Joint investigation leads to drug bust and SC man goes to prison, official says
A South Carolina man was sentenced to nearly 20 years in federal prison following a drug charge conviction, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Jalik Shykeil Tucker, a 31-year-old Sumter resident, was convicted of possession with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, and a quantity of cocaine and crack cocaine, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Thursday in a news release. Tucker pleaded guilty to the charge in August 2025.
U.S. District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Tucker to 235 months (19-plus years) in federal prison, according to the release.
In March 2023, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office began a joint investigation after receiving information that Tucker was selling large amounts of meth and fentanyl in both counties, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Richland County deputies made several undercover meth and fentanyl purchases from Tucker over a three-week period, according to the release. During this same time, law enforcement was able to identify two locations in Sumter County and one location in Richland County that Tucker was using for storing and distribution of his drugs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said. They obtained search warrants for all three locations.
Law enforcement officers found more than $25,000 cash, including money they paid in purchasing the drugs, as well as meth, fentanyl, fluorofentanyl, guns, heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, digital scales, baking soda used in the making of crack cocaine, sandwich bags used in the distribution of the drugs and an electric mixer also used in drug distribution, according to the release.
Tucker was arrested on May 1, 2023, The State previously reported.
Tucker faced a maximum sentence of life in prison and a fine of up to $10 million restitution, the U.S. Attorney’s Office previously said.
Following his prison sentence, Tucker was ordered to serve a five-year term of supervision, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. There is no parole in the federal system.
In addition to the two South Carolina sheriff’s departments, this case was investigated by the DEA.
Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon led the prosecution for the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Columbia attorney Joenathan Chaplin was listed as Tucker’s lawyer on the state charges from the arrest, Sumter County court records show. Those state charges are listed as pending.
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