SPARTANBURG COUNTY, SC (WSPA) - Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright announced Thursday charges for 53 suspects during their Operation Repeat Offender drug operation. Im his mother what else would I say. That is apparently the maximum for the possession with intent to distribute fentanyl drug charges. HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- A yacht loaded with 1,100 pounds of cocaine was seized by federal agents on luxurious Hilton Head Island in a raid that federal officials said Thursday smashed an international drug smuggling ring. Sergeant Forsberg served 21 years with the Broward Sheriffs Office and was a great asset to the BSOs Homicide Unit. Does anybody else think its just an amazing coincidence that LE rounded up all these local Hampton/ Colleton county drug knuckleheads about a month after the Murdaugh murders? Soldiers would sometimes even help load drugs onto the boats and then, once they were clear of land, fighting resumed. National. 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. Also, 2 guys were arrested one month before the murders on drug charges: https://fox28media.com/news/local/deputies-2-arrested-meth-seized-in-hampton-county-south-carolina-drug-operation. State Attorney General Alan Wilson announced grand jury indictments Wednesday against the owners of the Los Primos restaurant in Greenville, S.C. At last, the High Court ruled that Americas kingpin statute was an extraditable offense in 40 nations of the former British Empire. The co-conspirators would then drive to Atlanta and other locations to pick up kilograms of methamphetamine, bring it to South Carolina, and then distribute it in the Upstate, according to police and prosecutors. This is the second drug bust along I-95 in Nash County this week. 63 people face drug charges after South Carolina investigation Posted: Mar 31, 2021 / 03:00 PM EDT Updated: Mar 31, 2021 / 03:08 PM EDT SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA) - Sixty-three people are facing. The arrests culminated a five-months investigation by the FBI, the Coast Guard, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Customs Service and the Beaufort County Sheriff's Department. Just like him being a CI . He spent his free time between classes his senior year burning up the road between Columbia and Key West, Florida, where he worked as a doorman. Police from the Lee County sheriff's office, in coordination with South Carolina correctional authorities, made the busts following an eight-month investigation into the rings, which used drones to make late-night deliveries of contraband to the prison. One of the hottest rumors in Hampton county, South Carolina at the moment is that a massive drug bust orchestrated last month by sheriff Thomas "T.C." Smalls is somehow tied to a brutal double homicide that took place in early June at a hunting compound owned by one of the Palmetto State's most prominent families. It was just talked on Wednesday, see you later and there was no later, she said. U.S Attorney E. Bart Daniel said the half-ton of uncut cocaine valued at $10 million was the largest confiscation of drugs in South Carolina history. OCDETF plays a key role in the Attorney General's strategy to reduce the availability of illicit narcotics nationwide by identifying, disrupting, and dismantling drug traffickers, money . I believe the drug smuggling is discussed in Podcast Episodes 31 and 32. Press J to jump to the feed. Drug traffickers used a Mexican eatery and taco trucks to transport drugs around South Carolina, state prosecutors said Wednesday. Many of the drugs were allegedly trafficked out of the restaurant, and also out of taco trucks owned by the restaurant, officials said. Another tip came through phone numbers salvaged from a suspected drug boat scuttled in the Edisto River. Representatives from various federal agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Agency, United States Customs, and the IRS, were invited to a meeting in Columbia to form a task force along with SLED. Still, it was more than they could spend. Published: May. The Hilton Head Island residents were identified as David A. Childs Jr., 38, and Lynn G. Paul, 40. https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/local/hampton-county-guardian/2021/07/23/county-wide-operation-pentagon-nets-least-18-arrests-h-c/8075562002/. Barry was apprehended at the LaGuardia airport wearing a full-length mink coat. Especially, when it is quite literally close to home. York County, SC. Illegal drugs,. The surviving Gentlemen Smugglers still gather occasionally at an event they call The Felons Ball., In the fall of 1986, in a speech in Columbia, President Reagan said, Operation Jackpot was our first major breakthrough in our war on drugs.. After college, Les moved to Key West and started a landscaping business, cutting grass for $5. They grew their network to include names like Tom Rolex Rhoad, John Smokin Sneakers Jamison, Ashley Brunson, Bob Willie the Whale Bauer, Christy Campbell, and Frank Gunn, to name just a few, and occasionally partnered with a Virginia smuggling ring led by Barry Ice Cream Toombs that included Virginia brothers Lee and Michael Harvey. I highly suggest you watch Mandy