17 Pee Dee drug suppliers plead guilty to federal charges
Published: November 9, 2009
Updated: November 10, 2009
Seventeen Pee Dee men have pleaded guilty to their involvement in a drug conspiracy spanning the past decade and involving more than 100 kilograms of powder cocaine and crack cocaine.
The men began entering guilty pleas last month, and the last plea was entered late week, according to a press release issued Monday by U.S. Attorney W. Walter Wilkins.
Men from Florence who pleaded were Nicholes Kelly Cain, 29; Quentin David Morris, 27; Andre Lavelle Williams, 34; Scotty Brian Anderson, 27; Larry Martin Cain, 37; Marcus Allen McCall, 22; Darel Tarel Mouzon, 22; and Brandon Lafon Robinson, 26.
Men from Hartsville who pleaded were Delante Ronzell Byrd, 37, and Brian Dewayne Brown, 36. Men from Darlington who pleaded were Rodney Bush, 35; Tayron Franklin Hines, 25; and Victor V. James, 34.
Each man faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prisonwith a maximum possible penalty of life in prison.
The remaining four men — Darryl Demetria Bostic, 35, Allen Valdoster Fleming, 20, and Rotrelis Lerrel Bruce, 25, of Florence, and Roy Davis Draughn, 26, of Hemingway — face sentences of 10 years to life inprisonment.
Evidence in the case consisted of undercover drug buys, seizures of drugs and money, and the testimony of other cooperating federal defendants, including gang members from Florence and Darlington counties who were supplied by the group.
After the men were arrested, state and federal agencies noted a dramatic decrease in the cocaine supply in Florence and Darlington counties, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Rose Mary Parham, who is prosecuting the case.
“The case is yet another example of state and federal law enforcement agencies working together to have a tremendous impact on our community,” she said.
The case was investigated by the Florence County Sheriff’s Office, the Florence Police Department, the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office, the Statea Law Enforcement Division, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Reader Reactions
OpenYourMind: I’m not claiming to be well versed I just don’t agree/see your point on calling the guidelines biased just because minorities (even at street level) commit more of these crimes, the actual harshness of the laws applies equally to all people convicted of such (and no I don’t think Reagan’s guys had it out for minorities because they “knew” more of them would commit these types of crimes). Rapists belong under the prisons…murderers receive just punishment in most, but not all, cases I think (opinions). Stiffer penalties would be fine by me (for these acts) but I don’t feel we should let up on crack dealers (at any level) to even the playing field with rapists and such. Alcohol IS capable of damaging families and taking lives if it is abused or used irresponsibly…but it is NOT more ADDICTIVE THAN CRACK (FACT!!) it is simply more widely ABUSED because it is a legal drug and therefore more widely used all-together. I don’t know if we’ll ever see alcohol made illegal…but harsher penalties in alcohol related accidents/deaths would be awesome…
NONEYAH…I haven’t claimed to “step on your toes” (I speak and type proper English) and I don’t care if you are a man or a woman…you’re words prove your child-like intelligence (probably a key element in your ignorance). Doing whatever it takes to provide should never include selling crack and risking prison time (kind of hard to be a good parent then, huh?) Life is hard as s**t sometimes and things get real tough for some people, but try hard enough and do things the right way and things will eventually work themselves out) Rule #1 of being a good father or mother is to do whatever it takes to KEEP your kids and BE THERE FOR THEM…
And “for the record”...I could care less what’s in a LAZY crack dealer’s heart…
I just thought that I would point out to those pulling the race card from either side of the fence that 5 of the men in this article are white and are facing 20-life, while all of those facing 10-life are black.
And as for pedophiles and rapists getting a slap on the wrist, you may be interested in knowing that the last two pedophiles convicted in Darlington County received 30 years for their crimes. If you consider that a slap on the wrist, it must have been a hard slap. And for the record, both of them were white.
Justice should be colorblind (sometimes it is not, but it should be)
To: Abigails Dad!!!!! Let me begin by saying the only ignorant person that I can see is you… By the way you haven’t steped on my toes and to let you know from a woman’s point of view.
You need to watch what you SAY and how you judge people because you never know when the shoe will be on the other FOOT…
It don’t have to be you but it can be a family member. When times are hard and you are faced with having to pay your rent and feed your children some parents/people are willing to do what they have to do @ ALL COST to PROVIDE…. Now that’s what I call a good PARENT…. MOTHER or FATHER
And for the record: Like I said before DO NOT JUDGE A PERSON INTIL YOU KNOW THEIR HEART!!!!!!!
