District of South Carolina
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Five Lowcountry Individuals Sentenced for Role in COVID-19 Loan FraudRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Five of eight individuals who were charged for their role in a COVID-19 loan fraud scheme were sentenced this week.
In March 2020, Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) to help businesses impacted by COVID-19 to continue paying their employees. Pursuant to the CARES Act, there were two sources of relief. One was through a program called the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and a second was through Emergency Injury Disaster Loans (“EIDL”). The CARES Act also authorized the SBA to issue emergency advances, also referred to as grants, of up to $10,000.00 depending on the number of employees a small business employed.
Evidence presented to the court showed that the below individuals, and their co-defendants, devised and participated in a scheme to defraud the Small Business Administration, and its approved third-party lenders, in their application and receipt of PPP loan funds and EIDL advances. The evidence introduced showed that these individuals submitted fraudulent loan documents, which included the creation of fraudulent companies as well as the submission of falsified tax documentation, to induce the SBA and its third-party lenders to fund the loans. Between the eight individuals charged, three EIDL advances, and 12 PPP Loans were funded by the SBA or their approved third-party lenders for a total of $295,841.00 in loans.
The five individuals sentenced this week were:
- Staci Harley, 41, of Summerville, was sentenced to three years after pleading guilty to wire fraud;
- Anthony Harley, 40, of North Charleston, who was an inmate incarcerated with the South Carolina Department of Corrections at the time he committed these offenses, was sentenced to two years after pleading guilty to wire fraud;
- Benjamin Blue, 42, of Summerville, was sentenced to one year and one day after pleading guilty to wire fraud;
- Sheniqua Mitchell, 37, of North Charleston, was sentenced to 33 months after pleading guilty to wire fraud;
- Roberta Harley, 61, of North Charleston, received a time-served sentence after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
“These sentencings mark another victory against this large-scale criminal operation that tormented the Charleston area with illegal drugs, guns, and financial crimes,” Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “We will continue to prosecute those who threaten the safety of our communities with illegal trafficking rings.”
“The Secret Service is diligent in our investigation and pursuit of those who engage in fraudulent criminal activity. We appreciate the commitment from our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to see that justice was served in this case,” said Resident Agent in Charge, Ben Stafford, of the Secret Service’s Charleston, SC Resident Office. “These sentencings reflect the seriousness with which the government handles financial crimes and should act as a warning to those who aspire to exploit government relief programs that are put in place to help those in need.”
“These individuals deceptively lined their pockets with federally approved loans during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when so many struggling businesses tried to survive,” said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “The FBI, along with our law enforcement partners, are committed to the vigorous pursuit of justice against those who pose harm to our financial systems, and this outcome should send a strong message that offenders will be held fully accountable.”
“This sentencing highlights a significant achievement in dismantling a criminal network engaged in fraudulent activities,” said SBA OIG’s Eastern Region Special Agent in Charge Amaleka McCall-Braithwaite. “Our unwavering commitment to protecting the integrity of SBA’s programs ensure that fraud is met with the full force of the law. I want to thank our U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their collaboration and dedication to pursing justice in this case.”
“The City of Charleston Police Department is grateful for the collaboration with its federal partners and will continue to assist in bringing to justice Charleston area residents who commit these financial crimes,” said Charleston Police Deputy Chief Andre Jenkins.
United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced the five individuals and each of their sentences will be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. The judge also ordered a total restitution in the amount of $286, 272.05 be paid.
This case was brought through a joint investigation called Operation Trendsetter, announced in May 2023. Assistant United States Attorneys Amy Bower and Whit Sowards are prosecuting the cases with assistance from the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Gang Section.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
This prosecution was also part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Columbia Man Sentenced to 24 Years in Federal Prison for A Series of Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. —Iric Bolden, 31, of Columbia, was sentenced to 24 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to three counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime, robbery, and attempted robbery.
Evidence presented to the court showed that over the course of nine days in the fall of 2019, Bolden robbed three Midlands convenience stores while armed with a handgun and attempted to rob another.
On Sept. 29, 2019, Bolden entered the 76 gas station located at 2538 Two Notch Rd. He pretended to ask the clerk a question and then walked behind the counter and pointed a gun at the clerk. Bolden demanded the clerk to open the cash register before taking money out of the register, cigarettes from the shelf, and the clerk’s cell phone, which was sitting on the counter. During the robbery, a customer tried to leave but Bolden detained the customer at gun point as well. After taking the items, Bolden ran from the store.
On Sept. 30, 2019, Bolden entered the Marathon Corner Stop located at 1901 Faraway Dr. Bolden entered the store with his gun drawn and a mask over his face. However, Bolden was frightened by one of the clerks, his mask dropped from his face, and he ran from store.
On Oct. 3, 2019, Bolden entered the Mini Mart Located at 900 S. Kilbourne Rd. He walked around as if he was browsing for items and then ran behind the counter and pointed a firearm at the clerk. He forced the clerk to lay on the ground and took the clerk’s cell phone, money from two cash registers, and cigarettes before leaving the store.
On Oct. 6, 2019, Bolden entered Percival Grocery located at 301 Percival Rd. He entered the store and immediately began pulling a firearm from his waistband. He went behind the counter and demanded the clerk to open the cash register. Bolden took money out of the register, cigarettes from the shelf, a cell phone and money from the clerk and ran away from the location.
Law enforcement recovered surveillance footage for all of the incidents which clearly depict Bolden’s actions. Bolden was arrested by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and confessed to the robberies. Prior to these incidents Bolden had multiple convictions for shoplifting and was on probation for strong arm robbery.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Iric Bolden to 288 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the City of Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall is prosecuting the case.
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Six Sentenced in Federal Court for Gun Charges in Robbery SchemeRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, S.C. — Three men from the Pee Dee region and three men from New York were sentenced after pleading guilty to their roles in a robbery and related firearms crimes.
- Elijah N. Fitts, 23, of Rochester, New York, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
- Zion Hezekiah Fitts, 24, of Rochester, New York, was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
- Dorian Javon Godbolt, 24, of Darlington, was sentenced to more than five years in prison after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting robbery.
- Harkeem Dewayne Siequan Kennedy, 26, of Florence, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Fanotti Nacier Neal, 21, of Effingham, was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to deal in firearms without a license.
- Nasir Schifano, 21, of Greece, New York, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to deal in firearms without a license.
Evidence presented to the court showed that just after midnight on March 29, 2022, officers with Florence Police Department responded to a shooting at an apartment complex in Florence. Investigators learned that Godbolt had arranged for Kennedy to come to the apartment complex to sell E. Fitts and Z. Fitts a quantity of marijuana, knowing that E. Fitts and Z. Fitts planned to rob Kennedy. Kennedy arrived at the apartment complex in the passenger seat of a car. Z. Fitts came to the passenger window of the car to conduct the drug deal while E. Fitts stood at the rear of the car. Kennedy provided Z. Fitts a quantity of marijuana. Z. Fitts then pulled a firearm from his hoodie, pointed it at Kennedy and told Kennedy to "give him everything." At that point, shots began to be fired. Several witnesses reported shots coming from the rear of the car, where E. Fitts was standing. Kennedy also pulled a gun and fired shots.
After obtaining information indicating that the robbers came from a particular apartment, law enforcement executed a search warrant at that apartment. Inside, law enforcement found several of those charged, a number of firearms, magazines, ammunition, and a receipt for the purchase of a firearm. Further investigation showed that Neal, Schifano, and others were involved in a conspiracy to deal in firearms without a federal firearms license. The conspirators would purchase firearms in South Carolina, display them in social media videos, negotiate the terms of sale for the firearms via text, and transfer the firearms to others.
“This violent incident has resulted in six defendants spending more than two decades in prison,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “Outstanding investigative work, led by the Florence Police Department and ATF, has made this community safer.”
“The individuals sentenced throughout this case were responsible for a number of violent crimes and sought to put more firearms in the hands of prohibited individuals,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “ATF and our law enforcement partners are focused on shutting down illegal firearms sales and preventing those with criminal intent from harming our communities.”
“We want to take this opportunity to thank our federal law enforcement partners for the indictment of these violent offenders and their subsequent guilty pleas, said Florence Police Chief Allen Heidler. “Law enforcement partnerships, as evidenced here, are a key element in the fight against violent crime. It serves as another notice to violent offenders that Florence area law enforcement, from the federal level down to the local level, will continue our collaborative efforts to bring them to justice.”
United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III sentenced all six individuals. Elijah N. Fitts was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment. Zion Hezekiah Fitts was sentenced to 84 months imprisonment. Dorian Javon Godbolt was sentenced to 63 months imprisonment. Harkeem Dewayne Siequan Kennedy was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment. Fanotti Nacier Neal was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment; Neal’s term of imprisonment on the firearms conspiracy will be run concurrently with a 40-year term of imprisonment on an unrelated State conviction. Nasir Schifano was sentenced to 30 months of imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Neal’s term of imprisonment will be followed by an 18-month term of court-ordered supervision. Kennedy, Godbolt and Schifano’s terms of imprisonment will be followed by three-year terms of court-ordered supervision. E. Fitts and Z. Fitts’ terms of imprisonment will be followed by five-year terms of court-ordered supervision.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Florence Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn prosecuted the case.
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Florence Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possessing Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, S.C. — Kendric Lanorris Cannon, 47, of Florence, was sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on the evening of Feb. 2, 2022, officers with Florence Police Department encountered Cannon as the sole occupant of a vehicle, which was parked in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Florence. Officers approached the vehicle to verify who Cannon was and why he was there. Cannon said he lived there and exited the vehicle. As Cannon exited, law enforcement could see a firearm and a bag of white powder on the driver’s side floorboard. In a subsequent search of the car, law enforcement found a .380 caliber handgun, more than 100 grams of cocaine divided up into baggies, and a digital scale. Cannon later admitted that the firearm was his and that there was cocaine in the car.
United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III sentenced Cannon to 60 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Florence Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn is prosecuting the case.
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Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to COVID Benefits FraudRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. —Michael Eugene Bowers, 51, of Columbia, has pleaded guilty to fraud related to COVID benefits.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Bowers electronically submitted an Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) application through the Small Business Administration (SBA) and received $480,900 on Dec. 20, 2021. That money was wired into a bank account that he had control of. Bowers then used the funds for personal expenses, such as purchasing a Suzuki motorcycle and paying off his BMW automobile.
