Rock Hill Men Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Fentanyl Conspiracy
Timario Gayton, 33, and Quonzy Hope, 36, both of Rock Hill, have each been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl.
Evidence presented in court revealed that in August 2022, Hope sold approximately 5,000 fentanyl pills to a confidential informant. Subsequent investigation led agents to focus on a property in York County suspected of being used to manufacture illicit fentanyl pills.
On October 19, 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at a trailer on the property, discovering Gayton, Hope, and two other individuals inside. Authorities determined the trailer was operating as a clandestine drug laboratory.
A search of the trailer yielded multiple bags of powder and containers holding approximately 160,000 pills, totaling over 29 kilograms of fentanyl. Agents also found approximately 1,890 grams of cocaine, 690 grams of methamphetamine, and 1,500 grams of heroin. In addition to the narcotics, investigators discovered several pill press machines, a large quantity of cash, and various items of drug paraphernalia.
United States District Judge Sherri A. Lydon sentenced both Gayton and Hope to 180 months of imprisonment, to be followed by a period of court-ordered supervision. The federal system does not offer parole.
