Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Shareef Williams and Dylon David Alextro Downer were sentenced in federal court in Florence, South Carolina, for conspiring to distribute and distributing marijuana. Williams was also sentenced for money laundering.  United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell, of Florence, sentenced Williams to 70 months imprisonment, three years supervised release, and ordered Williams to forfeit a house he had purchased in Columbia, S.C. Downer was sentenced to 51 months imprisonment and 3 years supervised release.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Williams purchased marijuana from Downer from January 2013 to July 2015. Downer lived in California and sent the marijuana through the mail to various locations in Florence for Williams. Williams used the profits he made from selling the marijuana to purchase money orders from the United States Postal Service then sent the money orders to Downer and others in California to purchase more marijuana. Williams purchased approximately 253 money orders valued at $248,900 and Downer sent approximately 235 pounds of marijuana to Williams.

The case was investigated by the Florence Police Department and the United States Postal Service.  Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.

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