A Columbia man was sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to gun and drug charges. Anthony Earl Baxter, 37, was handed the sentence by United States District Court Judge J. Michelle Childs on December 31, 2019.
Baxter was found guilty of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, as well as possession with the intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.
On November 7, 2019, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department was dispatched on a call for service related to a domestic assault with a firearm. The victim advised deputies that the suspect fled the scene, and deputies observed the suspect vehicle being driven by Baxter leaving the area.
When the deputies tried to pull Baxter over, he pulled off the road and began a high-speed car chase that reached over 90 MPH, with Baxter weaving in and out of traffic, driving into oncoming lanes of traffic, and jumping a center median curb.
Baxter took marked patrol cars with lights and sirens activated on a car chase through business and residential areas of Columbia. The car chase ended with Baxter crashing his vehicle and then attempting to flee by foot with a backpack in hand onto a residential property. Deputies detained Baxter and discovered in the backpack: two 9mm handguns and ammunition, four digital scales, U.S. currency, cocaine, and methamphetamine.
Baxter’s prior convictions include for drug charges in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, and 2013; a weapons charge in 2004; and a criminal domestic violence charge in 2007. Due to his multiple controlled substance convictions, Baxter was considered a career offender within the meaning of the federal sentencing guidelines.
Anthony Earl Baxter was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
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Key Facts
- State: South Carolina
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Weapons|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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