Repeat drug offender received 15 years in prison after the jury found him guilty of Distribution of Cocaine, 3rd Offense. Marcus Antonio Mack was investigated by the Lexington County Narcotics Enforcement Team. This case was prosecuted by Assistant Solicitors Melanie Graham and Gill Bell.

"Prosecuting drug cases is extremely important in Lexington County. We have seen too many deaths and senseless killings all because of drugs. Drugs play a contributing factor in many of the violent crimes we have been prosecuting over the years," according to Solicitor Hubbard.

Due to a number of community complaints of drug activity in West Columbia in the Sumter Street area, Lexington County Sheriff's Department Agents Scott Purdy and Mike Merckle along with West Columbia Police Department Detective Jody Putney opened an investigation on Mack. Mack sold a quantity of cocaine to a confidential informant working with law enforcement.

The hard work of these narcotics agents continues to make our community safer. Hopefully, this sentence sends a strong message to drug dealers in our local communities.