District of South Carolina
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Lexington County Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Ronnie Dawsey, Jr., 41, of Lexington, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distribution of child sexual abuse materials.*
Evidence presented to the court showed that on Aug. 31, 2020, Mr. Dawsey uploaded approximately seven images of child sex abuse materials to his Facebook account and subsequently sent the images to others using the Telegram application on his cell phone.
Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Mr. Dawsey to 240 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Mr. Dawsey was ordered to pay a total of $36,500 in restitution to seven different victims and to register as a sex offender.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews prosecuted the case.
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* The term “child pornography” is currently used in federal statutes and is defined as any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct involving a person less than 18 years old. While this phrase still appears in federal law, “child sexual abuse material” is preferred, as it better reflects the abuse that is depicted in the images and videos and the resulting trauma to the child.
Lancaster County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing Marijuana and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Vaughnta Markees Jones, 45, of Lancaster, was sentenced to five years in federal prison today for possession with the intent to distribute marijuana and methamphetamine. Jones was also sentenced for violating the terms of his prior federal supervised release.
Evidence presented to the court showed that the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office learned that Jones was dealing illegal narcotics in Lancaster County. Jones was on federal supervised release following convictions of being a felon in possession of a firearm and knowingly receiving and possessing an unregistered firearm in 2010. On March 29, 2023, HSI along with the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office used an undercover informant to make a purchase of methamphetamine from Jones. Upon arrival at Jones’ home, the informant met with Jones and purchase 49.8 grams of methamphetamine.
Thereafter, on May 8, 2023, Lancaster County Sheriff’s deputies, along with an HSI agent, conducted a traffic stop of a car driven by Jones in Lancaster County. During a search of the car, the police found approximately four and a half pounds of marijuana and three pills marked “IP 109” that were determined to be hydrocodone. Jones was arrested by and charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession with the intent to distribute hydrocodone and tramadol. Jones admitted that he had traveled to Maryland to obtain the marijuana and was returning to Lancaster County.
Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Jones to 60 months imprisonment, to be followed by a four year-term of court-ordered supervision. Judge Currie also sentenced Jones to a consecutive 12 months and one day imprisonment for violating the terms of his prior supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.
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Former South Carolina Police Chief to be Sentenced in Sextortion SchemeRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — William Bruce Parker, former police chief, is scheduled be sentenced in federal court tomorrow, Thursday, March 14. Parker is being sentenced after being pleading guilty to cyberstalking resulting in serious bodily injury and communicating threats with the intent to extort victims for the production of pornography and coerced sex acts. Read the previous release here.
United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie accepted Parker’s guilty plea in October of 2023 and will impose the sentence.
WHEN: Thursday, March 14, 2024, 11 a.m.
WHERE: Matthew J. Perry, Jr. Federal Courthouse
Courtroom 1
901 Richland Street
Columbia, South Carolina
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NOTE: The prosecuting attorneys will be available for interviews following the sentencing. The sentencing hearing could last more than one hour. No cameras or cell phones are allowed in federal court.
Columbia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Paul James, III, 35, of Columbia, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on Aug. 19, 2020, James shot a man outside of a Percival Road gas station after the man and James’ girlfriend had an argument. The shooting was captured on the gas station’s video surveillance system. Both James and his girlfriend left the scene. After reviewing the surveillance video, Richland County Sheriff’s Department investigators obtained a search warrant for James’ girlfriend’s address. When investigators executed the search warrant, they found a 9mm handgun inside of a child’s toybox. James claimed ownership of the gun.
James was prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition based on previous convictions in 2008 for assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature and three convictions in 2018 for distributing heroin and crack cocaine. James was also convicted in 2008 and 2016 for unlawfully carrying a pistol. James was on probation when the shooting incident occurred.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced James to 15 years in prison, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD). Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Taylor is prosecuting the case.
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Federal Judge Finds Man Guilty of Obstructing the Freedom of Access to a Clinic EntranceRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Steven Clark Lefemine, 68, of West Columbia was found guilty yesterday of violating the Freedom of Access to a Clinic Entrances (FACE Act) by a federal judge following a bench trial. This is the first FACE Act conviction in South Carolina.
The FACE Act provides criminal penalties for blocking access to any facility that provides reproductive health care services, including abortions. Evidence presented during trial showed that on Nov. 15, 2022, Lefemine sat in front of the entrance to Planned Parenthood South Atlantic (PPSA) in Columbia and blocked access to the facility. Testimony provided by employees of PPSA indicated that the clinic provides a litany of reproductive services, including birth control, mental health counseling, pregnancy testing and planning, prenatal and postpartum services as well as abortion. PPSA staff is familiar with Lefemine because he frequently protests the operation of the clinic. PPSA staff members preserved the incident via video and audio recording. Lefemine elected to act as his own attorney during the case. During his testimony, he admitted blocking the doors to the clinic to prevent the clinic from performing abortions.
“We will protect South Carolinians’ right to peacefully protest, but we will also protect their right to access healthcare facilities,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “Lefemine’s protest became unlawful when he physically prevented patients from entering Planned Parenthood.”
United States District Judge Joseph A. Anderson presided over the bench trial, which lasted one day. Lefemine faces a maximum penalty of six months in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $10,000, and one year of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. Judge Anderson will sentence Lefemine after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney T. DeWayne Pearson is prosecuted the case.
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Orangeburg Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Postal Conspiracy to Distribute MarijuanaRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Lemont Antwaun Darby, 37, of Orangeburg, was sentenced to more than three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute marijuana.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Lemont Darby was a drug dealer who regularly received packages of marijuana through the U.S. Mail from California and elsewhere. Mjaan Roland, 31, of Chapin, was a city carrier with the Columbia Main Post Office and Dutch Fork Station. Darby approached Roland in March 2022 and asked him to facilitate the delivery of these packages of marijuana. The address Darby used was on Roland’s route. Darby compensated Roland for some of the deliveries by paying him between $100 and $200. On other occasions, he gave him small amounts of drugs.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Darby to 46 months imprisonment, to be followed by a two-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
Codefendant Mjaan Roland previously pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.
This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Postal Service, Office of the Inspector General, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Assistant U.S. Attorney Winston D. Holliday Jr. is prosecuting the case.
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Columbia Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking and Gun ChargesRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Dominic Sinclair Ervin, 38, of Columbia, was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and heroin.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on July 16, 2019, Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) narcotics investigators conducted a controlled purchase of heroin from Ervin. Ervin was stopped a short time later by an RCSD deputy. Ervin’s car was searched, and deputies found approximately 24 grams of heroin and 15 grams of methamphetamine along with a digital scale hidden in Ervin’s car. A loaded .45 cal. pistol was found under the driver’s seat.
On May 10, 2022, City of Columbia Police Department (CPD) officers responded to a call of a man threatening people with a gun at an apartment complex near Bailey St., in Columbia. Ervin matched the description of the suspect given to police. When CPD officers encountered Ervin, he fled into an apartment at the complex. Ervin was eventually taken into custody and found in possession of two firearms, one of which had an extended ammunition magazine attached. Ervin was out on bond from a previous arrest at this time.
Ervin was prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition based on previous state and federal convictions. In 2008, Ervin was convicted of assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature. In 2009, he was convicted federally of knowingly using and carrying a firearm during and in relation to, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of, a drug trafficking crime.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Ervin to 132 months in prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the City of Columbia Police Department (CPD) and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD). Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Taylor is prosecuting the case.
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Jury Finds Gaffney Woman Guilty in Mail Theft CaseRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. —Takera A. Degree, 37, of Gaffney, was found guilty yesterday by a federal jury of stealing mail.
Evidence presented to the jury during trial showed that in the spring of 2023, the Inspector General’s Office of the U.S. Postal Service received information about the possible theft of mail from the Gaffney post office. Approximately 100 postal customers reported mailing out greeting cards and other items from the Gaffney post office that were never received at their destinations. The period of these customer complaints, according to postal employees, coincided with Degree’s short tenure with the post office (approximately October 2022 to March 2023).
Multiple postal employees observed Degree engage in questionable behavior such as keeping her personal handbag on carts containing outgoing mail, taking lengthy periods of time to retrieve mail from the blue boxes in front of the post office, and becoming agitated if another employee entered Degree’s work area.On March 9, 2023, OIG special agents installed two covert cameras in the lookout gallery at the Gaffney post office. Agents reviewed video and saw that on March 11, 2023, Degree was taking greeting cards out of the mail stream and putting them inside a folded piece of white paper. About 10 minutes later, Degree was observed leaving Gaffney post office with a yellow plastic bag that appeared to have the envelopes inside. Agents again reviewed video from March 18, 2023, and observed Degree taking greeting cards out of the mail stream and putting them inside of a black backpack. About five minutes later, Degree was observed leaving Gaffney post office with the black backpack.
Based on the video, agents interviewed Degree. Degree admitted to taking U.S. Mail out of the Gaffney post office, opening the mail, and then discarding the envelopes. Degree chose to resign from her position at this time.
“Postal employees have a duty to safeguard mail that comes into their possession,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs. “My office is dedicated to prosecuting those who steal from the public, especially those in a position of public trust.”
United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins presided over the trial and will sentence Degree after reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. Degree faces a statutory maximum of five years.
This case was investigated by the Inspector General’s Office of U.S. Postal Service. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Winston Marosek and Bill Watkins prosecuted the case.
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Jury Finds Columbia Man Guilty of Gun and Drug Offenses After Advertising Drugs for Sale on Social MediaRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. —Booker Henley, 29, of Columbia, was found guilty by a federal jury yesterday for possession of a firearm by a felon, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
Evidence presented during the trial showed that on March 10, 2023, a deputy with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Henley’s vehicle in the northeast area of Columbia near the intersection of Farrow Road and Hardscrabble Road. Henley fled and escaped from the deputy but crashed his vehicle moments later near the 2700 block of Clemson Rd. Members of the public reported the crash and multiple RCSD deputies responded to the crash site believing the vehicle was the same vehicle that had fled earlier. The vehicle smelled of marijuana and when deputies searched the vehicle they found a loaded firearm with an extended magazine, a bag containing 252 grams of marijuana, and a bill of sale for a separate vehicle in Henley’s name.
