Vander Antonio Mingledolph, age 39, was convicted by a Lexington County jury on Wednesday, October 29, for Trafficking Fentanyl, Cocaine, and Methamphetamine. Circuit Court Judge David Caraker, Jr., presided over the trial and sentenced Mingledolph to twenty-five (25) years in the South Carolina Department of Corrections. Under South Carolina law, Trafficking is classified as a violent and serious offense. Mingledolph will not be eligible for parole.

Assistant Solicitors Jordan Cox and Bruce Norton handled the prosecution of this case for the Eleventh Circuit. The case was investigated by the Lexington County Multi-Agency Narcotics Enforcement Team (“NET”), with assistance from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

On April 26, 2024, agents with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department and Richland County Sheriff’s Department arrived at the Rodeway Inn on Piney Grove Road in the Columbia area of Lexington County. Mingledolph was a fugitive from justice out of Georgia and was confirmed to be staying at the hotel. After taking him into custody, agents located over 100 grams of Methamphetamine, 100 grams of Cocaine, and over 200 grams of Fentanyl and Fentanyl mixtures. Mingledolph was observed carrying the backpack that contained the drugs and he admitted to ownership of them.

The Eleventh Circuit Solicitor’s Office works with law-enforcement partners to aggressively pursue justice against those who bring Fentanyl and other poisons into the community. Mingledolph’s Fentanyl supply contained mixtures with the powerful sedative, Xylazine. Xylazine, also known as “Tranq”, is not an opioid and is only approved for veterinarian use by the FDA. This dangerous combination of substances has deadly consequences with life-saving measures, such as Narcan, unable to reverse its effects.

Mingledolph was sentenced to 25 years for each trafficking offense, with all three sentences to run concurrently. He has multiple prior drug convictions, including possession with the intent to distribute charges. Mingledolph is also awaiting trial for similar charges out of Georgia and Alabama. He has been transported to the South Carolina Department of Corrections to begin serving his prison sentence.