Man with Conway ties gets 19 years in federal prison on drug charges

FLORENCE, S.C. (WBTW) — A native of Mexico has been sentenced to 19 years in federal prison after pleading guilty in U.S. District Court to fentanyl and cocaine charges, authorities said.

Raul Perales Guzman, 38, of San Luis, Mexico, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and cocaine and distribution of fentanyl. In addition to his prison sentence, Judge Joseph Dawson III also ordered five years of court-ordered supervision after his release. There is no parole in the federal system.

Guzman and a co-defendant were seen distributing one kilogram of fentanyl in June 2023, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office. Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration then searched a home in Conway where Guzman was staying and seized 43 kilograms of fentanyl, 23 kilograms of cocaine, 15 firearms, and approximately $407,000.

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Dennis Bright is a Digital Producer at News13 . He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook , X, formerly Twitter , and read more of his work here .

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