Columbia Men Sentenced in Multi-State Drug Trafficking Case
COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA – Two Columbia-area men have been sentenced to federal prison after prosecutors say they helped traffic large quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, marijuana, and crack cocaine across several states.
The Sentences
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for South Carolina announced that:
- Drain Maurice Mazone, 54, of Irmo, received 13 years in federal prison.
- Clinton Raymond Donaldson, 42, of Columbia, was sentenced to three years.
Both men will also serve terms of federal supervision after their release — five years for Mazone and three years for Donaldson.
Multi-State Drug Operation
According to prosecutors, Mazone and Donaldson conspired to possess and distribute:
- More than five pounds of cocaine
- Approximately .9 pounds of fentanyl
- Unspecified amounts of marijuana and crack cocaine
Authorities said the drugs originated in Arizona before being shipped through the mail to addresses in:
- Columbia
- Florence
- Myrtle Beach
- North Carolina
- Maryland
- Florida
Mazone allegedly oversaw the distribution network, while Donaldson provided addresses and assisted with moving the drugs.
Profits Sent Back to Source
Prosecutors said the proceeds from drug sales were sent back to the Arizona distributor. Alongside Mazone and Donaldson, two additional co-conspirators pleaded guilty and were sentenced, though their names were not released in the Thursday announcement.
Federal Task Force Involvement
The case was prosecuted under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), which targets high-level traffickers, gangs, and criminal organizations.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the U.S. Postal Service both assisted in the investigation. The case was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon.
Do you think South Carolina law enforcement is doing enough to disrupt drug pipelines from out of state? Share your thoughts with us at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
