District of South Carolina
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Charleston County School Board Member Indicted for Bribery and COVID FraudRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Charleston returned a five-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Kevin Dion Hollinshead, 64, of North Charleston, for accepting a bribe in exchange for his influence and official action as a Charleston County School District Trustee and for wire fraud and bank fraud related to COVID relief loans.
The indictment alleges that Hollinshead accepted a bribe in exchange for his support of a construction company’s pursuit of an appeal arising from a failed bid for a construction project. Specifically, the indictment alleges that Hollinshead encouraged an executive from the construction company to hire a consultant to assist them in navigating the appeal process. The consultant agreed to kickback a portion of his consulting fee from the construction company to Hollinshead. Moreover, Hollinshead, knowing that the consultant intended to pay him a kickback from his consulting fee, used his official position as a member of the Charleston County School District’s Board of Trustees to influence the appeal process in favor of the construction company.
The indictment a further alleges that in 2020 and 2021, Hollinshead applied for two loans through the pandemic relief programs that were administered by the Small Business Administration. In addition to including false information in the loan applications related to his business’ revenues and employment figures, Hollinshead used the loan proceeds for non-qualifying, personal expenses such as a medical procedure at a clinic in Mexico.
“As alleged, Hollinshead used his position and influence as a school board member for personal gain,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “Our office will continue to hold elected officials who violate the public trust accountable, particularly when that trust involves the well-being of our children’s education.”
Hollinshead faces a maximum penalty of 30 years' imprisonment, supervised release for three years, and a $1 million fine. Hollinshead is scheduled to appear before the Honorable Molly H. Cherry, United States Magistrate Judge, on March 18 in Charleston.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Whit Sowards and Emily Limehouse are prosecuting the case.
All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.###
Union County Man Sentenced to More than 10 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of FentanylRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. — Dezmond Tobias Tucker, 31, of Union, has been sentenced to more than 10 years in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in October of 2023, investigators with the Union Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration caught Tucker selling fentanyl pills in an undercover drug purchase. Tucker was previously connected to the sale of fentanyl to a 20-year-old Spartanburg woman who died from a fentanyl overdose in December of 2022. Tucker also forfeited a firearm that was recovered when agents executed a search warrant at the home where he was living in March of 2024.
United States District Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin sentenced Tucker to 131 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Union Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Schoen prosecuted the case.###
Greer Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Wire Fraud, Money Laundering related to Cares Act FraudRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Jonathan Wade Sumter, 54, of Greer, has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for wire fraud and money laundering related to a scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programs of over $1.8 million.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that between June 2020 and January 2022, Jonathan Wade Sumter, his twin brother Jason Elijah Sumter, and Gerothia McCullough devised a scheme to defraud the PPP and EIDL programs by applying for funds on behalf of sham or defunct companies. Jonathan Sumter and the others submitted applications containing phony company expenses, employee wage statements, and other false documents on behalf of the sham companies Living Water Outreach, High Consulting, Lyons Transport, GSM Home Care, Challenge Consulting, and Omni Holdings. Using these fraudulent applications, they obtained over $1.8 million of EIDL and PPP payments. Jonathan Sumter was the ringleader and submitted the applications on behalf of and with the permission of the others. When the loans were funded, the three split the proceeds.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Johathan Sumter to 80 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Jonathan Sumter’s sentence will run concurrent with a 92-month sentence he was already serving for a 2023 federal conviction for health care fraud. Jason Elijah Sumter was recently sentenced to three years for his role in the fraud and Gerothia McCullough was sentenced to 12 months for her role.
To recover ill-gotten gains from the defendants, Jonathan Wade Sumter was ordered to pay $1,802,741 in restitution. Jason Elijah Sumter was ordered to pay $739,786 in restitution and he was ordered to forfeit a parcel of real property in Orangeburg County. Gerothia McCullough was ordered to pay $478,366 in restitution and she was ordered to forfeit a 2018 GMC Canyon.
This case was investigated by the Small Business Administration and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney T. DeWayne Pearson prosecuted the case.
###
Richland County Man Sentenced to 10 years in Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Gun, AmmoRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jacob Lloyd Lower, 31, of Richland County, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on April 25, 2022, officers with Irmo Police Department responded to a single vehicle collision. On the way, officers received an update that the driver of the vehicle was physically assaulting a passerby who stopped to help him. There was also a report that the driver was attempting to steal a second vehicle.
When law enforcement arrived, a witness told the officers that the individual wearing a bloody white shirt, later identified as Lower, ran into the woods. As officers searched for Lower, they were then notified that Lower attempted to steal a truck in a nearby parking lot but was unsuccessful and continued to run. A Richland County Sheriff’s Department K-9 arrived on scene and led law enforcement to an area in the woods where they found a white shirt with blood on it. Lower was located nearby and arrested. During his arrest, Lower was found with several types of drugs and a .22 caliber pistol along with 300 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition.
Lower is prohibited from possessing a firearm and/or ammunition based upon convictions for criminal conspiracy, burglary second, grand larceny, and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Lower to 120 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Irmo Police Department, and Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon prosecuted the case.###
Final Defendant in Large York County Drug Conspiracy Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jarman Lamar White, 39, of Rock Hill, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 400 grams of fentanyl and a quantity of cocaine and methamphetamine.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that White was responsible for selling drugs that were obtained from members of the Darryl Hemphill drug organization. Agents learned that drugs obtained by this group included pills that resembled Roxicodone 30 mg tablets, also known in the generic form as a oxycodone. The counterfeit pills were produced by members of the organization. The pills were clandestinely manufactured with fentanyl at various locations in the Rock Hill and Charlotte area.
During the investigation, multiple phone calls were intercepted between White and other members of the organization in which it was learned that White was acquiring cocaine and methamphetamine, in addition to fentanyl, from other members. Agents also learned that White allowed the organization to use the basement of his girlfriend’s home in Rock Hill to set up multiple pill-press machines used to manufacture the fentanyl-laced pills. White and others were surveilled and observed moving the pill-press machines into the basement of the residence. White allowed multiple members of the Hemphill organization to utilize this residence to store and later operate multiple pill-press machines to clandestinely manufacture these fentanyl-laced pills. On one occasion, White and members of the organization made approximately 50,000 fentanyl-laced pills in the basement of the residence during a single day. White was paid a quantity of fentanyl-laced pills and several thousand dollars in return for using his residence.
At the time of White’s arrest in June 2018, agents conducted a search at this residence and located multiple pill-press machines, pill binder, masks/respirators, an industrial mixing machine, and a 9mm pistol which was in a backpack belonging to White.
In addition, after the arrest of the other members of the organization, agents of the York County Multijurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit completed three separate controlled purchase of fentanyl pills from White. Through these controlled purchases, agents learned White had continued to conspire with others to distribute fentanyl-laced pills after his initial arrest.United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced White to 180 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 the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF comprises agents and officers with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, York County Multijurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon prosecuted the case.###
West Columbia Man Sentenced to 21 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Robert K. Bonesteel, 63, of West Columbia, has been sentenced to more than 21 years in federal prison for producing child sexual abuse material. *
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in November 2023, law enforcement agencies executed an undercover chat operation targeted at identifying child sex offenders. During the chat operation, undercover officers posed as a 14-year-old boy and chatted with Bonesteel on a social media application. Bonesteel discussed “ravaging” him and engaging in oral sex, before agreeing to meet the child at his home in Lexington where Bonesteel believed he was home alone. Bonesteel arrived at what he believed to be the minor’s home with condoms and was arrested. Following his arrest, law enforcement searched Bonesteel’s phone and discovered that Bonesteel had produced and disseminated child sexual abuse material. Further social media messages revealed that Bonesteel coached other individuals on how to groom children and sexually abuse them.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Bonesteel to 260 months imprisonment, to be followed by a term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. The court ordered that restitution be paid to the minor victim.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit Justice.gov/PSC.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the U.S. Secret Service, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, and the Lexington Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein prosecuted the case.###
Former Greenville CEO, Employees Indicted in Multi-Million Dollar Health Care Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Greenville returned a 16-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Kevin S. Murdock, 56, Thomas C. Lee, 56, both of Greenville, and Vidhya V. Narayanan, 45, of Atlanta, for health care fraud and conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
The indictment alleges that Murdock owned and operated Premier Medical Laboratory Services, headquartered in Greenville. Lee and Narayanan were both high-level employees of Premier. Premier offered diagnostic testing services for medical providers, including but not limited to COVID-19 testing. The defendants devised a multi-part scheme to fraudulently generate revenue from health care benefit programs related to the pandemic. This included submitted false claims to the federal government for individual tests when in truth the tests had been pooled together for combined, faster processing and for manipulating test processing software. As a result, the defendants billed for tests that virtually worthless and ineligible for reimbursement. The conspiracy to defraud healthcare benefit programs generated millions in fraudulent proceeds.
