A 22-year-old Columbia man has been arrested and charged in a federal indictment for distributing oxycodone that led to the fatal overdose of a former University of South Carolina student on January 28, 2016. Anthony James Edward Hunt now faces a maximum penalty of life in prison after being taken into custody by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Hunt is accused of selling the lethal dose of oxycodone that caused the student’s death, a case that has reignited scrutiny over the underground opioid trade in college communities. In addition to the death-related charge, Hunt is also charged with unlawfully distributing alprazolam, commonly known as Xanax, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Multiple law enforcement agencies converged on the investigation, including the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad, Columbia Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Richland County Coroner’s Office, and University of South Carolina Police Department. The collaboration underscores the federal push to target drug networks supplying prescription narcotics to young adults.
United States Attorney Beth Drake announced the charges today, emphasizing the Department of Justice’s aggressive stance against opioid traffickers. “This case reflects our unwavering commitment to holding accountable those who profit from the distribution of deadly drugs,” Drake stated, highlighting the broader opioid epidemic gripping communities across South Carolina.
Assistant United States Attorney Ben Garner is prosecuting the case out of the Columbia office, where it will proceed through federal court. Prosecutors are expected to present evidence linking Hunt directly to the distribution chain that culminated in the student’s death, including potential cell phone data, witness statements, and drug packaging forensics.
The United States Attorney reiterated that all charges are accusations, and Anthony James Edward Hunt is presumed innocent until proven guilty. As the case moves forward, it stands as a grim reminder of how quickly illicit drug transactions can spiral into fatal consequences.
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Key Facts
- State: South Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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