Union Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with the Intent to Distribute

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Cornelius C. Crawford., age 31, of Union, pled guilty in federal court in Anderson, to possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841.  United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain, of Anderson, accepted the plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that on October 13, 2016, Officer Montjoy with the Jonesville Police Department observed a car failing to maintain lane and a passenger in the car with no seatbelt.  Based on these violations, he initiated a traffic stop.  When the car stopped, Crawford (who was the passenger) jumped out carrying a green and orange bag and made a run for it.  Officer Montjoy chased him.  After a chase, Crawford pulled out a .22 caliber Ruger, turned, and pointed it at the officer.  Montjoy ordered him over and over to drop the gun and get on the ground.  On the tenth or so command, Crawford finally got to the ground, and tried to bury the gun and a bag of cocaine next to him.  Once backup arrived, officers placed Crawford under arrest.  In the orange bag, the officer located a set of digital scales, five baggies of cocaine, and .22 caliber bullets.

Ms. Drake stated the maximum penalty this defendant can receive is a fine of $2,000,000 and/or imprisonment for 30 years, six years of supervised release, plus a special assessment of $100.

The case was investigated by agents of the Jonesville Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office handled the case.

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