Mazone, Donaldson Sentenced in Drug Ring Bust

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The grimy streets of Columbia witnessed justice served as Drain Maurice Mazone, 54, and Clinton Raymond Donaldson, 42, were meted out 13 and three years respectively in federal prison for their nefarious role in a drug conspiracy.

Their scheme spanned states, starting from the arid lands of Arizona. Mazone, a mastermind of the distribution network, was caught with drugs purchased in the Grand Canyon State and shipped to him. He was not alone; Donaldson was his local muscle, providing addresses for package deliveries and aiding in the distribution of the illegal goods. The profits were rerouted back to their supplier in Arizona.

The DEA and U.S. Postal Inspection Service laid bare a trail of drugs delivered to Columbia, Florence, Myrtle Beach, and even reached as far as North Carolina, Maryland, and Florida. A team effort, this operation was part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), which targets high-level drug traffickers with a multi-agency approach.

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis was the one to hand down sentence: Mazone received 156 months behind bars followed by five years of supervision, while Donaldson got 36 months in prison plus three years of supervision. The charges included conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute crack cocaine, over 5 kilograms of cocaine, and over 400 grams of fentanyl, along with a quantity of marijuana.

There is no parole in the federal system, leaving these two men without hope of early release. This case underscores the relentless pursuit of justice by federal law enforcement agencies committed to dismantling criminal networks that threaten our nation.

For more information on the OCDETF Program, visit here. The case was investigated and prosecuted with tenacity by Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon.