Angela Upchurch, a 38-year-old resident of Gaffney, was sentenced on May 8 to more than ten years in federal prison for her involvement in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy.
The case matters because it highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat drug distribution networks operating in South Carolina. Upchurch conspired with Mikayluh and Mikenzi Walker, Jonathan Sarratt, and others to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine throughout the Upstate region. According to evidence presented during the investigation, Sarratt coordinated the distribution from within the South Carolina Department of Corrections while serving a sentence. The Walker twins acted as intermediaries who supplied drugs to sub-distributors such as Upchurch. Authorities held Upchurch responsible for distributing fifteen pounds of methamphetamine between 2023 and 2024. She also has a prior conviction from 2017 for accessory after the fact to trafficking.
"This drug conspiracy funneled pounds upon pounds of dangerous methamphetamine into the Upstate," said U.S. Attorney Bryan Stirling for the District of South Carolina. "Our office is proud to work with our law enforcement partners to remove these drug dealers from our streets and keep our community safe." Mark M. Zito, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in North and South Carolina, said: "Methamphetamine trafficking devastates families and communities, fueling addiction and violence across our nation. This sentence reflects the unwavering commitment of HSI and our law enforcement partners to disrupt criminal networks and protect the homeland. Through collaboration and determination, we are holding traffickers accountable and making our communities safer."
United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins sentenced Angela Upchurch to 130 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of court-ordered supervision; there is no parole in federal cases. Previously, Judge Coggins had sentenced Jonathan Sarratt to 300 months' imprisonment, Mikayluh Walker to 276 months, and Mikenzi Walker to 180 months.
This investigation was part of the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159—Protecting the American People Against Invasion—which focuses on eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational organizations, human smuggling rings operating domestically or abroad; it places special emphasis on crimes involving children or violent offenders.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations along with several other agencies including Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms & Explosives; U.S Postal Inspection Service; multiple sheriff’s offices; Greenville Police Department; Greenville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit; South Carolina Department of Corrections Office Inspector General; Anderson County Sheriff’s Office—with prosecution led by Assistant U.S Attorney Jamie Lea Schoen.
The U.S Attorney's Office for the District of South Carolina protects communities statewide through criminal prosecutions as well as civil litigation using a team that includes about one hundred twenty prosecutors and support professionals working out of offices located in Columbia Charleston Florence Greenville according to the official website.