The defendants each face a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and three years of supervised release to follow the term of imprisonment.
Murdock previously agreed to a consent judgment of $27,544,460, acknowledging there is a likelihood he would be found liable in the civil action brought against him by the United States and the States of Colorado, Georgia, and South Carolina for violating the False Claims Act, the Georgia False Medicaid Claims Act, the Colorado Medicaid False Claims Act, and the South Carolina Medical Assistance Provider Fraud Statute.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service and the South Carolina Attorney General's Office's Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Watkins is prosecuting the case.
All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.###
Lancaster County Felons Sentenced to Federal Prison in Separate CasesRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Two felons in Lancaster County have been sentenced to federal prison for drug and firearm offenses in two separate cases.
“Both of these defendants are convicted felons who continued to bring guns and drugs into Lancaster County,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “We’re committed to working with our state and federal law enforcement partners to identify violent offenders like McGriff and Hood and prosecute them federally.”
“These cases are a great example of the value of partnerships in law enforcement,” said Lancaster County Sheriff Barry Faile. “Our officers made a traffic stop and found McGriff to be in possession of substantial quantities of fentanyl and methamphetamine and a handgun. On another traffic stop we found Hood, who is prohibited from having firearms and ammunition, with a pistol. From there we had the assistance of the FBI and the ATF in preparing the cases for prosecution in federal court. I am grateful for their help and the efforts of the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney’s Office in getting these cases into court quickly and sending McGriff and Hood to federal prison for their illegal narcotics and weapons activities in Lancaster County.”
Joblicenarius W’Yarian McGriff, 28, of Lancaster, has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for possession with intent of distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on March 2, 2024, a Lancaster County Sheriff’s deputy initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle in which McGriff was a passenger. The deputy conducted a probable cause search of the vehicle and found McGriff’s gray bookbag on the floor of the backseat. In the backpack, officers discovered narcotics, including over 23 grams of fentanyl and over 5 grams of methamphetamine, and a handgun. Further investigation uncovered hotel surveillance video of McGriff carrying the same bookbag just before the traffic stop.
La’Jameion Vartavious Hood, 25, of Lancaster was sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.On June 24, 2024, Lancaster County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle where Hood was a passenger. During a search, officers recovered a 9mm firearm, which was loaded with 15 rounds in the magazine and one round chambered, under the passenger seat where Hood was seated. Hood has prior convictions for accessory after the fact to murder, unlawful carry, assault and battery – 3rd and discharging a firearm into a dwelling.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced McGriff to 78 total months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. sentenced Hood to 37 months imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.These cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Elizabeth Major and Department of Justice Trial Attorney Christopher Matthews of the Justice Department’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section prosecuted the case against McGriff. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein prosecuted the case against Hood.
###Richland County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Arthur Ryans, Jr., 42, of Columbia, has been sentenced to 10 years for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed the Richland County Sheriff’s Department arrested Ryans at a local motel for his involvement in a shooting incident.
During the arrest, Springdale Police officers acquired a search warrant for the motel room where Ryans was staying at the time of his arrest. During a search of the room, officers located a loaded 9mm pistol in a gym bad. Officers also located multiple plastic baggies containing a purple powder, plastic baggies containing a crystal substance, a digital scale, and multiple plastic baggies consistent with narcotics packaging material. Through ballistics testing, investigators confirmed that the firearm was used in the prior shooting.
Ryans was prohibited from possessing a firearm based upon a prior conviction for assault with intent to kill.
United States District Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. sentenced Ryans to 120 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 made possible by investigative leads generated from ATF’s National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). NIBIN is the only national network that allows for the capture and comparison of ballistic evidence to aid in solving and preventing violent crimes involving firearms. NIBIN is a proven investigative and intelligence tool that can link firearms from multiple crime scenes, allowing law enforcement to quickly disrupt shooting cycles. For more information on NIBIN, visit https://www.atf.gov/firearms/national-integrated-ballistic-information-network-nibin
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and Springdale Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon prosecuted the case.
###
Columbia Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Distributing Fatal Quantity of Fentanyl to USC StudentRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Vernon Antwan Martin, 37, of Columbia, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for the distribution of fentanyl to a 20-year-old University of South Carolina student, resulting in her death.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in May 2023, Columbia Police officers conducted a welfare check on a woman at a Columbia apartment after family and friends reported that they were unable to contact her. Officers found the woman dead in her apartment. An autopsy report confirmed the victim died from a fentanyl overdose.
Based on evidence collected during the investigation, law enforcement determined on May 30, 2023, Martin distributed a counterfeit pill to the victim, which she believed to be Percocet but actually contained fentanyl. Following the victim’s death, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a search at Martin’s residence, where they located additional narcotics, a firearm, and approximately $30,000.
“There is always danger in taking prescription pills that are not prescribed to you by a legitimate health care provider. This case demonstrates how deadly a small amount of fentanyl can be,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “This case is the result of law enforcement coordination at the local and federal level, and we’ll continue to aggressively prosecute those who bring fentanyl into our community. Our hearts are with this young woman’s family and loved ones as they remember a life cut short.”
“This case is a tragic example of the deadly consequences of counterfeit pills,” said Jae W. Chung, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “The victim thought they were purchasing Percocet, but they were handed fentanyl, a synthetic opioid driving overdose deaths across our nation. The defendant knew exactly what he was selling. As the DEA continues its Fentanyl-Free America campaign, today’s sentencing underscores our mission to protect communities and aggressively pursue those who knowingly distribute lethal substances.”
"Our officers worked closely with federal partners to investigate this case and ensure the individual responsible was held accountable,” said Columbia Police Chief W. H. “Skip” Holbrook. “We urge the public to understand the serious risk of taking pills that are not prescribed by a legitimate medical provider - just one can kill."
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Martin to 240 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Judge Lewis also ordered that Martin pay approximately $19,000 in restitution to the victim’s family.
To learn more about DEA’s Fentanyl Free America campaign, including resources for getting help, visit DEA.gov/FentanylFree.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the City of Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle E. Klein and Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case.
###
Orangeburg County Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a GunRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Kamari Johnson, 26, of Orangeburg, has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety believed that Johnson was selling cocaine in the area. On May 13, 2024, law enforcement used a confidential informant to arrange the purchase of a firearm and cocaine from Johnson. Johnson agreed and sold the informant a gun and a small amount of cocaine.
Johnson was prohibited from possessing the firearm based upon prior convictions for burglary and pointing and presenting a firearm.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Johnson to 57 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Orangeburg Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon prosecuted the case.
###
Columbia Man Agrees to Plead Guilty to Hate CrimeRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jonathan Andrew Felkel, 34, of Columbia, has agreed to plead guilty to violating the housing rights of his black neighbor, J.M. A federal grand jury returned an indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, in December 2025.
