Curtis Hill, III, a 36-year-old resident of Columbia, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to charges related to drug conspiracy and firearm possession linked to drug trafficking. The sentencing follows an investigation that revealed Hill sold methamphetamine on three occasions to confidential sources, with firearms involved in one instance.
In a separate incident, Hill fled from officers during a traffic stop and discarded methamphetamine while escaping. Law enforcement later recovered the drugs and found a firearm in his vehicle. At the time of these offenses, Hill was under federal supervised release and had prior convictions for assault and battery, robbery, aggravated assault, and illegal firearm possession.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon imposed a sentence of 180 months imprisonment followed by five years of court-ordered supervision. Additionally, Judge Lydon sentenced Hill to 24 months for violating his supervised release; this sentence will run concurrently with the 15-year term. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by multiple agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations; West Columbia Police Department; and Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein is prosecuting the case.
