COLUMBIA, S.C. — Cody Allen Dinkins, 32, of Columbia, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing a quantity of fentanyl resulting in death.
Evidence presented to the Court showed that on Aug. 31, 2019, the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office responded to an apparent overdose at a residence in Kershaw County. Responders located the victim, who died at the home. A pathologist later determined the victim’s death was caused by fentanyl poisoning.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated the incident, and during the investigation, law enforcement uncovered messages which appeared to be a conservation between the victim and Dinkins regarding Dinkins providing the victim with illegal drugs on Aug. 30, 2019. Later, Dinkins confessed to supplying the victim with illegal drugs on Aug. 30, 2019.
“The fentanyl epidemic is a deadly crisis that continues to plague our nation. Our office is committed to holding accountable drug traffickers who endanger our communities,” said Adair F. Boroughs, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina. “We are grateful to DEA and the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office for their continued efforts to protect our communities from the threat posed by drug traffickers.”
“Fentanyl is extremely dangerous to the consumer and leaves behind a trail of devastation and destruction,” said Robert J. Murphy, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division. “The defendant in this case had total disregard for the safety of others.”
“We are thankful for our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and DEA,” said Kershaw County Sheriff Lee Boan. “Without their federal prosecution of this case, proper justice could not have taken place through our state court system.”
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Dinkins to 240 months imprisonment, to be followed by a five-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Dinkins was court-ordered to pay $9,117.40 in restitution to the victim’s estate.
This case was investigated by the DEA and the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Hummel is prosecuting the case.
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