US Attorney

Lexington County Man Sentenced to 21 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Sexual Abuse Material

Robert K. Bonesteel, 63, of West Columbia, has been sentenced to more than 21 years in federal prison for producing child sexual abuse material. * Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that in November 2023, law enforcement agencies executed an undercover chat operation targeted at identifying child sex offenders. During the chat operation, undercover officers […]

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Man found guilty of possession of child sexual abuse material

William Steven Wooten, 46, of Lexington, has been convicted by a federal jury following two days of trial. Wooten was found guilty on one count of possession of child sexual abuse material.* Evidence introduced at trial showed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation was conducting a stolen valor investigation related to Wooten’s possession and use of […]

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Lexington County man charged with traveling to Brazil and sexually abusing minor, sentenced to 40 years

Stephen Todd Greene, 55, of West Columbia, has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to engaging in illicit sexual conduct in foreign places, producing child sexual abuse material, and coercion/enticement of a minor and aiding/abetting. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Greene initiated an online relationship with a woman […]

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Adair Ford Boroughs terminated as US Attorney for the District of South Carolina

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Brook B. Andrews is now Acting U.S. Attorney The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina announced Tuesday the departure of Adair Ford Boroughs as U.S. Attorney following termination by the new administration. Boroughs, a Forest Acres attorney, challenged Incumbent Congressman Joe Wilson in 2020 for his 2nd […]

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Purported Lexington gang Member, who escaped from a federal residential facility, returned to federal prison

Jake Rupert, 40, of Lexington, was sentenced to two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to walkaway escape from a federal residential re-entry facility. Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on the morning of March 5, 2024, Rupert walked away, without permission, from a federal halfway house in Columbia. In January 2024, Rupert […]

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Man Sentenced for Role in Fatal Fentanyl Overdose Death

James Brewer, 36, of Columbia was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distribution of fentanyl.  Evidence presented to the court showed that on April 22, 2022, Brewer and the victim, R.B., discussed the exchange of drugs and that Brewer sent R.B. a picture with a syringe loaded with the drugs, […]

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Lexington Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Production of Child Sex Abuse Materials

James Austen Gillespie, 33, of Lexington, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to production of child sex abuse materials. * Evidence presented to the court showed that on July 11, 2021, Gillespie used his cellphone to edit himself into two compromising images of a nude minor child. United States District […]

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