south carolina drug bust 2022

$3.9Million South Carolina drug bust: On February 24, 2022, the Narcotics Unit of Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office received information that a quantity of narcotics was being shipped into. Taco trucks owned by the Los Primos owners also allegedly played a role in the operation which according to a statewide grand jury appears to be connected to some proverbial bad hombres., In fact, the investigation revealed alleged connections to Mexican drug trafficking cartels operating in South Carolina and Georgia.. The following people have been arrested and charged in connection to the case: Kenneth Lee Huckabee, 41 years old, is currently in the Department of Corrections. Its members were supplied with controlled substances from multiple interstate sources of supply, including one with direct ties to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) from Jalisco, Mexico. High Point man arrested during SWAT Team drug bust in home near school; police seize over 30 guns, trafficking amounts of drugs, around $50,000 . The investigation focused on a drug trafficking organization (DTO) operating in Pickens, Greenville, Laurens, Anderson, and Oconee counties. Just as important, it is a further example of our use of the state grand jury to partner state prosecutorial and law enforcement resources with county, local, and federal agencies, Wilson added. Everyone in America would be safer if Congress would pass this legislation, Stirling said. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. she is charged with Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamine over 400 grams. Legal Statement. An official website of the United States government. Its something he hopes will soon be put to an end. I want to extend my deepest appreciation to all the different agencies, investigators, prosecutors, and everyone behind the scenes who have helped in this case.. An assortment of other illicit narcotics were discovered at an additional address, including methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, and mushrooms, authorities said. Additionally, some of the defendants have been charged with various firearms offenses. SCDC Inmates Darrell Foster McCoy Jr. a/k/a DJ, and Matthew David McCoy have been involved in drug trafficking since 2011, Wilson said. State Attorney General Alan Wilson announced grand jury indictments Wednesday against the owners of the Los Primos restaurant in Greenville, S.C. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. The York County Sheriffs Office revealed the details of the investigation during a Monday press conference attended by Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham. It might surprise people that cartel drug trafficking happens in South Carolina, but it does and were fighting to stop it, Wilson said. 1441 Main Street Suite 500 The case was prosecuted by OCDETF Lead Task Force Attorney Everett McMillian, along with Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Hixson, who also serves as Deputy Solicitor for 15th Circuit Solicitors Office. Charges range from drug trafficking and . SUMTER COUNTY, S.C. The Sumter County Sheriff's Office announced a large drug bust that took place during a search warrant at a residence in the 1300 block . $1.5M WORTH OF DRUGS SEIZED FROM VACANT SEATTLE APARTMENT. For more information about our use of cookies, our collection, use, and disclosure of personal information generally, and any rights you may have to access, delete, or opt out of the sale of your personal information, please view our, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Updated: 8:44 PM EDT March 29, 2022. Deputies from the Spartanburg County Narcotics Unit, with the help of the South Carolina Department of Corrections, began investigating in March 2022. The U.S. Department of Justice says 11 were charged by indictment with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. Huckabee, Bishop and Childress were denied bond Friday. The cartel we believe is primarily involved in this is La Familia," Homeland Security Deputy Special Agent Mike Prado said. Constantly updated. Police Seize Nearly 2,000 Fentanyl Pills in Drug Bust - CN2 News Police Seize Nearly 2,000 Fentanyl Pills in Drug Bust ROCK HILL, S.C. (CN2 NEWS) - A Rock Hill man is now behind bars after a recent drug bust where nearly 2,000 Fentanyl pills and more were seized. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. So far, the Los Banditos operation has seized 11 kilograms of methamphetamine, 584 grams of cocaine, approximately $63,000 in cash, and over 20 firearms in South Carolina. All rights reserved. People are sentenced to the Department of Corrections for long periods of time. He said defendant Marcy Dawn Vickers allegedly fled in 2022, and defendant Kelli Edwards allegedly fled in October 2022. The case, dubbed "Los Banditos" by investigators, has to date resulted in the seizure of nearly 11 kilograms (24 pounds) of methamphetamine, 584 grams (1.3 pounds) of cocaine, approximately $63,000 in cash, and over 20 firearms in South Carolina, according to the attorney general. