COLUMBIA, S.C. — A man from Arizona faces up to life in prison for sending several pounds of drugs into South Carolina for broader distribution.
The office of U.S. Attorney Adair Boroughs, 49-year-old Antonie Albert Eaddy pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms (about 11 pounds) or more of cocaine, 400 grams (just shy of one pound) or more of fentanyl, a quantity of crack cocaine and a quantity of marijuana.
Investigators said they learned Eaddy had supplied the drugs to people in Richland, Florence, and Lee counties after investigating a person in Columbia who was buying from him. The investigation uncovered that Eaddy was shipping money and drugs through the U.S. Postal Service and couriers.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service seized two such packages that contained a kilogram of cocaine (about 2.2 pounds), 500 grams of marijuana (1.1 pounds), five grams of crack cocaine and 344 grams of fentanyl (about .75 pounds) that were heading to another person in Columbia for distribution. Authorities said Eaddy was also shipping fentanyl to co-conspirators in Miami.
So far, three others have pleaded guilty in connection with the case and are awaiting their sentence.
Eaddy faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million. If his sentence is less than life, he would also face five years of supervised release after his time in prison, authorities said. U.S. District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis will handle sentencing after receiving a sentencing report from the U.S. Probation Office.
