Convicted Methamphetamine Trafficker Faces Life in Prison
Charleston, SC – In a significant victory for law enforcement, a jury has convicted Marion Katrell Campbell, 38, of Walterboro, South Carolina, of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The charges stem from a traffic stop on July 8, 2017, when Campbell was pulled over by officers with the Walterboro Police Department for a defective headlight. A K9 search of his vehicle uncovered a loaded .38 caliber Charter Arms revolver, extra ammunition, and plastic bags containing methamphetamine.
Evidence presented at trial showed that Campbell was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle at the time of the stop. After his arrest, he made numerous phone calls to friends and family from jail, attempting to convince others to claim the firearm found in the vehicle. He also openly discussed his drug dealings, boasting about the quality and prices of the methamphetamine.
At trial, the Government’s expert in drug trafficking testified that the conversations were about methamphetamine, citing the prices and terms used by Campbell.
Campbell faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.
United States District Judge Bruce H. Hendricks presided over the trial and will sentence Campbell after receiving and reviewing a presentence report prepared by the United States Probation Office.
The case was investigated by the Walterboro Police Department and agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The case was prosecuted pursuant to a longstanding partnership between the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office to target career criminals in Beaufort, Jasper, Hampton, Colleton, and Allendale Counties in federal court.
This case was also prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases.
Defendant Name: Marion Katrell Campbell
Criminal Charges: Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime
City and State: Charleston, South Carolina
Exact Date: July 8, 2017
Sentence or Outcome: Convicted, faces 15 years to life in federal prison
Key Facts
- State: South Carolina
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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