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Attorney General Wilson said that drugs in the southeast are typically trafficked across the southern border and sent to Atlanta, where they are then distributed to neighboring states. I urge the commission to act quickly so we can stop this stop this criminal activity from being orchestrated from behind our nations state prison walls. While South Carolina has long lobbied Congress to pass the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act, which would allow state prison systems to jam cellphone signals, the act has never received a hearing.Everyone in America would be safer if Congress would pass this legislation, Stirling said.Judge DeAndrea Benjamin denied bond for twenty-three of the 32 defendants who were arrested. Bond hearings for several of these defendants were held on Monday, May 16, 2022 in the virtual courtroom of S.C. circuit court judge Alison Lee. Related charges some suspects are facing include resisting. It might surprise people that cartel drug trafficking happens in South Carolina, but it does and were fighting to stop it, Wilson said. The Federal Communications Commission passed a rule that will allow state prisons to identify contraband cellphones and require carriers to turn the phone signals off in 2021.We were the first state prison system to apply under this rule and months later, five vendors that have completed the vendor application process are still waiting on the FCC to approve the applications to provide this service, SCDC Director Bryan Stirling said. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The McCoys were served with Notice of the States Intention to Seek Sentencing of Life Without the Possibility of Parole at their bond hearings last week. On Monday (March 8) South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said that, so far, 100 people are facing 297 counts and 487 charges total, News 19 reports. Solicitor Barnette said the issues stretch far beyond the Upstate. Huckabee is charged with Conspiracy to Traffic Methamphetamine over 400 grams. Wilson announced Thursday that the South Carolina State Grand Jury has issued indictments that contain 170 charges against 43 defendants. Prado also indicated Interstate 85 in South Carolina was a major pipeline for trafficking. Until we get around it and taking care of the cell phone until we can handle it we are going to keep having this problem, said Barnette. Largest Database of South Carolina Mugshots. The wiretap investigation into the Cedar Branch organization was led by the FBI alongside other agencies. Numerous law enforcement agencies have assisted in the Los Banditos operation including the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Shonda Michelle Finch, 45 years old, is currently in the Department of Corrections. Someone in NC won $2M in Saturdays Powerball drawing, Swing State with Mark Walker & Odell Cleveland, Here are NCs proposed rules for medical marijuana, NC medical marijuana bill sees stronger odds of passing, These are the countries that have banned TikTok. Additionally, a record 107,000 Americans died of drug overdoses and poisonings last year, driven by fentanyl. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. All rights reserved. Thank you for all the hard work and dedication by all to make this difference in our communities., Myrtle Beach Police Department Chief Amy Prock, As we said before, Myrtle Beach is not a safe haven for criminals. A major drug bust in upstate South Carolina resulted in 124 charges against 34 defendants allegedly involved with a Mexican cartel trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine in the southeast. All defendants named at Wednesdays press conference will be prosecuted by the attorney generals office. Information from the Los Banditos investigation was used to make another bust in Atlanta, where authorities seized approximately 200 kilos (441 pounds) of methamphetamine, 3.5 kilos (7.7 pounds) of cocaine, 3.2 kilos (7 pounds) of heroin, 5 ounces of cocaine mixed with fentanyl, 183 pounds of marijuana, 900 Xanax pills, and multiple firearms from stash houses in apartments, the attorney general's office said. While South Carolina has long lobbied Congress to pass the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act, which would allow state prison systems to jam cellphone signals, the act has never received a hearing. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Myth? According to the Oconee County Sheriff's Office, deputies were seeking 33 suspects with arrest warrants based on controlled purchases of narcotics by undercover operators working at the direction. 2022 Blaze Media LLC. If you engage in this illicit type of activity, drug trafficking, youre going to eventually get busted and were going to put you away, Wilson said. The arrests and indictments were part of Operation Broken Branch, which targeted violent crime in the Cedar Branch area near Loris. All rights reserved. One of them was married to one of the cartel members," Wilson said. "They were working with inmates currently residing in the Department of Corrections who were able to, through command and control and the use of cellphones, support and facilitate this drug trafficking ring.. