Sean Demetrius Goins, a 54-year-old resident of Rock Hill, South Carolina, has been sentenced to over 20 years in federal prison for distributing fentanyl. According to evidence presented during the investigation, Goins sold or intended to sell fentanyl on eight separate occasions and led a drug trafficking organization operating between Rock Hill and Columbia.
Following his 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 recovered firearms had previously been reported stolen. In total, Goins was held responsible for distributing or possessing with intent to distribute 11,475 grams of fentanyl, 495 grams of cocaine, and 29 grams of fentanyl analogue.
Goins had prior convictions in the Middle District of Pennsylvania for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. He received a previous sentence of 20 years for those offenses. Additionally, he was convicted in 2020 for assault with a dangerous weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, and habitual offender status.
United States District Judge Sherri Lydon sentenced Goins to 245 months in prison followed by eight years of supervised release. There is no parole available in the federal system.
The prosecution was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. The OCDETF program targets high-level drug traffickers and criminal organizations through coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. More information about OCDETF can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein prosecuted the case.