According to court documents, on July 17, 2025, Felkel was driving into the gated community where both he and J.M. lived when he saw J.M. standing at the gate of the community. Felkel fired a gun and shouted, “You better keep running, boy!” at J.M.
Felkel has agreed to plead guilty to a federal charge which criminalizes the use of force or threatened force to injure, intimidate, or interfere with someone’s housing rights based on race. Felkel faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release to follow any term of imprisonment. Felkel will enter his change of plea in federal court before United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis on a future date.
The FBI Columbia Field Office and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle Klein and Lamar Fyall of the District of South Carolina and Trial Attorney Sarah Armstrong of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section are prosecuting the case.###
Columbia Felon Pleads Guilty to Gun Charge Amidst Girlfriend’s Murder InvestigationRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Anthony Demetrius Reese, 55, of Columbia, has pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on Aug. 31, 2025, Columbia Police Department officers were investigating the suspicious disappearance of Columbia woman Angela Fuller. Fuller, Reese’s girlfriend, had been reported missing by a relative and was last seen with Reese.
Columbia Police officers spotted Reese’s vehicle and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but he instead fled and eventually crashed in Lexington. A loaded firearm was recovered from Reese’s vehicle. Reese has prior felony convictions for domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature, shoplifting 3rd offense or above, burglary 2nd degree, and assault and battery 2nd degree. He is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. Law enforcement later recovered Fuller’s body after an extensive search. Testing confirmed that the firearm recovered from Reese’s vehicle matched the murder weapon.
Reese faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson Jr. accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Reese after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
Reese has pleaded not guilty to state charges of murder, unauthorized removal of a dead body, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and possession of a stolen pistol. He remains innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt on those charges.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the City of Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Major is prosecuting the case.
###
Richland County Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Yashawnus Leekean Patterson, 45, of Columbia, has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison after being convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Patterson was convicted by a federal jury following a trial in June 2025.
Evidence presented at trial included testimony and body worn camera footage showing two Columbia Police Department officers responding to a hotel in downtown Columbia to assist in removing Patterson, who was no longer staying at that hotel. After being asked to place Patterson on trespass notice, officers learned he was wanted on a bench warrant from the Cayce Police Department and arrested him. When officers searched him, they located a loaded 9mm pistol in the front of his waistband, a 30-round extended magazine in his backpack, and a total of 74 rounds of 9mm ammunition on his person and his other belongings. Patterson acknowledged to officers that he knew he was not legally allowed to possess a firearm.
Patterson has an extensive record of felony convictions dating back to 1998, including convictions for criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the second degree, strong-arm robbery, assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.
United States District Judge Mary G. Lewis sentenced Patterson to 96 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the City of Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Major prosecuted the case.
###
Connecticut Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Threatening to Torture and Kill FBI Agent and FamilyRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Scott Robert Tardy, 32, of Seymour, Connecticut, has been sentenced to 80 months in federal prison for cyberstalking, providing false statements to the FBI, and obstruction of justice in a scheme that targeted a South Carolina FBI agent and his family.
“The work of a law enforcement agent is difficult enough without the undue burden of threats against their safety and the safety of their family,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “We’ll continue to support our law enforcement partners who protect South Carolina every day.”
“Cyberstalking has serious consequences, as this defendant has now learned,” said Kevin Moore, special agent in charge of the FBI Columbia Field Office. “His deliberate actions were intended to instill fear and resulted in lasting trauma for the victims. The FBI will always investigate, pursue, and bring to justice, individuals who exploit digital platforms to engage in criminal conduct.”
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Tardy operated an account with the username “connecticut12345” on the Kik social media platform in which he joined an anti-law enforcement chat group.
In those messages, Tardy repeatedly identified the victims’ association with the FBI as a reason to target them. He also shared photographs of the agent’s spouse and the city and state where they live. Tardy discussed violence against the agent and the agent’s family, including throwing a Molotov cocktail in their bedroom while they were sleeping. He asked for the conversation to be moved to the Telegram platform, where he operated the username “slimybanana,” because he believed that application was more secure.On the second platform, Tardy discussed what a cartel would do to the victims, he discussed having one of the victims “ruined,” “destroyed,” and “tortured for days.” He discussed having the violence recorded on video. He said burning the house was “good enough” if the victim was inside. Tardy then shared the location of the victims’ home by sharing a map with a pin drop on the victims’ street and asked another user how long it would take them to get there.
When the FBI executed a federal search warrant at Tardy’s apartment on Feb. 16, he falsely denied ever using Kik or Telegram, and he denied responsibility for the solicitations and messages. He gave further false statements in an interview with investigators, and he caused the phone that he used to be reset, clearing its content, and exchanging it for a new phone.
Despite his efforts to evade detection, data related to the Kik and Telegram accounts showed that Tardy controlled the accounts. Investigators were also able to recover the map of the victims’ home with the pin drop on it from an account associated with Tardy. During the scheme, Tardy worked as a corrections officer at a detention facility in Connecticut.
Further evidence revealed that Tardy had engaged in other predatory online activity, to include messages discussing his desires to drug and rape women in his community and sharing images of friends’ children while discussing child sexual abuse.
United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. sentenced Tardy to 80 months imprisonment, representing a variance above the advisory sentencing range provided by the U.S. Sentencing Commission Guidelines. The Court imposed the higher sentence because of the severity of the impact on the victims. Tardy’s prison term will be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. The Court also ordered Tardy to pay more than $5,000 in restitution for financial costs to the victims associated with his criminal conduct.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elle E. Klein and Elliott B. Daniels prosecuted the case.
###
West Columbia Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing Gun, DrugsRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Cedrick Exzavius Reese, 45, of West Columbia, has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for possession of crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl and for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that a Richland County deputy observed a car speeding and running a stop sign. The deputy initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle, driven by Reese. After failing to provide a driver’s license, Reese gave consent to the deputy to search him. The deputy located suspected methamphetamine in a clear plastic bag in his waistband. He stated the narcotics were for “personal use.” When the deputy searched the vehicle, he found a gun and ammunition in the car, along with crack cocaine and fentanyl.
Reese had prior convictions for multiple drug offenses which prohibit him from possessing a firearm.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Reese to 36 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision on each count, to run concurrently. Reese must also pay a $5,000 fine. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.
###
Richland County Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Sherman Devine Boone, 29, of Columbia, has been sentenced to 57 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a firearm after a conviction for criminal domestic violence.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Richland County deputies responded to a report of shots fired at a home in Columbia. Deputies arrived to find Boone, who matched the description of the alleged shooter, attempting to leave the location with a child, and the child’s mother telling him to give her the child. The deputies could see a firearm in Boone’s waistband. Boone charged towards the deputies while holding the child, repeatedly telling deputies to “go ahead and shoot me” and “just kill me.” Boone eventually gave the child to the child’s mother and surrendered to law enforcement. The mother told investigators that she and Boone got into an argument, during which he pushed her and grabbed her by the throat. She was able to get Boone out of the house, at which time he pulled out the firearm and fired multiple rounds in the air while threatening her.
Boone had previously been convicted of use of a vehicle without permission, grand larceny, common law robbery, strong arm robbery, assault and battery, and criminal domestic violence. He, therefore, could not possess a firearm or ammunition.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Boone to 57 months imprisonment, to be followed by a two-year term of court-ordered supervision on both counts, to be served concurrently. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.
