COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCIV) — Attorney General Alan Wilson announced 24 guilty pleas in what is described as the Prison Empire Investigation.
Wilson described it as a large-scale drug trafficking organization run mostly behind South Carolina prison bars. Along with drug charges, the group was charged with burglary, weapons charges, and kidnapping.
“A prison cell is no place for a cell phone. Period,” Wilson said. “Contraband cell phones pose a real threat and allow inmates to not only continue a life of criminality from behind prison walls but facilitate it outside the prison. I want to thank all our law enforcement partners and the men and women who worked so hard to bring justice in this case.”
Read more: Ex-attorney Cory Fleming sentenced to 3 years, 10 months in federal prison.
In total over 90 defendants faced hundreds of charges. The drug trafficking organization operated from September 2013 to May 2021. Incarcerated inmates were able to facilitate the crimes through the use of contraband cell phones from within the South Carolina Department of Corrections. From prison, they were able to coordinate drug trafficking with co-conspirators in Greenville, Pickens, and Anderson Counties.
These are the results of the guilty pleas:
Pleaded on Aug. 10, 2023
Edward Gary Akridge pleaded guilty to burglary, first-degree; kidnapping, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and trafficking methamphetamine, 400 grams or more (conspiracy). He was sentenced to 25 years.
Charles Rickey Stephens, Jr. pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine, 28-100 grams (conspiracy), trafficking heroin, 4-14 grams, trafficking methamphetamine, 10-28 grams, five counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime, two counts of trafficking methamphetamine, 28-100 grams, possession with intent to distribute heroin, and trafficking heroin, 4-14 grams (conspiracy). He was sentenced to 20 years.
Musa Ismail Glenn pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine, 28-100 grams (conspiracy), failure to stop for a blue light, obstruction of justice, two counts of trafficking heroin, 4-14 grams, two counts of trafficking methamphetamine, 10-28 grams, trafficking morphine, 4-14 grams, and trafficking heroin, 4-14 grams (conspiracy). He was sentenced to 18 years.
Dustin Allen Wilson pleaded guilty to trafficking meth, 28-100 grams (conspiracy), four counts of trafficking methamphetamine, 28-100 grams, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. He was sentenced to 15 years.
Scott Damien Pope pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine, 28-100 grams (conspiracy) and trafficking methamphetamine, 10-28 grams. He was sentenced to 15 years.
Read more: Mount Pleasant man arrested for attempted sexual exploitation of a minor, Attorney General announces.
Robert Wayne Mahon pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine, 28-100 grams (conspiracy), trafficking methamphetamine, 10-28 grams, possession with intent to distribute heroin, failure to stop for a blue light, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a violent offense. He was sentenced to 10 years.
Zachary Andrew Chandler pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine, 28-100 grams and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. He was sentenced to 10 years.
Joseph Matthew McClure pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine, 28-100 grams (conspiracy) and three counts of trafficking methamphetamine, 28-100 grams. He was sentenced to nine years.
Antonio Marcus Smith pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine, 28-100 grams. He was sentenced to nine years.
Read more: Man charged with grand larceny after allegedly stealing and attempting to sell equipment on Facebook Marketplace.
Alicia Brooke Stephens pleaded guilty to trafficking heroin, 4-14 grams, trafficking methamphetamine, 10-28 grams, trafficking methamphetamine, 28-100 grams, possession with intent to distribute heroin, and two counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime. She was sentenced to nine years.
Travis Dale Ashby pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine, 10-28 grams (conspiracy). He was sentenced to five years.
Jacob Austin Collins pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine, 10-28 grams and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. He was sentenced to 10 years suspended to five years followed by probation.
Alicia Marie Sullivan pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine, 10-28 grams (conspiracy), possession with intent to distribute heroin, and trafficking methamphetamine, 10-28 grams. She was sentenced to five years.
Brandi Nicole O’Bryant pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine, 10-28 grams. She was sentenced to 45 months.
Read more: Attorney General Alan Wilson hosts judicial reform forum in Columbia.
Christopher Robert Nix pleaded to trafficking methamphetamine, 10-28 grams (conspiracy) and trafficking methamphetamine, 10-28 grams. He was sentenced to 10 years suspended to three years followed by five years of probation.
Vadrea Michelle Swope pleaded to trafficking methamphetamine, 10-28 grams. She was sentenced to 40 months.
Jodie Crenshaw Turner pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. She was sentenced to 427 days.
William Clinton Barkley pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. He was sentenced to five years suspended to five years of probation.
Joey Durant Atkins pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. He was sentenced to seven days.
Read more: South Carolina woman joins fight for judicial reform after accused killer of her brother is released on bail.
Pleaded on Aug. 11, 2023
Justin Kvalheim Babb pleaded to trafficking methamphetamine, 28-100 grams (conspiracy), two counts of trafficking methamphetamine, 28-100 grams, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. He was sentenced to 25 years suspended to 8 years followed by probation for five years.
Samantha Renee Hall pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine, 10-28 grams, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and intimidation of a witness. She was sentenced to eight years.
Amy Miranda Chastain pleaded to the distribution of methamphetamine (conspiracy). She was sentenced to seven years suspended to 15 months on the home incarceration program followed by five years of probation.
Gary Hastings Akridge pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine, 10-28 grams (conspiracy). He was sentenced to 10 years suspended to 45 months followed by five years of probation.
Bradley Justin Davis pleaded guilty to trafficking methamphetamine, 10-28 grams (conspiracy). He was sentenced to 45 months.
Read more: Charleston man arrested on 12 charges connected to the sexual exploitation of a minor.
