Former SC pro fisherman sentenced in Lexington meth conspiracy with 18 others
Federal agents and deputies have arrived at the end of the thread after nearly three years of unraveling a Lexington County methamphetamine distribution conspiracy that involved 19 people.
With the final two dealers being found guilty this month, those 19 defendants, who were charged with selling and attempting to sell meth as well as gun offenses, were sentenced to a combined 321 years in federal prison, a spokesperson for the United States attorney’s office in South Carolina said in a statement.
One of those to be imprisoned is 44-year-old Rafael “Pockets” Redmond, a former profession fisherman from Lexington County whose rise in the anglers circuit was stymied by drugs and crime.
After pleading guilty to conspiracy to buy and sell meth in 2018, Redmond faced 10 years to life in prison. A federal judge sentenced him to just more than 16 years.
In November 2018, The State chronicled Redmond’s life as a respected, tournament-winning crappie fisherman who was torn down by meth use and stealing to support his habit but who was remembered by his friends and family as a son and father with hope, talent and a love for the water.
The near three-year investigation that ensnared Redmond and the 18 others was a coordinated effort between the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.
Prosecutors announced the first 10 arrests in November 2018. After more than two additional years of investigating, federal agents and Lexington deputies arrested and charged nine more people for meth-related crimes, including 35-year-old William “Rico” Gordon.
Gordon received the harshest punishment of those involved in the conspiracy. A judge sentenced him to 35 years in prison following a jury finding him guilty of attempting to possess meth at dealer levels and actual possession to sell meth as well as using a gun while trafficking drugs.
A jury came back with a guilty verdict for Marcus Young, 31, also known as “Lay Low,” on similar charges and a judge sentenced him to 35 years in prison as well.
“Methamphetamine is a powerful drug with increasing prevalence across our state, and in Lexington County in particular,” acting U.S. Attorney Lance Crick said in a statement. “The drug is dangerous enough on its own, but the added presence of firearms and violence made these conspiracies a particularly egregious threat to the community.”
The other 17 people rounded up, who ranged in age from 29 to 46 years old, pleaded guilty to meth and weapon charges and received prison time from five to 30 years.
“The safety and security of Lexington County residents is always top of mind for the men and women of my office as we focus on getting drugs out of our community and putting dealers in jail,” Lexington Sheriff Jay Koon said.
Investigators praised the collaborative effort to bust up the network of meth dealers.
“The outcome of this investigation means that very dangerous individuals have been taken out of our neighborhoods for a very long time,” ATF Agent Brian Mein said.