Gaston Man Sentenced to 25 Years for Trafficking Drugs

Gaston, SC 03/21/2026 - Tony Leonard, a 52-year-old Gaston man, has been sentenced to twenty-five (25) years in prison following his conviction at trial in Lexington County for multiple counts of Trafficking and Possession with Intent to Distribute Drugs. Chief Administrative Judge Debra R. McCaslin presided over the jury trial and imposed the sentence. The trial concluded on Thursday, March 5, 2026. Leonard was sentenced to the mandatory twenty-five (25) years for Trafficking Methamphetamine 200g or more, but less than 400g, with concurrent sentences for all remaining charges. Under South Carolina law, trafficking drugs is classified as a violent and serious offense. Leonard will not be eligible for parole.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant Solicitors Jordan Cox and Bruce Norton. The investigation was a joint operation by the Cayce Department of Public Safety, West Columbia Police Department, and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. This case represents the continued efforts of the Eleventh Circuit Solicitor’s Office and local law enforcement to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who choose to flood our communities with dangerous drugs.

Officers with the West Columbia Police Department were conducting an ongoing drug investigation into Tony Leonard. On September 19, 2023, officers went to a home associated with Leonard in Cayce to serve multiple drug warrants on Leonard. After removing Leonard from his vehicle, Cayce DPS investigators located trafficking amounts of Fentanyl, Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, as well as various amounts of other Schedule II and IV controlled substances. Trafficking amount of Methamphetamine was in Leonard’s vehicle in the form of various counterfeit pills and powder. Additional items located near the drugs identified Leonard as the owner and were signs of drug sales. 

Tony Leonard has several prior convictions, including multiple drug offenses, domestic violence, and voluntary manslaughter.

Leonard has been transported to the South Carolina Department of Corrections to serve his sentence.