Columbia man convicted of involvement in fatal fentanyl overdose

Image: Department of Justice (DOJ)

Image: Department of Justice (DOJ)

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) – A Columbia man was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to trafficking fentanyl, the Justice Department said.

Evidence presented to the court showed that on April 22, 2022, Brewer and the victim, RB, discussed exchanging drugs and that Brewer sent RB a picture of a syringe filled with the drugs, which Brewer subsequently forwarded to RB.

According to investigators, when Brewer did not receive a response from RB, he drove down the street where he knew RB was planning to take the drugs and found him unconscious in his vehicle.

Paramedics responded, but RB later died.

According to a pathology report, the victim's cause of death was determined to be a mixture of toxic drugs, including toxic amounts of fentanyl.

The pathologist stated that RB most likely would not have died without the fentanyl in his body.

Brewer was sentenced to 120 months in prison, followed by three years probation.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Richland County Sheriff's Department.