Bowers faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States Senior District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Bowers after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department's response to the pandemic, please visit Justice.gov/Coronavirus and Justice.gov/Coronavirus/CombatingFraud.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by using the Department of Justice's National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF)’s Web Complaint Form.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Winston Holliday and Scott Matthews are prosecuting the case.
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Greenville Man Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Threatening JudgeRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Alvin Bernard Parks, 44, of Greenville, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to threatening a federal judge.
According to court documents, Parks sent a letter to a specifically-named United States District Court Judge for the District of South Carolina. The handwritten letter contained threats to harm the judge. An excerpt from the letter reads: “I have watched you leave the courthouse numerous times and plotted to get my revenge.” The letter goes on to say, “you best to make sure they lock me away for good cause I’m going to kill you or blow that courthouse up.” The return address on the letter was listed as Alvin Parks with the address to the Greenville County Detention Center, where Parks was detained.
“Threats like this endanger our justice system,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “We remain committed to prosecuting illegal threats against public officials to ensure that such officials can do their jobs free from intimidation.”
United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins, Jr. sentenced Parks to 84 months' imprisonment, to be followed by a term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Parks pled guilty in February.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Max Cauthen is prosecuting the case.
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Columbia Man Sentenced to 14 Years for Unlawful Possession of 60 Firearms and Distribution of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. —Christopher Miles Huntington, 33, of Lugoff, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and distribution of methamphetamine.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on multiple occasions in March through May 2023, Huntington sold 37 firearms, including stolen weapons, short-barreled rifles, and firearms with high-capacity magazines to undercover agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Huntington also sold more than 2,400 grams of methamphetamine to undercover agents during these transactions. On June 29, 2023, Huntington was arrested with 23 additional firearms. Huntington is a felon and prohibited from possessing firearms. Huntington has prior convictions for assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, burglary, grand theft of motor vehicle, and safecracking.
United States District Court Judge Sherri Lydon sentenced Huntington to 168 months in prison to be followed by a term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), West Columbia Police Department, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, and Richland County Sheriff’s Department. The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office is handling the prosecution of additional defendants facing state charges related to this investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein prosecuted the case.
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Columbia Man Sentenced to 10 Years and Ordered to Pay $35,000 for Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. —Joseph Dean Dyches, 42, of Orangeburg, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on Nov. 13, 2019, Dyches sold a .45 caliber handgun and a loaded, stolen, unregistered, short-barreled shotgun to an undercover agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). During the transaction, Dyches admitted to being a “five-time felon.” Approximately one week later, Dyches was pulled over by the South Carolina Highway Patrol and found to be in possession of a .40 caliber handgun, a loaded .22 caliber handgun, multiple rounds of ammunition, and methamphetamine. Dyches is a felon and prohibited from possessing firearms. Dyches has prior convictions for assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature, strong armed robbery, assault and battery 1st degree, and criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature.
United States District Court Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Dyches to 120 months in prison to be followed by a term of court-ordered supervision. Dyches was also ordered to pay a $35,000 fine. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elle E. Klein.
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Charlotte Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Fraudulent Real Estate SchemeRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. —Dennis S. Lepka, Jr., 42, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was sentenced to six and a half years in federal prison for his role in a real estate fraud scheme.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began an investigation after they received multiple complaints that Lepka was engaging in fraudulent real estate transactions. Lepka’s business model was built upon misleading both sellers and buyers of residential properties. He promised the sellers that he would purchase their home and take over their outstanding mortgage. In some instances, Lepka told them they would stay on the mortgage as a credit repair service. He assured the buyers that they were in a rent-to-own agreement with Lepka. In truth, Lepka did not own the properties he was selling. He concealed information about existing mortgages from the buyers and did not disclose to the banks holding mortgages that real estate transactions were taking place. He required the buyers to provide substantial down payments and then make monthly payments to him. Lepka did not make the mortgage payments to the original lenders and multiple properties went into foreclosure. Some victims became homeless as a result.
Evidence showed that Lepka targeted members of the Hispanic community because of their immigration status. Lepka believed that victims without legal status would be reluctant to report fraud to the authorities. Lepka also expressed to his victims that they should trust him because he was a practicing Christian. Victims who spoke at the sentencing expressed hurt that Lepka appealed to their faith to lure them into transactions.
United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain sentenced Lepka to 78 months imprisonment. He also ordered him to pay $2,020,213.50 in restitution. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Watkins prosecuted the case.
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Three Men Plead Guilty to Role in Fraudulent Scheme to Defraud Chain of Home Improvement StoresRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Donovan Young, 60, of Hartsville, Aaron Young, 34, of Florence, and James Hoffman, 47, of McBee, have pled guilty to wire fraud conspiracy for their role in a scheme to defraud a chain of home improvement stores.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that the Youngs and Hoffman would purchase Lowe’s merchandise cards, for a discounted value, from known coconspirators who had fraudulently obtained the merchandise cards. Evidence presented shows that the Youngs and Hoffman were aware that the merchandise cards had been fraudulently obtained by the known coconspirators by stealing merchandise from the home improvement stores throughout the District of South Carolina and then, through fake identities, returning the stolen merchandise for merchandise cards.
The Youngs and Hoffman face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. They also face a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Donovan Young, Aaron Young, and James Hoffman after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower is prosecuting the case.
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Georgetown County Man Sentenced to One Year and One Day in Federal Prison for Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, S.C. — William Dallis, 57, of Murrells Inlet, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison after pleading guilty to money laundering.
Evidence presented to the court showed that from June 2021 to April 2022, Dallis conducted financial transactions with cash he believed was obtained from transporting and harboring illegal aliens. To conceal and disguise the nature of the illegal cash, Dallis would take the cash received and deposit it into a bank account he controlled. Dallis would then write a check to the individual that had provided the cash after taking a percentage fee per transaction. The evidence presented revealed that Dallis received approximately $560,000.00 in cash from the individual.
United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III sentenced Dallis to 12 months and one day imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. As part of his plea agreement with the Government, Dallis also forfeited approximately $75,000.00.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy F. Bower is prosecuting the case.
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International Gun Traffickers Who Acquired Guns in South Carolina Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Marlon Michael Bruff, of Fairburn, Georgia, Ramaro Alsworth Higgins, of Los Angeles, California, and Reuben Dunn, of Anderson, South Carolina, were sentenced to federal prison for helping to run a gun trafficking operation, which bought guns in multiple southern states and smuggled them into Canada. Bruff and Higgins were also convicted of conspiracy to distribute marijuana. Four other defendants have also been convicted and sentenced in connection with the case.
Evidence presented to the court showed that in June of 2021, an officer with the Duncan Police Department stopped a Sprinter van traveling north on Interstate 85. A search of the van revealed suitcases containing 73 pistols, including 39 guns with obliterated serial numbers. The driver of the vehicle claimed that she was transporting personal protective equipment (PPE) for APA Logistics, a company owned by Bruff, which was used as a front for criminal activities. Investigators also discovered hidden compartments in the van, which contained marijuana. Bruff was driving alongside the van in a separate vehicle and was not initially arrested.
Over the course of a multi-year investigation led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), law enforcement learned that Bruff, Higgins, Dunn, and several others were involved in a scheme to buy guns in Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina and to smuggle them across the border into Canada, where several of the guns have been recovered in connection with violent crimes. Members of the conspiracy also obtained marijuana from Canada, which was sold in the United States and used to fund the purchase of additional guns. Bruff and Higgins recruited straw purchasers and traveled throughout the United States to transport the guns and traffic marijuana. In May of 2021, they were stopped in North Carolina with over 20 pounds of marijuana and over $37,000.00 in cash. Dunn assisted the organization by acquiring guns, which the smugglers picked up from his home in Anderson, South Carolina.
“South Carolina will play no part in illegal gun trafficking,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “Our office will continue to work to ensure the safety of our community and our neighbors.”
“Illegal firearms trafficking is a serious threat to communities everywhere,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bennie Mims. “ATF and our law enforcement partners continue to make the prevention of illegal firearms sales a top priority. Stopping illegal firearms sales and disrupting gun trafficking networks plays a critical role in preventing violent gun crime and keeping neighborhoods safe.”
United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins sentenced Bruff to 120 months in prison, Higgins to 48 months in prison, and Dunn to 27 months in prison, with all of the sentences to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
The investigation was led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, with assistance from the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Duncan Police Department, and several Canadian law enforcement agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Schoen is prosecuting the case.
*Note: an earlier version of this release included reference to the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in error. It has been removed.
Wisconsin Man Indicted for Kidnapping Greenville ChildRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Greenville returned a three-count indictment against Tyler Michael Berlick, 35, of Muskego, Wisconsin, for traveling across state lines with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct with a minor, transporting a minor across state lines with the intent to engage in sexual conduct, and production of child sexual abuse materials.*
The indictment alleges that in February of this year, Berlick traveled from Wisconsin to South Carolina with the intent to engage in sexual activity with a minor and then traveled with the minor to Florida with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. Berlick met the child in an online game and believed she was 13 years old. Berlick is also charged with one count of production of child sexual abuse materials.
Berlick faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. He is scheduled to be arraigned on May 23 at 10 a.m. before Magistrate Judge Kevin McDonald.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI Miami Field Office, the Lantana Police Department (Florida), the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office (Florida) and the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department (Wisconsin). Assistant U.S. Attorney Winston Marosek is prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs stated that all charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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* The term “child pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child.
Irmo Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl Distribution and Gun ViolationsRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Joseph Anthony Johnson, 34, of Irmo, was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing fentanyl and for two convictions of felon in possession of a firearm.
On Jan. 24, 2022, according to evidence presented in court, officers with the West Columbia Police Department found Johnson in possession of fentanyl and a loaded .380 caliber handgun with an obliterated serial number. That firearm was stolen, and Johnson was prohibited from possessing any firearm at the time due to multiple prior felony convictions. Johnson had 19 prior convictions, including for assault and battery 3rd degree, methamphetamine distribution, seven drug possessions, an illegal firearm possession, resisting arrest, failure to stop on police command, and financial transaction card theft.
On Feb. 15, 2022, and again on Feb. 24, 2022, while out on bond for the conduct above, Johnson sold heroin and another loaded .380 caliber pistols to an undercover source. Johnson was armed with a firearm in his waistband during one of the drug transactions. On July 22, 2022, when Johnson was arrested for the conduct above, he was again found with heroin and fentanyl.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Johnson to 11 years in federal prison with six years of court-ordered supervision to follow. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the West Columbia Police Department, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliott B. Daniels prosecuted the case.
