Attorney General Alan Wilson announces State Grand Jury charges related to criminal activity within South Carolina prisons

(COLUMBIA, SC) - South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced today charges stemming from multiple investigations resulting from the ongoing partnership between the State Grand Jury Division of the Attorney General’s Office, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the South Carolina Department of Corrections Office of the Inspector General, and local law enforcement agencies.

In the investigation known as “Clean Sweep,” the South Carolina State Grand Jury has issued indictments of 2 additional individuals in connection with an investigation into the Lee Correctional Institution, involving allegations of attempted murder and public corruption. According to the indictments, the State Grand Jury charges allege the assault and attempted murder of a fellow inmate by Dexter Bernard Brown. The investigation also revealed alleged corruption of a sworn correctional officer, Regina Renee James, who is alleged to have participated in the contraband conspiracy along with alleged co-conspirator Dexter Bernard Brown at Lee Correctional by enabling the access and availability of contraband to prison inmates. Additionally, Regina Renee James, who is alleged to have become aware of information concerning the assault on an inmate by Brown, and as a sworn law enforcement officer did not report important and relevant information to investigating authorities.

In the investigation known as “Off Tract,” which focuses on Kershaw Correctional Institution located in Lancaster County, current and former inmates, as well as civilian co-conspirators, and an active correctional officer, were indicted for their alleged participation in a drug trafficking conspiracy, the illegal contraband trade within the prison, and money laundering.

The investigation known as “Sneaky Sticks” focuses on alleged public corruption involving correctional officers and the inmates with whom they were allegedly conspiring, related to the narcotics and contraband trade within the Turbeville, Lieber, and Kershaw correctional institutions.

Attorney General Wilson thanked all the investigative agencies involved for their hard work and cited this case as yet another example of cooperation among various agencies through the mechanism of the State Grand Jury, which has developed an initiative to focus on the problems of corruption and criminal activity driven from within South Carolina prisons. “This Office is committed to using the State Grand Jury to partner with SLED, SCDC, and other agencies to fight not only the problem of prisoners committing crimes while locked away in SCDC, but also the public corruption that facilitates it,” Attorney General Alan Wilson said. “Those SCDC officers and staff who abuse the public trust and join with the criminals, when they are sworn to protect the public, will face accountability from this committed partnership of prosecutors and law enforcement,” he added.

“These cases show that SCDC will not put up with corruption,” said Bryan Stirling, Director of the S.C. Department of Corrections.“These SCDC employees who have broken the law and the public trust are being held accountable.When dirty staff and inmates conspire to sell drugs and other contraband inside the prisons, it puts the public, staff andinmates at risk. This is unacceptable, and I won’t stand for it. If you break the law and bring contraband into an SCDC prison, you will be arrested and prosecuted. Thank you to the Attorney General’s office, SLED, SCDC’s investigators and lawyers for investigating and prosecuting this case.”

Bond hearings for some of the defendants are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, before the Honorable Robert Hood at the Richland County Courthouse.

The charges are listed below against the named individuals:

CLEAN SWEEP:

(1) Dexter Bernard Brown

2024-GS-47-29 (Lee County)

Attempted Murder: 0 to 30 Years
Rioting or Inciting to Riot: 5 to 10 Years

iii. Inmate Carrying or Concealing a Weapon: 0 to 10 Years, consecutive to current sentence

Criminal Conspiracy: 0 to 10 Years

(2) Regina Renee James

2024-GS-47-29 (Lee County)

Criminal Conspiracy: 0 to 5 Years
Misconduct in Office: 0 to 10 Years

OFF TRACT:

(1) Antonett Louise Brown-Toney