Multiple narcotics traffickers sentenced to prison in Lexington County

LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (WOLO)– According to the Eleventh Circuit Solicitor’s Office, multiple narcotics traffickers have received lengthy prison sentences following recent
convictions in Lexington County General Sessions Court.

Jakob Regan Dator, age 21, pled guilty on July 23, to trafficking fentanyl, 4 grams to 14 grams.

A circuit court judge sentenced Dator to twenty years in the South Carolina Department of Corrections.

He was previous convictions for robbery and criminal conspiracy.

In the early months of 2023, the Lexington County Multi-Agency Narcotics Enforcement Team (“NET”) began investigating the sale of fentanyl in connection with several drug overdoses, at least one of which was fatal, according to solicitor’s office.

Investigators said the investigation revealed that Dator was dealing fentanyl in the form of pressed pills.

The counterfeit pills had pharmaceutical markings of Oxycodone, however, contained fentanyl, said officials.

Fentanyl is a highly lethal controlled substance in which consumption of a single pill can result in death.

On July 31, 2023, NET agents observed a controlled purchase by Dator and conducted a traffic stop in Lexington County.

He was found to be in possession of over five hundred multi-colored pills and law enforcement says testing confirmed the pills to be fentanyl.

Assistant Solicitor Cox states, “This case represents the often tragic consequences of drug trafficking, particularly with dangerous narcotics such as Fentanyl. The 11th Circuit Solicitor’s Office and the Lexington County NET team will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who choose to pour drugs into our community.”

Christina Lindemuth, a 52-year-old Gaston woman was sentenced following a guilty plea on July 26, to trafficking methamphetamine.

Lindemuth was sentenced by a circuit court judge to nineteen years in prison.

On June 16, 2022, law enforcement was made aware of drugs and paraphernalia located in a West Columbia hotel room after check-out time.

Lindemuth was seen trying to enter the room while carrying a safe. Law enforcement obtained a search warrant for the room and the safe.

Lexington County Sheriff’s Department said investigators found more than 200 grams of methamphetamine inside the safe along with Lindemuth’s South Carolina ID and financial transaction cards.

Also, Bradford Scott Price, a 39-year-old West Columbia man, pled guilty to trafficking methamphetamine, more than 28 grams but less than 100 grams, and trafficking fentanyl, more than 4 grams but less than 14 grams.

A circuit court judge presided over the plea and sentenced Price to nine years in the South Carolina Department of Corrections.

During the fall of 2023, law enforcement conducted a narcotics investigation and performed several controlled buys from Price at a home in West Columbia.

On November 8, 2023, West Columbia Police officers executed a search warrant at a home where Price was determined to be engaged in narcotics transactions.

As a result, officers said they discovered over 35 grams of methamphetamine and over 8 grams of fentanyl.

Price was on probation at the time of his arrest, and has numerous prior convictions for drug offenses and property crimes.

Dator, Lindemuth, and Price have all been taken to the S.C. Department of Corrections to begin their sentences.

Following these convictions, Eleventh Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard stated: “The dangers of illegal narcotics, such as fentanyl and methamphetamine, continue to pose a grave risk to members of our community, especially young people who may not realize that a counterfeit pill contains a lethal dose of fentanyl. We are grateful to narcotics investigators for their efforts to rid Lexington County of these illegal substances.”