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Atlanta Woman Sentenced for Role in Smuggling Contraband into a Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Ashlee Richardson-Barley, 34, of Atlanta, Georgia, was sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison after pleading guilty to her role in smuggling contraband into the Federal Correctional Institution, Estill (“FCI Estill”), located in Estill, South Carolina.
Evidence presented to the court showed that while Richardson-Barley was employed as a correctional officer at FCI Estill and between November 2019 and April 2020 she smuggled contraband, to include cigarettes, marijuana, cellphones, and suboxone, into FCI Estill. In exchange for the bringing the contraband into the facility, she was paid approximately $15,700.00 by inmates.
“Federal employees, especially those who enforce the law, are held to a higher standard,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “ This sentence sends a clear message that no one is above the law, and we will prosecute those who threaten the safety of our correctional facilities.”
“Contraband, including cell phones, in prisons can be dangerous weapons. The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General is committed to bringing to justice any correctional officer that violates their oath and smuggles contraband into federal prison facilities,” said Eric R. Fehlman, Special Agent in Charge of the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General Southeast Region.
United States District Judge David Norton sentenced Richardson-Barley to one year and one day imprisonment, to be followed by a one-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Winston Marosek and Amy Bower are prosecuting the case.
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SCDC Inmate Sentenced to Federal Prison for Laundering Funds Extorted from Enlisted Service MembersRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Javarius G. Teague, age 31, of Greenville, was sentenced to 33 months for his role in laundering extorted funds.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Teague, while incarcerated in the South Carolina Department of Corrections, led a conspiracy to conceal the source of extorted funds. The extortion involved servicemen who were beguiled into sending compromising photos of themselves to women they met on dating sites. The servicemen would be confronted by an extortioner claiming to be the woman’s father and alleging she was underage. The extortioner then demanded money and threatened that if money was not paid a report would be made to law enforcement or military authorities. The service member would send money via MoneyGram or a similar service and Teague’s co-conspirators, at his instruction, would collect that money at MoneyGram locations in South Carolina. This money would be passed on to other members of the conspiracy and Teague through Green Dot and J Pay. The extortion came to light in December 2017 when a service member died from suicide rather than pay the money demanded by fraudsters.
United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain sentenced Teague and ordered him to pay $2,210 in restitution.
This case was investigated by the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division with assistance from the South Carolina Department of Corrections. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins prosecuted the case.
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Enoree and Piedmont Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Logan Holmes, 21, of Piedmont, was sentenced to more than 11 years in federal prison, and Christian Cruz, 28, of Enoree was sentenced to more than eight years after both pled guilty to a drug trafficking conspiracy involving cocaine and methamphetamine.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Logan Holmes was a source of supply for kilograms of methamphetamine, and Christian Cruz was a source of supply for kilograms of cocaine to co-conspirators in the case. Holmes was on home detention for a state conviction of possession with intent to distribute cocaine at the time he was supplying others in this conspiracy with methamphetamine. When state officers executed arrest and search warrants at Holmes’ residence, they located methamphetamine and five guns, two of which were stolen. When law enforcement conducted a search warrant at Cruz’s house, officers found another five guns, including an unregistered short barrel rifle.
United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins sentenced Logan Holmes to 135 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. Judge Coggins sentenced Christian Cruz to 98 months imprisonment, to be followed by a four-year term of supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit, and Anderson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Schoen is prosecuting the case.
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South Carolina Man Sentenced for Obstructing Justice in the Murder of a Black Transgender WomanRead the Press Release
A South Carolina man was sentenced today for obstructing an investigation into the December 2019 murder of a transgender woman.
Xavier Pinckney, 24, was sentenced to 45 months in prison for providing false and misleading information to state authorities investigating the murder of Dime Doe. He previously pleaded guilty on Oct 26, 2023.
“The defendant’s sentence is part of our effort to fully seek justice and accountability following the tragic murder of a Black transgender woman,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The message should be clear: The Justice Department will fully investigate and prosecute those who target the Black transgender community and that includes those who unlawfully obstruct investigations into these heinous crimes. We want the Black trans community to know that we stand with the LGBTQI+ community, we reject transphobic-fueled violence, and that we will seek justice for victims and their families.”
“Pinckney’s obstruction delayed our investigation and delayed justice for Dime Doe,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “Fortunately, Pinckney confessed his lies and his role in the coverup of her murder. This sentence underscores that no one who stands in the way of justice will go unpunished.”
“Pinckney’s obstructive actions delayed justice for Dime Doe and accountability for his co-defendant,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Jensen of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “No matter the obstacle, the FBI and our law enforcement partners are poised to defend the rights and protections of all citizens, and those who engage in criminal activity will be met with the full weight of our investigative and prosecutorial power.”
According to court documents, Pinckney admitted that he concealed from the state authorities the use of his phone to call and text Doe the day of her murder, and he lied to state investigators about seeing his co-defendant, Daqua Ritter, on the morning of Doe’s murder. Ritter was convicted of a hate crime, firearms charge and obstruction of justice in a jury trial arising out of the Ritter’s murder of Doe. Ritter was the first defendant to be found guilty by trial verdict for a hate crime motivated by gender identity under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
The FBI Columbia Field Office investigated the case, with the assistance of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Allendale County Sheriff’s Office and Allendale Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brook Andrews, Ben Garner and Elle Klein for the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorney Andrew Manns of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.
Pee Dee Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Drug CrimeRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, S.C. — Tyquan Raheem Bellamy, 30, of Sellers, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, fentanyl, and marijuana.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on Jan. 15, 2022, officers with Latta Police Department made a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Bellamy. As they approached the vehicle, officers smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and noticed a trash bag between Bellamy’s feet. A search of the vehicle revealed that the trash bag contained approximately 25 grams of marijuana divided amongst several baggies. Officers also found in the car a loaded 9mm handgun with an extended magazine and two additional magazines, and pills which contained methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Chief United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell sentenced Bellamy to 180 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by Latta Police Department, Florence County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn is prosecuting the case.
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North Charleston Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Weapon ViolationRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Da’Shawn Marquis Richards, 25, of North Charleston, was sentenced to more than three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Richards was wanted for murder and attempted murder Charleston County in November 2021. During his arrest on those charges, law enforcement officials found a loaded handgun with an extended magazine in his vehicle. Later, on March 22, 2023, during another encounter with law enforcement while out on bond for the murder and attempted murder charges, officers searched his car again and located another loaded handgun.
United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Richards to 46 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of court-ordered supervision. This was the maximum sentence based on the applicable sentencing guideline range.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the FBI Columbia Field Office, and the North Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case.
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Guatemalan Man Pleads Guilty to Kidnapping Minor Girl He Helped Smuggle into the United StatesRead the Press Release
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Bernardino de Jesus Ramirez-Ramirez, a/k/a Carlos Mendoza, 35, of Guatemala, pleaded guilty to kidnapping and illegal transportation of an alien following two days of trial in federal court.
Evidence introduced during the trial revealed that in October 2022, Ramirez paid for a 16-year-old girl to be smuggled into the United States from Guatemala. Ramirez directed the minor’s journey into the United States. He instructed her to turn herself in to immigration officials after she crossed the border and provide them his name and contact information as the person who was supposed to receive her. The minor was taken into the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement and placed in a shelter for unaccompanied alien children.
Officials at the shelter learned that the minor was not related to Ramirez and had never met him before, that he had paid her smuggling debt, and that he had work lined up for her in the United States. They determined Ramirez posed a risk of labor trafficking and was not a suitable sponsor for the minor. In March 2023, they released the minor to an uncle in South Carolina.
A forensic examination of Ramirez’s phone revealed that he was fixated on gaining control over the minor. For months, he exchanged messages with members of the minor’s family regarding her smuggling debt and indicating he would do whatever it took to get her into his custody. He told the minor that because of the “favor” he extended her in helping her get to the United States, she had to live with him. He also told her that if she stayed with her uncle in South Carolina, her smuggling debt, and the interest on it, would increase.
On April 5, 2023, Ramirez drove from Missouri to the victim’s home in South Carolina and told her that if she did not come with him, she would be deported back to Guatemala. The victim, believing her debt would be increased and she would be deported if she did not go along, agreed to leave with Ramirez. He drove her to his home in Kansas City, Missouri, where she was recovered by law enforcement officials the following day.
“Every child deserves to grow up in a safe environment, free from the threat of harm,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “Crimes that exploit and endanger our young people will be met with swift accountability.”
“Finding and stopping predators like Ramirez, who seek to exploit minors, is one of the highest priorities of our office,” said Kyle D. Burns, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Charlotte that covers North and South Carolina. “Rescuing this victim saved her from unspeakable horrors and I am thankful for the great work done on this case and the amazing support of our law enforcement partners.”
Ramirez faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $500,000 and at least three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins presided over the trial, accepted the guilty plea, and will sentence Ramirez after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the Newberry Police Department, with assistance from the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carrie Fisher Sherard and Kathleen Stoughton are prosecuting the case.
Florida Man Sentenced to One Year and One Day in Federal Prison for Providing Illegal Access to Digital Streaming ServicesRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Franklin Valverde Jr., 40, of Melbourne, Florida was sentenced to one year and one day after pleading guilty to providing illegal access to digital streaming services. The conviction is believed to be the first in the nation under the “Protecting Lawful Streaming Act” (PLSA) that went into effect in 2021.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Valverde made hundreds of thousands of dollars illegally selling access codes to individuals that allowed them to view the entire video libraries of Dish Network and Sling TV. Valverde is now retired from the Air Force but was stationed at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter when he began his involvement in the scheme to illegally sell the access codes. According to evidence presented before the court, Valverde sold access codes to individuals, typically for $10 per month. The codes allowed the customers to illegally access all the copyrighted content of Dish Network and Sling TV, including pay-per-view sporting events, movies, and television programs. Valverde also provided websites and apps to his customers so that they could view the copyrighted materials.
The PLSA was introduced in Congress in 2020 as a provision of the Covid-19 Stimulus Bill. The purpose of PLSA is to punish commercial, for-profit streaming piracy services that make money from illegally streaming copyrighted material. The PLSA specifically does not criminalize users of the illegal apps.