###
Members of a York County Drug Conspiracy Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Cory Martin, 32, of Rock Hill; Travis Queen, 33, of Rock Hill; Brandon Ramsey, 23, of Clover; and Wesley Huffstetler, 31, of York have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a fentanyl and meth drug trafficking conspiracy. A fifth member of the conspiracy, Ashley Daniels, 34, is awaiting sentencing.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the York County Multijurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit investigated a drug conspiracy in the York County area led by Martin. Multiple witnesses identified Martin, Queen, Ramsey, and Huffstetler as members of the conspiracy. During the investigation, law enforcement used confidential sources to contact Martin to buy methamphetamine and fentanyl. After coordinating the drug sales, Martin sent Brandon Ramsey to deliver the drugs. Huffstetler’s house was used to receive and store shipments of meth for the drug conspiracy. During the investigation, law enforcement intercepted over 3.7 pounds of methamphetamine shipped to Huffstetler’s house.
Martin, Queen, Ramsey, and Huffstetler were eventually arrested on state charges related to the investigation. While incarcerated, Martin spoke to Daniels and instructed her to retrieve fentanyl and methamphetamine from Martin’s home. Queen then spoke to Daniels and instructed her on which drugs to keep and which drugs to sell. Law enforcement intercepted the calls and found the methamphetamine and fentanyl pills after a search of Daniels’ property.
In total, over 26.4 pounds of methamphetamine and over 22 pounds of fentanyl were attributed to the conspiracy.
After Martin was indicted and detained on federal charges, he participated in the submission of false letters to the court in an attempt to mislead the court about his role in the drug conspiracy. As a result, the government charged Martin with contempt of court.
Martin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine, and contempt of court. Ramsey, Daniels, and Queen pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. Huffstetler pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Martin to 276 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. Queen was sentenced to 125 months imprisonment, followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Ramsey was sentenced to 96 months followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Huffstetler was sentenced to 90 months followed by a three-year term of supervised release. Ashley Daniels has not yet been sentenced.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the York County Multijurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall is prosecuting the case.
###
Kershaw County Felon Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing a Gun Following Nightclub ShootingRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Davon Jermaine Mickle, 40, of Kershaw, has pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on Aug. 19, 2023, the Camden Police Department responded to a shooting near a nightclub. Three victims reported that they were at the nightclub when Mickle began harassing one of them. They saw Mickle walking around the parking lot with an AR-style rifle and then place the rifle in a car. After a short argument with Mickle, the three victims left together. As they were leaving, they saw Mickle run back to the car, return with the rifle, and shoot at their car nearly two dozen times. During the investigation, officers found 23 cartridges in the road near the shooting. The victims’ car had one bullet hole in the bumper.
The victims identified Mickle as the shooter, and investigators determined he had an outstanding arrest warrant. Deputies from the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office located Mickle sitting in the driver’s seat of a vehicle at his residence and saw an AR-style rifle in the passenger seat. The police detained Mickle and secured the firearm. The police reviewed surveillance footage of the shooting and observed that the shooter was wearing the same shoes, blue jean shorts and black boxers that Mickle was wearing. Investigators determined the gun in the vehicle was not the same gun used in the shooting, however a gun residue test proved that Mickle had recently fired a firearm.
Mickle is prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon previous convictions for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, distribution of crack cocaine near a school, distribution of crack cocaine 1st, and distribution of cocaine base 3rd.
Mickle faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years and a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and five years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Mickle after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office, and the Camden Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.
###
Camden Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Access Device FraudRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jamel Christopher Chisolm, 37, of Camden, has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for access device fraud involving stolen credit cards.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in 2023, several law enforcement agencies were investigating cases of stolen mail, including missing credit cards. During a traffic stop, local law enforcement found Chisolm in possession of numerous credit cards in other peoples’ names. Further investigation revealed that these cards had been stolen from the mail. After stealing the credit cards out of the mail, Chisolm and a colleague used the cards to obtain goods and services. They made unauthorized purchases and withdrawals on the credit cards through a variety of methods, including software such as “Gucci Bot.” In total, victims reported a financial loss of over $118,000.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Chisolm to 27 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. He was also ordered to pay $118,769.88 in restitution to the victims of the crime.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General, Camden Police Department, and the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Potterfield prosecuted the case.
###
Lancaster Trio Sentenced for Health Care Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Charles McKinley Griffin, 56, Tika Michelle Griffin, 48, and Kirk Nathan Evans, 55, all of Lancaster, have each been sentenced for conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) previously excluded Charles Griffin from provider eligibility for receiving Medicaid payments for billing for services not rendered and for overlapping services, among other violations. To evade SCDHHS’ exclusion, Charles Griffin and his wife Tika Griffin established Transformation Services in Tika’s name, which the couple thereafter used to defraud the State of South Carolina and Medicaid out of nearly $250,000 in funds.
Beginning in 2019, Tika applied to bill Medicaid through her company, Transformation Services, as a provider of behavioral health services. Tika and Charles then recruited Medicaid beneficiaries through after-school programs and summer camps in Lancaster and Kershaw counties to receive behavioral health services from therapists employed by Transformation Services. However, the therapists employed by Transformation Services, including Kirk Evans, were not authorized by the state of South Carolina to provide behavioral health services. Further, Transformation Services employees did not meet individually with the children to whom they claimed to provide services. Instead, Tika instructed Transformation employees to meet with children in groups but to bill as if they had met with each child individually over the course of several hours. By billing for overlapping and nonexistent services and rendering behavioral health services by unlicensed therapists, Transformation Services fraudulently billed Medicaid for nearly $250,000.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced both Charles Griffin and Tika Griffin to 30 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. Evans was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. Tika and Charles Griffin were also ordered to pay $246,335.12 in restitution to the SCDHHS. The ordered amount is joint and several between Charles and Tika Griffin. Evans was ordered to pay $152,669.63 in restitution that was joint and several with Charles and Tika Griffin’s amount. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Vulnerable Adults and Medicaid Provider Fraud (VAMPF) unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott Daniels and Scott Matthews are prosecuting the case.
Government to Seek Death Penalty against Marion Man Accused of Murdering S.C. EMS WorkerRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, S.C. — Today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina filed a notice of intent to seek the death penalty against Jaremy Alexander Smith, 35, of Marion, South Carolina, for the 2024 kidnapping, carjacking, and murder of a Marion County EMS worker. A federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment on Feb. 24. He is charged with kidnapping resulting in death, carjacking resulting in death, using a firearm during a crime of violence in a manner to constitute murder, possession of stolen firearms, and being a felon in possession of firearms.
The indictment charges that on March 13, 2024, Smith entered the home of Phonesia Machado-Fore in Marion where he kidnapped her and forced her to drive her vehicle to a remote location near Nichols. Once there, Smith executed Machado-Fore behind an abandoned house while she was bound and blindfolded. Smith then drove Machado-Fore’s car back to her residence where he stole several firearms that he later sold. Smith then drove the stolen car to New Mexico, where he killed New Mexico State Police (NMSP) Officer Justin Hare on March 15, 2024. In April 2025, Smith was sentenced to life in prison in the District of New Mexico for killing the NMSP Officer.
United States Attorney General Pamela Bondi authorized the District of South Carolina to pursue capital punishment in this case. Smith is scheduled to be arraigned in federal court on Feb. 26 at 2:30 p.m. in Florence.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Everett McMillian and Christopher Lietzow are prosecuting the case with support from DOJ’s Capital Case Section Trial Attorneys Barry Disney and Julie Adams.
All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Lowcountry Attorney Charged with Defrauding $1.5M from Mt. Pleasant Law Firm and ClientsRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — William Christopher Swett, 42, of Johns Island, has been charged with wire fraud and money laundering for defrauding his employer and clients of at least $1.5 million.
According to the charging documents, Swett worked as a personal injury attorney at a Mt. Pleasant law firm and represented individuals in civil claims following death, injury, and other loss. From at least 2018 through 2024, Swett devised a scheme to defraud the law firm and his clients. To further his scheme, Swett established legal services companies and expensed the law firm and his clients for services not performed and for inflated and illegitimate expenses. Swett withheld his association with these companies from his clients and the law firm.
Swett also submitted reimbursement requests for fictitious clients, fabricated death and personal injury claims, and falsified medical records and other documents to further his fraud. To conceal his crimes, Swett laundered the funds through accounts he controlled and siphoned the money for his own personal enrichment. Swett fraudulently obtained at least $1.5 million.
Swett has agreed to plead guilty to four counts of wire fraud and four counts of money laundering. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Limehouse is prosecuting the case.
###
Ohio Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Sexual Assault on Cruise ShipRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Antonio Salazar Munos, 23, of Columbus, Ohio has been sentenced to two and a half years in federal prison for assaulting a dating partner by suffocation.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in April 2023, Munos, the victim, and other family members traveled from their home in Ohio to Charleston, South Carolina for a three-day cruise. While onboard the Carnival Sunshine, Munos physically assaulted the victim at various locations onboard the ship before the two returned to their cabin. Upon returning to the cabin, Munos sexually and physically assaulted the victim. The victim notified the Sunshine’s onboard security team, who investigated the incident and then reported it to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Munos to 30 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Whit Sowards prosecuted the case.
###
SCDC Inmate Indicted for Threatening the President, Religious GroupsRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a two-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Eric Anthony Rome Jr., 37, an inmate incarcerated in the South Carolina Department of Corrections, for sending a threatening letter to a Jewish/Christian organization and threatening to kill President Trump.
The indictment alleges that in January, Rome drafted a letter to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews in Chicago, Illinois. The letter included threats and derogatory references to the Jewish community and concluded with “Enjoy having Trump in office while you can because we are going to kill him too.”
Rome signed his full name to the letter.
Rome faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and restitution. Rome is currently serving a state sentence for armed robbery. He has been convicted federally for threatening the president of the United States twice before. At the conclusion of his state sentence in 2030, he will begin serving a five-year sentence for a previous federal conviction involving similar threats.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. State Department, and the South Carolina Department of Corrections. Assistant U.S. Attorney Winston D. Holliday Jr. is prosecuting the case.
All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Richland County Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Terrance Lopez Mayo, 33, of Columbia, has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on Nov. 13, 2023, officers were called after a witness reported seeing a male passenger in a vehicle point a gun at him. Officers saw the vehicle parked. When they approached, Mayo ran from the vehicle. During the chase, Mayo threw a 9mm pistol to the ground. Investigators later determined the firearm had been reported stolen. Mayo has a prior conviction for attempted armed robbery which prevents him from possessing a firearm under federal law.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Mayo to 31 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the City of Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Major prosecuted the case.
###
Greenville County Man Sentenced for Straw Purchasing FirearmsRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Kelsey Antonio McCallum, 32, of Greenville, has been sentenced to more than five years in federal prison for straw purchasing guns that were bought in South Carolina and Georgia.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that between March 2018 and June 2022, McCallum bought 93 firearms in 52 separate purchases from firearm dealers in South Carolina and Georgia. McCallum would indicate on the federal firearms sale forms that he was the actual buyer of the firearms, knowing that he intended to sell them to others. McCallum would then transport these firearms to Maryland to sell them to other individuals. Some of the guns were later discovered at crime scenes in Maryland and in other states. McCallum was convicted by a federal jury in 2024 after a two-day trial.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced McCallum to 63 months imprisonment, to be followed by a one-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon prosecuted the case.
###
Former Shaw AFB Daycare Worker Indicted for Assaulting ChildrenRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury in Columbia returned a seven-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Tyrel Mack, 29, of Florence, for physically assaulting minor victims.
The indictment alleges that Mack was an employee at a child development and youth center on Shaw Air Force Base near Sumter. This center provides childcare to US Airforce service members and their families. In November 2025, Mack was assigned to work in a classroom serving children from ages 3-years-old to 5-years-old. The indictment charges Mack with assaulting four different minor victims on seven different occasions. Mack is alleged to have kicked, hit, struck, and intentionally stepped on the minor victims, all of whom were younger than 5-years-old.
Mack faces a maximum penalty of one year for each of the seven charges.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Airforce Security Forces Squadron. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Matthews and Elle E. Klein are prosecuting the case.
All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Federal Jury Convicts Lexington Man for Possession of Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
SPARTANBURG, S.C. — William Steven Wooten, 46, of Lexington, has been convicted by a federal jury following two days of trial. Wooten was found guilty on one count of possession of child sexual abuse material.*
Evidence introduced at trial showed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation was conducting a stolen valor investigation related to Wooten’s possession and use of a fraudulent form DD-214, a military discharge document. Wooten purported to be a combat veteran and to have earned a Purple Heart. In truth, Wooten had never served in the military. Wooten used the fraudulent document in an effort to obtain employment and to convince a single mother that he was an upstanding citizen who could be trusted around her young children.
The FBI obtained a search warrant for Wooten’s phone and discovered child sexual abuse material, in addition to the fraudulent DD-214. FBI forensic examiners located 203 images depicting child sexual abuse. Search terms indicated Wooten was seeking images of young girls, including children being abused by adult males.
Just eight months before the FBI found Wooten in possession of child sexual abuse material and the fraudulent discharge document, Wooten was found guilty in state court for criminal sexual conduct with a minor. Approximately two weeks before his federal trial, Wooten pleaded guilty to possessing the fraudulent DD-214.
Wooten faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years on the child sexual abuse material conviction, a fine of up to $250,000, and restitution. U.S. District Judge Donald C. Coggins presided over the trial and will sentence Wooten after receiving and reviewing a pre-sentence report from the U.S. Probation Office.
The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office and the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Bill Watkins and Winston Marosek are prosecuting the case.
###
British National and Former Nuclear Energy Program Director for Oak Ridge National Laboratory Pleads Guilty to Sexual Exploitation of Child in Two StatesRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On February 12, 2026, Andrew Worrall, 56, a British national currently residing in Knox County, Tennessee, entered a guilty plea to one count of sexual exploitation of a child in the Eastern District of Tennessee and one count of sexual exploitation of a child in the District of South Carolina. Sentencing has been set for June 24, 2026, in United States District Court at Knoxville.
Worrall faces a term of up to 60 years in Federal prison, $500,000 in fines, restitution, forfeiture, special assessments and up to a lifetime on supervised release.
As part of the written plea agreement, Worrall agreed to forfeit his home in the Eastern District of Tennessee. Further, Worral agreed he is a removable alien and will waive any form of relief of removal from the United States after his incarceration portion of his sentence is completed.
According to documents filed in the case, Worrall contacted a 17-year-old minor female on the Snapchat application using the internet in July 2025. Knowing the age of the child, Worrall requested nude pictures of the child. The child complied. Worrall then requested the child insert a foreign object into her body and send a video. The child complied.
On the same day, Worrall contacted another 17-year-old minor female who resided in South Carolina using his Snapchat account. Worrall had similar communications with the child, asking to prove she was real by sending him pictures. After the victim complied he requested the victim masturbate on video for Worrall’s pleasure. The child complied.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee; U.S. Attorney Bryan P. Stirling of the District of South Carolina; and Assistant Inspector General for Investigations Lewe Sessions of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Inspector General made the announcement.
This prosecution is the result of an investigation by the United States Department of Energy, Office of the Inspector General.
Jennifer Kolman and Dean H. Secor, Assistant United States Attorneys represented the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click on the tab "resources.”
###
Spartanburg Man Indicted for Intimidating Mail CarrierRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. —A federal grand jury returned a single-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, charging Michael C. Gresham, 77, of Spartanburg, with assaulting and intimidating a federal employee.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on Nov. 12, 2025, a mail carrier was delivering mail to Gresham’s residence in Spartanburg. As the mail carrier approached Gresham’s home, the mail carrier observed Gresham in the doorway with a firearm in his hand. Gresham opened a storm door and pointed the gun at the mail carrier. As the mail carrier ran from the home, he reported hearing one gunshot coming from the homeowner.
