Lexington Drug Dealer Gets Six-Year Sentence

Columbia, South Carolina — Candice Johnson Dooley, a 40-year-old Lexington resident, was handed a six-year federal prison sentence for her role in the meth and cocaine trade. The United States Attorney Peter M. McCoy, Jr., announced the stiff penalty following Dooley’s guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute dangerous narcotics.

Dooley’s downfall began on December 21, 2018, when Lexington County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to her residence to apprehend a fugitive. What they found instead was a treasure trove of illegal substances and drug paraphernalia. A subsequent search warrant uncovered approximately 241 grams of methamphetamine, two grams of cocaine, packaging materials, and digital scales, all indicative of a distribution operation.

Dooley confessed to the possession and sales of the drugs, leading United States District Judge Mary G. Lewis to sentence her to 70 months in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release. The federal system does not offer parole for Dooley or any other inmate.

The ATF and Lexington County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case, which was prosecuted under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a DOJ initiative aimed at reducing violent crime through partnership and enforcement. PSN has proven effective in identifying and addressing community crime problems with comprehensive solutions.

Assistant United States Attorney William K. Witherspoon and Special Assistant United States Attorney Casey Rankin Smith led the prosecution, showcasing the coordinated effort between federal, state, and local law enforcement to combat drug trafficking in South Carolina.

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