WALLACE, S.C. — A Cheraw man accused of taking part of a drug ring entered a guilty plea to federal drug charges.

With prior convictions, Robert Jamal Liles, 27, of Old Wire Road, Wallace, faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced at a later date.

Liles and four other co-defendants were apprehended by Marlboro County Sheriff's Office as part of Operation Sandhills, an investigation in conjunction with Richland County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Marshall's Office into a drug ring responsible for distributing more than 50 grams of cocaine and crack cocaine.

Liles entered pleas in federal court in Florence along with Johnny Edward “P.J.” Wall Jr., 33, of 243 Mizpah Road, Rockingham, N.C., and Larry Wayne Douglas, 38, of S.C. 28 and Loarndrea Williams, 50, of 4240 S.C. 38 North, Bennettsville, S.C.

Law enforcement charged Liles Oct. 14 in Fayetteville, N.C., based on controlled drug and gun buys; Liles and company are accused of selling cocaine and crack cocaine in Marlboro, Richmond and Chesterfield Counties since 2004.