September 30, 2015

Lancaster County Man Pleads Guilty in Federal Court

COLUMBIA, SC—United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Mitchell Narada Kelly, a/k/a “Duncey,” age 36, of Lancaster County, South Carolina has entered a guilty plea in federal court in Columbia, to possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, a violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis of Columbia accepted the guilty plea and will impose sentence after she has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that members of the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics’ Unit and the Federal Bureau of Investigations developed a cooperating witness that made controlled purchases of cocaine from Kelly on April 9, 2015, June 3, 2015 and June 24, 2015. The cooperating witness was followed by the police to and from Kelly’s home where they purchased cocaine directly from him. The cocaine purchased in each controlled purchase weighed between one and three ounces. During the guilty plea hearing, Kelly admitted to having five (5) prior felony drug convictions before these purchases.

Mr. Nettles stated the maximum penalty for this charge is imprisonment for 30 years and/or a fine of $2,000,000 plus a special assessment of $100.

The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics’ Unit. Assistant United States Attorney William K. Witherspoon of the Columbia is prosecuting the case.