Angela Upchurch, Methamphetamine Trafficking, South Carolina 2023

⏱ 4 min read

A methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy in South Carolina’s Upstate has led to the downfall of its key players, including Angela Upchurch, 38, of Gaffney. Upchurch played a significant role in distributing the highly addictive and destructive drug, conspiring with others, including Mikayluh and Mikenzi Walker, and Jonathan Sarratt, who coordinated the operation while serving time at the South Carolina Department of Corrections. The conspiracy, which funneled 15 pounds of methamphetamine into the Upstate from 2023 through 2024, has been dismantled, and its members are now facing the consequences.

The investigation, part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative, revealed the intricate network of drug distribution, with the Walker twins acting as middlemen and Upchurch serving as a sub-distributor. Upchurch’s prior conviction for accessory after the fact to trafficking in 2017 did little to deter her from continuing her illicit activities. The methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy has had a devastating impact on the community, fueling addiction and violence.

United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins handed down a sentence of 130 months’ imprisonment to Upchurch, to be followed by a three-year term of court-ordered supervision. This sentence reflects the severity of the crime and the commitment of law enforcement agencies to disrupt and dismantle such operations. The sentences of Upchurch’s co-conspirators, including 300 months for Jonathan Sarratt, 276 months for Mikayluh Walker, and 180 months for Mikenzi Walker, further underscore the determination to hold traffickers accountable.

The outcome of this case is a testament to the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies, including Homeland Security Investigations, in combating methamphetamine trafficking and protecting the community. As U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling and Special Agent in Charge Mark M. Zito emphasized, the disruption of such criminal networks is crucial in keeping the community safe and preventing the devastating consequences of drug addiction and violence.

MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS

Drug Trafficking

Sean Patrick Gifford, Methamphetamine Distribution, Iowa 2025

Jan 23, 2025

Drug Trafficking

Jermaine Dickinson, Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine, Alabama 2014

Jan 26, 2015

Drug Trafficking

Patrick O'Neal Kennedy, Distribution of Cocaine Base, Georgia 2023

May 31, 2019

Drug Trafficking

Brandy May, Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin, West Virginia 2017

Feb 9, 2018