Nineteen individuals face charges for transporting over 255 drug packages from California to South Carolina, as reported by the United States Department of Justice.
Archi Arsenio Caldwell, aged 35, has been sentenced to over 16 years in prison after admitting guilt to conspiring to distribute various drugs, including cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and marijuana. Additionally, he pleaded guilty to distributing crack cocaine and engaging in money laundering.
Following his 200-month prison term, Caldwell will undergo a 10-year period of court-ordered supervision.
The investigation uncovered that group members were traveling to California to arrange the shipment of drugs back to the Rock Hill and Charlotte areas.
Caldwell played a role in securing flights to California for group members and facilitating the illegal purchase of drugs. He personally traveled to California to acquire drugs for other members and oversaw the shipping of these packages.
Upon arrival in South Carolina, the group distributed the drugs to local dealers. Fentanyl, acquired from California, was used to adulterate pills sold in Rock Hill, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, Charlotte, and Atlanta.
Law enforcement estimates that more than 255 packages were dispatched from California. Caldwell was held accountable for 37 grams of crack cocaine, six kilograms of methamphetamine, 27 kilograms of cocaine, seven kilograms of fentanyl, and eight grams of marijuana.
Out of the 19 defendants, 17 have pleaded guilty to their involvement, while three were convicted at trial, according to officials.