Tony Leonard, 52, of Gaston in Lexington County was sentenced to 25 years in prison earlier this month.

“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,” according to a press release from the 11th Circuit Solicitor's Office. “Under South Carolina law, trafficking drugs is classified as a violent and serious offense. Leonard will not be eligible for parole.”

Leonard has previous convictions, including voluntary manslaughter, domestic violence and drug offenses.

“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,” according to the release. “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.”

Assistant Solicitors Jordan Cox and Bruce Norton prosecuted the case, and investigation was a joint effort between the Cayce Department of Public Safety, West Columbia Police Department and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.

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