News Summary
Jacquese Traveon Underwood of Rock Hill has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his involvement in a drug conspiracy while incarcerated. Convicted of conspiring to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine and fentanyl, he orchestrated narcotics purchases and distribution during a previous sentence. U.S. District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis imposed the sentence, highlighting the persistent drug problem in South Carolina. The case involved multiple law enforcement agencies and underscores the ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking.
Rock Hill – Jacquese Traveon Underwood, a 40-year-old resident of Rock Hill, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison due to his involvement in a drug conspiracy while incarcerated. Underwood was convicted of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine and fentanyl.
The conviction stemmed from activities that took place while Underwood was serving a previous drug trafficking sentence in the South Carolina Department of Corrections. During this time, he orchestrated the purchasing and distribution of various narcotics, primarily cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl-based pills, from a co-conspirator named Darryl Hemphill.
Despite being in a correctional facility, Underwood managed to receive and distribute a significant quantity of drugs. He was identified through monitored telephone conversations and testimonies from other individuals involved in the case. Authorities estimate that Underwood received more than 1,000 fentanyl-based pills, 700 grams of methamphetamine, and around 312 grams of cocaine during his incarceration.
U.S. District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis delivered the sentence of 121 months of imprisonment, which will be followed by a four-year supervised release term. In the federal jurisdiction, parole is not an option, meaning Underwood will serve the entirety of his sentence. The prosecution was undertaken by Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon.
In a related case, in March 2023, Hemphill was sentenced to a minimum of 10 years in prison along with four other men from Rock Hill for their involvement in the broader drug conspiracy linked to Underwood. This coordinated effort by law enforcement highlights the serious implications of drug trafficking in the area, particularly involving dangerous substances such as fentanyl.
The investigation into this case was a collective effort involving multiple agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the York County Multijurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the South Carolina Department of Corrections.
This case emphasizes the ongoing problem of drug-related crimes in South Carolina, where the authorities are increasingly working to address the distribution of potent narcotics that pose a significant risk to public health and safety. With the collaboration of multiple law enforcement agencies, the focus remains on identifying and prosecuting individuals involved in drug trafficking, particularly in the context of organized operations that continue to thrive even behind bars.
The legal repercussions faced by Underwood and others involved reflect the stringent measures being implemented to combat drug-related offenses. The success of the investigation serves as a reminder of the complexities surrounding the distribution of illegal narcotics and the persistent challenge it presents to law enforcement agencies across the country.
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Author: STAFF HERE ROCK HILL
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