York County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Conspiracy

Drug conviction in the heart of South Carolina

In a significant progression in the war against drug trafficking, a York County man with the name, DeQavion Keyon DaJohn DeShae Cook, age 31, has pleaded guilty to a formidable drug conspiracy. Cook admitted his role in the conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute two high-demand illegal substances – methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Detailed Drug Crime Investigation

As per stated evidence, the investigation unfolded that between 2015 and 2023, Cook was an active associate in distributing drugs in the area, which were obtained from a man named Darryl Hemphill. The investigators revealed that the drugs procured from Hemphill included crystal methamphetamine and mock-30 mg Oxycodone tablets, also referred to by the generic name Roxicodone.

The pills were manufactured with fentanyl by Hemphill and/or others at multiple locations around Rock Hill and the Charlotte region. It was also identified that Cook, who was serving a sentence in the South Carolina Department of Corrections during the aforementioned period, was receiving the drugs from Hemphill, the leader of this drug ring.

Tracking The Drug Trail

Law enforcement agencies deployed multiple investigative techniques to estimate the volume of drugs funneled to Cook, while he was behind bars. These substances were fetched by Cook’s brother from Hemphill in Rock Hill and delivered to a correctional officer. This officer would then clandestinely carry the drugs into the prison to Cook.

Cook’s Sentence

For his considerable part in the drug conspiracy, Cook could face a maximum penalty of 40 years in federal prison. Additionally, Cook also stands the risk of a hefty fine, up to $5,000,000 and a supervised release of four years, set to kick in following his term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis has accepted Cook’s guilty plea and deferred the final sentencing until after an evaluation of a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. Cook will commence his new sentence post serving his current period for a separate federal conviction.

The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces Involvement

This drug conviction was part of a broader Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. The OCDETF program uncovers, disturbs, and disassembles the topmost echelon of drug traffickers and money launderers. For more details on the OCDETF Program, please visit the official U.S. Department of Justice website.

The investigation into this case was conducted by multiple law enforcement agencies, including the FBI Columbia Field Office, York County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Rock Hill Police Department, York County Sheriff’s Office, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is appointed for the prosecution of this case.