Matneys Murdaugh Murders Podcast - especially those about Alexs possible connection to drugs smuggling along the east coast. News of these arrests was first sent to our tip line early Friday morning and FITSNews sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the city seeking information related to the arrests over the weekend. It is much more significant," he said. In college at the University of South Carolina, Les was known to take his dates to the roof of. The numbers led back to Les. Law enforcement says the people arrested for this crime will face 15 years in prison. As a true crime community, we promote civil discussions surrounding the alleged crimes of Alex Murdaugh and related entanglements. SEE IT: Bidens message to Zelenskyy written in Ukraine Royal Palace guest book, Twitter 2023 USSA News, The Tea Party's Front Page. Now Canadian cops have charged pastor with hate crime. The defendants, mostly from South Carolina, were traced to alleged narcotics operations through a 'paper trail' of bank drafts, passports and other documents. Here is the full video of the press conference . 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. Click this link for the original source of this article. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and seven children. Bob Jendron retired after a long career as a federal prosecutor, while his former coworker, Bart Daniel, served as U.S. attorney from 1989-1992 and is now a partner in a Charleston law firm. I dont think so either but others have theorized about it so I thought Id post just to show there had been an investigation going on in Hampton county for a year. He was as pleasant as can be.. The payday for smugglers was double that of marijuana. CLICK HERE. With that, Barrys career as a drug smuggler launched, and he enjoyed legendary status among Columbias marijuana enthusiasts. According to a news. They would of been BUSTED. And yes, he has LOTS of hats (including the above-pictured Washington Senators lid). Bob Byers got a 25-year sentence plus eight years for his escape. 8,333 people were booked in the last 30 days (Order: Booking Date ) First Prev Finally, having an accessible and secluded place to offload was vital. The agents deserve all the credit, says Bart Daniel of the task force. Ultimately, Operation Jackpot would indict four smuggling rings operating in South Carolina. Organized by U.S. Attorney Henry McMaster, Operation Jackpot was one of the first federal drug task forces to use newly enacted federal civil forfeiture laws to combat drug smugglers by seizing the gentlemen smugglers' assets, including homes, cars, money and boats. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. He eagerly implemented it in South Carolina. SCDC Inmates Darrell Foster McCoy, Jr. a/k/a DJ and Matthew David McCoy have been involved in drug trafficking since 2011. Im thinking serious cartel and/ or gang bosses who are higher up. 2023 Columbia Metropolitan. Given their standards and their college educations, the two men were nicknamed the Gentlemen Smugglers.. The third island resident was identified as Kathy G. Gerald, 39. Published: Dec. 10, 2021 at 4:07 PM PST. You didnt have any last words. So both were allegedly dealing marijuana, right? Greenville, South Carolina--- Acting United States Attorney M. Rhett Dehart announced today that, on Thursday, August 12, 2021, a joint team of 130 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers simultaneously executed 20 federal search warrants and arrested 12 individuals charged in a 34-count federal indictment for their roles in a drug trafficking organization that operated primarily . He counted playwright Tennessee Williams as a client and musician Jimmy Buffett as a friend. Alleged drug traffickers in South Carolina used taco trucks to transport pounds of meth, cocaine and heroin, state prosecutors said Wednesday. Pastor shoved out door, knocked flat on his back after protesting library's drag queen event for children. He said, Hi Bart, my names Christy Campbell, and Im here to turn myself in, says Bart. Agents also seized about $1 million in property, including the rented home, the yacht and five vehicles. The sheriff added that 87 people have lost their lives to fentanyl so far in 2022. Within a short time, the men identified Barry as someone who recently used cash for a large land purchase. Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. For those who want the full story of this local legend. The verdict came in shortly before 7 p . Politics. Also important were the right boats: some were made for blue water (long term, open sea) sailing; some were not. March 3 (UPI) -- A New Brunswick couple who initially thought a burglar had broken into their home discovered the invader was actually a panicked deer. The upstate has become a hub," Wilson said at a press conference. A 30-month long ordeal ensued as the Australian court wrestled with whether the two could be extradited on a drug kingpin charge. Bob Byers died in 2004. Make sure you see our stories daily directly to your inbox. If you are the author or represent the host site and would like this content removed now and in the future, please contact USSANews.com using the email address in the Contact