Lexington County man sold meth, cocaine and guns to undercover agents, prosecutor says

A Lexington County man is going to federal prison for more than a decade after selling drugs and guns to undercover officers, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office .

Reginald Travis Pearson, a 40-year-old West Columbia resident, pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Tuesday in a news release.

Pearson was sentenced to more than 16 years in federal prison , according to the release.

Between November 2022 and January 2023, Pearson sold more than 900 grams of meth and 28 grams of cocaine to undercover ATF agents , the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

Additionally, Pearson sold seven guns despite being a convicted felon who’s prohibited from possessing firearms, according to the release.

Pearson has previous convictions for petit larceny and multiple drug-related offenses, including possession with intent to distribute marijuana, cocaine, and heroin, as well as heroin distribution, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. Pearson was sentenced as a career offender based on his six prior drug convictions, according to the release.

Pearson was sentenced to 200 months in prison, to be followed by five years of court-ordered supervision, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. There is no parole in the federal system.

The West Columbia Police Department , Lexington County Sheriff’s Department , Richland County Sheriff’s Department and Homeland Security investigated the case, along with the ATF.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case.

Pearson is facing pending South Carolina charges from a January 2023 arrest , Lexington County court records show. He was charged with assault & battery of a high and aggravated nature, first-degree burglary and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, according to court records.

Pearson, whose attorney is listed as Columbia lawyer Joenathan Chaplin, posted $61,000 bond on the combined charges the day after he was arrested, court records show.