Prior to the crash, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), observed Henley’s social media accounts where he posted pictures of himself and advertised marijuana for sale. ATF obtained surveillance footage from the area which showed Henley running from the vehicle wearing unique clothing. Henley had previously posted pictures of himself wearing the same unique clothing on social media. Law enforcement also received a search warrant for his social media account which confirmed that he was using social media to advertise and sell drugs in the days before and after the crash. Notably, social media messages revealed that he had completed a drug sale in Columbia approximately 45 minutes before the chase with law enforcement. Additionally, they showed that he messaged someone four days after the crash admitting to wrecking his “skat” which is a term used to reference certain models of Dodge Chargers.
Lastly, Henley’s DNA was found on both the firearm and the extended magazine. Henley has prior convictions for pointing and presenting a firearm at a person, breaking into a motor vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of a stolen pistol, and failure to stop for blue lights.
Henley faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $750,000, restitution, and five years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie presided over the trial and will sentence Henley after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
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 Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lamar J. Fyall and Elizabeth Major are prosecuting the case.
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North Augusta Man Sentenced to 5 Years of Federal Probation for CockfightingRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Roosevelt Curry, 69, of North Augusta, was sentenced to five years of federal probation after being convicted of a felony cockfighting violation.
Evidence presented to the court during trial showed that Curry and several others gathered at a home on Clayton Lane in Ridgeville, South Carolina on March 12, 2022, for a cockfighting tournament. Curry and others fought their chickens against one another and gambled on the outcomes of their birds fighting to death. Deputies received an anonymous tip about the gathering and when they arrived, they saw 30 individuals standing around a cockfighting pit, a blue barrel full of dead chickens with fighting wounds, and razor-sharp instruments that participants attach to the chickens’ legs to make them more lethal during the fights. Deputies searched the property and located Curry on scene along with his truck which contained cockfighting equipment and chickens, some of which sustained obvious wounds during fighting. Seven of the individuals on scene were indicted in federal court for their crucial role in organizing the fight or their longstanding history of participation in these illegal events. Six of those individuals pled guilty. Curry went to trial and was found guilty of felony sponsoring or exhibiting an animal in an animal fighting venture. Curry has a prior 2009 misdemeanor state cockfighting conviction on his record.
United States District Judge Bruce Hendricks sentenced Curry to five years of probation with 480 days of house arrest with an electronic monitor.
This case was investigated by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Inspector General, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO). Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Bianchi and Chris Lietzow prosecuted the case.
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Hartsville Man Sentenced to More than Five Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of Firearm and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, S.C. — William Graham Stokes, 40, of Hartsville, was sentenced to nearly six years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm and ammunition after having previously been convicted of a felony.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on the evening of Jan. 20, 2023, an officer with Hartsville Police Department made a traffic stop on a Cadillac CTS driven by Stokes. In a subsequent search of the vehicle, officers found a backpack containing a loaded 9mm handgun. Stokes later admitted that the gun was his. At the time of the traffic stop, Stokes was on supervised release from a prior federal felony conviction. That prior conviction prohibited Stokes from legally possessing either the firearm or the ammunition with which it was loaded.
Chief United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell sentenced Stokes to 71 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. Chief Judge Harwell also revoked Stokes’s prior term of supervised release and sentenced him to 24 months imprisonment, with a three-year term of supervision to follow, that sentence to run concurrent with the sentence on the 2023 conduct. 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 Hartsville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katherine Flynn is prosecuting the case.
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Hardeeville Woman Pleads Guilty to Assault of Minor on AirplaneRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. —Susan Holliday, 61, of Hardeeville, has pleaded guilty to assaulting a minor on an airplane.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on May 14, 2023, Ms. Holliday was flying on Breeze Airways from Louisville, Kentucky to Charleston, South Carolina. She was inebriated from drinking alcohol. She was seated next to a 14-year-old girl.
Ms. Holliday rubbed the leg and head of the minor child. Holliday also placed the child’s hand on Ms. Holliday’s chest. These actions caused a disruption on the plane and several passengers, including the child’s mother, intervened. Ms. Holliday was moved to a different seat and a flight attendant stayed with her for the remainder of the flight.
Holliday faces a maximum penalty of one year in federal prison. She also faces a fine of up to $100,000, restitution, and one year of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Richard Gergel accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Holliday after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lee Holmes is prosecuting the case.
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Berkeley County Man Sentenced to 2.5 Years in Federal Prison for Bank FraudRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. —Cordero Prioleau, 35, of Ladson, was sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to bank fraud.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Prioleau deposited a fraudulent check into his Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) bank account in the amount of $24,679.55. Prior to the check being returned to NFCU as fraudulent, over a period of five days, Prioleau withdrew $22,700.00 from his bank account.
United States District Judge Richard Gergel sentenced Prioleau to 30 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal
This case 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 and the United States Secret Service with assistance from the Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy F. Bower is prosecuting the case.
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North Charleston Man Sentenced to 28 Years in Federal Prison for Cocaine DistributionRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Derrick Maurice Simpson, 33, of North Charleston, was sentenced to 28 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine.
Evidence presented to the court showed that beginning in 2020, Simpson arranged shipments of kilograms of cocaine from Harlingen, Texas to various locations throughout the Charleston area. Agents and Task Force Officers with the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Charleston Resident Office learned that with the assistance of his co-conspirators, Simpson would transport drug proceeds to Texas, where he would then arrange for parcels, typically in groups of three or four at a time and containing one kilogram of cocaine each, to be shipped via the United States Postal Service back to Charleston. During the investigation, law enforcement seized approximately eight and a half kilograms of cocaine and $195,000 in cash drug proceeds. Law enforcement estimates that Simpson and his co-conspirators shipped approximately 50 kilograms of cocaine into the Charleston area during the conspiracy.
United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Simpson to 336 months imprisonment, to be followed by a 10-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), the City of Charleston Police Department (CPD), the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO), the Town of Summerville Police Department (SPD), the North Charleston Police Department (NCPD), the Mount Pleasant Police Department (MPPD), and the South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit Sowards is prosecuting the case.
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Greenville Man Pleads Guilty to Threatening a Federal JudgeRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. —Alvin Bernard Parks, 42, has pleaded guilty to sending a threatening letter to a federal judge through the mail.
According to court documents, Parks is alleged to have 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 is detained.
The presiding judge accepted Parks’ plea and will sentence him after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report from the U.S. Probation Office. Parks faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment.
The case is being investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Max Cauthen is prosecuting the case.
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Batesburg-Leesville Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Nicholas Barrios Rattray, 40, of Batesville-Leesville, was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on Nov. 28, 2018, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department narcotics agents visited Rattray’s Leesville residence after receiving information that Rattray was possibly involved in the distribution of methamphetamine. While agents spoke briefly with Rattray at the residence, they could smell the odor of marijuana and determined that the smell was coming from Rattray’s residence. A search warrant was obtained for the property. During a subsequent search of the residence and a vehicle parked on the property, agents found over 500 grams of methamphetamine, two firearms, marijuana, and over $10,000 in cash among other items consistent with drug distribution.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Rattray to 60 months in prison, to be followed by a four-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was 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 Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher D. Taylor is prosecuting the case.
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South Carolina Man Found Guilty of Hate Crime for Killing a Transgender Woman Because of Her Gender IdentityRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – After a four-day trial in a federal hate crime case, a jury found a South Carolina man, Daqua Lameek Ritter, guilty of all charges in the indictment, which included one hate crime count, one federal firearms count, and one obstruction count, all arising out of the murder of Dime Doe, a transgender woman.
“Acts of violence against LGBTQI+ people, including transgender women of color like Dime Doe, are on the rise and have no place in our society,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “The Justice Department takes seriously all bias-motivated acts of violence and will not hesitate to hold accountable those who commit them. No one should have to live in fear of deadly violence because of who they are.”
“A unanimous jury has found the defendant guilty for the heinous and tragic murder of Dime Doe, a Black transgender woman,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The jury’s verdict sends a clear message: Black trans lives matter, bias-motivated violence will not be tolerated, and perpetrators of hate crimes will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This case is historic; this defendant is the first to be found guilty by trial verdict for a hate crime motivated by gender identify under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. We want the Black trans community to know that you are seen and heard, that we stand with the LGBTQI+ community, and that we will use every tool available to seek justice for victims and their families.”
“Years of collaborative work were validated by a jury’s unanimous verdict: guilty. This sends a message of hope to our community that we will fight for the rights of those targeted for their gender identity or sexual orientation. As Dime Doe’s loved ones remember her, we hope this verdict provides them some comfort,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “Our office will continue to work with the FBI to increase education on federal hate crime statues and how we can, and will, prosecute crimes motivated by bias in South Carolina.”
“Justice has prevailed in this case,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Jensen of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “This guilty verdict underscores the importance of upholding the rights and dignity of all individuals. This outcome will never completely erase the pain Doe’s family faces, but it is our hope that it brings a measure of closure to this tragic and heinous crime.”
Evidence presented at trial showed that Ritter was upset that rumors about his sexual relationship with Dime Doe were out in the community. On Aug. 4, 2019, the defendant lured Doe to a remote area in Allendale, South Carolina, and shot her three times in the head. At trial, the government proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Ritter murdered Doe because of her gender identity. Ritter then burned the clothes he was wearing during the crime, disposed of the murder weapon, and repeatedly lied to law enforcement.
Doe faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Columbia Field Office investigated the case, with 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 are prosecuting the case.
This was the first trial under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act for violence against a transgender person. The Shepard-Byrd Act is a landmark federal statute passed in 2009 which allows federal criminal prosecution of hate crimes motivated by the victim’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
Additional information about the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act is available here.
