Four sentenced in federal court in connection with meth trafficking ring, firearms crime
Image: Department of Justice (D.O.J.)
Image: Department of Justice (D.O.J.)
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)– Two men from the Midlands and a California man and woman were sentenced after pleading guilty in federal court to their roles in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy and a related firearms crime, said the Justice Department.
According to officials, Evidence presented to the court showed that from 2018 to 2021, Victor Guzman served as a California-based source of supply for extremely pure “ice” methamphetamine, which was shipped to Columbia.
Investigators said Guzman was responsible for trafficking more than eight kilograms of “ice” methamphetamine to the Columbia area.
Alice Velazquez is accused of being a California-based facilitator/distributor for Guzman.
Andre Boulware is accused of receiving methamphetamine from Guzman and Velazquez and distributing the drugs to others which includes Jessie York.
On Oct. 29, 2019, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the Long Beach, California home of Victor Guzman and Alice Velazquez.
Inside the property and cars parked at the home, law enforcement found around two and a half kilograms of “ice” methamphetamine, two 9mm firearms and ammunition, said officials.
Guzman later admitted to law enforcement he had the firearms because of the dangers involved in drug dealing.
Two boxes sent to Andre Boulware each had around half a kilogram of “ice” methamphetamine which investigators in Columbia said they intercepted.
After further investigating it was revealed that Velazquez was working for and on behalf of Guzman and had helped Boulware get the methamphetamine.
The investigation also led to law enforcement figuring out that the methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy had been ongoing since at least 2018, said officials.
“Illegal narcotics pose a serious danger and public health risk,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina.
Andre Alexander Boulware, 46, of Columbia, was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine.
Victor Guzman, 30, of Long Beach, California, was sentenced to more than 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
Guzman’s 220-month sentence in this case will run concurrent to a 60-month custodial sentence imposed on Guzman by the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York for his role in an unrelated fentanyl trafficking conspiracy.
Alice Hortencia Velazquez, 30, of Long Beach, California, was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine.
Jessie James York, 44, of Lexington, was sentenced to 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine.
