Lancaster man accused of dumping murder victim’s body on side of highway; sentenced for drug, gun charges: DOJ
LANCASTER, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A man will spend the next 30 years in prison for drug and weapon charges; however, he is also accused of disposing of a murder victim’s body, according to the United States Department of Justice (DOJ).
Officials say Shannon Layne Myers of Lancaster pleaded guilty to numerous federal gun and drug charges.
Authorities say Myers helped lead a drug ring in Lancaster and Kershaw counties. The group was directed by 44-year-old Daniel Shannon, an inmate serving a life sentence in South Carolina.
Daniel Shannon believed that one of his couriers carrying drugs was robbed and sent his associates to retaliate, officials say. As a result, a Kershaw man was fatally shot in September 2019.
Evidence suggests that inmate Daniel Shannon sent Shannon Myers to clean up the murder scene and dump the victim’s body on the side of a Westville highway in Kershaw County.
In November 2019, Myers’ Lancaster home was searched with a warrant by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office.
In the home, authorities say they found over 700 grams of methamphetamine, smaller amounts of heroin and other drugs, cash, scales, drug ledgers and multiple loaded firearms. Myers was arrested; however, he was released on bond in the spring of 2020.
The State says Myers and his associates jumped back into drug dealing and Myers was seen on video waving a gun while counting money and weighing methamphetamine in front of drug customers.
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In June 2020, Myers’ home was searched again, and drugs, scales and a loaded firearm were found, according to authorities.
“These defendants operated without regard for life or the law,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “Illegal drug trafficking rings like this jeopardize the health and safety of our community.”
Myers pleaded guilty to all charges the day before his trial in October 2023. Below are just some of the charges:
Distribute methamphetamine and heroin
Four counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine or heroin
Three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm
Two counts of possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking
Brandishing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking
Myers was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of court-ordered supervision. Parole does not exist in the federal system.
“This lengthy sentence highlights the severity of Myers’ actions and their impact on the community,” said Kyle Burns, Acting Special Agent in Charge of HSI Charlotte, which operates in both North and South Carolina. “HSI is committed to holding those accountable who recklessly distribute their poison into our communities.”
Inmate and alleged ringleader Daniel Shannon also pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life in prison in June 2023.
It is unclear if Daniel Shannon and Shannon Myers have been charged in connection to the murder of the Kershaw man.
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In regards to how Daniel Shannon was able to lead the group from prison, Bryan Stirling, Director of the South Carolina Department of Corrections, released the following:
“Inmates with illegal contraband cellphones are the biggest threat to public safety in America, and this is another tragic example. We need a permanent solution to remove this menace from society and make our communities safer.”
The Homeland Security Investigations, South Carolina Department of Corrections-Office of Inspector General, Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office were all part of the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chris Schoen, Everett McMillan, and Ben Garner prosecuted the case.
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