Irmo man sentenced to 11 years in prison for fentanyl distribution, gun violations

Evidence presented in court showed that officers with the West Columbia Police Department found 34-year-old Joseph Anthony Johnson in possession of fentanyl and a loaded .380 caliber handgun with an obliterated serial number on Jan. 24, 2022.

Photo: Lexington County Sheriff's Department

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)– An Irmo man was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to distributing fentanyl and for two convictions of felon in possession of a firearm.

Evidence presented in court showed that officers with the West Columbia Police Department found 34-year-old Joseph Anthony Johnson in possession of fentanyl and a loaded .380 caliber handgun with an obliterated serial number on Jan. 24, 2022.

Law enforcement says the firearm was stolen, and Johnson was prohibited from possessing any firearm at the time due to multiple prior felony convictions.

Johnson had 19 prior convictions, including convictions for assault and battery 3rd degree, methamphetamine distribution, seven drug possessions, an illegal firearm possession, resisting arrest, failure to stop on police command, and financial transaction card theft, according to the Department of Justice.

Johnson is also accused of selling heroin and loaded .380 caliber pistols to an undercover source on Feb. 15, 2022, and again on Feb. 24, 2022, while he was out on bond for the Jan. 24 charges.

On July 22, 2022, when Johnson was arrested for the previous drugs and gun charges, he was again found with heroin and fentanyl.

A United States district judge sentenced Johnson to 11 years in federal prison with 6 years of court-ordered supervision to follow.