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South Carolina Man Found Guilty of Hate Crime for Killing a Transgender Woman Because of Her Gender IdentityRead the Press Release
After a four-day trial in a federal hate crime case, a jury found a South Carolina man, Daqua Lameek Ritter, guilty of all charges in the indictment, which included one hate crime count, one federal firearms count, and one obstruction count, all arising out of the murder of Dime Doe, a transgender woman.
“Acts of violence against LGBTQI+ people, including transgender women of color like Dime Doe, are on the rise and have no place in our society,” said Acting Associate Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer. “The Justice Department takes seriously all bias-motivated acts of violence and will not hesitate to hold accountable those who commit them. No one should have to live in fear of deadly violence because of who they are.”
“A unanimous jury has found the defendant guilty for the heinous and tragic murder of Dime Doe, a Black transgender woman,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The jury’s verdict sends a clear message: Black trans lives matter, bias-motivated violence will not be tolerated, and perpetrators of hate crimes will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. This case is historic; this defendant is the first 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. We want the Black trans community to know that you are seen and heard, that we stand with the LGBTQI+ community, and that we will use every tool available to seek justice for victims and their families.”
“Years of collaborative work were validated by a jury’s unanimous verdict: guilty. This sends a message of hope to our community that we will fight for the rights of those targeted for their gender identity or sexual orientation. As Dime Doe’s loved ones remember her, we hope this verdict provides them some comfort,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “Our office will continue to work with the FBI to increase education on federal hate crime statues and how we can, and will, prosecute crimes motivated by bias in South Carolina.”
“Justice has prevailed in this case,” said Special Agent in Charge Steve Jensen of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “This guilty verdict underscores the importance of upholding the rights and dignity of all individuals. This outcome will never completely erase the pain Doe’s family faces, but it is our hope that it brings a measure of closure to this tragic and heinous crime.”
Evidence presented at trial showed that Ritter was upset that rumors about his sexual relationship with Dime Doe were out in the community. On Aug. 4, 2019, the defendant lured Doe to a remote area in Allendale, South Carolina, and shot her three times in the head. At trial, the government proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Ritter murdered Doe because of her gender identity. Ritter then burned the clothes he was wearing during the crime, disposed of the murder weapon, and repeatedly lied to law enforcement.
Ritter* faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled at a later date. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The FBI Columbia Field Office investigated the case, with 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 are prosecuting the case.
This was the first trial under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act for violence against a transgender person. The Shepard-Byrd Act is a landmark federal statute passed in 2009 which allows federal criminal prosecution of hate crimes motivated by the victim’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
Additional information about the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act is available here.
* This has been corrected to reflect the correct name of the defendant.
Florence Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Gun and Drugs ViolationsRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, S.C. — Rayshawn Mortress Tutt Smoot, 34, of Florence, was sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of cocaine and crack cocaine with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on Aug. 11, 2022, investigators with the Florence Police Department, deputies with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office, and agents with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division went to arrest Smoot in Florence for active arrest warrants. Upon arriving at the residence, officers observed a car parked on a vacant lot and Smoot in the driver’s seat. Officers also saw a pistol with a drum magazine on the front passenger seat. During a search of the car, officers found approximately 33 grams of crack cocaine, approximately five grams of cocaine, a digital scale, and a box of sandwich baggies along with the pistol. The pistol had a drum magazine which was loaded with 26 rounds of ammunition.
United States District Judge Joseph Dawson, III sentenced Smoot to a total of 106 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 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 FBI Columbia Field Office, Florence Police Department, Florence County Sheriff’s Office, and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hummel is prosecuting the case.
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23rd Annual Project Safe Neighborhoods Logo ContestRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The United States Attorney's Office is sponsoring the 23rd Annual Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”) Logo Contest. The statewide contest invites students to use their creativity to spark conversations on how to prevent gun violence in our schools by designing a logo for use on upcoming SC PSN publications. The theme is “Preventing Gun Violence in Our Schools – Know the Signs.”
The contest is open to all South Carolina grade school students, including homeschooled students, and entries will be categorized into four grade divisions. A winner will be selected from each of the four divisions, and each division winner will receive $50. An overall winning logo will be chosen from the four division winners and will receive an additional $50 prize for a total of $100. Click here to see last year’s winners.
The winning entries will be chosen by “The Insiders,” a select group of students from the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, who travel throughout the state encouraging children and promoting community awareness of the consequences of juvenile crime. In addition to the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, the United States Attorney’s Office is proud to partner with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers’ Association for this year’s contest.
Entries should be consistent with the theme “Preventing Gun Violence in Our Schools – Know the Signs.” The deadline for submissions is April 13, 2026. If your student is interested in participating, contact your local school as contest information has been sent to all South Carolina schools. Applications and contest rules may also be found on our website.
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. The contest is an important prevention initiative that has proven to be an effective way to engage our students in meaningful conversation about preventing gun crimes among our young people and ensuring a safe learning atmosphere for our schoolchildren.
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2026_23rd_psn_logo_contest_entry_form_and_instructions.pdfN.C. Woman Sentenced for Theft of Government Funds and Making a False Statement in a Passport ApplicationRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Gayle Smith Gay, 75, of Huntersville, N.C., was sentenced to five years of probation with 240 days of home confinement after pleading guilty theft of government funds and making a false statement in an application for a passport.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Gayle Smith Gay and her husband, Ivan Buxton Gay, Jr., engaged in a multi-decade scheme where they collected Social Security benefits under fraudulent identities from 2006 to 2023. Ms. Gay adopted the identity of her deceased sister, who died as an infant after living for only a few hours in February 1944. Mr. Gay adopted the identity of Alvin Vincent Lee, who also died as a child in 1941. Using the name Catherine Faye Smith, Ms. Gay changed the birth certificate of her sister in 1977 to read “Catherine Faye Smith” rather than “baby girl Smith” and applied for a Social Security number in that name in 1992. Using the name Catherine Smith Lee, Ms. Gay applied for a U.S. Passport in 2010 and renewed that passport in 2020. Ms. Gay began receiving Title II retirement benefits under the false identity, Catherine Smith Lee, in 2006 and subsequently began receiving supplemental security income benefits in 2009. Mr. and Ms. Gay continued to collect benefits from the Social Security Administration until April 2023 when their scheme was discovered by law enforcement.
United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Gayle Smith Gay to a five-year term of court-ordered supervision to include 240 days of home detention. As a condition of probation, Ms. Gay must pay $132,962.00 in restitution to the Social Security Administration. Ivan Buxton Gay, Jr. pled guilty to the same charges in the Western District of North Carolina and is awaiting sentencing.
This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration and the Department of State. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews prosecuted the case.
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Greenville Man Indicted for Threatening a Federal JudgeRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. — A federal grand injury returned a two-count indictment against Alvin Bernard Parks, 42, in connection with sending a threatening letter to a federal judge.
According to court documents, Parks is alleged to have 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 is detained.
“Our public officials should have the freedom to carry out their work without fear of harm,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “Targeted and violent threats like this will be prosecuted in the District of South Carolina.”
The case is being investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Max Cauthen is prosecuting the case.
U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs stated that all charges in the complaint are merely accusations and that defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Columbia Man Sentenced for Possessing a Firearm While Out on Bond for Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Nicholas Vanover, 26, of Columbia, was sentenced to an additional term in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Vanover had been charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm in a previous federal case. After he pled guilty to the prior felon in possession charge, he was allowed to stay out on bond awaiting sentencing. While awaiting sentencing, agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives learned that Vanover was continuing to sell marijuana from his apartment.
While on bond and awaiting sentencing for his prior firearm guilty plea, he violated the conditions of his bond by having multiple positive drug tests. Probation officers obtained an arrest warrant for his bond violations and U.S. Marshals served the warrant at Vanover’s apartment. When they entered the apartment, they saw a digital scale with marijuana with several large capacity ammunition magazines. They obtained a search warrant and found a .40 caliber handgun with a drum magazine capable of accepting 50 rounds of ammunition, several extended magazines capable of accepting more than 15 rounds of ammunition, an AK-47 style rifle, four large bags containing more than 500 grams of marijuana, approximately $16,000.00 in U.S. currency, a money counter, and a pharmacist-sized (one pint) bottle of codeine cough syrup, which had been stolen during a pharmacy robbery in Kershaw County.
Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Vanover to 75 months imprisonment consecutive to the 63-month term he is currently serving for his prior conviction. Following his incarceration, he will serve 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 United States Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Columbia Police Department, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon prosecuted the case.
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Former South Carolina Priest Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sexual Abuse of a ChildRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jaime Adolfo Gonzalez-Farias, a/k/a “Father Gonzalez,” 69, a former Catholic priest, of Laurens, was sentenced to more than 21 years in federal prison following a conviction for transportation of a minor with intent to engage in illegal sexual acts.
Father Gonzalez-Farias served as a Catholic priest since at least 1990, including in South Carolina from 2015 until his suspension by the Catholic authorities in late 2020. He most recently served at parishes in Newberry and Laurens Counties. He also served in parishes in Florida and New Jersey.
In early 2020, Gonzalez-Farias met the minor victim, an 11-year-old boy, and his family through his position as a priest. Gonzalez-Farias began giving high levels of attention to the child, including giving gifts such as a cellphone that he used to communicate with the victim. In November 2020, the child’s family reported to Catholic authorities their concern that the priest’s relationship with the child was inappropriate. Church authorities suspended Gonzalez-Farias and made a report to the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and FBI Columbia Field Office.
Investigators learned that in November 2020 the priest took the minor victim to Florida alone under the pretense of a beach vacation, and during that trip, Gonzales-Farias masturbated in front of the victim, attempted to sexually assault him, and showed the minor victim pornography. Investigators uncovered numerous text messages and WhatsApp messages sent by the priest to the minor, that included affectionate names for the child and messages that were inappropriate, crossed appropriate boundaries, and were consistent with the minor victim’s disclosure of abuse.