United States District Judge Mary G. Lewis sentenced Valverde to 12 months and one day imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. Valverde was also ordered to pay $22,639.27 in restitution, plus a fine of $250,000. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney T. DeWayne Pearson is prosecuting the case.
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Fairfield County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for ThreatsRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Casey William Degolyer, 48, of Blair, was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to threatening interstate communications.
Evidence presented in court showed that the FBI received numerous complaints regarding Degolyer’s posts on social media. Degolyer posted almost daily calling for the execution of public officials, including the need to hang certain public office holders from a rope, killing law enforcement and their families, dragging judges and their family “out of their households” to be “brutalized in the streets,” opposing the government by violence and force, and killing members of certain racial and ethnic groups. Degolyer targeted both specific public office holders and groups of people based on their jobs or ethnicity. He wrote that he was “about to go dark and take action.” Degolyer’s threats continued even after being contacted by law enforcement.
Degolyer has prior convictions for criminal domestic violence, violating an order of protection, violating a restraining order, and unlawful use of a telephone. When he was arrested, he was found with four firearms and ammunition, which he was not allowed to possess under federal law.
Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Degolyer to 18 months imprisonment, a sentence that was above the advisory sentencing guidelines, to be followed by three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office with support from the U.S. Secret Service, the York County Sheriff’s Office, the Rock Hill Police Department, and the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliott B. Daniels prosecuted the case.
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Charleston Man Sentenced to 57 Months in Federal Prison for Weapon ViolationRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Elisha Shaleel Patterson, 21, of Charleston, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Patterson gathered with a large group of individuals to gamble on Allway Street in downtown Charleston on April 24, 2022. Investigators were paying close attention to the area after a shooting occurred there the previous day. Investigators observed Patterson remove a firearm from his pants and place it in a vehicle. Once investigators arrived, they located the firearm, which was reported stolen, a digital scale, and marijuana. Patterson is federally prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition because of his previous felony conviction.
United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Patterson to 57 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of court-ordered supervision.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Charleston Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case.
Charleston Man Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Weapons and Drug ViolationRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Warren Lamar Forrest, 32, of North Charleston, was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm after a felony conviction, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Evidence presented to the court showed that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted a search warrant at Forrest’s residence. While searching his specific room, law enforcement located a black bag that contained a stolen loaded 9mm pistol, three 9mm caliber magazines, an assault rifle, two assault rifle magazines, two digital scales, plastic baggies and a pound and a half of marijuana. Forrest is federally prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition because of multiple prior felony convictions.
United States District Judge Bruce Hendricks sentenced Forrest to 12 years imprisonment, to be followed by a four-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This prosecution is part of Operation Yellow Jacket which is an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by the ATF, FBI Columbia Field Office, North Charleston Police Department, and Charleston County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case.
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U.S. Attorney's Office Announces the Formation of Multi-Agency Health Care Fraud Task ForceRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Together with state and federal partners, U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs announced the formation of the Palmetto Health Care Fraud Task Force (PHCF Task Force), which has been created as a dedicated task force to combat health care fraud and recover taxpayer money in the District of South Carolina through criminal and civil actions. Other agencies that have joined the PHCF Task Force include investigators from the Department of Labor and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
In February 2023, the FBI, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, and other federal, state, and local agency partners began meeting as part of a Health Care Fraud Working Group with the goal of combatting health care fraud in the District of South Carolina. The PHCF Task Force was created after the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office saw great success from the Working Group meetings. The creation of the PHCF Task Force demonstrates an increased effort to bring to justice those who defraud the health care system, to deter future health care fraud and abuse, and to promote trust in the healthcare system. Additional resources available to the PHCF Task Force will include the FBI's Data Analytics Response Team (DART), numerous forensic accountants, and Intelligence Analysts from various agencies, which all will promote efficiency in prosecuting cases.
Health care fraud is an enormous burden on South Carolina taxpayers. In 2023, taxpayer funded healthcare programs spent approximately $23 billion in South Carolina alone. Although it is difficult to approximate the amount of money lost to waste, fraud, and abuse each year, the Government Accountability Office estimates it could be as much as 10% of money spent. The PHCF Task Force will better equip the United States to detect wrongdoers and recoup money lost to fraud in South Carolina—which costs taxpayers billions each year.
The PHCF Task Force and agencies involved in the Health Care Fraud Working Group will meet regularly to aggressively investigate allegations of false billings, COVID-19 fraud, violations of the Anti-Kickback Statute, and other schemes that victimize patients, health care providers, private insurers, and government insurers, such as Medicare, TRICARE, and Medicaid, in the District of South Carolina.
“Health care fraud impacts our citizens, both as patients and taxpayers,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “The Palmetto Health Care Fraud Task Force demonstrates our commitment to working with our partners to protect those seeking quality medical care and the federal programs meant to support them. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina commends our partners for the creation of the Palmetto Health Care Fraud Task Force and will continue to vigorously prosecute and pursue those who abuse and take advantage of health care programs.”
“Fraud committed within our health systems affects everyone and weakens public trust,” said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “The FBI created the PCHF Task Force to bolster the local, state, and federal posture against health care fraud, and it will enhance our investigative approaches to hold offenders accountable. We appreciate our federal and state partners that have joined the task force in this effort.”
“We welcome the PHCF Task Force and will continue to assist investigative partners combatting health care fraud,” said Tamala E. Miles, Special Agent in Charge with the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). "Our unwavering commitment at HHS-OIG remains steadfast in protecting Medicare, Medicaid, and the well-being of their beneficiaries from fraudulent schemes. The impact of defrauding federal health care programs diverts crucial resources from those deserving of vital medical attention and will not be tolerated."
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina anticipates broader enforcement as a result of the PHCF Task Force, building on its past success. For example, in April 2019, the District of South Carolina announced its participation in a nationwide operation aimed at dismantling one of the largest Medicare fraud schemes in history. In March 2024, one of the Defendants, Andrew Chmiel, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for his role in this scheme. The District of South Carolina also recently announced the successful prosecution of Jeffrey Brooks for submitting false durable medical equipment claims. Mr. Brooks pled guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud and was sentenced to seven and a half years in federal prison. He also paid $850,000 to the United States as part of a civil settlement.
If you suspect healthcare fraud, please report it by phone at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov.
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Orangeburg Man Sentenced to 40 Months in Federal Prison for Violent Assault on Postal WorkerRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Gregory Ellison, 42, of Orangeburg, was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to assault on a federal employee.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on March 20, 2023, a U.S. Postal Mail Carrier stopped to deliver mail at a daycare facility in Orangeburg. Ellison, who had a prior relationship with the carrier, arrived at the facility. When Ellison arrived, the carrier tried to escape into the daycare, but Ellison caught her and began assaulting her inside of the facility where children and workers were present.
The carrier convinced Ellison to leave the premises and talk outside. Once outside, Ellison pinned her against the mail truck, ripped out her earing, and took her cell phone. The carrier managed to distract Ellison long enough to jump into her mail truck and drive away. However, Ellison caught up to the truck, punched the carrier in the head, and pulled her out of the moving vehicle by her hair causing her to land on dirt and concrete resulting in visible injuries. The truck continued to roll and crashed into a nearby ditch.
Further investigation revealed that Ellison previously visited the carrier’s place of employment multiple times in the weeks leading up to the assault. Additionally, Ellison’s social media revealed he had sent multiple messages to the victim before and after the assault threatening to kill her with a firearm. Prior to the assault, he also sent messages to two other individuals asking for a firearm. Ellison has prior convictions for domestic violence 3rd degree and harassment 2nd degree.
“Keeping our citizens, and federal workers, safe is a core to our mission,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “Such intentional violence against federal workers will be prosecuted.”
“While this incident stemmed from domestic violence, this sentencing clearly illustrates that individuals who endanger the safety and wellbeing of USPS workers will be held accountable for their actions,” said Tommy D. Coke, Inspector-in-Charge of the Atlanta Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Ellison to 40 months' imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office, and the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall is prosecuting the case.
Charleston Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Possess with Intent to Distribute CocaineRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Omar Sexton, 43, of Charleston, was sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
Evidence presented to the court showed that a K-9 trained to detect narcotics alerted on a package at a mail shipping center in Louisville, Kentucky. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the package and discovered the package contained approximately one kilogram of a white powdery substance that was determined to be cocaine, and what appeared to be mushrooms and marijuana. The package was shipped from Los Angeles, California on June 19, 2023, and was addressed to a residence in North Charleston. The government obtained surveillance footage of Sexton shipping the package at the shipping center.
Airline records also indicated Sexton travelled between Charleston and Los Angeles several times during the summer of 2023, including from Los Angeles to Charleston on June 19, 2023. Phone records indicated that the subscriber of the phone number on the package was Omar Sexton. SC DMV records showed that Omar Sexton resided at the same address to which the package was sent.
United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Sexton to 60 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a four-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Holmes is prosecuting the case.
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Newberry Man Sentenced to 40 Years in Federal Prison for Sex Trafficking Conspiracy, Firearm Possession and Witness TamperingRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Eric Rashun Jones, 31, of Newberry, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to human trafficking conspiracy, felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and witness tampering.
Evidence presented in court showed that from August 2018 through November 2022, Jones violently exploited women in the commercial sex trade for his financial gain. He did so by means of physical violence and force, including beating victims with a pistol and other objects and hitting victims with closed fists causing victims multiple surgeries, hospitalizations, broken bones and teeth, permanent injuries, and scarring. He also directed and recorded on his phone the assault of many victims, preventing victims from trusting others involved in the Jones conspiracy. He also used sexual violence, including compelling women to engage in sex acts against their will.
He abducted two of his victims and restrained them for multiple days. He introduced drugs to some victims, promoted the drug addictions of others, including fentanyl, and exploited withdrawal symptoms to coerce commercial sex. He used fear and threats of violence and death of victims spoke with the police. He used fraud, including recruiting victims under false pretenses, and high levels of control, including controlling how many victims worked, ate, showered, travelled, spent money, who they spoke to, and access to phones. He isolated his victims from others, and tattooed many with his name, which victims described as Jones signifying ownership.
After initially splitting commercial sex proceeds, Jones commonly confiscated proceeds for his financial gain. Evidence presented indicated 19 women were connected to the conspiracy he led, many of whom were identified as victims in the case. Victims described fearing Jones would kill them, feeling trapped, and feeling like they had no option to leave. He also tampered and interfered with the investigation by directing victims to not speak with agents and threatening to harm their families if they did.
