Bluffton man sentenced to 12 years for fentanyl distribution after selling drugs to informant on Hilton Head

BLUFFTON, S.C. (WTOC) - A 46-year-old Bluffton man with a long history of drug offenses has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for distributing fentanyl on Hilton Head Island, officials say.

In a press release, the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office announced that a Beaufort County General Sessions Court jury found Danardis Quaviel Mitchell guilty Tuesday (January 27, 2026) of distribution of fentanyl. He was sentenced Wednesday, January 28, by Circuit Court Judge Carmen T. Mullen.

The conviction stems from a controlled drug purchase on November 13, 2020, when an informant working with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office arranged to buy drugs from Mitchell. Officials say the purchase was made with $300 in pre-marked bills in the parking lot of a shopping center on Mathews Drive.

The informant entered Mitchell’s vehicle and exchanged cash for a white powder in a baggie that was sold as heroin. However, analysts in the Sheriff’s Office laboratory determined the substance was actually fentanyl.

The exchange took place near Hilton Head Christian Academy. However, the jury found Mitchell not guilty of distributing fentanyl within a half mile of a school, officials say. That charge requires proof the defendant knew he was within proximity of a school.

Alexa Casavecchia of the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, who prosecuted the case, said the conviction reflects thorough police work.

“This conviction reflects the methodical work of law enforcement and underscores our commitment to holding drug dealers accountable, especially those who bring deadly substances like fentanyl into our community,” Casavecchia said.

Casavecchia called four witnesses during two days of testimony at the Beaufort County Courthouse.

Mitchell’s criminal history dates to 2000 and includes convictions for conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute crack, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and three instances of driving under suspension, officials say.

Casavecchia is a team attorney who prosecutes Beaufort County cases and has worked for the Solicitor’s Office since 2025.