Round O Man Sentenced For Manufacturing Marijuana

Contact Person: Nick Bianchi (843) 727-4381

Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Michael R. Rea, age 63, of Round O, South Carolina was sentenced today in federal court in Charleston, South Carolina, for manufacturing and possessing with intent to distribute marijuana, a violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841.  United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel of Charleston sentenced Rea to 5 years imprisonment, to be followed by 4 years supervised release.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Rea was arrested after law enforcement executed a search warrant at his residence on January 3, 2014.  During the search, law enforcement confiscated approximately 1,800 marijuana plants and 65 pounds of harvested marijuana.  After his arrest, Rea told officers that he had been growing marijuana since 1989.

The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office, the Walterboro Police Department and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).  Assistant United States Attorney Nick Bianchi of the Charleston office prosecuted the case.

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