After his arrest by FBI agents on Nov. 28, 2022, at the Miami International Airport, Gonzalez-Farias admitted that he touched the minor victim’s genitals in Florida and that he showed the victim pornography and showered with the victim in South Carolina. FBI searched the contents of Gonzales-Farias’s devices, and the contents of those devices showed a continued interest in minors. Gonzalez-Farias pleaded guilty in August 2023.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Gonzalez-Farias to 262 months imprisonment, followed by a lifetime of supervised release. Gonzalez-Farias will also have to register as a sex offender as a result of his conviction, and he was ordered to pay restitution to the victim for losses incurred as a result of his conduct.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and E. Elizabeth Major are prosecuting the case.
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Beaufort Lawyer Pleads Guilty to Transferring Millions of Dollars to Prevent SeizureRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Peter J. Strauss, 45, of Beaufort, has pleaded guilty to removal of property to prevent seizure.
Strauss was the founder and managing partner of the Strauss Law Firm, LLC located in Hilton Head. The Strauss Law Firm specialized in estate and tax planning, asset protection and the implementation of captive insurance solutions for clients. Strauss also served as principal of Hamilton Captive Management (“HCM”), a captive insurance management company that provides management services to his clients’ captive insurance funds.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Strauss knowingly transferred millions of dollars for Jeff and Paulette Carpoff, two individuals who have since been convicted and sentenced for their roles in the largest criminal fraud scheme in the Eastern District of California.
Jeff and Paulette Carpoff owned and operated DC Solar Solutions, Inc. and DC Solar Distribution, Inc. (“DC Solar”), California corporations that designed, manufactured and leased renewable energy products, specializing predominantly in the production of mobile solar generators.
On Dec. 18, 2018, the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies executed numerous search warrants on the businesses associated with DC Solar, as well as the personal residences of Jeff and Paulette Carpoff. Several seizure warrants were also executed on bank accounts and assets associated with DC Solar and its principals. The search warrants were conducted in conjunction with a large-scale investigation regarding an investment fraud and money laundering scheme being operated by the principals of DC Solar. At the time, federal authorities alleged that the Carpoffs committed wire fraud and tax fraud and diverted investors’ money for personal use. Federal authorities further alleged that DC Solar manufactured only a small percentage of the mobile solar generators and created fictitious lease agreements to show their investors in order to obtain investments.
Following the execution of search and seizure warrants related to an investigation into the Carpoffs’ company, Strauss received $11 million from the Carpoffs. On Dec. 19, 2018, the first $5 million was transferred into Strauss’ IOLTA account and thereafter distributed to various criminal defense attorneys and bankruptcy counsel and to Carpoffs’ captive insurance funds, managed by Strauss’ captive insurance management company. Thereafter, on Dec. 28, 2018, Strauss received an additional $3 million, used to pay for the Carpoffs’ captive insurance fund premiums.
Finally, on Jan. 15, 2019, the Carpoffs wired Strauss $3 million into Strauss’ IOLTA account. Thereafter, the funds were comingled in Strauss’ IOLTA account and completely spent over the next few months. By pleading guilty, Strauss admitted that by the time of the $3 million transfer on Jan. 15, 2019, he knowingly transferred and aided and abetted the transfer of funds from Carpoff to prevent and impair the government’s lawful authority to take such property into its custody and control. The defendant has agreed to pay $2,700,000 in restitution to the Federal Clerk of Court at or before the sentencing.
On Jan. 24, 2020, Jeff Carpoff pleaded guilty in California to money laundering and wire fraud and was thereafter sentenced to 30 years in prison. On Nov. 9, 2021, Paulette Carpoff pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and money laundering. Paulette was sentenced to 11 years and three months on June 28, 2022.
Strauss faces a maximum penalty of five 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 District Judge Richard M. Gergel accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Strauss after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Limehouse is prosecuting the case.
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Arizona Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Upstate Cocaine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
ANDERSON, S.C. — Jesus Paz Rodriguez, 30, of Phoenix, Arizona, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Paz-Rodriguez was the source of at least 60 kilograms of cocaine from approximately 2019 until his arrest in February 2022. During the conspiracy, Paz was shipped large amounts of cocaine from his home state of Arizona to Upstate South Carolina. Members of the drug trafficking organization would then courier or ship drug proceeds from South Carolina back to Paz-Rodriguez in the border state. On Feb. 9, 2022, law enforcement executed a federal search warrant at a location in Mauldin, South Carolina, used by the traffickers to store and distribute drugs. Investigators found Paz-Rodriguez and co-conspirators with multiple kilograms of cocaine.
United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain sentenced Paz-Rodriguez 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 United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Lea Schoen is prosecuting the case.
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Piedmont Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Methamphetamine Distribution ConspiracyRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Randy James Kennedy, 35, of Piedmont, was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Kennedy obtained methamphetamine through the mail and directed others on its handling and distribution. While in jail on state charges, Kennedy attempted to have drugs brought into the jail by others. Kennedy had multiple prior drug and firearms related convictions at the time he committed the federal offense.
United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks sentenced Kennedy to 216 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 United States Postal Inspection Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Lea Schoen is prosecuting the case.
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Final Defendant Sentenced in Heroin Conspiracy After 8 Years on the RunRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Corey Xavier Baldwin, 56, of Concord, North Carolina, was sentenced to 53 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Baldwin was one of 10 defendants charged in April 2014, following a drug trafficking investigation in the Columbia area. Six of the 10 defendants were arrested in April 2014, while four remained fugitives, including Baldwin. Baldwin remained a fugitive until his September 2022 arrest by the United States Marshals Service in Concord, North Carolina. Two other fugitives were arrested in 2017 in Texas, and one was arrested in May 2022 in Brooklyn, New York.
The 2013 investigation revealed that a group of individuals was obtaining heroin from various sources outside of South Carolina and then distributing it in the Midlands. Several packages sent through the mail, destined for Columbia, and containing heroin, were intercepted by law enforcement during the investigation. Evidence also showed that the co-defendants later traveled to New York to obtain heroin and transported it back to Columbia where it was distributed. Baldwin, who came to Columbia in 2013 after a prison sentence in Ohio for a 1994 aggravated murder conviction, participated by transporting money to New York during the trips to obtain heroin and assisted in the distribution of heroin in the Columbia area.
Nine of Baldwin’s co-defendants earlier pled guilty to their role in the drug conspiracy here in South Carolina and were sentenced as follows:
- Eric Shawn Bradley of Columbia was sentenced to 210 months imprisonment with eight years of supervised release;
- Michael Glover of Columbia was sentenced to 324 months imprisonment with eight years of supervised release;
- Jihad Salahadeen Pollard of Columbia was sentenced to 121 months imprisonment with four years of supervised release;
- Kenneth Crawford, Jr. of Washington, D.C. and formerly of Columbia was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment with eight years of supervised release;
- Charles Raheem Bradley of Columbia was sentenced to 57 months imprisonment with six years of supervised release;
- Anthony Troy Glover of Columbia was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment with eight years of supervised release;
- Larry Grover Bookman of Columbia was sentenced to 70 months imprisonment with six years of supervised release;
- Jessany Lyons of Far Rockaway, New York, was sentenced to 37 months imprisonment with three years of supervised release; and
- Dockim Deeshawn McKnight of Brooklyn, New York, was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment with four years of supervised release.
The New York heroin suppliers were charged and convicted by the United States Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York for their role in the drug conspiracy.
Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. sentenced Baldwin to 53 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This OCDETF case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) High Intensity Drug Task Force, which was comprised of agents and officers from the DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Secret Service, Columbia Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office, Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office, and the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office. The United States Marshals Service and the Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force-Charlotte Office assisted in locating the four fugitives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Stacey D. Haynes prosecuted the case.
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Union Man on Supervised Release Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — William Michael Hall, of Union, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine. Hall had been released from federal prison in April of 2020, following a 10-year sentence for a previous federal drug offense, and was still on federal supervised release at the time of the incident.
Evidence presented to the court showed that in early 2021, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration learned that Hall was receiving large shipments of drugs through the mail. Additionally, agents seized telephone messages between Hall and a drug distributor in Ohio showing that Hall had been supplying the distributor with large quantities of fentanyl and other drugs since at least August of 2020. Finally, on July 29, 2021, deputies with the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office intercepted a courier Hall had recruited to transport drugs from Atlanta. A search of the courier’s vehicle revealed approximately one kilogram of fentanyl and five kilograms of methamphetamine. Deputies also determined that Hall was traveling in tandem with the courier in a nearby vehicle.
United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins sentenced Hall to 210 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. Furthermore, because Hall was on federal supervised release at the time of his offense, the court sentenced him to serve an additional 30 months in prison consecutive to the sentence imposed, bringing his total sentence to 20 years. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Schoen is prosecuting the case.
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Travelers Rest Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Being a Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Michael Earl Mashburn, 49, of Travelers Rest, was sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence presented to the court showed that in the early morning hours of July 2, 2022, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office was called to investigate reports of a suspicious person at a residence in Travelers Rest. Greenville County deputies responded and found Mashburn sleeping in his car in the homeowner’s driveway. Mashburn woke up and told the deputies he did not know how he arrived at that location. As Mashburn stepped out of the vehicle, deputies observed the handle of a gun protruding from his pocket. Deputies recovered a loaded .38 caliber handgun as well as small amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl, and placed Mashburn under arrest. At the time of his arrest, Mashburn had previously been convicted of multiple felony offenses, including possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, pointing-and-presenting a firearm, possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a violent crime, failure to stop for blue lights and multiple instances of burglary, larceny, possession of a stolen vehicle, and possession of various drugs.
United States District Judge Henry M. Herlong sentenced Mashburn to 92 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives and the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Schoen is prosecuting the case.
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Union Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Creating Child Sex Abuse MaterialsRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Britney Sheppard Campbell, 36, of Union, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to production of child sex abuse materials.
Evidence presented to the court showed that from January 2014 to 2016, at the request of her boyfriend, Campbell agreed to create child sex abuse materials. In the course of a babysitting job, Campbell performed sexual acts on an infant, filmed the acts, and provided the images to her boyfriend. She also agreed to perform and record sex acts with an Alzheimer’s patient for whom she provided care.