“Our office will continue to bring every resource to bear to vindicate victims’ rights and hold traffickers like Jones accountable,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “The cruelty, violence, and exploitation Jones showed his victims has no place in our society, and we are grateful for the accountably he’s received. I want to particularly acknowledge the courage and resilience of the victims and the hard work of law enforcement to see this case through.”
“Jones’ crimes revealed the depth of human depravity and outright evil he casually and continuously imposed upon his victims,” said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “His heinous crimes yielded lifelong trauma that will be hard to reverse. This stiff sentence of justice removes him from the innocent victims’ lives and places him where he will no longer be able to inflict harm. The FBI is grateful for our local law enforcement partners for conducting this joint comprehensive investigation to hold this violent offender accountable. We also recognize the diligent work of the Victim Specialists who supported and continue to support the victims with valuable resources.”
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Jones to 40 years imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime term of court-ordered supervision, no contact with victims, and $65,000 in restitution payable to eight victims. There is no parole in the federal system. Jones’ co-defendant, Brittany Cromer, previously pleaded guilty to human trafficking conspiracy, and was sentenced to five years earlier this month.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, with assistance from the Simpsonville Police Department, Greenville Police Department, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, Newberry Police Department, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Carolina Department of Corrections.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and Elle E. Klein prosecuted the case.
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Rock Hill Man Sentenced to 57 Months in Federal Prison for Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA — Sharif Ahmad Laguda, 32, of Rock Hill, was sentenced to 57 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Evidence presented to the Court showed that in the early morning hours of July 31, 2022, Laguda was driving to his home when he was involved in a traffic incident with another motorist. During the encounter, Laguda retrieved a 9mm pistol from his car and fired the pistol at the other motorist’s car, striking the car five times. Laguda later turned over the pistol to Rock Hill Police Department investigators.
Laguda was prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition based on a 2010 conviction for two counts of assault and battery with intent to kill.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced James to 57 months in prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Rock Hill Police Department (RHPD). Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Taylor is prosecuting the case.
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Mullins Man Sentenced to Nearly a Decade in Federal Prison for Drug and Firearms CrimesRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, S.C. — Marquand Jerome Newell, 41, of Mullins, was sentenced to more than 9 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, and fentanyl, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Evidence presented to the Court showed that, on September 28, 2022, Deputies with Dillon County Sheriff’s Office went to a home in Dillon, South Carolina to serve an Order of Protection. When they arrived at the home, they discovered Newell sitting in a vehicle in the driveway. Deputies made contact with Newell to determine if he was the individual they were looking for. Upon approach to the vehicle, Deputies detected the odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle. Newell admitted he had marijuana and handed Deputies a cooler containing a large bag of suspected marijuana. Newell also indicated there was something in the glove compartment of the vehicle that law enforcement should recover.
In a search of the vehicle, Deputies found 33 grams of methamphetamine, 56 grams of cocaine, 13 grams of crack cocaine, and 27 grams of fentanyl. In the glove compartment of the car was a loaded .40 caliber Smith and Wesson handgun. Deputies found approximately $1,800 in cash on Newell.
United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III sentenced Newell to 117 months imprisonment, 57 months on the drug charge with 60 months consecutive on the firearm charge, to be followed by a 5-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by Dillon County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn is prosecuting the case.
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- Aiken County Man Pleads Guilty to Tax Evasion
Former SCDC Captain and SCDC Inmate Indicted for Bribery, Conspiracy, Wire Fraud, Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a 15-count indictment against Christine Mary Livingston, 46, of Gaston, and Jerell Reaves, 33, for bribery, conspiracy, honest services wire fraud, and money laundering.
During the alleged crimes, Livingston was a correctional officer and supervisor at the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC), where she worked as a law enforcement officer from 2005 through 2021. Reaves is an inmate serving a sentence for voluntary manslaughter.
The indictment alleges that during her work at the Broad River Correctional Institute, Livingston accepted more than $200,000 in bribes from inmates and their families in exchange for smuggling contraband into the prison. She is alleged to have brought approximately 173 contraband cell phones into the facility, as well as headphones, sim cards, chargers, and other contraband. Livingston held the rank of Captain at SCDC from 2016 through 2021.
One of those inmates was Jerell Reaves. Reaves is alleged to have caused more than $40,000 in bribes to be paid to Livingston in exchange for contraband.
Both defendants face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, $250,000 in monetary penalties, and forfeiture.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the SCDC Office of Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elliott B. Daniels is prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs stated that all charges in the indictment are merely accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The indictment may be found on the public docket at case number 3:24-cr-252-CRI.
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Rock Hill Man Sentenced for Interstate Domestic Violence Resulting in the Death of WifeRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. —Lawrence Joseph Florentine, 56, of Rock Hill, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for interstate domestic violence resulting in the death of his wife, Nicole Zahnd Florentine, use of a firearm during a crime of violence, obstruction of justice and use of fire to commit interstate domestic violence.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed beginning in December 2019, police in York County responded to multiple 911 calls by Nicole during which she reported that Florentine physically abused her and threatened to kill her, burn her, and bury her. Florentine was arrested twice on domestic violence charges. On May 23, 2020, the couple’s Rock Hill home was destroyed by fire. During the fire, Florentine sent angry text messages and photographs that show he intentionally set the property on fire to destroy Nicole’s belongings. Arson charges are pending in state court.
On June 13, 2020, a groundskeeper for Hill Cemetery in Fredonia, Kentucky, discovered what appeared to him to be a makeshift grave. Officers with the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office and the Kentucky State Police recovered a partially charred female body from the grave. A gas can was found near the grave. An autopsy determined that Nicole’s death was a homicide, and the cause of death was a .22 caliber bullet wound to the head.
Nicole and Florentine were traveling by car together in North and South Carolina in the days leading up to the discovery of her body in Kentucky. Eyewitnesses reported seeing a car matching the description of Florentine’s car around the cemetery before the body was discovered on June 13, 2020. A local hardware store clerk described Florentine as the man who came into the store on June 11, 2020, and after he complained about the $21.99 price, he purchased a gas can and a shovel. Security camera footage from a nearby gas station showed Florentine as he casually filled the gas can a short time later. Florentine’s sentence included a 10-year consecutive sentence because he used fire during the commission of interstate domestic violence.
Florentine fled Kentucky and arrived in Denver, Colorado on June 23, 2020, where he was arrested. During travel, Florentine discarded and concealed evidence, including the firearm he used to murder Nicole, cell phones, identification, and other personal belongings. During sentencing, prosecutors asked Judge Coggins to impose a higher sentence considering everything Florentine did to obstruct justice, including his deliberate efforts to hide Nicole’s death by hiding her body, frustrating law enforcement’s ability to identify her, and their ability to locate and arrest him. Judge Coggins noted that in addition to killing her, Florentine deliberately prevented Nicole’s family from learning of her death and that he deprived them the opportunity to properly mourn her.
“Nicole’s senseless murder reminds us that domestic violence can happen to anyone and we all must work to protect and support those experiencing abuse,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “We hope this sentence brings some measure of closure to her loved ones as they remember Nicole.”
In 2022, two years after his arrest, Florentine moved to dismiss the murder charge and argued that Kentucky did not have jurisdiction to prosecute him because the crime was committed in South Carolina. Prosecutors in Caldwell County Kentucky and homicide investigators with the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office asked federal authorities to prosecute the case. Domestic violence is primarily a matter of state and local jurisdiction; however, federal laws provide tools for prosecuting domestic violence offenders in certain situations involving firearms and interstate travel or activity.
United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins sentenced Florentine to 360 months in prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Florentine was also ordered to pay $5,800 in restitution.
The case was investigated by the Kentucky State Police, Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, York County Sheriff’s Office, Rock Hill Police Department, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Leesa Washington and Benjamin N. Garner are prosecuting the case.
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Orangeburg Man Sentenced to More than 7 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. —Tiree Keshawn Waymer, 29, of Orangeburg, was sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being in possession of stolen firearms.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on March 2, 2022, Waymer led deputies from multiple agencies on a high-speed chase across state lines while in possession of six stolen firearms. Deputies with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department observed a vehicle matching the description of a reported stolen vehicle and attempted to stop the vehicle. The driver, later identified as Tiree Waymer, immediately refused to stop. The pursuit continued into South Carolina, when deputies with the Chester County Sheriff’s Office and the York County Sheriff’s Office took lead.
During the chase, Waymer drove at speeds nearing 100 mph, forced pedestrian and commercial vehicles off the road, drove in the wrong direction, and placed the lives of innocent bystanders and law enforcement in danger. When deputies stopped Waymer’s vehicle, he ran from the car but was later apprehended.
Law enforcement searched the stolen vehicle and recovered six stolen firearms. Further investigation revealed that on Feb. 25, 2022, the Blythewood Gun and Gold Exchange Pawn Shop was burglarized, and 13 guns were stolen. Law enforcement determined that the six guns in Waymer’s possession were stolen from the pawn shop five days earlier. After his arrest, law enforcement recovered another firearm stolen from the pawn shop from his residence.
Waymer is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to prior felony convictions, including criminal conspiracy, burglary 2nd degree (violent), a possession of stolen firearm, and possession of a stolen vehicle.
United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson sentenced Tiree Keshawn Waymer to 92 months imprisonment, to be followed by a two-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Chester County Sheriff’s Office, the York County Sheriff’s Office, and the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore is prosecuting the case.
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Fort Lawn Man Returning to Federal Prison for Possessing FirearmsRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. —Jonathan Neely, 34, of Ft. Lawn, was sentenced to 46 months of incarceration after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on March 3, 2023, the Chester County Sheriff’s Office, United States Probation Office, and the United States Marshals’ Service (USMS) obtained an arrest warrant for Neely, for violation of his federal supervised release and a state search warrant for his residence, located in Ft. Lawn. Neely was on federal supervised release based upon convictions for knowingly possessing an unregistered firearm, knowingly possessing an unregistered firearm silencer, knowingly possessing of an unregistered firearm silencer without a serial number and possessing a firearm by an unlawful drug user. These convictions happened in federal court in Asheville, North Carolina in 2018.
