DRUG SUPPLIER OF GANGSTA KILLER BLOODS SENTENCED TO 480 MONTHS

United States Attorney W. Walter Wilkins announced that Jarvis McKenzie, a/k/a “Jay Rock,” age 31, of Columbia, was sentenced today in federal court to 480 months imprisonment on drug and firearm charges. McKenzie was also sentenced to ten years of supervised release, which will follow his 480-month sentence. A federal jury convicted McKenzie in April 2008, following a four-day trial before United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson. McKenzie was convicted of conspiracy to possess and distribute 50 grams or more of crack and 5 kilograms or more of cocaine; three counts of use of a telephone to further a drug felony; and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.

The case arose out of an investigation by the FBI-led Columbia Violent Gang Task Force into the illegal activities of members of the Gangsta Killer Bloods set of the Bloods street gang. The FBI obtained information from confidential sources, cooperating defendants, and federally issued wiretaps. Twenty-four members and associates of the Bloods gang were convicted as part of this investigation.

The investigation identified McKenzie as one of the primary suppliers of cocaine and crack cocaine to the gang members. Evidence showed that during the conspiracy, McKenzie was involved in the distribution of over 65 kilograms of cocaine and more than 34 kilograms of crack cocaine. In January 2007, federal agents executed nine federal search warrants at various residences, including McKenzie's. Agents seized over $250,000 in cash from McKenzie's residence, as well as two automobiles and two firearms. Over $320,000 in cash was seized overall in the nine searches. McKenzie is prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm and ammunition based upon his prior state convictions for involuntary manslaughter, possession of a firearm during a violent crime, and possession of crack.

This case was investigated by agents of the FBI's Columbia Violent Gang Task Force, as part of Project CeaseFire. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Stacey D. Haynes and Jane B. Taylor of the Columbia office.