Greenville County, SC – A California man will spend more than two decades in prison after pleading guilty in a Greenville County cocaine trafficking case that investigators say uncovered a multi-state drug pipeline into the Upstate.
According to the 13th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, Everald C. Grant, 38, was sentenced on January 7, 2026, Wednesday, to 21 years in the South Carolina Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to trafficking cocaine. The sentence was handed down by Circuit Court Judge Vernon F. Dunbar at the Greenville County Courthouse.
Prosecutors said the case began on April 25, 2024, when investigators with the Greenville County Drug Enforcement Unit (GCDEU) launched an investigation after Grant arrived in Greenville County carrying a box containing two compressed kilograms of cocaine. The cocaine was stamped with the marking “MELINA,” which investigators said is commonly used to identify distribution sources.
Authorities also coordinated with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department in California to obtain video evidence confirming that Grant transported the cocaine from California to South Carolina. A subsequent search of Grant’s phones revealed evidence of multiple narcotics trafficking trips along the East Coast, including prior deliveries to Greenville, Pickens, and Spartanburg counties, according to prosecutors.
The investigation involved multiple agencies, including the GCDEU Directed Patrol Unit, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Narcotics Division, and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Gang and Narcotics Division. Detective Jonathan Franco of San Bernardino County assisted with the interstate portion of the case.
Officials said the sentencing reflects the scale of the operation and the coordinated law enforcement effort to disrupt drug trafficking routes into the Upstate.
No additional suspects were announced.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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