Lexington Gunman Admits to Trafficking, Hostage Drama

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LEXINGTON COUNTY, SC – De’Marionne Miller, 22, traded a guilty plea in federal court this week, admitting he was a convicted felon illegally packing heat – and using it while dealing drugs. The case began with a frantic call from a family fearing their loved one was being held captive in a Lexington apartment.

On June 14th, deputies with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department raced to the scene after the victim’s family, who drove all the way from Florida, reported alarming text messages. As cops approached, they learned Miller had a probation violation hanging over his head. That’s when things went south fast.

Miller bolted from the apartment, ditching an AK-style rifle during a foot chase. Deputies recovered the weapon after securing Miller’s arrest. A search of his discarded backpack turned up cash, multiple bags of marijuana, and two cellphones. Back at the apartment, they found a vacuum-sealed bag of weed, a drug scale, and ammo for the AK.

Miller, already a barred from owning guns due to prior convictions for escape and unlawful carrying of a pistol, now faces a potential life sentence. He’s also looking at up to $250,000 in fines and five years of supervised release. Judge Cameron McGowan Currie will hand down the sentence after a probation report is completed.

The FBI Columbia Field Office and Lexington County Sheriff’s Department worked the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is handling the prosecution.

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