“Postal workers connect our communities every day through their service, and their safety is non-negotiable,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “We will continue to work closely with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to ensure that anyone who threatens or harms these dedicated workers is held accountable.”
“Let this indictment serve as a reminder that the safety of all USPS employees remains one of the top priorities of the United States Postal Inspection Service,” said Atlanta Division Inspector in Charge Rodney Hopkins. “A mail carrier’s job is one of hard work and dedication and should be free from threats of violence while they carry out their duties.”
Gresham faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lothrop Morris is prosecuting the case.
All charges in an indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Georgia Man Pleads Guilty to Gun Charge in S.C. Trooper ShootingRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Derrick Gathers, 40, of Augusta, Georgia, has pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to statements made in court, on August 16, 2023, Trooper Frazier with the South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) stopped Gathers for speeding on Highway 78 in Bamberg County. Gathers gave Trooper Frazier a license and vehicle registration, and Trooper Frazier took those items back to his patrol vehicle to run a routine records check. Trooper Frazier had concerns about the driver’s license, and when Trooper Frazier reapproached the driver’s side of the vehicle to investigate, Gathers pulled out a firearm, shot trooper Frazier in the face, and sped away. A Bamberg County Sheriff’s Department (BCSD) deputy was providing support during the traffic stop, and both officers returned fire at Gather’s fleeing vehicle. Gather’s fleeing vehicle was located by law enforcement, including members of the Bamberg Police Department, SCHP, and BCSD. During the chase, Gathers lost control of the vehicle and crashed in Branchville. Gathers was thereafter taken into custody.
The Dorchester County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant on the vehicle and found a pistol loaded with 9mm ammunition under the brake pedal. SLED matched the recovered pistol to one of the fired cartridge casings left at the scene of the initial traffic stop.
Gathers has previous felony convictions for 3rd degree rape and 2nd degree criminal possession of a weapon from the state of New York, which both prevent him from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
The State Trooper, Lance Corporal Frazier, has fully recovered from the injuries he sustained during the incident.
Gathers faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and a term of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Gathers after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office, the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bamberg Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar Fyall is prosecuting the case.
###
Williston Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. --Demetrius McIlwain, 51, of Williston, has pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed deputies with the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office responded to a location looking for a suspect alleged to have committed domestic violence. During their investigation, deputies found McIlwain in the driver’s seat of a running vehicle and a female in the passenger seat. The deputy attempted to identify McIlwain to determine if he was involved in the incident, but McIlwain refused to cooperate. When deputies asked McIlwain to step out of the vehicle, he told them that there was a shotgun in the vehicle, then he immediately drove away. After McIlwain tried to evade the deputies, he wrecked his truck and ran.
During a search of the vehicle, deputies found an AR style pistol in the front seat, a shotgun in the back seat, and a third firearm in a toolbox in the vehicle. Deputies also found a small amount of fentanyl in the driver’s side cupholder. The passenger later identified McIlwain as the driver, and deputies further connected him to the vehicle from paperwork found inside of the truck. McIlwain was later arrested and admitted he was the driver of the vehicle.
McIlwain is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition based upon prior criminal convictions for grand larceny, burglary 2nd non-violent, criminal sexual conduct 2nd degree, burglary 1st, burglary 2nd degree, malicious injury to personal property, and assault and battery with intent to kill.
McIlwain faces a maximum penalty of 15 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted the guilty plea and will sentence McIlwain after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.
###
North Carolina Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Justin Isiah Hawkins, 35, and Emmanuel Lee Baldwin, 35, both of Gastonia, North Carolina have been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for a money laundering conspiracy involving theft from the United States Treasury.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Hawkins and Baldwin conspired with each other to fraudulently alter a legitimate U.S. Treasury check intended for a business based in New Hampshire. Hawkins and Baldwin altered the $191,456.30 check by making it payable to Baldwin. Baldwin previously opened a bank account in Rock Hill using a forged check from another institution. The pair deposited the Treasury check into Baldwin’s account and then laundered the money by sending it to a New York-based LLC controlled by Hawkins. The pair used the money for personal expenses, including a vehicle Baldwin purchased with the stolen funds.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Hawkins to 37 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. Judge Lydon sentenced Baldwin to 41 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Although a potential fine was waived, they were ordered to pay $194,075.01 in restitution to the U.S. Treasury and Bank of America. Hawkins and Baldwin are joint and severally liable for the restitution.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service and the Rock Hill Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews prosecuted the case.
###
Fort Mill Man Indicted for Straw Purchase of a FirearmRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A federal grand jury has indicted Gregory L. Tischuk, 65, of Fort Mill, for the straw purchase of a firearm.
The indictment alleges that in April 2024, when Tischuk purchased a firearm from a large retailer, he lied about who the firearm was for, in violation the Firearms Transaction Record Form 4473. The Form requires buyers to affirm they are purchasing the firearm for themselves.
Tischuk faces a maximum penalty of 10 years, a fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of no more than three years in addition to any term of imprisonment, plus a special assessment of $100. Tischuk has been released on bond.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.
All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
North Carolina Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Tax FraudRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, S.C.—Oliver Austin Thomas, III, 50, formerly of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, now residing in Raleigh, North Carolina, has been sentenced to more than a year in federal prison for failure to file an income tax return and tax evasion.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in 2020 and continuing into 2021 and 2022, Thomas gambled at several casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada, resulting in substantial winnings. Thomas then attempted to evade paying income taxes on his winnings by providing false social security numbers to casinos to hide the gambling income. During the investigation, Thomas denied using another individual’s social security number when interviewed by IRS agents. Thomas failed to file a tax return for tax years 2020, 2021, and 2022, despite having enough income to trigger a filing requirement, resulting in a tax loss of $446,072.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Thomas to a total term of 15 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. The court also ordered Thomas to pay $446,072 in restitution.
“By willfully evading tax responsibilities, this defendant isn’t just cheating the government, but he is also shifting the burden of maintaining our nation’s taxpayer funded systems onto the shoulders of honest, hardworking Americans,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “Our office remains committed to ensuring that the law applies equally to everyone, and we will continue to prosecute those who attempt to bypass their civic duties for personal gain.”
“It’s important for the American people to know everyone is complying with their tax obligations,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, Charlotte Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “This sentence is a positive message to honest taxpayers and further exhibits the partnership between IRS-CI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office who are committed to protecting the integrity of the tax system and ensure compliance with their tax obligations.”
This case was investigated by the IRS-CI Charlotte Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hummel prosecuted the case.
###
Man Who Fired Shots on Columbia Street Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Brandon Chanell Joyner, 29, of Columbia, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm during a 2023 shooting on Greystone Boulevard in Columbia.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on July 18, 2023, law enforcement responded to the corner of Greystone Boulevard and Stoneridge Drive regarding witnesses seeing a man shooting a gun into the air. Joyner saw a police car nearby and fired three shots, which hit the vehicle. Additional units responded and pursued Joyner. He then abruptly turned and fired several shots at the group of police cars. Joyner retreated to his hotel room where he reloaded his firearm and began shooting again. Law enforcement eventually returned fire and struck the defendant in the back. The defendant again retreated to his hotel room, changed clothes, and then exited the room. He made contact with police and told them he was an innocent bystander. Officers determined he was the shooter and immediately placed him under arrest. Law enforcement recovered a 9mm pistol from the parking lot of the hotel where Joyner was staying. Joyner’s DNA was found on the gun. Testing showed the casings recovered at the scene matched casings from the firearm recovered from the hotel.
Joyner has previous felony convictions that prevent him from lawfully possessing a firearm.
