Greer, South Carolina – A Greer man with a long history of drug-related convictions will spend more than a decade in federal prison after authorities said a highway stop uncovered a much larger cocaine trafficking operation tied to his home.
Gerald Larson, II, 52, was sentenced in federal court to 151 months in prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain and will be followed by five years of court-ordered supervision.
Read also: Florence investigators seek public help to identity a man tied to local retail theft case
The case began on Oct. 7, 2024, when Larson left his Greer residence carrying kilograms of cocaine, prosecutors said. He was later stopped by the North Carolina Highway Patrol. During that traffic stop, a K-9 alerted officers to the odor of narcotics inside Larson’s vehicle.
A search of the car led officers to a suitcase containing 15 kilograms of cocaine. That discovery quickly widened the investigation beyond the roadside stop.
Read also: Authorities charge South Carolina woman in case involving alleged abuse of minor
Following the seizure, the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations obtained a search warrant for Larson’s residence. Investigators said the search produced more than $419,000 in cash and another 43 kilograms of cocaine, sharply increasing the scale of the case.
Federal prosecutors also pointed to Larson’s criminal background. According to authorities, he had numerous prior state convictions in California involving cocaine trafficking and firearms-related charges.
Larson’s prison term will not include the possibility of parole, as parole is not available in the federal system. After serving his sentence, he will remain under supervision for five years.
The investigation brought together a large group of federal, state and local agencies. Homeland Security Investigations, the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, the North Carolina Highway Patrol, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the South Carolina Department of Corrections Office of Inspector General, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, the Greenville City Police Department, the Greenville County Drug Enforcement Unit and the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office all took part in the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jamie Lea Schoen prosecuted the case, according to the announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. More details from the federal release are available through the Department of Justice website.
