A Leesville man will serve 18 years in prison after being found with methamphetamine in a bag of chips.

Brandy O’Neal Harris, 32, pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking methamphetamine March 30 following charges in the counties of Lexington and Saluda.

“On October 13, 2022, an officer with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department was running routine patrol on Lee Street in the Leesville area of Lexington County when he observed Harris driving his vehicle with an expired tag,” a release from the 11th Circuit Solicitor’s Office states. “A traffic stop was conducted and Harris gave consent to search his vehicle. During the search of his vehicle, the officer found 137 grams of methamphetamine concealed in a bag of barbeque chips in the passenger area of the vehicle.”

The release notes that Harris admitted the substance found in the bag was meth and that it was his.

“Agents with Lexington County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Enforcement Team became involved in this case,” the release continues. “During the course of the investigation, it was determined that Harris was a key player in illegal narcotics ending up in the streets of Lexington County, Saluda County, and other surrounding counties. The investigation also revealed that Harris would acquire his drugs from out of state. Harris resided in the Leesville area of Saluda County at the time of his arrest. Agents worked with the Saluda County Sheriff’s Office to execute a lawful search warrant on Harris’ home. During the search, officers found the remainder of Harris’s stash of methamphetamine as well as several grams of fentanyl and various weapons.”

Harris was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Walton Mecleod, IV in the case, which was prosecuted by Assistant Solicitor Kelly Oppenheimer.