A search of the residence resulted in the seizure of multiple rounds of ammunition, a pistol and a plastic baggie containing methamphetamine. Neely was not home during the search. Law enforcement then went to another residence in Ft. Lawn where one of Neely’s family members lived. Investigators noted a white colored trailer on the property. The police spoke to the family member who stated that the trailer belonged to Neely, that he had dropped it off on the property, and that only Neely had access to it. The family member stated that they did not have keys to the trailer or knew what was inside of it. The police obtained a search warrant for the trailer. A search of the trailer was then executed. In the trailer, the police found a large amount of ammunition and six firearms.
On March 14, 2023, the USMS located Neely and placed him under arrest. Following his arrest, Neely acknowledged that he owned the firearms found in the trailer.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Neely to 46 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by United States Probation Office, United States Marshals’ Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Chester County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.
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York County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. —DeQavion Keyon DaJohn DeShae Cook, 31, of Rock Hill, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that agents learned that between 2015 and 2023, Cook was responsible for selling drugs that were obtained from Darryl Hemphill. Agents learned the drugs obtained from Hemphill included crystal methamphetamine and pills that resembled 30 mg Oxycodone tablets, also known in the generic form as Roxicodone. The pills were produced by Hemphill and/or others with fentanyl at various locations in the Rock Hill and Charlotte region. As Hemphill was the leader of this organization, he was supplying the drugs to Cook who was incarcerated in the South Carolina Department of Corrections at that time.
The agents used multiple investigative techniques to determine the quantity of drugs provided to Cook while he was incarcerated in SCDC. Cook used his brother to obtain the pills and methamphetamine from Hemphill in Rock Hill and take the drugs to a correctional officer who would conceal the drugs and take them to Cook inside of the prison.
Cook faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $5,000,000 and four years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Cook after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. Cook’s sentence on this offense will begin after he completes his current federal sentence for another federal violation.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, York County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Rock Hill Police Department, York County Sheriff’s Office, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.
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Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to Drug ChargesRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. —Lontre Jason Wise, 51, of Columbia, has pleaded guilty to possession with the intent to distribute both crack cocaine and marijuana.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that the Columbia Police Department Organized Crime and Narcotics Unit received an anonymous complaint in reference to the sale of illegal narcotics at a residence located on House Street. The complainant stated there was constant foot and vehicle traffic at the residence, which people were only observed being at the residence for minutes at a time. Based on the information provided from the complainant, a confidential informant was sent to the residence on two different occasions to purchase marijuana. During both occasions, the confidential informant purchased the marijuana from Wise. Based on the complaint and controlled purchases, a search warrant was obtained for the residence.
Columbia Police Department officers executed the search warrant for the residence. During the search, the police located Wise and four others within the residence. Wise was immediately taken into custody on arrest warrants for the distribution of marijuana. Wise was searched and the police found a clear container containing crack cocaine on him.
During the search of the residence, a black book bag was located on the couch. The book bag was searched and contained a large clear plastic bag of marijuana. The police also found a 9mm handgun and a .38 caliber revolver in the book bag.
The police also located a safe underneath the couch with a black pouch inside of it. The pouch contained pieces of crack cocaine, Wise’s South Carolina driver’s license, social security card, debit card, and $3,430 in cash. Wise told the officers that the safe was his. There were multiple hand-rolled cigars containing marijuana found throughout the living room of the residence and a plate on the couch in the living room that also contained marijuana.
Wise faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $1,000,000 and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Wise after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Columbia Police Department’s Organized Crime and Narcotics Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.
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Charleston Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Possessing with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl and Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. —Darrell Troy Capers, 33, of Charleston, was sentenced to 1o years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, and marijuana, as well as possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on March 18, 2022, Charleston Police Department officers executed a search warrant at the home of Capers. In the home, officers discovered a blue backpack containing fentanyl, cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. Officers also discovered a stolen firearm in the backpack. The backpack contained a debit card bearing Capers’ name, a pill bottle bearing Capers’ name, and two movie tickets. CPD officers obtained video footage of Capers at the movie theater and at the time indicated on the tickets. Other evidence obtained from the backpack included a whisk, sandwich bags, and a digital scale, consistent with narcotics trafficking.
United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Capers to 120 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Charleston Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Holmes is prosecuting the case.
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Jury Finds Serial Bank Robber Guilty of 2023 Bank Robbery Following Two-Day Federal TrialRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, S.C. —John Henry Stack, 76, of Myrtle Beach, was convicted of bank robbery following a two-day jury trial in federal court. Stack was on supervised release from previous federal bank robbery convictions.
Evidence presented by the Government at trial established that just before 1 p.m. on March 10, 2023, Stack entered the Anderson Brothers Bank in Aynor, placed a pillowcase on the teller’s counter, and pulled from his pocket a long-handled lighter. Stack concealed the lighter under his hand to look like a gun, pointed it at the teller, and demanded money. When the teller complied, placing $2,130 in cash in the pillowcase, Stack took the pillowcase of money and left the bank. Just before entering the bank, Stack changed clothes, placing a blue medical scrub shirt over his black jacket. He also wore a winter hat, sunglasses, and a medical-style mask during the robbery.
In the hours following the robbery, local, state, and federal law enforcement worked together to identify and apprehend the robber. Law enforcement identified the vehicle the robber drove to and from the robbery as a Ford Focus with significant passenger side damage. About 10 p.m. on March 10, an officer with Myrtle Beach Police Department stopped the Focus. Stack was driving the car, and officers found a parking hang tag for a nearby hotel hanging from the car’s rearview mirror. Records at the hotel showed Stack had rented a room that afternoon and paid in cash.
Law enforcement searched the Focus and the hotel room and found clothing consistent with that worn by Stack during the robbery, including a blue medical scrub shirt, pillowcases like the one Stack placed on the teller’s counter, a bag that contained Stack’s medications and $765 in cash, and a red long-handled lighter.
Following the stop on the Ford, Stack confessed to law enforcement that he robbed the bank. He detailed for them how he robbed the bank, what he wore while robbing the bank, and explained that he concealed the lighter under his hand to make it look like a gun and “fake out” the teller, so that she would hand over the money.
Stack previously served time in federal prison for multiple bank robberies in South Carolina and North Carolina. He was released in 2022.
More than 90 exhibits were entered into evidence during the trial, and 10 witnesses testified. The jury convicted Stack of bank robbery.
“When given the opportunity to return to society, this defendant went back to the dangerous crimes that put him in prison in the first place.” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “We will continue to pursue those that pose a threat to our community.”
“Violent crime erodes the safety of our citizens and security of our society,” said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “This guilty verdict is truly the culmination of the diligent investigative efforts by local, state, and federal law enforcement, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office. We remain committed to working tirelessly to prevent and address crime and upholding the rule of law.”
“This was truly a team effort,” said SLED Chief Mark Keel. “Law enforcement coordination and cooperation on all levels is vital to solving crimes and holding offenders accountable.”
Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie presided over the trial and will sentence Stack after receiving and reviewing a pre-sentence report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. Judge Currie will also sentence Stack for violating his supervised release. Stack faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison, and a fine of $250,000 on the 2023 bank robbery. Stack faces additional time in prison for violating his supervised release.
The case was investigated by Aynor Police Department, Myrtle Beach Police Department, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Flynn and Lauren Hummel prosecuted the case.
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Alex Murdaugh Sentenced to 40 Years in Prison for Federal Financial CrimesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Richard Alexander “Alex” Murdaugh, 55, of Hampton, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for 22 federal financial crimes, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud; bank fraud; wire fraud; and money laundering.
Murdaugh was a personal injury attorney at a law firm in Hampton, South Carolina. He pleaded guilty to 22 federal crimes in September 2023, admitting to engaging in three different schemes to obtain money and property from his personal injury clients.
In one scheme, Murdaugh admitted that from in or around July 2011 until at least October 2021, Murdaugh conspired with his banker, Russell Laffitte, to commit wire fraud and bank fraud. Murdaugh asked Laffitte to serve as personal representative or conservator for numerous personal injury clients. Laffitte collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees as personal representative or conservator for Murdaugh’s personal injury clients.
As part of the scheme, Murdaugh directed law firm employees to make settlement checks payable to “Palmetto State Bank.” The checks were drawn on Murdaugh’s law firm’s trust account and identified the personal injury clients on the memo lines. Murdaugh then had the checks delivered to Laffitte, who distributed the checks for Murdaugh’s benefit, including to pay off personal loans and for personal expenses and cash withdrawals. Murdaugh pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, one count of bank fraud, and two counts of wire fraud associated with this scheme.
In November 2022, Laffitte was convicted on six federal charges for conspiracy to commit wire and bank fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud, and misapplication of bank funds for his role in this scheme. In August 2023, Laffitte was sentenced to seven years in federal prison.
In a second scheme, from at least September 2005 until at least September 2021, Murdaugh obtained money from his clients and his law firm by means of false pretenses. As part of the scheme, he routed and redirected clients’ settlement funds to personally enrich himself, including by:
- Drafting, or directing law firm employees to draft, disbursement sheets to send settlement funds to Murdaugh’s bank accounts without proper disclosure or client or law firm approval;
- Claiming funds held in the law firm’s trust account as attorney’s fees and directing the disbursement of those funds for his benefit;
- Claiming and collecting attorney’s fees on fake or nonexistent annuities;
- Creating fraudulent “expenses” that were never incurred on client matters and directing the disbursement of settlement funds to pay the cited costs, including claimed medical expenses, construction expenses, and airline expenses;
- Directing other attorneys with whom he was associated on client matters to disburse attorney’s fees directly to him, rather than appropriately routing the fees through the law firm; and
- Intercepting insurance proceeds intended for beneficiaries and depositing them directly into his personal account.
Murdaugh admitted that in September 2015, he created a bank account in the name of “Forge,” presenting as a legitimate corporation for structuring insurance settlements. Murdaugh was the owner of and the only authorized signer on this “fake Forge” account. From in or around May 2017 through at least July 2021, Murdaugh funneled stolen personal injury settlements through the “fake Forge” account. Murdaugh pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and 14 counts of money laundering relating to the theft of client money using the “fake Forge” account.
Finally, Murdaugh admitted that, from in or around February 2018 until at least October 2020, Murdaugh conspired with Beaufort personal injury attorney Cory Fleming to defraud the estate of Murdaugh’s former housekeeper and Murdaugh’s homeowner’s insurance carriers. In February 2018, Murdaugh’s housekeeper passed away after a fall at Murdaugh’s home. Murdaugh recommended that the housekeeper’s estate hire Fleming to represent them and file a claim against Murdaugh to collect from his homeowner’s insurance policies.
