Jacquese Traveon Underwood, a 40-year-old resident of Rock Hill, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for his role in a drug conspiracy involving methamphetamine and fentanyl. At the time of these offenses, Underwood was already serving a sentence for drug trafficking in the South Carolina Department of Corrections.
Federal authorities discovered that Underwood coordinated the purchase and distribution of narcotics while incarcerated. He obtained drugs from Darryl Hemphill, who led a drug trafficking organization operating in Rock Hill and Charlotte. The group produced pills containing fentanyl that resembled Oxycodone and distributed them along with other substances such as methamphetamine and cocaine.
Investigators identified Underwood through monitored phone calls with Hemphill and statements from others involved. Evidence showed that Underwood taught Hemphill how to order, ship, and receive narcotics from Southern California. Associates outside the prison assisted by obtaining drugs from Hemphill in Rock Hill on Underwood’s behalf.
While incarcerated, Underwood received at least 1,000 fentanyl-based pills, over 700 grams of methamphetamine, and about 312 grams of cocaine.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Underwood to 121 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release. There is no parole available in the federal system.
The case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF uses a multi-agency approach to identify and dismantle high-level criminal organizations that pose threats across the United States. More information about OCDETF can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The investigation involved several agencies: the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; York County Multijurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit; South Carolina Law Enforcement Division; Richland County Sheriff’s Department; and South Carolina Department of Corrections. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon prosecuted the case.
"###"
