Drain Maurice Mazone of Irmo and Clinton Raymond Donaldson of Columbia have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy. Mazone received a sentence of 13 years, while Donaldson was sentenced to three years.
According to evidence from the investigation, Mazone and Donaldson participated in a conspiracy that originated in Arizona. Drugs were purchased there and shipped to Mazone, who distributed them locally. Donaldson provided addresses for shipping packages and also assisted with distribution. Proceeds from the sales were sent back to Arizona. The operation involved mailing packages containing drugs to locations in Columbia, Florence, Myrtle Beach, as well as sites in North Carolina, Maryland, and Florida. All four individuals charged in the conspiracy have pleaded guilty and been sentenced.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis handed down sentences of 156 months’ imprisonment followed by five years of supervision for Mazone, and 36 months’ imprisonment followed by three years of supervision for Donaldson. Both men were convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine, at least five kilograms of cocaine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl, and marijuana. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF works to identify and dismantle high-level drug traffickers and related criminal organizations using a multi-agency approach involving federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. More information about the program is available at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
The investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Assistant U.S. Attorney William K. Witherspoon prosecuted the case.
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