David Matthews

Provided

A West Columbia resident faces drug trafficking charges after a traffic stop.

David Matthews, 51, was arrested last month by Lexington County narcotics agents, per a release from the county Sheriff’s Department. He is charged with “trafficking meth, trafficking cocaine, trafficking fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, six counts of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and seven counts of possession of a firearm by a person convicted of PWID,” according to provided arrest warrants.

“Lexington County narcotics agents stopped Matthews on I-26 near Charleston Hwy,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon is quoted. “Agents found a handgun in Matthews’ possession during the stop.”

According to a provided incident report, the officer who pulled over Mathews knew his license was suspended, leading to the traffic stop on Pine Plain Road. That stop revealed that the vehicle was not registered and a pistol was located in the vehicle. 

The incident report states that due to a prior conviction for possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, Mathews is prohibited from possessing a firearm, leading to his arrest.

According to the release, the service of a search warrant of Matthew’s residence revealed “over 28 grams of meth, over 28 grams of crack cocaine, over 28 grams of fentanyl, over 3,500 grams of marijuana, over $25,000 in U.S. currency and six firearms,” with one of the firearms being confirmed stolen from a neighboring jurisdiction.

According to the incident report, other items seized included an iPhone, more than 250 9mm rounds, a set of body armor, multiple vacuum sealed bags, plastic bags, black rifle drum magazines, black gun box, money order vouchers, five rifle magazines, narcotics containers, three rounds of 380 ammunition, 52 rounds of 22 ammo, white and yellow pills in plastic bags, 14 rounds of 40 caliber ammo, digital scales, 10 rounds of 22 cal ammo, Boost Mobile and Verizon cards, three black pistol magazines, 11 rounds of 45 cal ammo, 35 rounds of 40 cal ammo, 33 rounds of 223 ammo, a ledger book, 11 rounds of 300 blackout ammo, a black rifle scope, a pistol, a shotgun, a rifle and two other handguns.

Matthews remains in custody at the Lexington County Detention Center after a magistrate judge denied him bond last week, according to the release. Per the Lexington County Detention Center’s website, he was denied bond on all of the drug charges, while cash surety bonds totaling $140,000 were set for the other charges.