U.S. Department
of Justice
Press Release
Fountain Inn Man Pleads Guilty to Hydrocodone Conspiracy
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Carolina
Contact Person: Bill Watkins (864) 282-2100
Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated that Houston G. Leake, age 70, of Fountain Inn, pled guilty today in federal court in Greenville, to conspiracy to distribute hydrocodone and other controlled substances, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 846. Senior United States District Judge G. Ross Anderson, Jr., of Anderson 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 the federal Drug Enforcement Administration along with the Fountain Inn Police Department had undertaken a long-term investigation of Leake. Agents used a confidential informant and an undercover police office to make 7 buys of hydrocodone and Percocet pills from Leake. Based on the undercover buys, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Leake’s home. Inside they found various controlled substances including morphine, methadone, oxycodone and hydrocodone. Law enforcement also found various firearms.
Mr. Nettles stated the maximum penalty Leake 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 Fountain Inn Police Department and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office handled the case.
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Updated April 30, 2015
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