North Augusta Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking

A North Augusta man with a history of drug-trafficking convictions was sentenced today to more than ten years in federal prison.

Forty-three-year-old Maurice Antwain Diggs was sentenced after pleading guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Heroin, and Marijuana, and Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Heroin.  In addition to 151 months in prison, Diggs was also ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and serve three years of supervised release after he completes his prison term.

U.S. Attorney David Estes said, "Maurice Diggs' long history of illegal activity is encapsulated in this case in which he was arrested on drug and gun charges while awaiting trial from a previous arrest for guns and drugs."  Estes added, "It's abundantly clear that he isn't interested in obeying the law, so the community is safer with him behind bars."

Richmond County deputies searched Diggs' apartment in Augusta in October 2019 and found large amounts of drugs and drug-use paraphernalia, along with several thousand dollars in cash and multiple firearms.  He was awaiting trial on those charges when another search a year later at a local motel room found more drugs, guns and cash.  Diggs was indicted on federal charges related to both searches.