The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the boyfriend’s home based on information that he was receiving and sending child sex abuse materials. With the seizure of his computer, law enforcement discovered the images of Campbell and the victim. Campbell admitted to the production of the materials. Her boyfriend died before the investigation was complete.
United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain sentenced Campbell to 300 months imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Secret Service, and the Department of Homeland Security. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Watkins is prosecuting the case.
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Spartanburg Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Trafficking Marijuana Through Greenville Spartanburg AirportRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Raquentin Kendrick Gray-Miller, 34, of Spartanburg, was sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and conspiracy.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on Jan. 25, 2022, Gray-Miller and another man flew into Greenville Spartanburg International Airport with suitcases containing approximately 50 pounds of marijuana. The traffickers loaded the marijuana into a coconspirator’s vehicle and drove into a parking garage beside the terminal. While attempting to transfer some of the marijuana into another vehicle, two men drove up and attempted to rob the traffickers at gunpoint. A gunfight broke out in the parking garage between two of Gray-Miller’s coconspirators and the robbers. Dozens of shots were fired and one of the traffickers was severely injured before the robbers fled in their car.
United States District Judge Henry M. Herlong sentenced Gray-Miller to 24 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 FBI Columbia Field Office, the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, and the GSP Airport Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Schoen is prosecuting the case.
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Rock Hill Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Archie Arsenio Caldwell 35, of Rock Hill, was sentenced to more than 16 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and marijuana. He also plead guilty to distributing crack cocaine and money laundering.
Evidence presented to the court showed that the FBI Columbia Field Office and the York County Multijurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit began to investigate a group of defendants who were obtaining large amounts of cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and marijuana from a distributor in Southern California. Based upon their investigation, the police were able to determine that members of the group were flying to California and having the drugs shipped back to the Rock Hill and Charlotte area. Based upon surveillance and other law enforcement techniques, the police learned that Caldwell was a member of the group and helped other members obtain flights to California to purchase the illegal substances. Caldwell also flew to California to purchase the illegal substances for other members of the group and orchestrated shipping the packages back. After the drugs were shipped back to South Carolina, the group distributed the drugs to local dealers.
Later, the group began ordering fentanyl from California which they used to make fentanyl laced pills which were sold to users in Rock Hill, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, Charlotte, and Atlanta. Based upon their investigation, law enforcement could show that this group shipped more than 255 packages from California. Caldwell was held responsible for 37 grams of crack cocaine, six kilograms of methamphetamine, 27 kilograms of cocaine, seven kilograms of fentanyl and eight kilograms of marijuana. Nineteen defendants were charged in this case in South Carolina. Seventeen defendants pled guilty, including Caldwell, to their involvement and three were convicted at trial.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Caldwell to 200 months imprisonment, to be followed by a 10-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This law enforcement operation and prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, York County Multijurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, and Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant United States Attorney William K. Witherspoon prosecuted the case.
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Multi-Agency Take Down Results in Illegal Narcotics, Firearm Offenses, and Conspiracy ChargesRead the Press Release
MYRTLE BEACH, 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 Myrtle Beach 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.
In February of 2023, in response to rising violent crime in the Myrtle Beach area, the FBI Columbia Field Office assisted local and state law enforcement agencies in an advanced, intelligence-based, multi-faceted law enforcement operation. The FBI identified communities in Myrtle Beach that were experiencing high levels of gang and narcotics-related violence. The purpose of the operation was to target criminal entities, specifically those engaged in the illegal possession and distribution of narcotics, such as the Rollin’ 90s Crips, G-Shine Bloods, and Gangster Disciples. 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 13 defendants facing federal charges. Agents seized multiple firearms, ammunition, and various dangerous drugs such as fentanyl.
The following charges have been filed in United States District Court, according to court documents:
- Tyrone Louis Harts, Jr., 35, of Myrtle Beach, was charged with conspiring to distribute 5oo grams or more of cocaine and less than 50 kilograms of marijuana. Additionally, Harts was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and unlawful possession of a firearm.
- Brandon Javon Sutton, 31, of Myrtle Beach, was charged with conspiring to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine.
- Cedric Lamar Brown, 43, of Myrtle Beach, was charged with conspiring to distribute 4oo grams or more of fentanyl, 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and a quantity of cocaine. Additionally, Brown was charged with possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine and fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and unlawful possession of a firearm.
- Elizar Edward Marcus, 44, of Myrtle Beach, was charged with conspiring to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine.
- Dorian Derrell Williams, 30, of Conway, and James Jenkins, Jr., 34, of Loris, were charged with conspiring to distribute 4oo grams or more of fentanyl.
- Akeem O’Brien Tisdale-Giles, 33, of Georgetown, was charged with conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and attempted possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
- Maurice Fleming, 42, of Manning, Edward Pigotte, 45, of Myrtle Beach, and Theron Levon Holmes, 45, of Georgetown, were charged with conspiring to distribute a quantity of cocaine.
- Ronald Eric Campbell, 43, of Florence, was charged with conspiring to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin.
- Matthew Tennerrol Brown, 39, of Columbia, was charged with conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.
- Adam Temple, 39, of Little River, was charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by the Myrtle Beach Police Department, Horry County Sheriff’s Office, Horry County Police Department, Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office, Georgetown City Police Department, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, North Myrtle Beach Police Department, Conway Police Department, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Coastal Carolina University Police Department, 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, 15th Circuit DEU, Horry County Fire and Rescue, Charleston Fire Department, Williamsburg County Sheriff’s Office, Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
The federal cases stemming from this investigation are being prosecuted by a team of Assistant United States Attorneys in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Ellis.
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.
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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Retired School Teacher Sentenced to Federal Prison for Traveling to Engage in Sex with a MinorRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Leroy Lawrence Bolger, Jr., 75, of Kingsland, Georgia, was sentenced to more than three years in federal court after pleading guilty to traveling with intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct.
Evidence presented to the court showed that in early March 2022, members of the South Carolina Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), including Homeland Security Investigations, conducted an undercover investigation targeting online sexual offenders. As part of this investigation, an officer created an undercover online persona of an adult male seeking individuals to have sex with his 13-year-old daughter residing in Beaufort, South Carolina.
Bolger responded to the undercover officer’s internet ad and engaged in sexually explicit conversations with the undercover officer. In their conversations, Bolger discussed his desire to engage in various sex acts with the undercover officer’s purported 13-year-old daughter, including sexual intercourse. Bolger also agreed to pay $50 to have sex with the child.
On March 1, 2022, Bolger drove from Kingsland, Georgia to a predetermined location in Beaufort, South Carolina to meet the purported father and 13-year-old daughter, and to engage in illicit sexual conduct with the girl. When Bolger arrived, he encountered law enforcement officers instead and was placed under arrest. Bolger admitted that he had planned to engage in illicit sexual conduct with the girl. He also stated that he was a retired teacher and athletics coach who had worked in schools in North Carolina and Florida during his 38-year career.
United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks sentenced Bolger to 46 months imprisonment, to be followed by a lifetime term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by the South Carolina Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), including Homeland Security Investigations, Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, Beaufort Police Department, Marion County Sheriff’s Office, and other law enforcement agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dean H. Secor is prosecuting the case.
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Durable Medical Equipment Companies to Pay Millions in False Claims SettlementRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Durable Medical Equipment (DME) companies Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc., Hill-Rom Company, Inc., Hill-Rom Services, Inc., and Advanced Respiratory Inc. (collectively, Hillrom) have agreed to pay $2.1 million to resolve allegations that the companies violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims for payment to the Medicare, TRICARE, Department of Veterans Affairs, and Medicaid programs.
The settlement reached this week resolves allegations that, from January 1, 2011, through December 1, 2019, Hillrom’s Direct to Consumer division sold used Clinitron, TotalCare, and VersaCare beds but billed federal healthcare programs as if they were new beds. Also included in the settlement are allegations that Hillrom sold certain hospital beds and pressure support surfaces to beneficiaries of federal healthcare programs under a miscellaneous code, which sometimes resulted in a higher price paid by the government. The third allegation involves Hillrom’s presenting claims to the federal government and its contractors that mischaracterized travel time as DME repair time in order for it to be reimbursable by federal healthcare programs. Baxter International purchased Hillrom after the allegations involved in the settlement, and the division involved in the alleged fraud is no longer operational.
“Millions of citizens depend on programs like Medicare and TRICARE for their healthcare, “ said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “Hillrom’s actions damage our federal health programs and impact the families who need them.”
“We expect health care providers who serve Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries to refrain from harming the integrity of the programs on which their patients rely. Billing in any fashion that results in overpayment from the programs threatens that integrity,” said Special Agent in Charge Tamala Miles with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “In coordination with fellow law enforcement agencies, HHS-OIG ceaselessly works to examine allegations involving inappropriate billing and HHS beneficiaries.”
“Hill-Rom threatened the integrity of the Department of Defense’s (DoD) TRICARE program by attempting to profit from false billing,” said Special Agent in Charge Christopher Dillard, Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS), Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “Working closely with our law enforcement partners, DCIS will continue to thoroughly investigate and hold accountable all those who defraud or attempt to defraud Federal healthcare programs.”
The civil settlement resolves a lawsuit brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Jeri Harris, a former employee of Hillrom. The False Claims Act permits private citizens with knowledge of fraud against the government to bring a lawsuit on behalf of the United States and to share in any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. Harris v. Hill-Rom Holdings, Inc. et al., No. 19-cv-3081 (D. S.C.).
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General; the United States Defense Criminal Investigative Service with assistance from the Defense Health Agency; and the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General.
This matter was handled by Assistant United States Attorney Nancy G. Cote of the District of South Carolina.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
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Four Indicted in Interstate Child Sex Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a 10-count indictment charging four Columbia-area defendants in a child sex trafficking conspiracy:
- Antonio Marquis Nicholson, 32, of West Columbia, was charged with human trafficking conspiracy, three counts sex trafficking of a minor, three counts coercion and enticement of a minor, interstate travel to promote illegal sexual activity, interstate transportation of a minor for illegal sexual activity, and one count of witness tampering.
