Columbia Man Admits to Conspiracy to Distribute Oxycodone

Contact Person: Bill Day (803) 929-3000

Columbia, South Carolina -----United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that John Lanier Britt, age 52, of Columbia, South Carolina has entered a guilty plea in federal court in Florence, to conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, a violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846.  United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten of Florence accepted the guilty plea 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 Britt was involved in the illegal distribution of oxycodone, a powerful prescription pain medication, for more than three years. Audio and video recordings of Britt selling oxycodone were made during the investigation. A search of Britt's house was conducted when Britt was arrested resulting in drugs being seized and evidence being found that Britt had sold almost 300 pills in the three days before he was arrested.

Mr. Nettles stated the maximum penalty for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone is imprisonment for 30 years and/or a fine of $2,000,000.

The case was investigated by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Diversion.  Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II of the Columbia office is prosecuting the case.

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