Stefon Shananthony Russell, age 39, was convicted by a Lexington County jury on Thursday, August 20, for Trafficking Cocaine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams – third or subsequent offense, Possession With Intent to Distribute (PWID) Cocaine Base – third or subsequent offense, Possession With Intent to Distribute (PWID) a Schedule I Narcotic – third or subsequent offense, and Possession With Intent to Distribute (PWID) Marijuana – first offense.

Circuit Court Judge Milton Kimpson presided over the trial and sentenced Russell to the maximum thirty (30) years on the trafficking charge, ten (10) years on the PWID cocaine base and schedule 1 narcotic charges, and the maximum five (5) years on the PWID marijuana charge with all of his sentences running concurrently. A third or subsequent conviction for the trafficking offense carries a mandatory minimum of twenty-five years in prison. Under South Carolina law, Russell will not be eligible for parole on the trafficking and it is classified as a violent and serious offense. The PWID cocaine base and schedule 1 narcotic charges both carry mandatory minimum sentences of ten years in prison for a third or subsequent conviction and are both classified as serious offenses.

Assistant Solicitors Kyle E. Smith and Samuel J. Jones prosecuted this case on behalf of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office. According to the prosecutors, this case represents the continued efforts of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who choose to flood our communities with dangerous drugs. The Solicitor’s Office is grateful to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department and the South Carolina Department of Probation, Pardon and Parole for their work on this case.

On January 24, 2024, law enforcement received a call for service in the Gaston area of Lexington County. The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department Multi-Agency Narcotics Enforcement Team (“NET”) responded as requested due to a report of a large amount of marijuana and suspected narcotics being located during a home visit by parole agents. A search warrant was obtained by law enforcement for the house and the search revealed large amounts of marijuana, suspected cocaine, and other powdery substance consistent with narcotics throughout the house and vehicles located on the property.

During the search of the home, agents also seized numerous personal items linking Russell to the address along with a cell phone taken from his person. A search warrant was later executed on the cell phone which revealed evidence of the sale of illegal narcotics such as cocaine, cocaine base, marijuana, and MDMA (“M” or molly). Russell also texted various people his location which confirmed the house address that law enforcement searched as being associated with Russell. Department of Motor Vehicle records also linked Russell to the house. During the course of the investigation, all of the suspected illegal narcotics were analyzed. The analysis confirmed the recovered substances were marijuana, cocaine, cocaine base, and a designer drug known as “bath salts.”

During the trial, Russell took the stand in his own defense. He denied living in the home and denied having any knowledge about the drugs located by law enforcement. Russell admitted to being the only user of the cell phone that was seized by law enforcement.

During sentencing, prosecutors informed the Court that this was Russell’s fifth set of drug convictions over a period of twenty plus years. Russell also has prior convictions for strong arm robbery and driving under the influence. He was on parole at the time of arrest.

Russell has been transported to the South Carolina Department of Corrections to serve his active prison sentence.