Columbia Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Distribution of Meth, Fentanyl

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Cedric Douglas Canzater, 43, of Columbia, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for six counts of drug distributions of methamphetamine or fentanyl.

Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that on six different occasions, Canzater sold over 550 grams of methamphetamine and 27 grams of fentanyl to a confidential source. Additionally, following an execution of a search warrant at one of the residences associated with his narcotics trafficking, law enforcement recovered firearms and drug trafficking paraphernalia. Canzater has previous federal convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm and distribution of cocaine.

United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie sentenced Canzater to 180 months imprisonment, to be followed by a 10-year term of court-ordered supervision.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.

This case was investigated by Drug Enforcement Administration, the City of Columbia Police Department, and Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein is prosecuting the case.

###