Lexington County man sold meth, cocaine and guns to undercover agents, prosecutor says
A Lexington County man is going to federal prison for more than a decade after selling drugs and guns to undercover officers, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Reginald Travis Pearson, a 40-year-old West Columbia resident, pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Tuesday in a news release.
Pearson was sentenced to more than 16 years in federal prison, according to the release.
Between November 2022 and January 2023, Pearson sold more than 900 grams of meth and 28 grams of cocaine to undercover ATF agents, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Additionally, Pearson sold seven guns despite being a convicted felon who’s prohibited from possessing firearms, according to the release.
Pearson has previous convictions for petit larceny and multiple drug-related offenses, including possession with intent to distribute marijuana, cocaine, and heroin, as well as heroin distribution, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Pearson was sentenced as a career offender based on his six prior drug convictions, according to the release.
Pearson was sentenced to 200 months in prison, to be followed by five years of court-ordered supervision, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. There is no parole in the federal system.
The West Columbia Police Department, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department and Homeland Security investigated the case, along with the ATF.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case.
Pearson is facing pending South Carolina charges from a January 2023 arrest, Lexington County court records show. He was charged with assault & battery of a high and aggravated nature, first-degree burglary and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to court records.
Pearson, whose attorney is listed as Columbia lawyer Joenathan Chaplin, posted $61,000 bond on the combined charges the day after he was arrested, court records show.
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