United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr sentenced Joyner to 180 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
Joyner was sentenced to 25 years in state prison after pleading guilty to 10 counts of attempted murder. These sentences will run concurrently.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Columbia Police Department and the Richland County Sheriff's Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Elizabeth Major prosecuted the case.
###
Columbia Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison After Hiding a Gun at a Local BusinessRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Doron Guider, 27, of Columbia, has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
On Jan. 9, 2025, Columbia Police officers responded to a complaint about a man with a handgun at an extended stay hotel on Forest Drive. Officers circled the area and went to a nearby store where the manager and an employee stated that the man, later determined to be Guider, had entered the business. With the help of the business’s employees, officers reviewed surveillance video and saw Guider enter the store. Officers searched the store and found Guider, who had changed into clothing marked for sale. Further review of the surveillance video revealed that Guider had hidden the handgun between two pallets in the store, along with his original clothing. Officers were able to recover the handgun and the clothing.
Guider has prior convictions for strong arm robbery, breaking into a motor vehicle, and two counts of possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a violent felony, all of which prohibit him from possessing a firearm under federal law.
United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Guider to 46 total months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the City of Columbia Police Department, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall prosecuted the case.
###
West Columbia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C.— Phillip O’Neal McCoy, 45, of West Columbia, has been sentenced to more than six years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Evidence presented in court revealed that agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives identified McCoy as a felon involved in the unlawful sale of firearms and narcotics in the West Columbia area. On Jan. 5, 2024, McCoy distributed a quantity of crack cocaine while also in possession of additional controlled substances. Five days later, on Jan. 10, 2024, McCoy sold a loaded semiautomatic pistol while in possession of additional controlled substances.
Federal law prohibits McCoy from possessing firearms and ammunition based on prior convictions for pointing and presenting a firearm, first-degree assault and battery, domestic violence, and multiple convictions for distributing various controlled substances. McCoy was also on probation at the time of this federal offense.
U.S. District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Phillip O’Neal McCoy to 77 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the West Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case.
###
Virginia Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Traveling to Engage in Sex with a MinorRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Carlin M. Krause, 28, of Roanoke, Virginia, has been sentenced to more than 16 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to coercion and enticement of a minor and transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in October 2024, Krause began communicating with a 13-year-old girl over social media. Krause requested that the minor send him child sexual abuse material. He also informed her that he planned to travel from Virginia to South Carolina and bring her back to Virginia to have sex with her.
On Oct. 17, 2024, Krause drove from Roanoke, Virginia, to South Carolina to pick up the minor. After Krause picked her up, he began driving her back to Virginia, but law enforcement apprehended him before he made it home.
United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks sentenced Krause to 195 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 FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Cole Shannon prosecuted the case.
###
Cherokee County Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm OffenseRead the Press Release
GREENVILLE, S.C. — David Dustin Fowler, 41, of Gaffney, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in November 2024 Fowler sought and located his estranged wife. He then fired a shotgun at her multiple times, causing her to lose three fingers and sustain other significant injuries requiring medical treatment. Cherokee County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene and found Fowler standing over the victim with a shotgun in his hand. After deputies arrested Fowler, they found an additional firearm in his truck.
Fowler has a prior felony conviction for criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature that prohibits him from possessing firearms.
United States District Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin sentenced Fowler to 180 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office and the Seventh Circuit Solicitor’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Max Cauthen prosecuted the case.
###
Columbia Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Bringing Gun to Plasma Donation CenterRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Donovan Jackson, 32, of Columbia, has been sentenced to more than two years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on May 18, 2023, employees of a plasma donation center on Decker Blvd. called 911 because Jackson arrived to donate plasma with a firearm inside the front pocket of his sweatshirt. Deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department responded to the center, detained Jackson, and seized the firearm from his clothing.
Jackson has a prior conviction for furnishing contraband to an inmate which prevents him from possessing a firearm under federal law. He was on probation for this offense at the time of the incident. Jackson also participated in the May 2022 Ceasefire program hosted by the City of Columbia Police Department. The Ceasefire program identifies prior offenders who are at risk of future firearms offenses and introduces them to community resources such as substance abuse treatment and employment services. During participation in the program, law enforcement emphasizes the likelihood of future state and federal prosecution if participants, like Jackson, reoffend.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Jackson to 33 total months imprisonment, to be followed by a two-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lamar J. Fyall prosecuted the case.
###
Venezuelan Nationals Convicted in ATM Jackpotting Scheme to Be DeportedRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Luz Granados, 34, and Johan Gonzalez-Jimenez, 40, both illegal aliens residing in the United States are set to be deported after being convicted of conspiracy and computer crimes in an ATM Jackpotting scheme.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that that Jimenez and Granados targeted older model Automated Teller Machines (ATM) throughout the southeastern United States to steal money after business hours. The defendants would approach an ATM at nighttime and remove the outer casing of the machine and then connect a laptop computer to install malware which overcame the ATM’s security protocols. Once installed, the ATMs dispersed cash to the perpetrators until the ATM’s funds are exhausted. The dispersed funds were not tethered to any specific customer accounts but rather taken from the bank that owned the ATM. Targets included banks in Rock Hill and Columbia, as well as Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia.
The District of South Carolina also provided information from this case to the District of Nebraska which aided in their indictment of 54 people in a similar ATM jackpotting scheme.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Granados to time served and she remains in custody awaiting deportation. She was also ordered to pay $126,340 in restitution. Gonzalez-Jimenez was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison and was ordered to pay $285,100 in restitution. He will be deported once his sentence is complete.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division's Computer Crime Center, the Rock Hill Police Department, and the West Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Matthews prosecuted the case.
###
Aiken County Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Theft of Government FundsRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Cynthia Delores Holland, 62, of Aiken, has been sentenced to one year and one month in federal prison for theft of government funds from the Social Security Administration.
At trial, the Government proved that Holland improperly obtained her mother’s retirement benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) after her mother’s death in 2013. Those benefits continued to be paid by mistake into a joint account held by Holland and her mother. Rather than notify the SSA of the error, Holland moved the money into her personal account and spent it on personal expenses. Her theft took place until December 2022, when the error was discovered by the SSA, and the benefits were terminated. During that near-decade long span, Holland received over $168,000.
The discrepancy was identified in 2021 by the SSA during its Death Match Project. As part of the project, the SSA requested death verifications from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control going back to 2005, then compared those records with the list of SSA retirement beneficiaries. Holland’s mother’s name was on the list, which initiated the investigation.
United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. sentenced Holland to 13 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. The Court also ordered Holland to repay to the Social Security Administration any remaining portion of the converted money not previously recouped.
This case was investigated by the Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Winston Holliday, Scott Matthews and Kerry McTigue prosecuted the case.
###
Georgetown Man Arrested for Threatening to “Shoot up” S.C. Airports, Lying to Federal AgentsRead the Press Release
FLORENCE, S.C. — According to an arrest warrant unsealed today, Ahmad Z’yiem Guilford, 21, of Georgetown, has been charged with making threats toward numerous aviation-related businesses across South Carolina, and with lying to federal agents about making the threats.
According to the criminal complaint, beginning around November 2025 several local law enforcement authorities began receiving complaints from flight schools and aviation businesses located at airports in Charleston, Georgetown, and Florence. The complainants stated that a caller was utilizing different phone numbers to make violent and graphic threats to both the airports and to the individuals who answered the phone calls. The complainants provided authorities with several recorded calls which demonstrate the threats being made. For example, on or about Nov. 14, 2025, the caller stated that he was going to rape a female employee of a Charleston area flight school who answered his phone call, threatened to “shoot up” the Charleston and Georgetown airports, and taunted authorities stating, “you can’t find me!” Additionally, on or about Dec. 18, 2025, the same individual called a business at the Florence airport and stated that he was going to “shoot that *** up.” He stated that “y’all can’t find me … because I’m making different numbers…” He further stated, “I’m never going to stop doing that ***. I’m going to flood y’alls ***. Watch.”
