Several drug dealers in Lexington County sentenced to prison

LEXINGTON COUNTY, SC (WOLO)– According to the Eleventh District Attorney’s Office, several drug dealers were arrested following recent
Convictions in the General Sessions Court of Lexington County.

Jakob Regan Dator, 21, pleaded guilty on July 23 to trafficking 4 to 14 grams of fentanyl.

A district judge sentenced Dator to twenty years in the South Carolina Department of Corrections.

He had previous convictions for robbery and criminal conspiracy.

In the first months of 2023, the Lexington County Multi-Agency Narcotics Enforcement Team (“NET”) began investigating the sale of fentanyl in connection with several drug overdoses, at least one of which was fatal, according to the District Attorney's Office.

Investigators said the investigation revealed that Dator was dealing fentanyl in the form of pressed pills.

The counterfeit pills bore the pharmaceutical label oxycodone but contained fentanyl, officials said.

Fentanyl is a highly toxic, controlled substance where taking a single pill can cause death.

On July 31, 2023, NET agents observed a controlled purchase by Dator and conducted a traffic stop in Lexington County.

Over five hundred colorful pills were found on him and, according to police, tests showed that the pills were fentanyl.

Assistant District Attorney Cox stated, “This case highlights the often tragic consequences of drug trafficking, especially with dangerous narcotics like fentanyl. The 11th District Attorney's Office and the Lexington County NET Team will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who choose to smuggle drugs into our community.”

Christina Lindemuth, a 52-year-old Gaston woman, was sentenced on July 26 after pleading guilty to methamphetamine trafficking.

Lindemuth was sentenced to nineteen years in prison by a district judge.

On June 16, 2022, law enforcement became aware of drugs and paraphernalia found in a West Columbia hotel room after check-out.

Lindemuth was observed trying to get into the room with a safe. The police obtained a search warrant for the room and the safe.

The Lexington County Sheriff's Department said investigators found more than 200 grams of methamphetamine in the safe, as well as Lindemuth's South Carolina identification and bank transaction cards.

Additionally, Bradford Scott Price, a 39-year-old West Columbia man, pleaded guilty to trafficking more than 28 grams of methamphetamine but less than 100 grams and trafficking more than 4 grams of fentanyl but less than 14 grams.

A district judge accepted the plea and sentenced Price to nine years in the South Carolina Department of Corrections.

In the fall of 2023, law enforcement initiated a drug investigation and conducted several controlled buys on Price at a home in West Columbia.

On November 8, 2023, West Columbia Police officers executed a search warrant on a residence where Price was known to be involved in drug trafficking.

As a result, officers said they discovered over 35 grams of methamphetamine and over 8 grams of fentanyl.

Price was on probation at the time of his arrest and has a previous criminal record for drug offenses and property crimes.

Dator, Lindemuth and Price were all taken to the South Carolina Department of Corrections to begin serving their sentences.

Following these convictions, Eleventh Circuit District Attorney Rick Hubbard stated, “The dangers of illegal narcotics such as fentanyl and methamphetamine continue to pose a great risk to members of our community, especially young people who may not know that a counterfeit pill contains a lethal dose of fentanyl. We are grateful to drug enforcement agents for their efforts to rid Lexington County of these illegal substances.”