Demetrius Dwayne Swinton, Cocaine Trafficking, South Carolina 2023

CHARLESTON, S.C. – In a major blow to South Carolina’s narcotics trade, Demetrius Dwayne Swinton, a/k/a ‘Million Dolla Meat,’ was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison for his role in a large-scale cocaine trafficking operation.

Swinton, 31, of Ridgeland, pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine. He was sentenced by United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel in Charleston.

According to evidence presented in the case, Swinton was the leader of a cocaine trafficking organization responsible for bringing a large volume of cocaine into Beaufort and Jasper Counties. He received multiple kilograms of cocaine at a time from a source of supply in Atlanta, Georgia, and used associates to assist in both the distribution of drugs and the collection of drug proceeds.

Swinton was responsible for moving at least 74 kilograms of cocaine into those communities, using violence and intimidation to maintain his status as a main drug supplier. During the course of the investigation, agents seized over 47 kilograms of cocaine, 782 grams of crack cocaine, 6 kilograms of marijuana, 97 grams of heroin, 10 firearms, 5 vehicles, over $50,000 worth of jewelry, and over $68,000 cash.

Swinton agreed to forfeit $500,000, two vehicles, and several pieces of jewelry as part of his plea agreement. His associates, Travis Wiggins, aka ‘Trap,’ Ernest Fields, aka ‘Fly,’ and Boston Brown, were also sentenced by Judge Gergel for their roles in the conspiracy.

Wiggins, 28, of Ridgeland, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, while Fields, 39, of Hilton Head, received 6 years. Brown, 32, of Bluffton, was sentenced to 5 years. The sentences are a significant blow to the organization and will undoubtedly impact the communities affected by their activities.

U.S. Attorney Sherri A. Lydon praised the efforts of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in bringing the case to a successful conclusion. ‘It is our hope and belief that the significant sentences handed down to Swinton and his associates send a message to those hoping to fill their void and allow these communities, which have been ravaged by drug trafficking and violence, an opportunity to heal,’ she said.

The investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Atlanta Field Division, with assistance from the Fourteenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office and other law enforcement agencies. The success of the investigation is a testament to the dedication and hard work of law enforcement officials in South Carolina.

The case highlights the devastating impact of drug trafficking on communities and the importance of collaboration between law enforcement agencies in bringing these cases to a successful conclusion.

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