Georgetown Woman Pleads Guilty to Lying to Federal Investigators

CHARLESTON, S.C. —Angel Cooper Vause, 56, of Georgetown, has pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators about her role in the 2009 kidnapping, rape, and murder of Brittanee Drexel.

After abandoning her previous plea agreement, Vause pleaded guilty to a three-count indictment unsealed in March. The indictment alleged that Vause lied to FBI agents about the events of April 25, 2009. Vause’s previous bond was also revoked, and she was taken into custody.

Vause faces a maximum penalty of 24 years in federal prison. She also faces a fine of up to $250,000, restitution, and three years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker accepted the guilty plea. United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel will sentence Vause after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Winston Holliday and Elle E. Klein are prosecuting the case.

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