Johnny Lee Dickerson, 45, of Columbia, was sentenced on July 17 to more than 16 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to a federal drug trafficking offense involving methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana.
According to facts presented in court, the Columbia Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration identified Dickerson as a supplier of multiple controlled substances in Columbia and Lexington County. Between February and June 2024, Dickerson sold approximately 453.6 grams of methamphetamine to confidential informants and undercover officers.
At sentencing, Dickerson was held responsible for about 3,906 grams of cocaine, 56.7 grams of crack cocaine, 453.6 grams of methamphetamine, and 43 grams of marijuana. He has prior felony convictions for possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine; possession with intent to distribute within proximity of a school; criminal domestic violence; and distribution of crack cocaine. Due to his prior controlled substance convictions, he was designated a career offender under the federal sentencing guidelines.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Dickerson to 200 months in federal prison, followed by five years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, City of Columbia Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ariyana Gore prosecuted the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina protects communities across South Carolina through criminal prosecutions and civil litigation managed by a team of approximately 120 prosecutors and support professionals who represent the federal government, according to the official website.