Clover Satan’s Disciple gang member facing 20 years prison

A convicted felon and member of the Satan’s Disciple street gang who was able to avoid connection to a murder case three years ago is now facing 20 years in federal prison. He is expected to plead guilty to gun and drug charges after an arrest in a drug sting.

Joseph Matthew Polk, age 24 – who has a conviction for a 2009 York County burglary and who was on federal probation for weapons crimes when he was arrested in April – signed a plea agreement with prosecutors Aug. 7, federal court documents show. The plea agreement includes charges of possession of a weapon during drug trafficking and distribution of methamphetamine.

Polk agreed to a negotiated deal of 20 years in prison and is set to plead guilty Wednesday in front of Judge Joseph Anderson, according to court records.

In April, York County and federal drug agents arrested Polk after several undercover drug buys in March and April at a home near Lake Wylie. Polk admitted then, and when pleading guilty, that he is a member of the Satan’s Disciples gang that has ties around the country and is known for street and prison violence.

Polk –a convicted felon barred from possessing a weapon – had a pistol with him during the drug deals, according to the criminal complaint filed by an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Federal documents state Polk admitted he was selling narcotics to other customers.

In 2012, Polk was accused of lying to police about a fatal shooting in Clover, but both Polk and another man charged with murder had their charges dropped after York County prosecutors ruled the shooting was self-defense. The other man is serving a 10-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to a weapons charge in federal court.

This story was originally published August 18, 2015 at 9:19 AM with the headline "Clover Satan’s Disciple gang member facing 20 years prison."