Swansea man sentenced for drug distribution

James C. Edgerton, IV, 35, of Swansea, was sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin and methamphetamine.

Egerton’s sentence is to be followed by 5 years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

Evidence showed Edgerton organized the transportation, packaging, and distribution of at least 15 kilograms of heroin and methamphetamine.

The case was investigated by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, City of Columbia Police Department, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, and 5th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

Man sentenced in USC student overdose

Anthony James “AJ” Edward Hunt, 24, of Columbia, was sentenced to over 24 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to the distribution of oxycodone resulting in the death of a USC student.

Hunt sold R.B., a former University of South Carolina student, alprazolam tablets Jan. 24 and 26, 2016, after R.B. expressed her desire to commit suicide.

When the alprazolam tablets failed to cause R.B. to die, Hunt advised R.B. that she could take her life by ingesting oxycodone tablets.

He provided her with detailed instructions on how to consume the oxycodone pills, and on Jan. 27, 2016, Hunt sold R.B. multiple 30-milligram oxycodone tablets.

The next day, R.B. was found deceased in her apartment from an oxycodone overdose.

United States District Judge J. Michelle Childs, of Columbia, sentenced Hunt to 293 months in federal prison, to be followed by 3 years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.

Woman killed after car lands in creek

Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher has identified the woman who died as a result of a single motor vehicle accident in the 300 block of Mill Stream Road in Lexington Nov. 12.

April Lafay Smith, 54, of Lexington, was traveling westbound when her vehicle left the right side of the roadway, went down an embankment, and became partially submerged in a creek.

Smith was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Fisher.

Smith, who was wearing a seatbelt, was found in her vehicle after it was discovered by a passing motorist the next day.

The accident remains under investigation by the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Gilbert man dead in traffic collision

A Gilbert man died Nov. 17 in a single-vehicle accident at the intersection of US Highway 378 and West Main Street in Lexington.

According to Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher, Charles Christopher Gossett, 32, was pronounced dead at an area hospital due to his injuries.

Gossett was traveling eastbound on US Hwy 378 when his vehicle left the roadway and collided with a utility pole. Gossett was not wearing a seat belt when the incident occurred.