Arizona Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Conspiracy Charges

COLUMBIA, S.C. -Antonie Albert Eaddy, 49, of Arizona, has pleaded guilty in Columbia to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, a quantity of crack cocaine and a quantity of marijuana.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Eaddy was supplying multiple people in Columbia, Florence, and Lee Counties in South Carolina with cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, and fentanyl pills. The police learned of his operation while investigating a person in Columbia who was purchasing cocaine from Eaddy. During their investigation, the police learned that Eaddy was supplying him with cocaine and fentanyl pills. Eaddy was shipping the drugs through the postal service and through couriers who picked up the drugs from Eaddy and transported money and drugs to and from South Carolina. During their investigation, the police, with the help of the United States Postal Inspection Service, seized two packages that contained approximately one kilogram of cocaine, 500 grams of marijuana, five grams of crack cocaine and 344 gross grams of fentanyl pills that was set to be delivered to another co-conspirator in Columbia for a wider distribution. Police also learned that Eaddy was shipping fentanyl pills through the mail to other co-conspirators in Miami, Florida. Three other co-conspirators have pleaded guilty to their involvement in this conspiracy and are awaiting sentencing.

Eaddy faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. He also faces a fine of up to $10,000,000, and at least five years of supervision to follow the term of imprisonment. United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Eaddy after receiving and reviewing a sentencing report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

This operation and prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

This case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration, United States Postal Inspection Service, Department of Homeland Security, Richland County Sheriff's Department, and the Lexington County Sheriff's Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon is prosecuting the case.

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