Reynerio Rafael Romero, Jr., 27, a validated gang member living in Pelion, pled guilty to Trafficking Cocaine 2nd Offense and was sentenced by Circuit Court Judge George M. McFaddin, Jr., last week to 15 years in prison. Under South Carolina Law, Trafficking Cocaine 2nd Offense is classified as a serious, violent offense and “no parole.” In South Carolina, offenders must serve at least 85% of their total sentence. 11th Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard commented: “The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department’s Crime Reduction Unit is committed to combating the cause of many violent crimes in Lexington County. The prosecution of drug cases connected to gang activity is extremely important in order to make our community safer. We have experienced far too many homicides and other violent crimes due to gang violence and drug activity.”

In May of 2020, a vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation after leaving a location that was under surveillance for drug activity near Old Barnwell Road and Romero was located in the front passenger seat of the vehicle. Law enforcement detected an odor of marijuana in the vehicle that led to a search of the vehicle. Law enforcement recovered from the front passenger side of the vehicle a quantity of marijuana, approximately thirteen (13) grams of cocaine, and several multi-colored pills that tested positive for methamphetamine. Law enforcement also located a stolen Draco semiautomatic pistol with a loaded 30-round magazine in the trunk of the vehicle.