A longtime drug dealer from North Charleston will spend nearly three decades behind bars after a Berkeley County jury found him guilty of trafficking a mix of deadly narcotics, including enough fentanyl to kill thousands. The case serves as a powerful example of how solid police work and strong prosecution can help keep dangerous drugs off South Carolina’s streets.
North Charleston Drug Dealer Gets 27 Years for Fentanyl Trafficking
Cory Gethers, whose criminal record for drug offenses goes back to 1995, was sentenced to 27 years in prison after a routine traffic stop in Moncks Corner on January 31, 2024, led to a massive drug bust. Deputies pulled him over around 1 a.m., but what started as a simple stop quickly turned into a major criminal case.
The Traffic Stop That Changed Everything
Deputy Hunter Rogers noticed a baggie of white powder near the driver’s seat and glass pipes in plain view. That was enough to conduct a deeper search of the vehicle. What they found next shocked everyone involved.
Hidden under the car’s cup holders inside a Jolly Rancher candy bag were dozens of small baggies filled with various drugs:
37 grams of fentanyl
52 grams of cocaine
27 grams of methamphetamine
12 grams of crack cocaine
In total, officers seized 128 grams of illegal substances — a mix that could’ve caused mass overdose deaths, especially the fentanyl, which prosecutors said equaled over 18,000 lethal doses.
Video Evidence Sank His Defense
Adding to the evidence, investigators also found a video on Gethers’ phone showing him boasting about the very hiding spot where the drugs were found. This directly contradicted his courtroom claim that he didn’t know anything about the stash.
“This was no mistake,” said Assistant Solicitor Adam Carr. “He knew exactly what he was doing.”
A Long Criminal Past Catches Up
Gethers wasn’t new to law enforcement. With nine previous drug convictions, his record includes arrests for crack cocaine going back almost 30 years. Prosecutors argued that this latest bust showed a clear pattern of intentional, high-risk drug trafficking.
Harsh Sentence Handed Down
Judge Milton Kimpson sentenced Gethers to:
27 years for trafficking fentanyl
20 years each for the other charges (to run concurrently)
Because fentanyl trafficking carries stiff penalties in South Carolina, the 27-year sentence reflects the seriousness of the offense.
Police and Prosecutors Praise the Outcome
Assistant Solicitors Carr and Kawohi Morris credited Deputy Hunter Rogers with recognizing the signs of criminal activity during a seemingly routine stop. Their teamwork with local law enforcement helped ensure Gethers won’t be returning to South Carolina’s streets anytime soon.
“Solid police work kept deadly doses off our streets,” said Carr.
Case Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Cory Gethers |
| Age | Not specified |
| Location | North Charleston, SC |
| Arrest Date | Jan 31, 2024 |
| Convictions | Fentanyl, cocaine, meth, crack trafficking |
| Total Drugs Seized | 128 grams |
| Sentence | 27 years (fentanyl); 20 years on other charges (concurrent) |
| Prior Convictions | 9 drug-related arrests since 1995 |
Cory Gethers’ sentencing is a strong statement against repeat drug offenders, especially those trafficking highly lethal substances like fentanyl. His arrest and conviction removed a significant threat from South Carolina’s streets. As overdose deaths linked to synthetic opioids rise nationwide, this case also highlights the importance of alert law enforcement officers and the power of video evidence in securing justice.