- Monesha Tatayana Lapri Gary, 24, of Clinton, was charged with human trafficking conspiracy, three counts of sex trafficking of a minor, and three counts of coercion and enticement of a minor.
- Rebecca Melanie Perry, 30, of Columbia, South Carolina and Augusta, Georgia, was charged with human trafficking conspiracy, sex trafficking of a minor, coercion and enticement of a minor, and interstate travel to promote illegal sexual activity.
- Terrell Counts, 33, of Columbia, was charged with three counts coercion and enticement of a minor.
The indictment alleges the following:
Between December 2022 and July 2023, the conspiracy that included Nicholson, Gary, and Perry enticed, transported, harbored, and maintained in the commercial sex trade at least three minor victims. The conspirators recruited victims who were minors and runaways, then provided lingerie, obtained photographs, and advertised minor victims on the internet for commercial sex. Members of the conspiracy communicated with customers and arranged commercial sex for customers with the minors and then confiscated proceeds. The conspiracy exercised supervision, violence, and control, including force, fraud, and coercion, to obtain commercial sex. The indictment further alleges that Nicholson and Perry travelled across state lines, and that Nicholson transported a minor from North Carolina to South Carolina, for the purposes of illegal sexual activity.
Nicholson, Gary, and Perry face a mandatory 15 years in prison, Counts faces a mandatory 10 years, and each defendant faces up to life in prison. The defendants also face life terms of supervision by the federal court following any term of imprisonment, sex offender registration, and mandatory restitution payable to victims.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon will preside over the case. Gary and Counts were ordered detained by United States Magistrate Judge Paige J. Gossett pending any trial or bond hearing. Nicholson and Perry will be arraigned on Jan. 30 at 10:00 a.m. at the Matthew J. Perry Courthouse.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, with assistance from the Columbia Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, West Columbia Police Department, Darlington County Sheriff’s Office, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Horry County Sheriff’s Office, Myrtle Beach Police Department, and Jefferson County (Alabama) Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and Ariyana N. Gore are prosecuting the case.
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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Former Marlboro County Sheriff and Deputy Indicted for Use of Excessive ForceRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Florence returned a single-count indictment yesterday against Charles Bernard Lemon, age 59, and David Andrew Cook, age 29, both of Bennettsville, for using excessive force in violation of federal law.
The indictment alleges that on May 3, 2020, Lemon, acting as the Sheriff of Marlboro County, and Cook, a Deputy Sheriff, used unreasonable force against a pretrial detainee in the Marlboro County Detention Center. The indictment alleges that Lemon directed Cook to deploy a Taser against the victim without legal justification. Additionally, it alleges that the offense resulted in bodily injury to the victim.
Lemon and Cook face a maximum possible penalty of 10 years in prison if convicted of this offense. It is expected they will each make an initial appearance at the McMillian Federal Courthouse in Florence in early February.
The case was jointly investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Everett McMillian and Lauren Hummel are prosecuting the case in close coordination with the South Carolina Attorney General's Office.
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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Moncks Corner Felon Sentenced to 14 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Kareem Kashif Jefferson, 34, of Moncks Corner, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison after being convicted of being a felon in possession of firearms and for possession with intent to distribute marijuana, eutylone, and crack cocaine.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on Feb. 14, 2020, a Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office deputy was on patrol around 11 p.m. when the deputy stopped to assist what appeared to be a stranded driver on the side of the road with their vehicle. The deputy located a man, later identified as Jefferson, by the vehicle, which had two flat tires. The deputy could smell alcohol and marijuana and he noted signs of impairment in Jefferson’s behavior, such as slurred speech, swaying, and trying to jack up the vehicle, but the jack was not under the car or its frame. The deputy also saw an open container of alcohol inside the vehicle. Jefferson said he was going to drive to a church which was nearby, but the deputy instructed him that he could not drive. Jefferson began disregarding the deputy’s instructions and attempted to leave. During the exchange, Jefferson dropped his hands to his waistline area and attempted to manipulate a handgun in his pocket. The deputy could see the magazine, the bottom of the grip, and the magazine well of the gun. Jefferson then removed a gun from his pants and tossed it aside.
After Jefferson was arrested, deputies recovered the gun he discarded, a 9mm pistol. They also located additional guns in the vehicle, along with 223 grams of marijuana and a small amount of crack. Jefferson has previous felony convictions that prevent him from carrying a gun.
United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Jefferson to 168 months imprisonment, to be followed by a six-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 Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Kittrell is prosecuting the case.###
North Charleston Man Sentenced to over 16 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Ice and MethRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. —Maurice “Black” Adams, 29, of North Charleston, was sentenced to more than 16 and a half years in federal prison for distributing ice, methamphetamines, cocaine, and fentanyl.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Adams was one of 15 defendants indicted for distributing significant amounts of drugs imported from Mexico. The conspirators used various methods to have the controlled substances delivered to the United States, including various mail services. The packages would be mailed from Arizona and other western states to addresses in South Carolina. Adams took delivery of at least 1.8 kilograms of methamphetamines, one kilogram of cocaine, almost one kilogram of fentanyl, and more than two kilograms of ice during his participation in the conspiracy.
United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Adams to 198 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, the North Charleston Police Department, and the Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Kittrell is prosecuting the case.
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Charleston Man Sentenced to 5 Years in Federal Prison for Weapon ViolationRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Dontrell Lamar Watson, 34, of Charleston, was sentenced to five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on May 5, 2022, officers with the Charleston Police Department stopped Watson for a traffic violation. Watson was the driver and only occupant. During the encounter, officers smelled marijuana and told Watson they were going to search his vehicle. Watson then claimed there was a gun in the trunk. During the search, officers located a fully loaded 9mm pistol with a 15-round magazine under the driver seat where Watson was located. After his arrest, Watson convinced a family member to attempt to accept responsibility for the firearm. However, investigators quickly realized that individual was not being truthful. Watson has multiple felony convictions on his record prohibiting him from possessing a firearm. This was his third conviction for possessing a firearm as a felon.
United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Watson to 60 months imprisonment, to be followed by three years 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 Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case.
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Columbia Man Involved in Gun and Drug Trafficking Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Justin Washington, 24, of Columbia, was sentenced to more than three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to Possession of Stolen Firearms and Possession of a Firearm in Relation to a Drug Trafficking Offense.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on Oct. 22, 2022, deputies of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at Washington’s residence based on his involvement in multiple car break-ins throughout Richland County. During the search warrant, deputies recovered four firearms, 9mm and 300 blackout ammunition, multiple gun magazines, over $4,300 dollars in cash, more than 220 grams of marijuana, a window punch, and several tools related to breaking into motor vehicles.
After receiving his Miranda rights, Washington admitted to his possession of the items recovered by law enforcement and stated to law enforcement that he stole the firearms in his possession. He also told law enforcement that he would often sell the firearms he stole from motor vehicles.
During this incident, Washington was on parole for Breaking into a Motor Vehicle, a felony which prohibited him from possessing firearms and ammunition.
United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Washington to 90 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
This case was investigated by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, the City of Columbia Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lamar J. Fyall, Elle Klein, and Elizabeth Major are prosecuting the case.
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New York Man Sentenced to Federal Prison and Pays $850,000 in Civil Fines and Restitution for Durable Medical Equipment SchemeRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Jeffrey Brooks, 40, of Clarence Center, New York, was sentenced to more than seven years in federal prison after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud. In addition to Brooks’ criminal conviction, last year, Brooks paid $850,000 in a civil settlement to resolve allegations that he provided kickbacks and caused false claims to be submitted in violation of the federal False Claims Act.
Evidence presented to the court showed that beginning in or around May 2019, Brooks operated at least eight durable medical equipment (DME) companies, which were located in Fort Pierce, Florida. Through these DME companies, Brooks was charged with conspiring to submit or cause to be submitted false and fraudulent claims to Medicare and CHAMPVA for braces that were not medically necessary, eligible for reimbursement, and/or obtained through the payment of kickbacks and bribes. Specifically, evidence presented showed that Brooks and his co-conspirators purchased Medicare beneficiaries’ personally identifying information (“PII”) and purported personal health information (“PHI”) from third party call centers in order to generate doctors’ orders for braces. The doctor’s orders were generated by paying illegal kickbacks and bribes to telemedicine companies to obtain a medical practitioner’s signature on the doctor’s orders, regardless of medical necessity.
During the conspiracy, Brooks also was the beneficial owner of a call center located in Greenville, South Carolina, that purchased personal identifiable information of Medicare patients. Brooks and his co-conspirators, including purported telemedicine companies, then generated signed doctors’ orders, which were used to submit false and fraudulent claims to Medicare and cause false and fraudulent claims to be submitted to CHAMPVA.
The evidence presented to the court showed that the DME companies controlled by Brooks caused Medicare to be billed over $29 million in false and fraudulent claims.
“As we put an end to Brooks’ fraudulent scheme, he faces both accountability and justice,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “We will continue to seek out those defrauding federal healthcare programs.”
"By facilitating kickbacks, this defendant knowingly enabled theft from Medicare, putting personal profit before legitimate patient care and ultimately costing taxpayers millions of dollars," said Tamala E. Miles, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). "HHS-OIG is committed to working with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those alleged of defrauding federal health care programs are held accountable.”
“The penalties in this case underscore the importance of maintaining the integrity of healthcare systems,” said Steve Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “We are committed to safeguarding the interests of healthcare beneficiaries and ensuring accountability for those who exploit healthcare programs.”
“Today, this defendant was held accountable for his role in a long-term fraud scheme in which he enriched himself at the expense our nation’s veterans and that behavior will not be tolerated,” said Special Agent in Charge Kim. R. Lampkins of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “We thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their efforts in this joint investigation.”
The civil settlement resolves a lawsuit originally brought by Ashley Westover and Jessica Tollison, under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. As part of the civil resolution, Westover and Tollison received approximately $144,500 of the settlement amount.
