On behalf of CPD partner agency, the United States Attorney’s Office, District of South Carolina.
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA — United States Attorney Corey F. Ellis announced today that twelve individuals have been charged with gun and/or drug-related offenses and have been arrested by a joint team of federal, state, and local law enforcement officers, led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). This release follows the arraignments, multiple detention hearings, and superseding indictments.
The following defendants who have been arrested and arraigned on their respective charges face a potential penalty of life imprisonment:
- Craig Thomas Burris, 55, of Myrtle Beach, is charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon, possession of heroin and fentanyl with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Taurus Jermaine Dotson, 38, of Columbia, is charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon; possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine, fentanyl, cocaine, and crack cocaine; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Leon Johnny King, 37, of Columbia, is charged with possession of firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon; possession with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin, fentanyl, and Etizolam; possession with intent to distribute heroin, cocaine, and crack cocaine; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Jamel Lamont Lewis, 32, of Winnsboro, is charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Christopher Joel Roach, 28, of West Columbia, is charged with possession of firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon; possession with intent to distribute heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, and tramadol; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Jacobi Kwejuan Scott, 33, of Columbia, is charged with possession of firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Davian Kejuanis Mosley, 21, of Hopkins, is charged with multiple counts of robbery affecting commerce and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
The following defendant who has been arrested and arraigned on his respective charges faces a potential penalty of 20 years imprisonment:
- Jeffrey Tavoun Allen, 35, of Columbia, is charged with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin and fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and fentanyl.
The following defendants who have been arrested and arraigned on their respective charges face a potential penalty of 10 years imprisonment:
- Paul James, III, 33, of Columbia, is charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.
- Demetreus Alexa Lewis, 32, of Elgin, is charged with possession of firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon.
- Latrell Ira Miles Maurice, 35, of Columbia, is charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon.
- Sylivon Jarqaous Moye, 28, of Columbia, is charged with possession of firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon.
These cases were investigated by ATF in conjunction with several state and local law enforcement agencies, including the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Fairfield County Sheriff’s Department, Orangeburg Department of Public Safety, and Columbia Police Department.
These cases are being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Assistant United States Attorneys Chris Taylor and Lauren Hummel are prosecuting the cases.
The United States Attorney stated that all charges against these defendants are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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CONTACT PERSON: Derek Shoemake, Public Information Officer, U.S. Attorney’s Office, [email protected], (843) 327-0882.