Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins stated that Lamonte McAllister, age 34, of Florence, was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment by United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and possessing a firearm.     

Last January, Florence police and federal agents with the Operation Intercept Fugitive Task Force were searching for McAllister, who was wanted for assault and battery.  McAllister and two other individuals were found in a Florence motel room with more than 15 grams of crack cocaine.  A Colt .38 Special police revolver was also found in the room.

The case was investigated by the Florence Police Department, the United States Marshals Service Operation Intercept Fugitive Task Force, and the FBI.  Assistant United States Attorney Rose Mary Parham of the Florence office prosecuted the case as part of Project CeaseFire, an initiative of the United States Attorneys Office that seeks to aggressively prosecute gun-related crimes.

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