South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that 11 defendants have pleaded guilty following a State Grand Jury narcotics investigation into a fentanyl trafficking network. The operation, dubbed “Devil in Disguise,” linked several of the individuals to fatal overdoses in the Upstate region.
According to state investigators, the case underscores the lethal path fentanyl takes as it moves into South Carolina. Three of the primary defendants were directly connected to the overdose deaths of 24-year-old Emily Turner and 29-year-old Nathan Flaugher.
The Distribution Network
Amanda Raye Massengale, identified as a central distributor in the network, was sentenced to 22 years in prison. Evidence presented in court showed that Massengale marketed high-potency fentanyl using aggressive tactics, including sharing videos of users overdosing to promote the strength of her product.
In March 2022, Massengale distributed fentanyl to Dean Morris Wolvington, who then sold the drugs to Turner. Turner was found deceased by family members the following morning; she is survived by three children. In a similar incident in July 2022, Massengale provided fentanyl to David Harrison Thrift, which led to the fatal poisoning of Flaugher.
Wolvington received a 17-year sentence, while Thrift was sentenced to 14 years. Both faced multiple charges, including distribution of fentanyl and assault and battery of a high and aggravated nature.
Impact and Lethality
Federal data from the DEA indicates that as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal. Testing showed that 42% of seized pills contained at least this amount, effectively making every use a high-risk gamble with life.
Other individuals sentenced for their roles in the conspiracy include:
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Steve Cummings: 18 years
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Gregory Miller: 13 years
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Raymond Anthony Jordan, Jr.: 13 years
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Reco Lamar Seaborn: 11 years
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Shamus Sullivan: 10 years
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Michael Eric Cox: 5 years
The Attorney General’s Office stated that it remains committed to pursuing and holding accountable the drug traffickers responsible for spreading fentanyl across the state.
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