Convicted Summerville drug dealer could face life sentence
A Summerville man faces a possible life sentence after a federal trial that showed his involvement in importing more than 100 pounds of cocaine to the Charleston area, prosecutors said.
Kenneth Joseph Johnson Jr., 40, was convicted of conspiracy to possess more than 5 kilograms of cocaine with the intent to distribute it, according to a release from W. Walter Wilkins, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. Evidence at trial established that Johnson was actually involved in the importation of over 50 kilograms —some 110 pounds— of cocaine into the Charleston area during the summer months of 2006, the release says. Prosecutors said Johnson distributed that cocaine to various other cocaine dealers.
Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Norton presided over the trial and will impose sentence at a later date.
The amount of cocaine involved in the conspiracy, coupled with Johnson's history of drug convictions, means that he could face life in prison, prosecutors said.
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office investigated. Assistant Attorney Alston C. Badger of the Charleston office handled the case.
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Comments
This article has 6 comment(s)
Posted by summerville_guy on July 3, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great job, DEA and Berkeley County! Keep scum like this greedy, unscrupulous idiot off the streets!
Posted by Siri on July 3, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Give him life. Set an example for all these drug dealers "WE WANT SAFE STREETS FOR OUR KIDS " if that means locking you up, so be it.
Posted by moonpie on July 3, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Could get life? SHOULD GET, MUST GET LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE.
Posted by desspec on July 3, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yea ... give him AT LEAST as much as they gave Ravenel ....
Posted by greyrider on July 3, 2008 at 11:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Considering the widespread devastation that drugs have, no sentence is too strict.
Posted by KidYendor on July 3, 2008 at 1:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We need to legalize marijuana and cocaine so people can buy small amounts at pharmacies on Fridays for private weekend use. Did you read the other day where the feds gave Mexico another $400 million for their War on Drugs? They have got to be out of their minds.