Florence Man Enters Guilty Plea in Federal Court on Drug Charges

Contact Person: Lance Crick (864) 282-2100

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Henry Quaysean Thomas, age 40, of Florence, pled guilty on Monday in federal court in Florence, to possession with intent to distribute marijuana and crack cocaine, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C).  United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell of Florence accepted the 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 on May 18, 2016, members of the Florence County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on a room at local Florence hotel.  Thomas was arrested and officers seized 78 grams of marijuana, 7 grams of crack cocaine, and $930 in cash.  The search warrant was based on previous controlled buys of illegal narcotics from Thomas at that location.  Thomas later admitted to law enforcement that he was selling illegal drugs from that location.

Ms. Drake stated the maximum penalty defendants can receive is a fine of $250,000 and/or imprisonment for 20 years, plus a special assessment of $100.

The case was investigated by agents of the Florence County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Buddy Bethea of the Florence office handled the case.

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