U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs | U.S. Department of Justice
A federal grand jury in Florence has indicted five individuals on charges related to drug trafficking. The indictment names Samual Earl Ramu, 33; Kathy Denise Roberts-Poston, 57; Michael Allen Dorsey, 56; Justin Allen Cox, 40; and Ryan Marie Lovell, 37, all residents of Florence. They are accused of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl in South Carolina since at least May 2021.
Ramu and Dorsey face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Ramu is currently serving a 15-year sentence with the South Carolina Department of Corrections. Dorsey is detained on related state charges. Roberts-Poston, Cox, and Lovell each face up to 20 years imprisonment and are awaiting their initial court appearances before United States Magistrate Judge Kaymani D. West.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), which aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The program emphasizes trust-building within communities, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating outcomes.
The investigation was conducted by Homeland Security Investigations and the Florence County Sheriff’s Office, with support from the South Carolina Department of Corrections Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Matthew Ellis is leading the prosecution.
U.S. Attorney Adair F. Boroughs emphasized that "all charges in the indictment are merely accusations" and that "defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty."