Abigails dad..Since you are well versed in the federal sentencing guidelines; are you aware that the federal guidelines were originally established during the Reagan years at the height of the crack epidemic? These laws were set in order to bring down the mafia type organizations that were responsible for bringing the drugs into the country. Yet, since the 1980’s over 85 percent of persons doing federal time under these guidelines are street dealers (just as the 17 mentioned in this article); not kingpins (check the stats). Meaning that the persons whom are responsible for the drugs coming here which I can guarantee are not minorities are free. In regards to the sentencing guidelines, I stated that they were biased in that more minoritites commited those types of offenses which is why the sentencing guidelines were so harsh. Not once did I say that if a caucasion were to commit the crime that they would receive a lesser sentence. Prisons are filled with minorities because of this. While the pedophiles and rapist whom are mostly caucasion(stats not opinion)get a slap on the wrist and are free to commit their offenses again. Also, what about the effects of alcohol? I do know of several instances where excessive use of alcohol has totally ruined a person causing them to lose everything. Again I will point out that it is more harmful and addictive then crack and it is LEGAL. Doesnt that seem a bit biased?
2nd degree murder not first
LISA: As a mother I will always defend an innocent child. Your comment showed a lack of class and was unnecessary. Did the article say anything about the children selling drugs also? What would make any child trashy and ugly as you stated? As far as your comment about my defending crack dealers..if you re read my post you will see that I do agree that they should be punished. However, I do not agree with the harshness of the punishment. Again, the government has legalized alcohol and cigarettes when they are more harmful, addictive and cause more casualties then crack or any other street drug for that matter. If they could figure out a way to make money off of crack then guess what…it would be legal too. Marijuana being legalized in California is a perfect example. Try and think outside of the box and your biased feelings toward these men and realize that maybe your justice system isnt so just after all.
A little more “food for thought”...i’m willing to bet these CRACK pushers weren’t the greatest fathers, sons, siblings, etc. (statistics and just plain common sense speaking there) And their “actual offenses” involved over 100 KILOS of cocaine and crack. The drug exchange is non violent…the crimes associated with the abuse of, power struggles over dealer territory, etc…IS VIOLENT. How many of these bigwigs you mentioned shot a rival company member over a carton of cigs?? How many people lost their jobs, children, sense of reality because they couldn’t get a nicotine fix?? While harmful to ones’s health, cigarettes are LEGAL, CRACK COCAINE IS NOT! And could you please, please tell me where in the sentencing guidelines it says that whites will not get a minimum of 20 and a chance at life for the same offenses? More minorities are convicted of these offenses because more ARE CAUGHT DOING THE CRIMES! (facts and statistics again, not opinion) Drug sentencing guidelines vary by the drug and the known effects they have on the dealers, users, user’s families, dealer’s families, etc. And the penalties for those CAUGHT are the SAME, despite race. Also, what murderers are getting less that 20 years? Not manslaughter, or self defense cases and such, I’m talking first degree murder…please tell me???
Finally…“NONEYAH”...you haven’t made me mad, but you continue to embarass yourself everytime you comment…you’re ignorance shows no end…it’s sad, really…
openyourmind : You sound like you had a few of these thugs babies.
How do you defend crack dealers?
To lisa…you are definitely guilty of complete idiocy. From your comment I know that you are TRASHY and anyone who would make a comment about a child is obviously totally insecure making you UGLY on the inside and out. GET A LIFE
All of these negative comments are a total display of the lack of knowledge and sense of humanity that is so prevelant in todays society. First off; here is a bit of food for thought. For all of those persons whom are quick to rejoice in these men being taken away from their families have you ever thought about the actual seriousness or lack their of in their actual offense. Think about it. Alcohol is the most addictive and harmful to the body then any street drug. More people die from illnesses associated with cigarette use and yet I dont see any of the bigwigs who run those companies being thrown in jail for the rest of the lives. Why arent they considered losers and thugs? Why? Because the same government that you are praising is able to make money of of taxes. What about the millions of people whom are addicted to prescription medications? Hello…cocaine is used in prescription medications also. Furthermore, has anyone bothered to think about the fact that the sentencing guidelines for drug related offenses are racially biased. More minorities are convicted of drug dealing, which I might add is a NON VIOLENT offense. Yet you can rape a child or even commit murder and get less time. While I do agree that these men do deserve punishment, sending them to jail for the rest of their lives is ridiculous.
Nice to get these fools off the streets! Who’s going to take care of all these losers kids?
I bet between 17 of them they probably have 50 ugly a&^ trashy kids mooching of of some agency!
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