Myrtle Beach Man Enters Guilty Plea in Federal Court on Charge of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that James Coppers McKee, Jr., age 45, of Myrtle Beach, pled guilty in federal court in Florence to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846. 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.

The evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that DEA-Florence and the Fifteenth Circuit Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) were investigating a methamphetamine distribution organization in the Horry County, South Carolina, area. As part of that investigation, agents learned that McKee was a possible methamphetamine distributor. In 2014 and 2015, agents made three controlled buys of methamphetamine from McKee. McKee was also identified as being in possession of multi-ounce quantities of methamphetamine during the conspiracy period. 

Ms. Drake stated the defendant faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of $1,000,000. 

The case was investigated by DEA-Florence, South Carolina, and the Fifteenth Circuit Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU). Assistant United States Attorney Chris Taylor of the Florence office handled the case.

#####