Midlands Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal Prison for Role in a Drug Trafficking Conspiracy

COLUMBIA, S.C. - William Larry Javis, Jr., 46, of Columbia, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for his role in a drug trafficking conspiracy.

Evidence gathered during the investigation showed that, beginning in 2023, members of the organization distributed kilograms of methamphetamine, cocaine, fentanyl, crack cocaine, and marijuana throughout the Columbia and Lexington County areas. Investigators identified Javis as one of the organization's leaders. He managed two stash houses, as well as hotel rooms on occasion, to store and distribute narcotics.

The investigation further revealed that Javis, despite being a convicted felon, possessed multiple firearms and facilitated their sale. At sentencing, he was held responsible for distributing more than 19,000 grams of methamphetamine, 8,000 grams of cocaine, 172 grams of marijuana, and 34 grams of fentanyl between September 2023 and January 2025.

Javis has a prior federal conviction for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 280 grams of cocaine base. He also has previous convictions for failure to stop for blue lights, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. At the time of the conspiracy, Javis was on probation for a prior drug conviction.

United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Javis to 240 months' imprisonment, to be followed by a 10-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the City of Columbia Police Department, the Lexington County Sheriff's Department, and the West Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case.

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