Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Nathan C. Johnson, age 51, of Marietta, Patricia T. Brookshire, age 54, of Travelers Rest, and Carmen B. Crudo, age 31, of Hendersonville, North Carolina, pled guilty today in federal court in Anderson, to conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and other controlled substances, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 846. Senior United States District Judge G. Ross Anderson, Jr., of Anderson accepted the pleas and will impose sentence after he 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 the federal Drug Enforcement Administration had undertaken a long-term investigation into the distribution of oxycodone in the upstate of South Carolina. On July 8, 2014, agents conducted a controlled purchase of 25 oxycodone pills from Cheryl Shipman, who pled guilty earlier this year, using a confidential source. To fulfill the order, Shipman traveled to meet Johnson and was observed conducting a drug transaction with Johnson. Further investigation revealed that, in addition to Johnson, Shipman had other sources of supply for Oxycodone and that she sold oxycodone to area dealers and addicts on a daily basis. Carmen Crudo frequently traveled from Hendersonville, North Carolina, to purchase pills from Shipman. According to reports from Henderson County, North Carolina, Crudo was arrested on April 24, 2014, after she was observed selling oxycodone obtained from Shipman to a known drug user. Patricia Brookshire’s role in the conspiracy was to provide Shipman with methadone for resale. On July 10, 2014, Shipman purchased 99 methadone pills from Brookshire. This transaction was recorded by law enforcement.
Mr. Nettles stated the maximum penalty the Defendants can receive is a fine of $250,000 and/or imprisonment for 20 years, plus a special assessment of $100.
The case was investigated by agents of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office handled the case. ##
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