Murdaugh’s insurance companies settled the estate’s claim for $505,000 and $3,800,000. Murdaugh admitted that he directed Fleming to retain hundreds of thousands of dollars in settlement funds for their own personal benefit, representing those funds as “prosecution expenses” to the state court. Murdaugh and Fleming knew the funds did not belong to them and that there were no legitimate prosecution expenses. Murdaugh and Fleming reduced Fleming’s attorney’s fees, and Murdaugh knew he would steal the additional funds.
Murdaugh directed Fleming to draft three checks totaling $3,483,431.95 made payable to “Forge.” Murdaugh then deposited the checks into his “fake Forge” account and used the funds for his own personal enrichment. The estate did not receive any of the settlement funds. Murdaugh pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for his role in this scheme.
Fleming pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for his role in this scheme. In August 2023, he was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison.
“Murdaugh’s victims turned to him when they were particularly vulnerable, after suffering serious injuries and losing loved ones,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “They put their trust in him as their lawyer, and he betrayed them. His crimes were cold, calculated, and brazen, and he earned every day of his 40-year sentence. We hope that it provides at least some closure to his victims.”
"Justice was served today and a sentence of this magnitude should caution anyone who engages in financial crimes," said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office. "The defendant's actions undermine the integrity of our financial systems and cause distrust. Our message is clear: We will hold those who commit financial fraud accountable, and they will be met with severe consequences."
“Law enforcement working together at every level is vital to solving crimes and holding offenders accountable,” said Chief Mark Keel of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. “I’ve always said from day one of this case, and every case SLED investigates, is about following the facts no matter where they may lead. Today is another step forward for justice in South Carolina.”
United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel imposed the sentence:
- 360 months for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud; bank fraud; and two counts of wire fraud affecting a financial institution, all to run concurrently.
- 240 months for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and three counts of wire fraud, to run concurrently to each other and to the 360-month sentences.
- 120 months for 14 counts of money laundering, to run concurrently to each other and consecutive to the 360- and 240-month sentences.
Murdaugh’s 480-month federal sentence will be served concurrently with his active state sentences for the murders of his wife and son and the state financial offenses to which Murdaugh previously pleaded guilty.
The court also ordered Murdaugh to pay $8,762,731.88 in restitution to his victims and imposed a $10,034,377.95 forfeiture order for Murdaugh’s ill-gotten gains.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Limehouse, Kathleen Stoughton, and Winston Holliday are prosecuting the case.
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Columbia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for the Fourth Time for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — David Elliott Paulsen, 62, of Columbia, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of child sexual abuse materials.*
Evidence presented to the court showed that in May 2023, Paulsen entered a residential reentry center to complete the remaining period of his incarceration from a 2014 conviction of possession of child sex abuse materials. Shortly thereafter, on July 13, 2023, Paulsen was found to be in possession of a contraband phone that contained over 1,200 images and at least one video of child sex abuse materials involving prepubescent girls and the sexual abuse of toddlers.
Paulsen has three prior federal convictions for possession of child sex abuse materials as well as one prior conviction for failure to register as a sex offender.
United States District Court Judge Joseph Anderson sentenced Paulsen to 168 months in prison to be followed by a lifetime court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein is prosecuting the case.
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* The term “child pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child
Alex Murdaugh to Be Sentenced for Federal Conspiracy, Wire Fraud, Bank Fraud, and Money Laundering ChargesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Richard Alexander “Alex” Murdaugh, 55, of Hampton, is scheduled to be sentenced in federal court on 22 charges including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud; bank fraud; wire fraud; and money laundering. Murdaugh pleaded guilty in September 2023. Read the previous release here.
United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel will impose the sentence.
WHEN: Monday, April 1, 2024, at 10 a.m.
WHERE: United States District Courthouse
The hearing will be held in Courtroom 3 and Courtroom 1 will serve as overflow space
83 Meeting Street
Charleston, South Carolina
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NOTE: United States Attorney Adair F. Boroughs along with Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office and SLED Chief Mark Keel, will be available outside the courthouse following the hearing. The hearing could last approximately three hours. No cameras or cell phones are allowed in the federal courthouse.
Lancaster County Man Who Discarded Murder Victim on Westville Highway Sentenced to Federal Prison for Gun and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Shannon Layne Myers, 51, of Lancaster, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a wide range of federal gun and drug charges, including conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and heroin, four counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine or heroin, three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and one count of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Myers was helping to lead a drug distribution operation in Lancaster and Kershaw counties, which was being directed by Daniel Shannon, an inmate serving a life sentence in the South Carolina Department of Corrections. After coming to believe that one of his drug couriers had been robbed, Shannon sent his associates to retaliate, and a Kershaw man was shot and killed in September of 2019. Daniel Shannon then sent Shannon Myers to help clean up the murder scene, and Myers discarded the victim’s body alongside a highway in Westville.
In November of 2019, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office executed search warrants at Myers’ home in Lancaster, where they found over 700 grams of methamphetamine, smaller quantities of heroin and other drugs, cash, scales, drug ledgers, and several loaded firearms. Myers was arrested but released on bond in the spring of 2020. He and his associates quickly went back to dealing drugs, and he was even captured on video waiving a gun in front of drug customers, while weighing methamphetamine and counting money. Investigators searching his home in June 2020 once again found drugs, scales, and a loaded gun.
“These defendants operated without regard for life or the law,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “Illegal drug trafficking rings like this jeopardize the health and safety of our community.”
“This lengthy sentence highlights the severity of Myers’ actions and their impact on the community,” said Kyle Burns, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Charlotte, which covers North and South Carolina. “HSI is committed to holding those accountable who recklessly distribute their poison into our communities.”
“Inmates with illegal contraband cellphones are the biggest threat to public safety in America, and this is another tragic example,” said Bryan Stirling, Director of the South Carolina Department of Corrections. “We need a permanent solution to remove this menace from society and make our communities safer.”
Myers pleaded guilty to all charges the day before he was scheduled for trial in October of 2023. The leader of the conspiracy, Daniel Shannon, also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in federal prison in June of 2023.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Myers to 360 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, South Carolina Department of Corrections-Office of Inspector General, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chris Schoen, Everett McMillan, and Ben Garner prosecuted the case.
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Georgetown Woman Indicted for Falsifying Statements to Federal Investigators Regarding 2009 Kidnapping and Murder of Brittanee DrexelRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — A federal grand jury has returned a three-count indictment against Angel Cooper Vause, 56, of Georgetown, for making false statements to federal investigators.
According to the indictment, in May 2022, Vause is alleged to have lied to investigators with the FBI during the investigation into the 2009 disappearance and murder of Brittanee Drexel. Vause was arrested this morning and is scheduled to be arraigned today in Charleston at 1 p.m. before Magistrate Judge Molly H. Cherry.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Winston Holliday and Elle E. Klein are prosecuting the case.
The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Four Sentenced in Federal Court for their Role in Meth Trafficking Ring and Related Firearms CrimeRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Two men from the Midlands and a California man and woman were sentenced after pleading guilty in federal court to their roles in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy and a related firearms crime.
- Andre Alexander Boulware, 46, of Columbia, was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine.
- Victor Guzman, 30, of Long Beach, California, was sentenced to more than 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
- Alice Hortencia Velazquez, 30, of Long Beach, California, was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine.
- Jessie James York, 44, of Lexington, was sentenced to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine.
Evidence presented to the court showed that from 2018 to 2021, Guzman served as a California-based source of supply for extremely pure “ice” methamphetamine, which was shipped to Columbia, South Carolina. Over the course of the conspiracy, Guzman was responsible for trafficking more than eight kilograms of “ice” methamphetamine to the Columbia area. Velazquez was a California-based facilitator/distributor for Guzman. Boulware received methamphetamine from Guzman and Velazquez and distributed drugs to others, including York.
On Oct. 29, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the Long Beach, California home of Guzman and Velazquez. Inside the property and cars parked at the home, law enforcement found approximately two and a half kilograms of “ice” methamphetamine, two 9mm firearms and ammunition. Guzman later admitted he had the firearms because of the dangers involved in drug dealing.
In August 2020, law enforcement in Columbia intercepted two boxes sent to Boulware. Each box contained approximately half a kilogram of “ice” methamphetamine. Further investigation revealed that Velazquez, working for and on behalf of Guzman, had helped Boulware obtain that methamphetamine, and that the methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy had been ongoing since at least 2018.
“Illegal narcotics pose a serious danger and public health risk,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “As these sentences bring an end to Guzman’s operation, we will continue to prosecute drug traffickers who poison our community.
“Driven by greed, these drug traffickers’ activities posed a significant threat from South Carolina to California,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “The success of this investigation is proof that those destroying our communities with methamphetamine will be brought to justice.”
“These investigations speak volumes of the success we have in apprehending those that put poison in our communities,” Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott said. “Multiple agencies working together can defeat the drug trafficking organizations.”
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced all four individuals. Andre Alexander Boulware was sentenced to 135 months imprisonment. Victor Guzman was sentenced to 220 months imprisonment, 160 months on the methamphetamine conspiracy, and 60 months consecutive on the firearm count. Guzman’s 220-month sentence in this case will run concurrent to a 60-month custodial sentence imposed on Guzman by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York for his role in an unrelated fentanyl trafficking conspiracy. Alice Hortencia Velazquez was sentenced to 84 months imprisonment. Jessie James York was sentenced to 168 months imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system. Boulware, Guzman and York’s terms of imprisonment will all be followed by five-year terms of court-ordered supervision. Velazquez’s term of imprisonment will be followed by a four-year term of court-ordered supervision.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by Richland County Sheriff’s Department, the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn prosecuted the case.
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Columbia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jasper Orlando Sumpter, 36, of Gadsden, was sentenced to more than four years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on the evening of Sept. 16, 2020, deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) were dispatched to a residential neighborhood off Shop Road in Columbia, in reference to a shooting. While enroute, a deputy observed a Dodge Challenger, driven by Sumpter, parked in the roadway. The deputy attempted to approach the vehicle to conduct a welfare check when Sumpter sped off and led law enforcement on a high-speed chase down Shop Road. During the pursuit, the driver drove at speeds more than 90 MPH before crashing in a ditch and attempting to run from the vehicle.
