Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Columbia, South Carolina - United States Attorney Bill Nettles announced today that Horance Antonio Taylor, a/k/a “Bloody Horace,” (24) of Columbia was sentenced to fourteen years in prison for dealing drugs and using firearms in connection with his drug dealing.

In April of 2012, the Columbia Police Department conducted a traffic stop of Taylor. During the search of the vehicle, Taylor was found to be in possession of crack cocaine with the intent to distribute while also in possession of a 9mm pistol in furtherance of his drug trafficking. After Taylor was released on a state bond, the Columbia Police Department executed a search warrant at Taylor’s residence in September of 2013. During the resulting search, Taylor was again found in to have crack cocaine with the intent to distribute while in possession of a .45 caliber pistol. In December of 2013, a federal grand jury indicted Taylor on multiple narcotics and firearm offenses. Taylor pleaded guilty to drug and firearm offenses on June 11, 2014. In light of Taylor’s prior convictions and his criminal activities, the Court sentenced Taylor to fourteen years in federal court.

The case was investigated as part of the ongoing cooperation between the Columbia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to remove violent drug dealers from the streets of Columbia, SC. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay N. Richardson.