The criminal resolution of this case was the result of a coordinated effort by the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Fraud Section and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, with assistance from the HHS-OIG, Special Agent Ryan Schubert, FBI, and VA-OIG. The civil resolution of this case was the result of efforts by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, with assistance from the HHS-OIG, FBI, and VA-OIG.
United States District Judge Herlong sentenced Brooks to 90 months of 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 Brooks pay $15,221,227.60 in restitution – $15,198,432.00. to Medicare and $22,795.58 to CHAMPVA.
The criminal case was handled by Trial Attorney Catherine Wagner of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Amy Bower for the District of South Carolina. Assistant United States Attorney Beth Warren handled the civil case for the District of South Carolina.
The lawsuit resolved by the civil settlement is captioned United States ex rel. Westover, et al., Civ. No. 6:21-cv-00417-TMC (D.S.C., filed February 9, 2021).
The government’s pursuit of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to HHS at 1-800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Combats Human Trafficking in Recognition of Human Trafficking Prevention MonthRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — In recognition of National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, the United States Attorney's Office for the District of South Carolina affirms its continued commitment to work with federal, state, and local partners to combat human trafficking in all its forms.
“As we recognize Human Trafficking Awareness Month, we honor the courageous survivors, we mourn the victims, many whose names we will never know, and we remain relentless in our pursuit of traffickers who exploit them,” said United States Attorney Adair F. Boroughs. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office – along with our law enforcement partners – will continue our fight to end human trafficking in South Carolina.”
Human trafficking, also known as trafficking in persons, is a crime that involves compelling or coercing a person to provide labor or services, or to engage in commercial sex acts. The coercion can be subtle or overt, physical or psychological. Exploitation of a minor for commercial sex is human trafficking, regardless of whether any form of force, fraud, or coercion was used.
In the past year, the United States Attorney’s Office, with the assistance of its law enforcement partners, prosecuted the following noteworthy cases:
US v. Eric Rashun Jones Eric Jones, of Newberry, and Brittany Cromer, of Greenville both await sentencing following guilty pleas for Human Trafficking Conspiracy and other charges. Jones recruited vulnerable victims and forced them into commercial sex work for his own financial gain. Jones, aided by Cromer, physically assaulted victims, including breaking one victim’s orbital socket. Jones was convicted in June 2023 and Cromer was convicted in Jan. 2024.
US v. Elizabeth Balcazar, et al. Enrique Balcazar and Elizabeth Balcazar, both of Batesburg, were sentenced to federal prison for labor trafficking, confiscating passports in connection with labor trafficking, and fraud in foreign labor contracting. They recruited 55 Mexican nationals to work at their agricultural company, confiscated their passports and visas, then failed to pay promised wages. Enrique used force and coercion to keep workers with his company, including by threatening deportation, brandishing and discharging firearms, failing to provide medical care, placing locks on the outside of the facility where workers slept, and by posting armed guards at the camp facility.
US v. Aaron Simmons A Greenville man was convicted of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and one count of sex trafficking of a minor after compelling one adult and one minor victim to engage in commercial sex acts. Simmons is awaiting sentencing.
US v. Cedrick Riley Cedrick Riley and Earl Caldwell were sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for their involvement in the sex trafficking of a minor. Caldwell spent at least $45,000 to purchase sex from the minor and supply the victim with clothing, drugs, and hotel rooms. Jessica Mills was also sentenced for her involvement in the conspiracy.
US v. Brian Leroy Watson A Blythewood man was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to Attempted Sex Trafficking of a Minor and Distribution of Heroin. Watson trafficked at least nine victims, including one minor, into the commercial sex trade. Watson frequently used physical violence against his victims, manipulated their drug addiction and withdrawal symptoms, and confiscated monetary proceeds from them. Watson was assisted at times by Ryan Grover, of Barnwell, who pleaded guilty to Human Trafficking Conspiracy and was sentenced to three years in federal prison.
Watch U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs’ call to raise awareness and learn more about combatting human trafficking in your community on our Facebook page. Join the U.S. Attorney’s Office and advocates across the country for #WearBlueDay tomorrow, Jan. 11, to honor human trafficking survivors during Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
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Pill Dealer Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Selling Fentanyl-Laced TabletsRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Nathan Ott, 28, of Moncks Corner, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison last week after pleading guilty to distributing a pill which was sold as “Roxy” (a street name for Roxicodone, a pharmaceutical drug which is an opioid that contains oxycodone hydrochloride). The pill Ott sold contained fentanyl.
Ott pled guilty to violating a section of Title 21, the Controlled Substances Act. The indictment specifically charged that he distributed "fentanyl,” a Schedule II controlled substance, which resulted in the death of Matthew Hearne on May 27, 2021.
Information presented during the hearing showed that the victim had suffered painful injuries from a motorcycle accident three weeks prior to his death. On May 27, 2021, his girlfriend, Victoria Racioppa (also charged in the case) found Hearne in the morning, unresponsive and called 911. The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, Coroner’s Office, and EMS all responded to his residence and found that Hearne had died during the night. The investigation revealed that Ott had “dropped off” what he claimed to be four “Roxy” pills for both Racioppa and Hearne. Hearne had run out of his prescription medicine and was seeking to relieve the pain from his injuries. He took one of the pills during the evening of May 26, 2021. The autopsy showed that Hearne had a lethal amount of fentanyl in his body, which caused his death.
During the hearing, the prosecution noted that the nation was experiencing a surge in opioid and fentanyl poisoning deaths and argued that the tragic death of Matthew Hearne warranted a substantial sentence. Ott, the prosecutor said, knew or should have known that was selling a deadly product. After Hearne’s death, Ott continued to sell “Roxy.”
“Dealers like Ott, who know they are selling fentanyl-laced pills, show a callous disregard for human life,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “The fentanyl epidemic and the use of opioids is affecting our families, friends, and communities. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue people who push pills and advocate for strong sentences in federal court.”
United States District Court Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Ott to 300 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Judge Gergel also ordered restitution to be paid to the victim’s family in the amount of $8,000 for funeral and related costs.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, members of the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad and the Berkeley County’s Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Kittrell is prosecuting the case.
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Greenville Woman Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Sex Trafficking ConspiracyRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Brittany Danielle Cromer, 34, of Greenville, has pleaded guilty to Human Trafficking Conspiracy in federal court in Columbia.
According to evidence presented in court, from at least March through Nov. 2022, Cromer worked together with co-defendant Eric Rashun Jones, 31, of Newberry, to exploit women in the commercial sex trade by force, fraud, and coercion. Jones was convicted of Human Trafficking Conspiracy, Witness Tampering, and Felon in Possession of a Firearm in June 2023 and is awaiting sentencing.
Jones led the conspiracy by recruiting vulnerable victims, including victims of domestic violence and those who were dependent on drugs. He prostituted victims for his financial gain, confiscating between 60% and 100% of the proceeds. He did so by physical violence: Jones broke one victim’s orbital socket and burst her ear drum; he hit another victim regularly with a closed fist. Videos recovered by the FBI showed Jones directing the physical assault of women who worked for him. He did so by sexual violence, including by forcing women into sex acts. He did so by fraud related to the promised division of proceeds. And he did so by coercion, including by manipulating victims’ drug addictions and withdrawal symptoms.
Cromer knew that Jones was a fugitive, that he was the member of a documented street gang, that he had no legitimate job, that he prostituted women, and that he confiscated their proceeds. She also knew that he used physical violence, including by assaulting women if they did not work, by directing victims to assault other victims, and by assaulting one victim for not working in commercial sex after having a child. She also knew victims felt like they had no option but to stay with Jones. She knew how photographs were taken and advertisements were posted, how money was transferred from customers to the conspiracy, how proceeds were divided, and how the conspiracy responded to customers.
Cromer facilitated the conspiracy and helped Jones, including by setting up a CashApp account used to confiscate proceeds and registering it to her personal e-mail address and phone number. She monitored victims, particularly while Jones was in custody, and the conspiracy continued to exploit victims. Recorded jail calls show she coordinated with victims and Jones as for when victims would work for the conspiracy. Victims told the FBI that they were afraid of Cromer and that Jones used Cromer to monitor their activity and report back to Jones what she saw.
“This case demonstrates the power that traffickers have over their victims’ lives, controlling their communication, money and freedom,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “Our office will continue to prosecute trafficking in all its forms and support survivors in their healing journey. We look forward to a just sentence for Cromer and Jones.”
Cromer faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. She also faces a fine of up to $250,000 and lifetime supervision to follow a term of imprisonment. Pursuant to a plea agreement, Cromer agreed to pay victims restitution.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Cromer after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
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 FBI Columbia Field Office, Greenville Police Department, Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, Simpsonville Police Department, and Anderson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott B. Daniels and Elle E. Klein are prosecuting the case.
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Charleston Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Weapon and Drug ViolationRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Antonio Lorenzo Huggins, 40, of Charleston, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Charleston Police Department contacted Huggins on Oct. 3, 2021, because he had outstanding warrants for his arrest. Huggins fled from officers and tried to take off his pants during the chase. Police caught Huggins and located three bags in his pocket containing over 30 grams of crack cocaine and two grams of cocaine. Police recovered Huggins’ pants and located a loaded firearm that was stolen, $600 cash, and a cell phone. Huggins admitted possessing the firearm to the officers.
United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Huggins to 180 months imprisonment, to be followed by eight years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Huggins faced an enhanced sentence due to previous federal convictions of a similar nature.
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 Charleston Police Department (CPD). Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case.
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Columbia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jalon Amari Britt, 22, of Columbia, was sentenced to 100 months – more than eight years – in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
Evidence presented in Court revealed that on March 30, 2022, deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department were conducting surveillance on Britt at his apartment to serve him with outstanding arrest warrants. During surveillance, officers observed Britt leave his apartment unit and enter a car registered in his name. A traffic stop was initiated, and when the deputy approached the vehicle, he smelled marijuana. A search was conducted of Britt and his vehicle, and law enforcement recovered a bag of marijuana, two cell phones, and a large sum of cash.
