Wife receives probation for concealing evidence
A 75-year-old Landrum man received a sentence of almost five years last week for selling prescription drugs.
John Samuel Duncan was sentenced in federal court on Wednesday, March 23 to 57 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, according to United States Attorney Bill Nettles.
Duncan was sentenced during a hearing held in Anderson, S.C. by Senior United States District Judge G. Ross Anderson Jr.
Duncan also consented to a monetary judgment of $113,650, which represents the proceeds of his illegal activity.
According to evidence presented at the change of plea hearing, Duncan sold multiple doses of prescription painkillers and other controlled substances to addicts in Upstate South Carolina, Nettles’ release said.
On July 1, 2009, Greenville sheriff’s deputies searched Duncan’s home and discovered large quantities of Lortab, Xanax and methadone pills. Duncan had purchased these pills from individuals with valid prescriptions and resold the pills to addicts in Upstate South Carolina, according to the release.
The investigation revealed that Duncan received about 800 Lortabs per month. He purchased the pills for $5 each and sold them for $6.50 each. He also received approximately 300 Xanax per month, which he also sold for $6.50 each. Duncan purchased 400-500 methadone pills per month, paying $4 per pill, and sold them for $5 each, according to the evidence. Duncan serviced approximately 30 customers per day, seven days a week, at his home in Landrum, according to the release.
Duncan and his wife, Wanda Sue Duncan, 69, were arrested and charged in September 2010 with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone, methadone and morphine, which are schedule II controlled substances, and hydrocodone, a schedule III controlled substance. The couple was also charged last year with possession with intent to distribute oxycodone, methadone, morphine and hydrocodone. Wanda Sue Duncan was also charged at the time with misprision of a felony.
Wanda Sue Duncan pled guilty to concealing the evidence and was sentenced to three years of probation.
The case was investigated by the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Assistant United States Attorney William J. Watkins Jr. of the Greenville office handled the case.