The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force became involved and determined that the threats to all three of the airports were coming from one individual that they identified as Guilford. Investigators learned that he was using websites to generate fictitious cell phone numbers that were used when making the threatening phone calls.
On Dec. 23, 2025, agents went to Guilford’s house, which was located near the Georgetown airport, to interview him. According to the complaint, Guilford admitted to having an issue with the noise created by airplanes flying over his residence and stated that he travelled to the Georgetown airport and revved his engine in retaliation for the noise, but he denied making the threatening phone calls. Agents recognized, however, that his voice and speech patterns appeared to match the recorded calls, and he admitted that it sounded like his voice on the phone.
Guilford is currently charged with making interstate threats and making false statements to a federal agent. He made an initial appearance in federal court in Florence on Jan. 20 and is currently detained pending further proceedings in this matter. A detention hearing has been set for Jan. 23 at 10:30 a.m. He faces up to five years in federal prison as to each violation if he is convicted.
The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force with support from Georgetown Country Sheriff’s Office, Georgetown Police Department, North Charleston Police Department, Florence Regional Airport Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Everett McMillian is prosecuting the case.
All charges in the complaint are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
###
Sumter Man Sentenced for Drug Conspiracy in Sumter, Richland CountiesRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Jalik Shykeil Tucker, 31, of Sumter, has been sentenced to more than 19 years in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and a quantity of cocaine and crack cocaine.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in March 2023, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office began a joint investigation after receiving information that Tucker was selling large amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl in both counties.
RCSD deputies made several undercover buys of methamphetamine and fentanyl from Tucker over a three-week period. During this same time, law enforcement was able to identify two locations in Sumter County and one location in Richland County that Tucker was using for storing and distribution of his drugs. They obtained search warrants for all three locations.
During the execution of the search warrants, law enforcement found more than $25,000 cash, including money they paid in purchasing the drugs. They also found methamphetamine, fentanyl, fluorofentanyl, firearms, heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, digital scales, baking soda used in the making of crack cocaine, sandwich bags used in the distribution of the drugs, and an electric mixer also used in drug distribution.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Tucker to 235 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Richland County Sheriff’s Department and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.
###
Chapin Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Engage in Illegal Gambling BusinessRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — James O. Helms, 73, of Chapin, was sentenced to five years of probation after pleading guilty to conspiracy to engage in illegal gambling business.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Helms was a partner of a large-scale gambling organization in Lexington. The video poker operation at times made up to $100,000 per week, according to an indictment in the case. The operation was open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily and necessitated two shifts of workers to oversee the business. The illegal scheme was operated directly from codefendant Fred McCary’s home and other buildings on his property.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced Helms to five years of probation. There is no parole in the federal system. McCary, 63, of Gaston, was previously sentenced to six months in prison and six months home confinement.
This case was investigated by United States Secret Service and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lothrop Morris is prosecuting the case.
###
Former S.C. Lawmaker Sentenced to Federal Prison for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse MaterialRead the Press Release
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Robert John “RJ” May, III, 39, of West Columbia, has been sentenced to more than 17 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing child sexual abuse material.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in May 2024 the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department received a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The tip indicated that on March 31, 2024, 50 videos containing child sexual abuse material were uploaded using Kik, a mobile file sharing application, from a West Columbia IP address. LCSD executed search warrants to determine where the videos originated and discovered the IP address was registered to Robert John May. Furthermore, they discovered the Kik account, “joebidennnn69”, contained 220 unique videos and distributed 479 videos to over 100 Kik users over five days. The account user also communicated explicitly with other users about child sexual abuse material by sending and receiving over 1,100 messages.
Because May was a sitting member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, the case was referred to Homeland Security Investigations. HSI executed a search warrant on May’s home in August 2024 and seized 35 electronic devices, including May’s phone. A forensic analysis of May’s phone revealed the phone contained a Kik app in March and April 2024 that was subsequently deleted. May’s user dictionary, a feature that stores commonly typed phrases on a cellphone, contained the term “joebidennnn” along with an email address that connected him to the joebidennnn69 account. Analysis of May’s phone and the Kik records revealed the 479 videos were sent using either May’s home IP address or IP addresses associated with his cellphone.
Over the five-day period for which data was available, May distributed 220 unique videos, which he sent to 100 different users in 18 states and six countries. The videos included toddlers depicted in physical pain and extreme and humiliating sexual abuse. At sentencing, the court heard from victims through written victim impact statements on the lasting harm caused by their abuse and the continued distributions.
May was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 10, 2025, for 10 counts of distributing child sexual abuse material and arrested the following day. On Sept. 29, 2025, May pleaded guilty to five counts of distributing child sexual abuse material.
“He was elected to make a positive impact on his community, but instead he exploited the most innocent and vulnerable in our society. This is simply inexcusable,” said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to investigate and prosecute those who harm children.”
“Those who exploit and abuse children are among the most reprehensible offenders in our society, and today’s sentencing sends a clear message: no one is above the law, regardless of their position or title,” said Kyle D. Burns, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI in North Carolina and South Carolina. “HSI is unwavering in our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community and will relentlessly pursue anyone who preys on children. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who commit these horrific crimes are brought to justice and held fully accountable for their actions.”
United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced May to 210 months imprisonment, to be followed by a 20-year term of court-ordered supervision. At sentencing, Judge Currie noted that the sentence was higher than the average for similar charges because May’s content was the most severe the court had seen. There is no parole in the federal system. He was also ordered to pay $58,500 in restitution to eight identified victims and will be required to register as a sex offender for life.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.
This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Scott Matthews, Elliott B. Daniels, and Dean Secor prosecuted the case along with Department of Justice Trial Attorney Austin Berry.
###
* 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. The Associated Press Stylebook also discourages the use of the phrase “child pornography.”
Goose Creek Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Thefts from Vulnerable Nursing Home ResidentsRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Courtney Jeanine Brown, 49, of Goose Creek, has been sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison for thefts from nursing home residents.
Brown worked as the business office manager for Riverside Health and Rehabilitation, a nursing home in North Charleston. Over more than three years, Brown stole approximately $146,000 from 132 residents in that facility, most of whom were physically and/or mentally incapacitated. Brown exploited her position of private trust by writing checks to cash from personal funds that belonged to the residents. Brown then deposited the checks into her personal account and used the funds for personal expenses.
United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendrickssentenced Brown to 33 months imprisonment, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. The court ordered Brown to pay $160,300.69.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, and the North Charleston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Limehouse prosecuted the case.
###
Berkeley County Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Fentanyl and Oxycontin, Distribution of FentanylRead the Press Release
CHARLESTON, S.C. —Levi Phillip Miles, 48, of Goose Creek, has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and oxycontin, and distribution of fentanyl.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Miles regularly distributed what he believed were prescription pain pills to a South Carolina man from at least January 2022 until the man’s fatal overdose on Jan. 2, 2023. By the summer of 2022, Miles could no longer obtain legitimate prescription pain pills from his suppliers. Nevertheless, in December 2022, the victim continued to request pain pills. Miles’ final distribution of pills to the victim occurred on Jan. 1, 2023. The victim was found dead in his home on Jan. 2, 2023. An autopsy of the victim revealed the presence of fentanyl in his system, and subsequent investigation revealed that the fentanyl was present in the pills the victim received from Miles on Jan. 1. As part of his guilty plea, Miles agreed not to contest the fact that the victim’s death was caused by the controlled substances that were distributed by Miles.
Miles faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $1 million, restitution, and at least three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Miles after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Emily Limehouse and Whit Sowards are prosecuting the case.
###