Fashun Burgess, age 36, of 812 Pitty Pat Drive, Florence, SC was convicted on Trafficking In Heroin and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Violent Crime on October 11, 2017 in General Sessions Court in Florence, SC. A resident of Tara Village subdivision, Burgess was sentenced to 25 years in prison for Trafficking Heroin and another 5 years for the Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Violent Crime, both sentences to be served concurrently.

In May of 2016 specially trained narcotics investigators with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office launched an investigation into drug trafficking when they received a tip that Burgess was dealing in heroin. The investigation resulted in the issuance of a search warrant by a Florence County Magistrate for a Florence hotel room rented by Burgess. Narcotics investigators were assisted in the execution of the search warrant by the FCSO SWAT team due to the expectation that Burgess would be armed. After forcible entry was made into the hotel room, Burgess was found to be in possession of a 45 caliber handgun and nearly $6,500.00 worth of heroin. Burgess was arrested on the scene and charged with Trafficking in Heroin and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Violent Crime. He was later released on bond set by a Florence County Magistrate. When Burgess did not appear for trial as scheduled a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. Burgess was subsequently located during a routine traffic stop by a Florence County deputy on Pamplico Highway and taken into custody.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Solicitor Angel Daniel of the Twelfth Circuit Solicitor’s Office with the Honorable Michael G. Nettles, Circuit Court Judge presiding. FCSO Narcotics Investigator Jake Chamberlain led the investigation.

“This was just a great job all around and it began with information from a concerned citizen,” Sheriff Kenney Boone stated about the case. “Illegal drugs, especially heroin are having a devastating effect in some of our communities, and we will use every legal tool available to get them off the street and put the dealers in prison.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heroin-related overdose deaths in the United States have quadrupled since 2010, with approximately 13,000 overdoses each year. Florence County has suffered numerous heroin-related overdoses as well. FCSO Deputies, Investigators and Corrections Officers have been trained to administer Narcan, which is known to reverse the deadly effects of a heroin overdose.

Anyone with information about dealers in heroin or other illegal narcotics is encouraged to contact FCSO at (843) 665-2121, ext. 330, Crime Stoppers of the Pee Dee at 1-888-CRIME-SC or test tip to #CRIME. You do not have to reveal your identity to leave information.

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Major Michael M. Nunn
General Counsel/P.I.O.

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