page found in the website menu. Wilder still, the two main characters hail from Columbia, South Carolina. Henry immediately sought to attack drug smuggling at the highest levels of the trade. As with anyone accused of committing any crime, the Sears are considered innocent until proven guilty by our criminal justice system or until such time as they may wish to enter some form of allocution in connection with a plea agreement with prosecutors related to any of the charges which have been filed against them. Arrests resulted in insignificant charges, if any, so the two did not feel they were doing anything really criminal. According to the release, the investigation in total from both locations seized large quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine including some mixed with fentanyl, marijuana, xanax, multiple firearms, and $63,000. 'These definitely are major players.'. One of the defendants, a paralegal, is accused of sending drugs and phones into prison through hollowed out court transcripts, ABC News 4 reports. Her son, Adam, fell victim to the drug. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); South Carolina's 'Trial of the Century' is over but the 'Murdaugh King Of Five Points Arrested As Part Of Massive Drug Bust In Columbia, South Carolina, Murdaugh Murders: South Carolina Attorney General Must Step In And Remove Rogue Solicitor, Governors Mansion Valet Killed In Car Crash, SCDOT: Internal Audits Show Rash Of Scandals, Alex Murdaugh Sentenced To Life Behind Bars, LIVE FEED Murdaugh Murders Trial: Alex Murdaugh Sentencing Hearing, Murdaugh Murders Trial: Alex Murdaugh Guilty On All Counts. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. South Carolina partnered with Georgia and federal authorities to make the drug bust. WTF? Purchase a new subscription and qualify for $100 of fine dining, theater tickets and MORE! The Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office announced that three people were recently charged after over 20 pounds of methamphetamine was found during a narcotics investigation. Got something youd like to say in response to one of our articles? Defendant Michael Pardi allegedly fled last month. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Surrey couple plans to pay off mortgage after winning $500,000. Deputies say that the drug bust happened on Tuesday on Southers. This was a year-long investigation that resulted in the arrests of six people. India News | Press Trust of India | Wednesday December 21, 2022. 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. 'This has been the most aggressive, high-tech, team-oriented operation in the history of South Carolina,' Daniel said. The last fugitive from Operation Jackpot was arrested in 2007. In a case reaching both sides of the Rio Grande, 43 Upstate drug trafficking defendants now face a total of 170 charges after being indicted by the South Carolina statewide grand jury. Listen online or download the iHeart App. 'In layman's terms, this is enough cocaine for every man, woman, and child in South Carolina to get high at least one time,' he said. The return trip home was worse, especially when they were fired upon when straying too close to Cuba. Wild as it seems, the story is true. A man has been arrested for a major drug bust in Rutherford County, according to the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office. All Rights Reserved. The McCoys were served with notice of the states intention to seek life without the possibility of parole at their bond hearings last week. The story is utterly fantastic, with a list of villains so long one has trouble keeping up with them all. South Carolina. The theory would hold more weight if there were rumors or gossip of drug use coming out of the woodwork, but I dont think any have come to light. U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District N.C. Michael Easley announces at the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office the arrest of 20 . Got a tip for a story? Lt. Robert Stewart became Chief of SLED, and Cam Currie became a U.S. District Court judge. The Canal Street home was raided last Thursday by CPD narcotics agents prior to the Sears arrests. The owner of multiple businesses in the Five Points shopping and entertainment district in downtown Columbia, South Carolina - and the former vice president of its influential neighborhood. In time, the drug trade grew crowded in South Florida. 7-year-old baseball umpire seeks Guinness World Record. While law enforcement had tried to catch the smugglers in the past and, in a few instances, succeeded, they were hampered in the 1970s by unsophisticated or nonexistent equipment, insufficient support, and the miles and miles of South Carolina shoreline. Wild as it seems, the story is true. All Rights Reserved. They learned they could make more money if they obtained their product from Colombia rather than Jamaica. Some even volunteered to come along, enticed by the idea of cruising the Caribbean and returning on mattresses of marijuana bales. Will Folksis the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Heres the link to the podcast on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MurdaughMurders?si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE, IMO