MARLBORO COUNTY, SC (WMBF) - Sentencing is finally complete for the 12 suspects arrested in the joint investigation by the Marlboro County Sheriff's Office and the FBI into cocaine distribution in the Pee Dee.
Marlboro County Sheriff Knight announced some of the defendants received their sentence over the summer, and now all 12 are facing jail time.
Their sentences are detailed below:
38-year-old Calvin Townsend, aka Kojack - 210 months
32-year-old Jamie Lilly - 180 Months
23-year-old Rhysheen Rogers, aka Thump - 65 Months
29-year-old Ramon Covington- 180 months
21-year-old Lequan Anthony Fox - 65 Months
24-year-old Jerrica Gillespie - 70 months
25-year-old David Liles, aka June Bug - 65 months
31-year-old Nicholas Miller, aka Wee Wee - 105 months
26-year-old Terrance Fuller, aka T-Bone or T-Bird - 105 Months
Kartarie Sahndal Prince Leake, aka Kartarie Miller - 180 months
David Stuckey, aka Shortstop - 360 months
32-year-old Demario Covington, aka Booger Press or P - 420 months
concerning the sentencing, Sheriff Knight said, "I hope that these still sentences send a message to the drug dealers in this county about the consequences of your actions. Your prior record will come back to haunt you in Federal court if you are sentenced. I have given fair warning over the last few years to those of you selling drugs. We have several more cases that are close to indictment from areas of McColl and Clio in the near future. "
Demario Covington, 33, and 39-year-old David Stuckey, are the only two remaining of the 12 indicted to be sentenced in the case, Sheriff Knight said.
Stuckey and Covington pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to distribute or possess over five kilograms of cocaine or 280 grams of crack cocaine in May.
Knight says these indictments were the latest in a joint investigation by the sheriff's office and the FBI, alleging that Covington, Stuckey and the 10 other individuals were conspiring to distribute those drugs since 1997.
The other defendants in the case pleaded guilty a few months ago, but Stuckey and Covington requested a trial. After the jury was selected for their trial on Monday, both Stuckey and Covington entered a guilty plea.
Both defendants have criminal records, and could face 20 years to life in prison. They have not yet gone before a judge for sentencing.
Sheriff Knight said, "I hope this will continue to send a message to the drug dealers in Marlboro County that we are not going to allow drug sales to keep occurring. This case has been worked on for two years and the information and cooperation that comes as a result of it will lead into another group of federal drug cases real soon. The MCSO, FBI, Bennettsville Police Dept and SLED did a tremendous job exemplifying teamwork, dedication and professionalism in this case."
"Citizen's tips and information also played a role and I thank the public for that and hope they see the results of their calls. I want all the drug dealers in the county to read this part. For the last few years I have warned drug dealers and I can't be any clearer. I've seen numerous heartbroken parents and families because of dealer's decision to sell drugs. These federal drug cases are serious business and you don't want your name in the next group," Sheriff Knight said.
Copyright 2012 WMBF News. All rights reserved.
Demario Covington (Source: MCSO)
David Stuckey (Source: MCSO)
Katarie Sahndal Prince Leake (Source: MCSO)
Nicholas Miller (Source: MCSO)
Calvin Townsend (Source: MCSO)
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