5 more plead guilty in SC drug-trafficking investigation
(WSPA) — Five defendants charged in a state narcotics trafficking investigation known as "Devil in Disguise" pleaded guilty last week. The individuals received prison sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years for their roles in distributing fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine across South Carolina.
The convictions followed a massive investigation led by the South Carolina State Grand Jury and several law enforcement partners. The case specifically targeted traffickers in the Greenville area, where officials said the arrests led to a significant decrease in overdose deaths.
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the results of the court week following the multi-agency investigation. "The Attorney General's Office and our law enforcement partners have aggressively used the State Grand Jury to get fentanyl dealers and career criminals off the street," Wilson said.
Clyde Leon Holmes pleaded guilty to money laundering, methamphetamine trafficking and conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. He was sentenced to 15 years in the South Carolina Department of Corrections.
Bryant Bernard Fuller also received a 15-year sentence. He pleaded guilty to several charges, including trafficking cocaine base, trafficking methamphetamine and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
Fuller and Holmes were both suspected of distributing fentanyl that contributed to overdose deaths in the Woodruff Road area of Greenville. Law enforcement officials noted that overdose deaths in that area declined sharply after the pair was arrested.
Patrick Jermain Clement was sentenced to 15 years for trafficking fentanyl, trafficking methamphetamine and two counts of distributing cocaine. In a related plea, Rodney Lemont Carter Jr. received a 10-year sentence for trafficking methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine, as well as possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
Tavis Demond Barnette, known by the alias "YAB," received the longest sentence of the group at 20 years. Barnette was on the trial docket and entered his guilty plea just before the trial was set to begin. His charges spanned Anderson, Greenville, Jasper and Lexington counties for crimes committed between March 2021 and January 2025.
Officials said Barnette admitted to multiple counts of trafficking methamphetamine and fentanyl, along with attempting to provide a prisoner with contraband. Investigators reported that his most serious crimes involved two separate incidents of distributing approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills in Lexington County.
He also used a drone to drop contraband into a prison located in Jasper County.
The investigation involved a partnership between the Attorney General's State Grand Jury Division and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Other participating agencies included the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the South Carolina National Guard Counterdrug Task Force and sheriff's offices from Greenville, Anderson and Pickens counties.
Police departments from Easley, Pickens, Greenville, Travelers Rest and Greer also assisted in the case.
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