This seems way more relevant knowing what we know now! The. We have an open microphone policy here at FITSNews! Our thoughts and prayers are with the family Broward Sheriffs Office Sergeant Kevin Forsberg, both blood and blue. The post Hero Down: Broward Sheriffs Office Sergeant Kevin Forsberg Dies Unexpectedly appeared first on The Police Tribune. March 2 (UPI) -- A Minnesota police officer came to the rescue of a raccoon he spotted running around with a jar stuck over its head. Barry Foy followed his prison time with a career in real estate and construction. Other choices included an abandoned oyster shelling company on Hilton Head and West Bank Plantation on Edisto Island, owned by Ella Seabrook, grandmother of Barry and Les friend, Skip Sanders. He was really fun to be with. Operation Jackpot used what was then a new approach: Focusing on the identification and seizure of illicit wealth, then tracing it back to the smugglers bringing tons of marijuana and Lebanese. The task force used a 1978 amendment to the United States civil forfeiture provisions allowing the seizure of drug-related offenders property before conviction or without any conviction at all. On the other side are the avengers the scores of investigators and prosecutors that read like a whos who of South Carolina legal minds. Last week, deputies seized more than 30,000 grams of the drug fentanyl from a home on Golden Pond Drive in Clover. Charlestons famous restaurant, 82 Queen, was seized as well. Its incredible all the corruption and criminal activity that shes uncovered in the three years that shes been investigating the Murdaughs. Detric McGowan Arrested in Alleged South Carolina Drug Bust after Story Went Viral February 27, 2019, 4:19 PM This good Samaritan who went viral for buying $540 worth of Girl Scout cookies was. These losers may have been the only people left in the county who would hang out with Paul. Recent bookings, Arrests, Mugshots in South Carolina Bookings, Arrests and Mugshots in South Carolina To search and filter the Mugshots for South Carolina simply click on the at the top of the page. Tolson said the amount of fentanyl recovered in the bust was enough to kill every person in York County. According to North Charleston authorities, Vernon Tyrell Willis, 26, has been arrested and charged with 13 counts of second-degree assault and battery. It was unprecedented for the agencies to share information, much less work together and out of the same office. March 3 (UPI) -- A Kentucky man who stopped to buy some breakfast said he lost his appetite when he won $50,000 from a scratch-off lottery ticket. And what about all the rumors you preach as gospel. McGowan is accused. March 3 (UPI) -- A sheep spotted wandering loose on a British highway was given a lift back to its owner by a concerned bus driver on her first day on the job. We decided to figure out who they were and catch them at home. With this new approach. according to the press release from the South Carolina attorney general. So when she sees the huge spread of the same drug that killed her child on a sheriffs office table instead of someones system, she is hopeful but cautious. After brief attempts at college, first at Newberry College and then at USC, Barry began selling marijuana in Five Points. COLUMBIA, S.C. State prosecutors have charged 100 people in what they said Monday was the largest number of defendants ever indicted in one drug operation in South Carolina courts. The co-conspirators also face multiple charges related to their role in the drug trafficking operation. National Park Service: 'Never push a slower friend down' in a bear encounter, March 2 (UPI) -- The National Park Service offered some sage advice for park visitors who encounter bears: "Never push a slower friend down. First Published: 1:00 PM PDT, May 19, 2022 Officials seized paraphernalia in South Carolina and Georgia, leading to 34 individuals facing charges. Politics. Barry and Les met in Key West where, in 1973, Barry persuaded Les that smuggling grass was much more lucrative than cutting it. After serving as U.S. attorney, attorney general, and lieutenant governor, Henry McMaster ascended to South Carolinas governorship in 2017 and was elected to his first full term in November 2018. What if someone not affiliated with drugs at all wanted Paul taken out and hired somebody local on the fringes of society? By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. All rights reserved. Updated: Oct. 29, 2020 at 4:30 PM PDT. According to authorities, six of the . . COLUMBIA, S.C. (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. A normal hashish load had a street value of $90 million. No way drug dealers did this imo . Others, including Barry and Les, were harder to bring in. Theyre dealing death, Tolson said. The Delhi Police on Wednesday destroyed over 2,800 kgs of . The trucks run by Mexican restaurant Los Primos. National. While it was a more lucrative product, cocaine smugglers invariably toted automatic weapons. Sergeant Forsberg was a great father, family man, great person, great friend to those who knew him, and a great law enforcement officer, the tribute read. Among those arrested on drug-trafficking and conspiracy charges were three Hilton Head Island residents and five Colombians. Operation Jackpot was a federal drug task force based in South Carolina that captured and convicted more than 100 marijuana smugglers from 1983 to 1986 during President Ronald Reagan's War on Drugs. If its similar in Hampton county none of the people were major players instead addict selling to other addicts but who knows. News 19 reports that much of the operation was in the Upstate counties. