After deadly overdose, the SC man who provided drugs is going to prison, prosecutor says

A Columbia man is going to federal prison for supplying drugs to a man who overdosed and died, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

James Brewer, 36, was sentenced to 10 years behind bars after pleading guilty to distribution of fentanyl, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said Thursday in a news release.

On April 22, 2022, Brewer and the victim — who the U.S. Attorney’s Office identified as “R.B.” — discussed the exchange of drugs, according to the release. Brewer sent R.B. a picture with a syringe loaded with the drugs before providing them to the man, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

When Brewer didn’t hear back from the victim, he drove to where he knew R.B. had planned to use the drugs and found him unresponsive in his vehicle, according to the release.

Paramedics responded, but R.B. later died, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

The pathology report determined the victim’s cause of death was mixed drug toxicity including toxic levels of fentanyl, according to the release. The pathologist said if it wasn’t for the fentanyl in R.B.’s body, he most likely would not have died, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

In addition to his prison sentence, U.S. Judge Mary Lewis also ordered Brewer to serve 3 years of court-ordered supervision following his release, according to the release.

There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the DEA and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.