Zuri Jaheem Stephens, a 23-year-old resident of Horry County, has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison for drug and firearm offenses. The sentencing took place in Florence, South Carolina.
According to evidence presented during the investigation, law enforcement officials conducted a series of controlled purchases of fentanyl from Stephens in October and November 2022. Following these operations, authorities obtained search warrants for properties in Little River linked to Stephens. During the execution of these warrants, officers discovered fentanyl, methamphetamine, pills, a pill press, various firearm magazines, and two firearms at separate addresses.
United States District Judge Joseph Dawson III imposed a sentence of 105 months imprisonment on Stephens. This will be followed by five years of supervised release. Federal prisoners are not eligible for parole.
The case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative that coordinates efforts among law enforcement agencies and communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence. The Department of Justice strengthened this strategy on May 26, 2021 by focusing on building community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, prioritizing targeted enforcement actions, and tracking results.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Horry County Police Department led the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Flynn and Lauren Hummel prosecuted the case.
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