Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney W. WALTER WILKINS stated that TERRY GREGORY BURCH, age 29, of Pamplico and DARREN LEON PRINGLE, age 33, of Florence, South Carolina, were sentenced by United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten to 16 years imprisonment and 5 years imprisonment, respectively, for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.

On January 14, 2008, Task Force officers of the United States Marshals Service Operation Intercept had located a fugitive wanted for an assault and battery involving a firearm, at Motel 6 located on Lucas Street in Florence.  Burch and Pringle, who had rented the hotel room, gave police consent to search.  Officers found the fugitive, 15 grams of crack, and a Colt .38 revolver in the room.

The case was investigated by the Florence Police Department, United States Marshals Service and the FBI, and Assistant United States Attorney Rose Mary Parham of the Florence office handled prosecution of the case as part of Project CeaseFire, which seeks to prosecute individuals who unlawfully use or possess firearms.