Bluffton Man Indicted for Distribution of Heroin and Opioids, Including Overdose Death

Charleston, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Edwin M. Jenkins, Jr., age 30, of Bluffton, South Carolina was charged in a 7-count superseding indictment with two counts of distribution of heroin, one count of distribution of a mixture of heroin and fentanyl, one count of a mixture of heroin and furanyl fentanyl, one count of distribution of fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and one count of distribution of a mixture of furanyl fentanyl and U-47700 resulting in death, all violations of Title 21, U. S. C. Sections 841.  The maximum penalty Jenkins could receive is life imprisonment and a maximum fine of $10,000,000. 

US Attorney Drake said, “Those who are dealing in heroin and opioids should know that we will use the full array of our enforcement tools to reduce the supply of these deadly narcotics here in our communities in South Carolina.  Some great policing as a result of an extraordinary level of collaboration between federal and local law enforcement brought forth the evidence we needed to file these charges.”

“The FBI is thoroughly engaged in fighting this epidemic.  We are proud to work these matters with our law enforcement partners like the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Bluffton Police Department and the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.  Together with the help of our communities, we can turn the tide,” said Alphonso “Jody” Norris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in South Carolina.  Bluffton Police Department Chief Joseph Manning added, “The agencies’ cooperation during this investigation was vital in bringing the charge before the court and hopefully lends some comfort to at least one family who has lost a loved one.  We will continue to actively pursue offenders who poison our community.”

The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the Bluffton Police Department and the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Nick Bianchi of the Charleston office for prosecution.  The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this Indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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