Lexington, SC - This week, in Lexington County, the Solicitor’s Office ran two criminal courts with two
visiting Circuit Court Judges. While one courtroom handled nearly 100 matters, the other
courtroom conducted two separate, unrelated trials. Please find below details regarding
both of these trials.
Pelion Woman Convicted of Trafficking Methamphetamine sentenced to 29 Years in Prison
Victoria Ann Gregorio, age 59, was convicted on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, by a Lexington
County jury for Trafficking Methamphetamine, 3 rd Offense. Circuit Court Judge Maite
Murphy presided over the trial and sentenced Gregorio to twenty-nine (29) years in the
South Carolina Department of Corrections. Under South Carolina Law, Gregorio is not
eligible for parole.
On April 8, 2022, Investigators with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics
Enforcement (“NET”) Team conducted a traffic stop of a blue Nissan in the West Columbia
area of Lexington County. Law enforcement located Gregorio in the rear of the vehicle
along with the driver and a young child sitting in the front passenger seat. After a brief
conversation with Gregorio, investigators conducted a search of the vehicle. The search
revealed over 50 grams of Methamphetamine, much of which was already packaged for
sale, near where Gregorio was seated. Investigators found drug paraphernalia, more drug
packaging material, and a credit card statement belonging to Gregorio in a large purse on
the floor board where the young child was sitting. After attempting to hide her involvement
and mislead investigators, Gregorio eventually admitted to her knowledge of the drugs
found in the vehicle.
Gregorio has prior convictions for drug offenses in South Carolina and North Carolina,
including possession with intent to distribute. At the time of her conviction, Gregorio was
on probation for other drug offenses.
Assistant Solicitors Jordan Cox and Bruce Norton prosecuted this case on behalf of the
Eleventh Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
Columbia Man Conviction of Financial Identity Fraud sentenced to 10 Years in Prison
Akeem Davon Hampton, aged 38, was convicted on Thursday, October 26, 2023, by a
Lexington County jury for Financial Identity Fraud. Circuit Court Judge Maite Murphy
presided over the trial and sentenced Hampton to ten (10) years in the South Carolina
Department of Corrections.
On September 13, 2021, Hampton deposited a forged check into his personal Navy Federal
Credit Union Account. The check, written in the amount of $10,000.00, was written by the
victim to pay his tax bill and placed into his mailbox that afternoon. The victim was notified
by his bank the next morning that the check had cleared. The check was discovered to have
been made out to Akeem Hampton and the victim did not know him.
Lexington County Sheriff’s Department was able to confirm that the check had been
deposited into Hampton’s bank account utilizing his mobile banking application. The victim
had a carbon copy of his original check from his checkbook and law enforcement was able
to determine that the original check was washed and deposited within a couple of hours of
Hampton placing the check in his mailbox. During the course of the investigation, Hampton
gave conflicting stories to investigators about how he came into possession of the check,
but confirmed he deposited the money into his account.
Hampton’s prior criminal record includes convictions for shoplifting, financial transaction
card thefts, financial transaction card frauds, forgeries, drugs, giving false information to
police, and possession of a stolen vehicle.
Assistant Solicitors Kyle E. Smith and Whitney Y. Taylor prosecuted this case on behalf of
the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Solicitor’s Office. At sentencing, Assistant Solicitor Smith noted
Hampton’s history of defrauding other individuals and requested the Court impose a prison sentence.
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