A South Carolina jury has convicted a 37-year-old man on multiple felony charges following a 2022 investigation into drug distribution and a foot pursuit across a major interstate.
On Friday, Craig Ninja Antonio Brewton was sentenced to 25 years in prison and ordered to pay a $100,000 fine for trafficking cocaine.
The incident began on September 19, 2022, when deputies from the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office and investigators with the South Carolina Department of Corrections arrived at a Moore residence on Teeanna Drive.
The officers were attempting to serve an arrest warrant related to the introduction of contraband into a state prison.
According to official reports, Brewton exited the home and immediately shut the door. Deputies noted the smell of marijuana and stated that Brewton admitted to smoking.
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Although Brewton told officers no one else was in the home, authorities reported hearing movement inside. After several failed attempts to contact whoever was indoors, deputies sought a search warrant.
Upon being told he would be detained during the warrant process, Brewton fled on foot. Authorities stated he ran through an overgrown field and onto Interstate 26, where he crossed all four lanes of traffic.
Deputy Matthew Smith reportedly gave multiple commands for Brewton to stop, but the suspect refused and walked back into the roadway. Several vehicles, including a horse trailer and an 18-wheeler, were forced to take evasive action to avoid striking him.
The pursuit ended on the shoulder of the highway when a deputy deployed a taser. Brewton reportedly continued to resist while on the ground and later refused medical treatment from responding EMS.
A subsequent search of the Moore residence yielded the following evidence:
- Over 250 grams of cocaine
- More than 360 grams of marijuana packaged for sale
- Two pistols
- Over $10,000 in cash
- Digital scales and distribution materials
Investigators found Brewton’s phone on a kitchen table near the drugs and scales. Brewton later claimed ownership of the cash and firearms, noting he stayed at the home occasionally.
Brewton’s trial began on March 23, 2026. Despite warnings from the court, he chose to represent himself. The jury found him guilty of trafficking cocaine (200 to 400 grams), possession of a weapon during a violent crime, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and resisting arrest.
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