Sumpter was subsequently arrested, and deputies determined the vehicle was stolen out of Virginia. During the search of the vehicle law enforcement located a .40 caliber pistol on the passenger floorboard and a 9mm pistol on the ground near the driver’s side door. Sumpter was the sole occupant of the vehicle.
While Sumpter was in custody, other RCSD deputies responded to the scene of the shooting and collected a mixture of 9mm and .40 caliber shell casings found directly in front of the residence and submitted them for NIBIN testing. The testing revealed the shell casings recovered from the scene of the shooting were linked to both firearms in Sumpter’s possession. Surveillance footage from the neighborhood, showed Sumpter leaving the scene of the shooting at a high rate of speed around the time the initial calls were made in reference to the shooting.
Sumpter is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon his prior felony convictions. Sumpter has prior convictions for unlawful carrying of a pistol, criminal domestic violence, simple assault and battery, driving under suspension, two convictions for being a habitual traffic offender, and obtaining prescription drugs by fraud.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Sumpter to 50 months imprisonment, to be followed by a two-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was made possible by investigative leads generated from the ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana N. Gore is prosecuting the case.
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Multi-Agency Lowcountry Take Down Results in Illegal Narcotics, Firearm Offenses, and Conspiracy ChargesRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — United States Attorney Adair F. Boroughs, together with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials, announced that more than a dozen individuals were charged in federal court in connection with narcotics, firearms, and conspiracy offenses after a targeted violent crime reduction initiative in Walterboro and the surrounding areas. The indictments are a result of a series of coordinated arrests made following a targeted multi-agency investigation that spanned several months.
During the investigation, the FBI assisted local and state law enforcement agencies in an advanced, intelligence-based, multi-faceted law enforcement operation. The purpose of the operation was to target criminal entities, specifically those engaged in the illegal possession and distribution of narcotics, as well as the unlawful possession and use of firearms. Federal, state, and local law enforcement officials concentrated resources and personnel in these areas to curb the narcotics trafficking and its related violence.
The joint investigation has led to 14 defendants facing federal charges. Agents seized multiple firearms, ammunition, and various dangerous drugs such as fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine.
The following charges have been filed in United States District Court, according to court documents:
- Trevor Courtney Fishburne, Jr., 34 of Walterboro, was charged with conspiring to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of MDMA. Fishburne is currently serving a sentence for armed robbery, assault and battery with intent to kill and weapons offense in the South Carolina Department of Corrections.
- Zaquann Ernest Hampton, 30, of Walterboro, was charged with conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 500 grams or more of cocaine, 500 grams or more of cocaine base, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, a quantity of heroin and a quantity of MDMA. Additionally, Hampton is charged with multiple counts of distribution of methamphetamine; one count of possession with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine, cocaine base, and fentanyl; two counts of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and one count of possession of firearms by a prohibited person.
- Jaziah Samone Dresha Lewis, 27, of St. George, was charged with conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 500 grams or more of cocaine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Additionally, Lewis was charged with one count of possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and a separate additional count of possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine.
- Jamie Brown, 50, of Yemassee, was charged with conspiring to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, a quantity of cocaine base and a quantity of fentanyl. Additionally, Brown is charged with possessing with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine, cocaine base and fentanyl, possession of firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of firearms by a prohibited person.
- Stephanie Hawkins, 37, of Summerville, was charged with conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 4o grams or more of fentanyl. Additionally, Hawkins was charged with one count of possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
- Oshalum Grant, 27, of Walterboro, was charged with conspiring to distribute a quantity of cocaine. Additionally, Grant was charged with one count of possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.
- Matthew Rashaun Jones, 30, of Walterboro, was charged with conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and quantities of cocaine, cocaine base, MDMA and fentanyl. Additionally, Jones was charged with possessing with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine, cocaine base and fentanyl; possession of firearms by a prohibited person; and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Brianna Alnisa Lawrence, 28, of Walterboro, was charged with conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of cocaine. Additionally, Lawrence was charged with distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and transfer of ammunition to a prohibited person.
- Rashawn Lymel Brown, 29, of Summerville, was charged with conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of cocaine. Additionally, Brown was charged with two counts of distribution of cocaine; two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; one count of possessing with intent to distribute marijuana; and one count of possession of a short-barreled rifle.
- Brittaney Smith, 28, of Walterboro, was charged with conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
- James Joseph Young, III, 30, of Summerville, was charged with conspiring to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Additionally, Young was charged with three counts of distribution of cocaine.
- Wanda Catrece Fishburne, 50, of Yemassee, was charged with conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and quantities of fentanyl and cocaine base. Additionally, Fishburne was charged with possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine base and cocaine; possession of a firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and possession of firearms by a prohibited person.
- Jaden Tyrone Smith, 23, of Walterboro, was charged with conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
- Richard Vernon Deas, 25, of Charleston, was charged with conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Deas is currently serving a sentence for murder in the South Carolina Department of Corrections.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), United States Secret Service, State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC), Fourteenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office, Colleton County Sheriff’s Office, Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, Florence County Sheriff’s Office, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, Charleston Police Department, North Charleston Police Department, Mount Pleasant Police Department, Summerville Police Department and South Carolina Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorneys Carra Henderson and Nick Bianchi are prosecuting the case.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Charleston Man Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Weapon and Drug ViolationsRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Joshua Nathaniel Strader, 41, of Charleston, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Strader was released from federal prison for a firearm and controlled substances violation in November 2019. Five months later, on April 25, 2020, officers with the North Charleston Police Department attempted to stop Strader’s vehicle based on a stolen vehicle investigation. Strader led police on a dangerous and high-speed chase through residential areas, crashed into a civilian vehicle, and ultimately lost control and ended up in a ditch. Strader ran from the vehicle, but officers quickly caught and arrested him. Officers searched Strader and found a .9mm pistol, 76.9 grams of crack cocaine, and 13 grams of powder cocaine in his pockets. Strader was on federal supervision at the time of this arrest. Strader has multiple felony convictions on his record prohibiting him from possessing a firearm. This was his second conviction for possessing a firearm as a felon.
United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Strader to 71 months imprisonment to be followed by four years of court ordered supervision for the April 2020 incident, and 36 months imprisonment for the federal supervised release violation. These sentences will run consecutively resulting in a total of 107 months imprisonment.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the North Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case.
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Mt. Pleasant Man Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for Role in One of the Largest Medicare Fraud Schemes in HistoryRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Andrew Chmiel, 48, of Mt. Pleasant, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison yesterday for his role in a nearly $100 million scheme related to the payment of kickbacks and bribes in exchange for medically unnecessary durable medical equipment (DME) orders.
Chmiel’s charges were brought in 2019 as part of Operation Brace Yourself, an investigation that originated in South Carolina. Operation Brace Yourself, which was prosecuted in conjunction with the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division Fraud Section, was a multi-jurisdictional investigation that involved the execution of more than 80 search warrants in 17 federal districts.
As for Chmiel’s criminal conduct, evidence presented to the court showed that Chmiel controlled and operated at least 10 DME companies, which were located throughout the United States. These DME companies were used by Chmiel and his coconspirators to submit false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for braces that were not medically necessary and/or were obtained through the payment of kickbacks and bribes.
To effectuate the scheme, these DME companies entered into agreements with an offshore call center to purchase completed doctors’ orders so the DME companies could bill Medicare. This offshore call center was advertising through television and internet advertisements. Once a Medicare beneficiary called a 1-800 number that was on the advertisements, that Medicare beneficiary would be screened for eligibility and then convinced that he or she needed a brace, and oftentimes upsold on other braces. The call center would then contact a telemedicine company whose physician and/or or nurse practitioner would issue a prescription without regard to the medical necessity. Throughout the investigation the evidence revealed that beneficiaries were prescribed braces without ever being examined by, seeing, or, in some instances, even speaking to a medical professional. Evidence presented showed that Chmiel was attempting to hide that he was purchasing completed doctors’ orders by creating fraudulent and false invoices for alleged marketing and business processing services.
Throughout the health care fraud scheme, Chmiel’s companies, which included 10 DME companies, two dropship companies, and two additional companies that were used to facilitate the fraud – D.O. Delivery and Pain Center – billed Medicare in excess of $200 million and Medicare paid Chmiel’s companies in excess of $95 million.
Chmiel was also held accountable at sentencing for an obstruction of justice enhancement pursuant to the United States Sentencing Commission Guidelines. Based on evidence presented by the Government during the sentencing, the court held that when Chmiel testified as a government witness in a trial in the Eastern District of New York against a coconspirator, he knowingly gave false testimony on matters material to the health care fraud scheme, violating the terms of his plea agreement.
“Chmiel’s scheme preyed upon honest citizens seeking medical help and this sentence brings an end to that exploitation,“ said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs. “We will continue to pursue and dismantle health care fraud schemes in South Carolina, especially those that permeate throughout the country.”
“Fraudulent schemes, such as this, undermine the trust and confidence of the American people in our healthcare programs,” said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “This ruling should serve as a reminder that healthcare fraud remains a top priority for the FBI and our law enforcement partners and we remain committed to the vigilance and accountability in preserving healthcare integrity.”
"This outcome underscores our unwavering commitment to combat health care fraud and pursue those who exploit Medicare beneficiaries and defraud taxpayers for personal gain,” stated Tamala E. Miles, Special Agent in Charge at the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG takes pride in collaborating with our partners to ensure accountability for those seeking to illegitimately profit from federal health care programs.”
“Crimes against our health care system equates to billions of dollars in losses and degrades a system designed to help those in need,” said Donald "Trey" Eakins, IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge. “We will continue to stand with our law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute individuals who attempt to enrich themselves by fraudulent means, and to help end health care fraud."
United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson sentenced Chmiel to 108 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. The court also ordered that Chmiel pay $98,935,533.00 in restitution.
In addition to Chmiel’s sentence, two corporations were also sentenced by United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson on Tuesday. D.O. Delivery, LLC and Pain Center, LLC, two entities that Chmiel owned and operated that were used to facilitate the health care fraud scheme. Each entity was sentenced to 12-months’ probation and ordered to pay $98,935,533.00 in restitution.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, Health and Human Services-Office of the Inspector General, and IRS-Criminal Investigation Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower prosecuted the case.
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