to restore safety and confidence in our neighborhoods.”

“Racially motivated violence will not be tolerated in South Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. 

“The defendant’s violent actions last July caused irreparable harm,” said Special Agent in Charge Kevin Moore of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “It is our hope that the victim and this community can begin to heal, knowing that we remain fully committed to their safety. Anyone who commits a crime motivated by race or by any other class under the Fair Housing Act will be met with the full weight of the justice system.”

“It’s sad that we’ve got individuals, like Felkel, who have hate in their heart,” said Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott. “Today, justice was served. Our partnership with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office shows that crimes like this are not going to be tolerated.”

At his earlier plea hearing, Felkel admitted that on July 17, 2025, he was driving into the community where both he and J.M. lived when he fired a gun and shouted at J.M., “You better keep running, boy!” while J.M. was standing at the community gate. During the investigation, Felkel admitted to law enforcement officers that he believed black people were committing crimes in his neighborhood, that he had assumed J.M. was a criminal due to his race, and that he had hoped to convey to J.M. that he should “leave” and “not be around this area.” 

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

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle Klein and Lamar Fyall of the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorney Sarah Armstrong of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.

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GREENVILLE, S.C. — Lawson B. Watson, 74, of Reidville, and Amos Durham, 62, of Woodruff, were sentenced for their roles in a public corruption scheme led by former Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright, who was sentenced on Tuesday to 41 months in federal prison.

Chief District Court Judge Timothy M. Cain sentenced Watson to 16 months in federal prison, the top end of the recommended sentencing range under the United States Sentencing Guidelines, as well as a three-year term of supervised release. Watson was also ordered to pay $349,885.22 in restitution. The Court also ordered that Watson make monthly payments of $2,000 in restitution payments upon his release from federal prison, and he was ordered to pay $80,000 in restitution by the close of business on the day of his sentencing.

Durham was the only defendant of the three who was eligible for a probationary sentence pursuant to the United States Sentencing Guidelines.  Judge Cain sentenced Durham to five years of probation, the maximum term of probation allowed by statute. Durham was also ordered to pay $95,442.39 in restitution. Durham will begin paying $3,000 a month towards restitution until it is satisfied within the next 60 days. 

“The taxpayers of Spartanburg County and the members of the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office deserved better, and these defendants have now been held accountable for their roles in Chuck Wright’s schemes,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office as well as our state and federal law enforcement partners will remain ‘at the ready,’ continuing to investigate and prosecute public corruption in South Carolina.”

According to court documents, from 2021-2025, Watson receiving an annual salary of $57,000 with full benefits, a county-issued Chevrolet Tahoe maintained by the county, with unlimited access to taxpayer-funded gas.  In return, Watson was a no-show employee for four years, failing to work in his county capacity.   Instead, Watson used his county-issued Tahoe and phone to run his own grading business, including by listing his county-issued phone as the contact number for his private business, and he had a county employee prepare quotes and bids for his grading business. As the record revealed, Watson did not check his county email, he did not know how to submit a time sheet, and employees reported not seeing him at the sheriff’s office for several years.  

Durham, while serving as the senior chaplain for SCSO, in another fraudulent scheme led by Wright, oversaw the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office Chaplain’s Benevolence Fund. The Benevolence Fund is non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to SCSO deputies and their families during times of need, such as bereavement, financial difficulties, and traumatic line-of-duty events. Wright directed Durham to withdraw cash from the fund and cut checks to Wright, which Wright used for his own personal enrichment, to include the purchase of illegal opioids instead of assisting deputies and their families in need. 

When one employee’s family approached the chaplain seeking assistance to cover hospice bills from the Benevolence Fund for help covering hospice bills, they were turned away because the fund was empty. When a deputy asked for assistance with bills associated with a tree that fell on the deputy’s house, they were also turned away.  Around the same time, Wright took more than $89,000 donated cash from the Benevolence Fund for his private use.  Wright also used the fund for personal purchases and expenses, to include hotel rooms, food, and travel bills. Durham also used the fund for pay for just over $3,000 for his own personal expenses, to include payments to Joseph A. Bank Clothiers, Discount Tire, and Lenscrafters. 

The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and the office of 10th Circuit Solicitor Micah Black. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lothrop Morris and Criminal Chief Elliott B. Daniels prosecuted the case.

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