SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Daniel Mac Wentz, 46, of Blacksburg, is headed to federal prison for a decade after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. The sentence sends a clear message: move poison into the Upstate, and you’ll pay the price.
The bust went down April 19, 2024, when Spartanburg County Sheriff’s deputies pulled over Wentz’s vehicle. Inside, they found 88 grams of pure methamphetamine and a loaded 9mm pistol – a dangerous combination for any community. But the street-level stash was just the tip of the iceberg. The investigation quickly revealed Wentz wasn’t a lone operator; he was deeply connected to a large-scale drug trafficking ring flooding the region with illicit narcotics.
Wentz’s rap sheet reads like a laundry list of offenses. Beyond this latest conviction, he’s previously faced drug distribution charges, indecent exposure, aggravated assault and battery, attempted murder, and a string of firearms violations. This wasn’t his first rodeo, and authorities clearly treated him as a seasoned criminal.
United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins handed down the 120-month sentence, followed by five years of court-ordered supervision. U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina didn’t mince words. “This career criminal was part of a larger drug trafficking ring responsible for bringing substantial quantities of illegal drugs into the Upstate,” Stirling stated. “Getting these drugs off of our streets and holding offenders like this accountable makes our communities safer.”
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) played a key role in dismantling the operation. “This sentencing demonstrates the unwavering commitment of Homeland Security Investigations and our law enforcement partners to protect our communities from the dangers of drug trafficking and armed criminals,” said ICE HSI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Cardell T. Morant. “Daniel Wentz’s extensive criminal history and his role in methamphetamine distribution posed a significant threat to public safety.”
The case was a collaborative effort, part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program. Multiple agencies – including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Spartanburg and Greenville County Sheriff’s Offices, and more – worked together to bring Wentz and his network down. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Schoen prosecuted the case. The OCDETF’s mission: to cripple the highest-level drug traffickers and criminal organizations that prey on American communities. More information on OCDETF can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
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Key Facts
- State: South Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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