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This is absolutely the pill of death, said Patty Roberts, a mother who lost her son to a fentanyl death. . MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA Less than twenty months after 30 Horry County and Myrtle Beach-area drug traffickers were indicted based on a federal wiretap investigation into narcotics and violence, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Carolina announced today that all 30 have pleaded guilty and been sentenced in federal court. Get the news that matters most delivered directly to your inbox. Bookings are updated several times a day so check back often! 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. 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. U. S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced on Wednesday that 37 people have been federally-indicted as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces' Operation Say Uncle. 'We did not make any arrests of users or first-level distributors,' said Verinder. <p>Pounds of various drugs were transported by taco trucks owned by a restaurant as part of a large drug-dealing operation in South Carolina, state authorities said Wednesday.</p> While law enforcement had tried to catch the smugglers in the past and, in a few instances, succeeded, they were hampered in the 1970s by unsophisticated or nonexistent equipment, insufficient support, and the miles and miles of South Carolina shoreline. Well hold the line from here. The York County. Cape Fear Bust: 20 arrests, 50 weapons, 10,000 grams of narcotics. The Coast Guard monitored the vessel's trip from Colombia to the dock at the rented home in the exclusive Sea Pines Plantation development, but authorities waited for six days until the distributors, known as 'Mr. It wouldnt be the best idea but who knows? However, it looks like a lot to us. It was a winning decision not just for the Operation Jackpot prosecutors but also for the global war on drugs because it would discourage future American drug kingpins from fleeing to those countries to avoid prosecution. Yet our response to the opioid and fentanyl crisis is underwhelming, Tolson said. Mario Pacella 1612 Newcastle, Suite 201 Brunswick GA 31520 (912) 264-6465 (Phone) (877) 787-6652 (Toll-Free) (912) 264-2470 (Fax) Centrally located in Columbia, South Carolina, the attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, L.L.C. Just after the first trial, a man did just that. State Attorney General Alan Wilson announced grand jury indictments Wednesday against the owners of the Los Primos restaurant in Greenville, S.C. York County and South Carolina leaders say current state and federal laws are not strict enough to keep fentanyl off South Carolina streets so there need to be sweeping changes. The task force, in concert with the U.S. Attorneys Office, worked to bring the Gentlemen Smugglers and their associates to justice. The attorney general's office said a "substantial portion" of the drugs seized in Atlanta were intended for South Carolina. Because of lax drug coastal patrols, hometown familiarity and a plethora of inlets, South Carolina was the gentlemen smugglers' most frequent destination for offloading drugs. 'F****** AMATEUR HOUR': Furious Democrats lash out at Biden for announcement on radical DC crime law, Gun-toting road-rage motorist shot dead after armed man warns him to stop approaching him and his wife; cops say it looks like self-defense, Railroad union: Workers getting sick at site of Norfolk Southern's catastrophic hazmat spill in East Palestine, Teen bragged in rap song about killing another rapper, sheriff says, but cried 'like a baby that lost his pacifier' when charged with murder, Florida man allegedly told roommate, 'Im going to go over there and kill them all' before murdering his daughter and 3 others, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The thought immediately went through my mind that I wonder if they were responsible for his death, said Roberts. History and legal buffs will appreciate reliving the 1970s with the challenges faced by the task force and the ingenuity used to achieve its objective. With each trip, Barry and Les learned more about the smuggling business. Hes an incredible person to me of course. Now it's closing after donors sent school a big message. Thousands of grams of cocaine, and hundreds of grams of meth and marijuana were also found, along with four firearms. 2023 Blaze Media LLC. The cocaine was found in secret compartments aboard a twin-masted, 47-foot sailing yacht named the 'Arc.'. Both suspects were released from the Florence County Detention Center on April 2, 2022, on a $50,000 surety bond each. "Theres much more volume flowing into our communities.