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. They believe more than 1,000 kilograms of meth, 100 kilograms of cocaine and 2 kilograms of heroin were trafficked through South Carolina by the operation. Leave Russia? "Yet our response to the opioid and fentanyl crisis is underwhelming. Will Folksis the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. In addition to the statewide grand jury and SLED, the office of S.C. thirteenth circuit solicitor Walt Wilkins was involved in the operation. Florence:(843) 665-6688. "Folks, if this was a bag full of terrorists, if this was anthrax, our response would be overwhelming," Young County Sheriff Kevin Tolson said. The men claimed to have been rescued by The Waterworld and Miss Kathy boats. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. ", Six people have been charged in a major drug bust in South Carolina. The defendants in these cases were all participants in this drug conspiracy. By signing up to the Blaze News newsletter you agree to receive electronic communications from Blaze Media that may sometimes include advertisements or sponsored content. Got a tip for a story? Get the news that matters most delivered directly to your inbox. BELTON, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - The Anderson County Sheriff's Office said arrested a man after finding a large amount of drugs and multiple guns at his . Oct 06, 2022 08:40am; One Lancaster County man died and another was rescued in a hang glider crash in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. He says they have a system at one state prison that would allow them to do this. Deputies seize 15 guns, more than 2000 grams of drugs in drug bust, The Greenville County Sheriff's Office said deputies recently took part in a multi-jurisdictional investigation that resulted in the seizure of the items, Murdaugh defense to make closing arguments at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Murdaugh Trial, Day 26: Testimony gets heated during states rebuttal, Attorney Jack Swerling Discusses Closing Arguments in Murdaugh Trial, High School in Rutherford Co. responds to reported threat, Veterans Museum of The Carolinas Launches Lecture Series, Upstate Mom Turns Grief Into Action After Son's Death From Hazing, Missing man found dead in Madison Co. following extensive search, kelli.radcliff@foxcarolina.com - 864-213-2103. Ricky Lainer Gay, 48 years old, is currently in the Spartanburg County detention facility. "They were working with inmates currently residing in the Department of Corrections who were able to, through command and control and the use of cellphones, support and facilitate this drug trafficking ring. Wilson said the Seoritas would allegedly coordinate with SCDC inmates via contraband cell phones to have drugs, primarily methamphetamine, delivered to co-conspirators in the South Carolina Upstate. He said defendant Marcy Dawn Vickers allegedly fled in 2022, and defendant Kelli Edwards allegedly fled in October 2022. Americas Next Great Speedskater Is Coming for the Dutch, Kellyanne Conway Cluelessly Trolls Fox News Live on Air, Man arrested after explosive device found in luggage at Pennsylvania airport. The organization was based in the Cedar Branch area of Horry County, and had ties across the state line into North Carolina. I want to extend my deepest appreciation to all the different agencies, investigators, prosecutors, and everyone behind the scenes who have helped in this case.Wilson said that the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, along with local law enforcement, began making arrests as part of this investigation on Tuesday. The restaurant served as a regional hub for an operation which allegedly trafficked cocaine and methamphetamine to numerous other states. Deputies with the Anderson County Sheriff's Office Special Investigations Division say one man now faces a lengthy list of charges after a drug trafficking bust. This major drug trafficking ring was anything but unbelievable, said Solicitor Walt Wilkins. The attorney general's office said a "substantial portion" of the drugs seized in Atlanta were intended for South Carolina. This content is imported from YouTube. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. (This) office and SLED are committed to fight the corrosive effect drug trafficking has on our communities, Wilson said in a statement. The seizure ultimately led to multiple other arrests and the discovery of additional illegal drugs in and around Spartanburg County. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The South Carolina Attorney Generals Office released photos of drugs, weapons and cash seized amid the investigation. A South Carolina sheriff's office has concluded a one-year investigation into a major drug operation that saw them seizing enough fentanyl to kill around 15 million people. COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA David Ruger, 44, of Long Beach, California, was sentenced to more than 7 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA Marek Cortez Brewer, Jr., 24, of Columbia, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA Patricia Ann Hemphill, 51, of Rock Hill, was sentenced to 3 years in federal prison after pleading guilty relating to a multi-state drug operation out of Main Office: "We can identify where it's located in the prison yard, and then we can turn it over to the industry and within five days, they will turn it off. This organization was identified by local law enforcement as a priority target in connection with violent crime and overdoses in the area. McCoy Jr. announced a major drug bust in South Carolina. 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