Police Arrest Two Men on Drug Charges After 
Discovering 11 lbs of Marijuana
On Thursday, April 11th, two men were arrested on drug charges by Columbia police after officers discovered that the two men were in possession of 11 lbs of pot.
John Desmond Kelly, 27, and Harvey Jai Johnson, 29, have both been arrested on drug charges that include possession of marijuana, and drug trafficking.
According to reports, the 11 lbs of pot is worth $22,000.
Officers had been monitoring a home for suspicious drug activity, and saw the two men enter the apartment complex. Reports accuse the men of going into the apartment to deliver a large amount of drugs. Officers later stopped their car on Two Notch Road, where a K9 unit sniffed out the marijuana, but the officers reported there was such a large amount of pot in the car that they could smell the drug themselves.
The police officers found 11 lbs of marijuana in the car, as well as $5,000 in cash. The two men were arrested on drug charges.
They are both being held at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center.
Drug Charges Including Trafficking and Possession in South Carolina
Distribution, possession with intent to distribution, and the manufacturing of any drugs are all in conjunction with the same statute, with penalties that may differ based on the associated drug.
Possession with the intent to distribute will be determined based on weight. A finding of greater than one ounce of marijuana or one gram of cocaine will take you from a simple possession charge to possession with intent to distribute.
In order to make a conviction, the prosecution must prove this intent to distribute which can be shown in a variety of ways. Evidence such as baggies, packaging of the drug and any statements made by the defendant that were recorded can be used, combined with the weight of the drug in question, to prove intent to distribute.
Trafficking charges are based upon the weight of the drug you are in possession of:
- Ten grams of cocaine
- Four grams of heroin
- Ten pounds of marijuana
The penalties for a drug trafficking conviction in South Carolina are severe. Your rights, freedom, and future are at stake.
Penalties for drug trafficking (depending upon the drug, the arrest, and your record) can include:
Trafficking Marijuana: more than ten pounds, but less than one hundred pounds
• First offense: One to 10 years in prison and $10,000 in fines;
• Five to 20 years in prison and $15,000 in fines for a second offense trafficking charge;
• 25 years in prison and $20,000 in fines for a third or subsequent offense.
If you are charged with trafficking over one hundred pounds of marijuana your possible conviction can result in up to 30 years in prison and $200,000 in fines.
The Strom Law Firm Can Help with South Carolina Drug Charges
The drug possession and drug trafficking lawyers at the Strom Law Firm, LLC are dedicated to protecting the rights of our clients, providing aggressive representation grounded in our years of experience building and interpreting the laws of South Carolina. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss the facts of your case. 803.252.4800
