Sean Demetrius Goins, the leader of a drug trafficking ring in South Carolina, was sentenced to more than 20 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl.
Goins, 54, of Rock Hill, was found guilty of selling or possessing fentanyl with the intent to sell eight times. His drug trafficking organization spanned from Rock Hill to Columbia.
During Goins’ arrest in May 2023, federal agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration discovered four firearms, ammunition, two kilogram presses, 1,365 grams of fentanyl, and 494 grams of cocaine.
Two of the firearms found were reported stolen.
Goins was charged with 11,475 grams of fentanyl, 495 grams of cocaine, and 29 grams of fentanyl analogue.
Goins had previously been convicted, including a 20-year sentence for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine in the Middle District of Pennsylvania.
He also had a prior felony conviction in 2020 for assault with a dangerous weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, and habitual offender.
United States District Judge Sherri Lydon sentenced Goins to more than 20 years in prison, followed by an eight-year period of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
Goins’ sentence is a significant step toward addressing drug trafficking in South Carolina, as federal authorities continue to crack down on illegal drug distribution networks.
