Greenwood – A joint investigation between local and federal authorities ended with a drug dealer heading to prison for 15 years, 8th Circuit Solicitor David M. Stumbo announced Friday.
Nicarious Traykel Desjar McKee, 26, pleaded guilty Friday to a charge of trafficking cocaine. McKee’s case was scheduled to be called for trial during the current term of court. Circuit Judge Eugene C. Griffith III sentenced McKee to 15 years in prison. McKee’s background is littered with various drug-related and violent offenses dating back nearly a decade.
The investigation into McKee was a joint operation between Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms in which undercover agents purchased approximately 14 ounces of cocaine from McKee across seven different controlled buys. The cocaine has an estimated retail street value of about $75,000.
Following the investigation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined prosecution. Solicitor Stumbo then made the decision to prosecute the case on the state level.
“Nicarious McKee is someone we knew to be repeat drug trafficker in our circuit,” Solicitor Stumbo said of the decision to take the case on. “We knew if we had a chance to put him away for a long time in state court then we needed to take it.”
The investigation began in July 2023 and undercover agents made a series of eight total buys from McKee, the first of which was for one ounce of marijuana. The subsequent seven purchases were amounts of cocaine varying between one ounce and seven ounces. The final controlled buy was made in November 2023 and McKee was arrested in May 2024.
Deputy Solicitor Yates Brown and Senior Assistant Solicitor Andrew Hodges handled the case for the state, with assistance from 8th Circuit Investigator Dyar Archibald. McKee was represented by Aaron Taylor of the Greenwood County Bar.
Solicitor Stumbo praised the cooperative work done by GCSO and ATF, as well as the work of his staff, in securing the conviction and lengthy prison sentence.
“It is quite clear from Nicarious McKee’s criminal history that he has no regard for his community or the people he shares it with,” Solicitor Stumbo said following the sentencing. “This sentence is the result of excellent cooperation between (Greenwood County) Sheriff (Dennis) Kelly’s drug unit and the ATF and we are pleased to see yet another drug dealer off of our streets and in prison where he belongs.”
