Sixteen people were charged Friday in a major drug trafficking organization that operated out of Lancaster County, South Carolina, McCoy said. These operations require technology, experience, and boots on the ground in order to gather enough information to arrest and successfully prosecute participants in the drug trade. 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. People are sentenced to the Department of Corrections for long periods of time. Angela Diana Childers, 40 years old, is currently in the Spartanburg County detention facility. The drugs involved include cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, heroin, methamphetamine and various controlled substances in pill form. Samantha Nicole Bishop, 40 years old, is currently in the Spartanburg County detention facility. In May 20, the South Carolina Attorney General's Office announced that 26 people had been indicted for their alleged participation in a drug trafficking conspiracy operation, known as. More than two dozen people were charged by a grand jury in connection with the bust. According to the attorney general, much of the drug trafficking was run and facilitated by the owners of the Los Primos restaurant located in Greenville, South Carolina. "Theyre twin siblings. Legal Statement. Updated October 21, 2022 8:37 AM. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and seven children. He is charged with Trafficking Methamphetamine over 400 grams. Wilson announced Thursday that the South Carolina State Grand Jury has issued indictments that contain 170 charges against 43 defendants. The men claimed to have been rescued by The Waterworld and Miss Kathy boats. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. Each has now also been sentenced, with several of the organizations leaders and suppliers receiving sentences of ten years or more in federal prison, as follows: This operation dismantled a violent criminal enterprise, put its members behind bars, and made communities in South Carolina safer, said U.S. Attorney Corey F. Ellis. Judge DeAndrea Benjamin denied bond for twenty-three of the 32 defendants who were arrested. Solicitor Barnette said the issues stretch far beyond the Upstate. He said defendant Marcy Dawn Vickers allegedly fled in 2022, and defendant Kelli Edwards allegedly fled in October 2022. The South Carolina Attorney Generals Office released photos of drugs, weapons and cash seized amid the investigation. 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. The restaurant served as a regional hub for an operation which allegedly trafficked cocaine and methamphetamine to numerous other states. This major drug trafficking ring was anything but unbelievable, said Solicitor Walt Wilkins. They go hand and glove together. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! The York County Sheriffs Office revealed the details of the investigation during a Monday press conference attended by Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham. The seizure ultimately led to multiple other arrests and the discovery of additional illegal drugs in and around Spartanburg County. Copyright 2022 WHNS. All rights reserved. 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While this organization has ties from Mexico to numerous cities in the United States, its drug trafficking efforts and locations in Greenville County were continuing to pump poison directly into our communities. Leave Russia? GREENVILLE, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - The Greenville County Sheriffs Office announced multiple drugs and guns were seized after a multi-jurisdictional investigation. Oct 06, 2022 08:40am; One Lancaster County man died and another was rescued in a hang glider crash in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Wilson announced the arrests at a press conference held in his offices on the grounds of the State House in downtown Columbia, S.C. on Wednesday. More than 40 people have been charged in the Upstate of South Carolina as part of a drug-trafficking case known as "Las Seoritas," according to Attorney General Alan Wilson. Constantly updated. Its been a problem throughout the state of South Carolina. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? This case illustrates the results that are possible when federal, state, and local agencies work together toward a common goal.. These defendants are allegedly living among Jalisco New Generation Cartel members and sourcing drugs directly from the Cartel. These co-conspirators are also facing multiple charges related to their role in the DTO. Huckabee and several others who are accused of taking part in the drug trafficking ring are scheduled to have their initial court appearance in April. Market data provided by Factset. All rights reserved. It might surprise people that cartel drug trafficking happens in South Carolina, but it does and were fighting to stop it, Wilson said. Fox News Audrey Conklin contributed to this report. Were seeing it here in Spartanburg and Cherokee Counties in our circuit, said Barnette. They also make the criminal aware that law enforcement will always pursue illegal operations that effect the safety of our citizens. Shandon Paige Hammett, 34 years old, is currently in the Spartanburg County detention facility. Thousands of kilos of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine were pumping into Greenville County.. These cookies do not store any personal information. Updated: 8:03 PM EDT May 5, 2022 GREENWOOD, S.C. A joint operation in one South Carolina county has ended with a major drug bust with pills counted in the hundreds and raw drugs measured in . Bill would get rid of the Democratic Party in Fla. 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(WCSC) - South Carolina's attorney general said an investigation into a drug ring operating in South Carolina and Georgia resulted in 124 criminal charges against 34 people. Operation Broken Branch was a much-needed enforcement operation in a rural area of Horry County plagued by illegal narcotics sales.. The upstate has become a hub," Wilson said at a press conference. Defendant Michael Pardi allegedly fled last month, according to Wilson. Got a tip for a story? But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Kimberly Dawn Neal, 33 years old, is currently in the Spartanburg County detention facility. Coastal Carolina University Department of Public Safety is pleased to have been involved with this important investigation., Horry County Sheriffs Office, Sheriff Phillip Thompson, We are grateful for the partnerships we share with federal law enforcement, state and local agencies in the combined efforts to fight the surge of drugs in our communities. Investigators say Los Primos, a Mexican restaurant in Greenville, SC, was trafficking drugs for cartels. 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. 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The investigation is named Las Seoritas because several of the main targets are women who have allegedly fled to Mexico to escape prosecution in the United States. He said both brothers have been incarcerated at SCDC since 2015 and have allegedly continued trafficking methamphetamine from prison using contraband cell phones. SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) An inmate is accused of operating a drug trafficking ring from behind bars in Spartanburg County. Fentanyl seized by York County Sheriff's deputies. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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.. They have 24/7 365 to think of ways to get it in," Stirling 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. Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Hungry? 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. 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 cooperation with our Upstate partners both local and federal was particularly successful in this case, and this office looks forward to continuing to synch its efforts with the hard work and expertise of all the agencies involved. Says. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Share Copy Link . One of them was married to one of the cartel members," Wilson said. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of South Carolina announced on Monday that 30 Horry County and Myrtle Beach area gang members and drug trafficking associates have been sentenced in federal court. Updated: 1:35 PM EST Nov 15, 2022 Greenville County Sheriff's Office . Deputies from the Spartanburg County Narcotics Unit, with the help of the South Carolina Department of Corrections, began investigating in March 2022. The Sheriffs Office said over the past year and a-half, deputies continued their ongoing investigation of individuals who are trafficking large quantities of meth and heroin into Oconee County, as well as the distribution of controlled substances, including fentanyl and carfentanil. It has been called Dr. Seuss Day because of this. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Carolina announced on Monday that 30 Horry County and Myrtle Beach area gang members and drug trafficking associates have been sentenced in . Legal Statement. 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. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CLICK HERE. Police in South Carolina seized more than 65 pounds of fentanyl Wednesday in a drug raid that officials describe as the largest-ever seizure of . Record fentanyl busts, migrant encounters plague southern border. 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The owners of Los Primos on West Parker Road were trafficking drugs out of the restaurant and through taco trucks as well, investigators said. All rights reserved. Stirling says federal prisons are allowed to do so, but states are not. The long list of agencies who worked together for this case is a testament to the strength of our partnerships and our commitment to keeping our community safe, said Myrtle Beach Police Chief Amy Prock. And yes, he has LOTS of hats (including that Minnesota Twins lid pictured above). Have a question about Government Services? Is charged with trafficking methamphetamine over 400 grams it has been called Dr. Seuss because! Lid pictured above ) ; s Office investigation during a Monday press conference allegedly. 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