Investigators also obtained and executed a search warrant of Britt’s apartment which resulted in the recovery of approximately eight pounds of marijuana, two pistols with extended magazines, two loaded rifles, and various rounds of assorted ammunition. The investigation revealed that Britt was the sole occupant of the residence and that one of the pistols had previously been reported stolen.
Evidence was also presented that Britt was a validated member of a street gang. Federal law prohibits Britt from possessing firearms and ammunition based on prior state convictions that include two convictions for Failure to Stop for Blue Lights, Breaking into Motor Vehicle or Tanks, Pumps, Where Fuel, Lubricants Stored, Grand Larceny, Value More Than $2,000.00, but Less Than $10,000.00, and Use of Vehicle Without Owner’s Consent for Temporary Purposes.
Senior United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten sentenced Britt to 100 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 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), the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana N. Gore is prosecuting the case.
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Multi-Agency Take Down Results in Numerous Firearms, Illegal Narcotics, and Conspiracy ChargesRead the Press Release
WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. — United States Attorney Adair F. Boroughs, together with federal, state, and local law enforcement officials, today announced that 20 individuals were charged in federal court in connection with firearms-trafficking, narcotics, conspiracy, or other firearms offenses after a targeted violent crime reduction initiative in West Columbia. The indictments are a result of a series of coordinated arrests made following a targeted multi-agency operation that spanned several months.
In June of 2022, in response to rising violent crime in the West Columbia area, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in Columbia launched an advanced, intelligence-based, multi-faceted law enforcement operation. The purpose of the operation was to target criminal entities and groups in the area, specifically those engaged in the illegal use, sale, and possession of firearms and narcotics. ATF established a controlled buy location, and ATF undercover agents and confidential informants began conducting controlled purchases of firearms and narcotics from criminal targets in the area, while local agencies conducted crime suppression operations.
Defendants included members of the Bloods, Crips, and Gangster Disciple street gangs. The joint investigation has led to 20 defendants facing federal charges. Federal agents purchased or seized 210 firearms, including several machine gun conversion devices or “switches” designed to convert a firearm to a fully automatic weapon, and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Additionally, law enforcement purchased or seized approximately 12 kilograms of methamphetamine, 500 grams of powder cocaine, 500 grams of powder fentanyl, 280 grams of crack cocaine, 2,826 fentanyl pills, and over 2,100 polydrug pills.
Some defendants were charged together, but several others were charged individually. The following charges have been filed in United States District Court, according to court documents:
- Christopher Huntington, a/k/a “Crazy,” 32, of Lugoff, was charged with multiple counts of distributing 50 grams of more of methamphetamine, as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and unlawful possession of a firearms.
- Tyrek Carroway, a/k/a “Everything,” 24, of Columbia was charged with multiple counts of distributing 50 grams of more of methamphetamine as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
- Marcelleus Robinson a/k/a “Drawdown,” 31, of Columbia and Howard Parker, 31, of West Columbia were charged with unlawful possession of a firearms and unlawful possession of machineguns.
- Joseph Wadsworth, a/k/a “J-Roc,” 39, of Gaston, and Curtis Hill, III, 33, of Lexington, were charged with multiple counts of distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl, as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and unlawful possession of a firearms.
- Sean Smith, a/k/a “D,” 40, of Cayce, was charged with multiple counts of distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and unlawful possession of a firearms.
- Lamark Gill, a/k/a “Lamont,” 47, of Lexington, was charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and crack cocaine, as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and unlawful possession of a firearms.
- Ricky Bell, Jr., 35, of Columbia, was charged with distribution of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of firearms.
- Dequincy Marquez Jordan, 37, of Florence, was charged with two counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
- Jordan Deshawn Waden a/k/a “Yayo,” 24, of Columbia, was charged with two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
- Joel Jeremiah Williams, 35, of Columbia, was charged with two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
- Angela Peterson Black, 51, of Lexington, was charged with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
- Michael Wright, 45, of Greenville, was charged with conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, as well as six counts of distributing methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
- Terrance Myers, a/k/a "Terrance Toomer," 47, of Orangeburg, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Kendolius Jones, a/k/a “Duke Brim,” 30, of West Columbia, was charged with felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, as well as possession of an unregistered short barrel rifle.
- Reginald Pearson, 40, of Columbia, was charged with three counts possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of cocaine, as well as felon in possession and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Everette Wanamaker, 36, of Columbia, was charged with two counts possession with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl, as well as six counts of felon in possession.
- Sean Dunagan, 44, of Marietta, Georgia, was charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, with possession with intent to distribute fifty grams or more of methamphetamine as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and destruction of evidence.
- Gregory Huggins, a/k/a “B-Lo,” 30, of Lexington was charged with two counts of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and two counts of possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine.
- Davarious Keith, 30, of West Columbia, was charged with dealing in firearms without a license, distribution of crack cocaine, as well as felon in possession and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- David Smith, 36, of West Columbia, was charged with distribution of crack cocaine.
The case was investigated by the West Columbia Police Department, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office is handling the prosecution of additional defendants facing state charges related to this investigation. The federal cases stemming from this investigation are being prosecuted by a team of Assistant United States Attorneys in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Assistant United States Attorney Elle E. Klein.
The 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.
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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west_cola_drugs_and_gun_pics_0.pdfJustice Department Announces Numerous Firearms, Illegal Narcotics, and Conspiracy Charges in Multi-Agency Take DownRead the Press Release
The Justice Department today announced that 20 individuals were charged in federal court in connection with firearms-trafficking, narcotics, conspiracy, or other firearms offenses after a targeted violent crime reduction initiative in West Columbia, South Carolina. The indictments are a result of a series of coordinated arrests made following a targeted multi-agency operation that spanned several months.
“This operation targeting gun and drug trafficking in South Carolina exemplifies the Justice Department’s partnership-centered, community-tailored strategy to combat violent crime,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “The Justice Department will continue to work closely alongside our local law enforcement and community partners to target the most significant drivers of violent crime and keep people safe.”
“Partnerships are a powerful tool in combatting violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs for the District of South Carolina. “The significant impact of this operation is the product of hundreds of manhours from multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Our communities are safer today because of their collaboration.”
In June 2022, in response to rising violent crime in the West Columbia area, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in Columbia launched an advanced, intelligence-based, multi-faceted law enforcement operation. The purpose of the operation was to target criminal entities and groups in the area, specifically those engaged in the illegal use, sale, and possession of firearms and narcotics. ATF established a controlled buy location, and ATF undercover agents and confidential informants began conducting controlled purchases of firearms and narcotics from criminal targets in the area, while local agencies conducted crime suppression operations.
Defendants included members of the Bloods, Crips, and Gangster Disciple street gangs. The joint investigation has led to 20 defendants facing federal charges. Federal agents purchased or seized 210 firearms, including several machine gun conversion devices or “switches” designed to convert a firearm to a fully automatic weapon, and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Additionally, law enforcement purchased or seized approximately 12 kilograms of methamphetamine, 500 grams of powder cocaine, 500 grams of powder fentanyl, 280 grams of crack cocaine, 2,826 fentanyl pills, and over 2,100 polydrug pills.
Some defendants were charged together, but several others were charged individually. The following charges have been filed in United States District Court, according to court documents:
- Christopher Huntington, also known as Crazy, 32, of Lugoff, was charged with multiple counts of distributing 50 grams of more of methamphetamine, as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and unlawful possession of a firearms.
- Tyrek Carroway, also known as Everything, 24, of Columbia was charged with multiple counts of distributing 50 grams of more of methamphetamine as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
- Marcelleus Robinson also known as Drawdown, 31, of Columbia and Howard Parker, 31, of West Columbia, were charged with unlawful possession of a firearms and unlawful possession of machineguns.
- Joseph Wadsworth, also known as J-Roc, 39, of Gaston, and Curtis Hill III, 33, of Lexington, were charged with multiple counts of distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl, as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and unlawful possession of a firearms.
- Sean Smith, also known as D, 40, of Cayce, was charged with multiple counts of distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and unlawful possession of a firearms.
- Lamark Gill, also known as Lamont, 47, of Lexington, was charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and crack cocaine, as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and unlawful possession of a firearms.
- Ricky Bell Jr., 35, of Columbia, was charged with distribution of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of firearms.
- Dequincy Marquez Jordan, 37, of Florence, was charged with two counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
- Jordan Deshawn Waden also known as Yayo, 24, of Columbia, was charged with two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
- Joel Jeremiah Williams, 35, of Columbia, was charged with two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
- Angela Peterson Black, 51, of Lexington, was charged with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
- Michael Wright, 45, of Greenville, was charged with conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, as well as six counts of distributing methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
- Terrance Myers, also known as Terrance Toomer, 47, of Orangeburg, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Kendolius Jones, also known as Duke Brim, 30, of West Columbia, was charged with felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, as well as possession of an unregistered short barrel rifle.
- Reginald Pearson, 40, of Columbia, was charged with three counts possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of cocaine, as well as felon in possession and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Everette Wanamaker, 36, of Columbia, was charged with two counts possession with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl, as well as six counts of felon in possession.
- Sean Dunagan, 44, of Marietta, Georgia, was charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, with possession with intent to distribute fifty grams or more of methamphetamine as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and destruction of evidence.
- Davarious Keith, 30, of West Columbia, was charged with dealing in firearms without a license, distribution of crack cocaine, as well as felon in possession and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- David Smith, 36, of West Columbia, was charged with distribution of crack cocaine.
- Gregory Huggins, 30, of Lexington was charged with two counts of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and two counts of possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine.
ATF, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the West Columbia Police Department, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, and Richland County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case.
The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office is handling the prosecution of additional defendants facing state charges related to this investigation. The federal cases stemming from this investigation are being prosecuted by a team of Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein for the District of South Carolina.
The case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Justice Department'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.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.