A 30-year-old Gresham man has been convicted of conspiracy to distribute crack and cocaine and distribution of cocaine, U.S. Attorney W. Walter Wilkins said in a press release.
U.S. District Judge Terry L. Wooten presided over the four-day trial and will sentence Antawin Burgess later. Based on Burgess’ prior felony drug conviction, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years and a maximum of life in prison.
Burgess was part of a large drug distribution network operating in several counties, including Florence, Williamsburg, Georgetown and Darlington.
During his trial, 18 co-conspirator witnesses testified that they dealt crack and cocaine with Burgess beginning as early as 1998. One of those witnesses, who was acting as a confidential informant working for the Florence County Sheriff’s Office, also made a controlled purchase of cocaine from Burgess in January 2007.
Also, a Williamsburg County sheriff’s deputy found crack, a 9 mm handgun with two ammunition clips and $695 cash in the vehicle Burgess was driving during a traffic stop in August 1998.
Assistant U.S. Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office prosecuted the case, which was also investigated by the Florence County Sheriff’s Office, State Law Enforcement Division and the FBI.
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