District of South Carolina

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated that Rondell Lakevis Waiters, age 35, of Columbia, plead guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). Chief United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten, of Columbia, accepted the guilty plea and will impose a sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report, which will be prepared by the United States Probation Office.

Evidence presented in court established that on April 11, 2018, deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department executed a lawful search warrant on a hotel room in Columbia after making an undercover buy of narcotics from that location. During execution of the search warrant, deputies encountered Waiters and recovered two firearms inside the hotel room. After advise of rights, Waiters admitted possession of one of the firearms. Waiters is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon his prior state drug convictions.

Waiters faces a maximum of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and 3 years of supervised release on the firearm charge. However, if he is deemed an armed career criminal based upon his extensive prior record, he faces a statutory mandatory minimum 15 years imprisonment with a maximum of life, a fine of $250,000, and 5 years of supervised release. 

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and was prosecuted as part of Project CeaseFire, a joint federal, state and local initiative focused upon aggressively prosecuting firearm cases in an effort to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer. Project CeaseFire is South Carolina’s implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a crime reduction strategy originally launched in 2001. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority and reinstituted PSN nationwide. Assistant United States Attorney William K. Witherspoon of the Columbia office handled the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated that Rondell Lakevis Waiters, age 35, of Columbia, plead guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). Chief United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten, of Columbia, accepted the guilty plea and will impose a sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report, which will be prepared by the United States Probation Office.

Evidence presented in court established that on April 11, 2018, deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department executed a lawful search warrant on a hotel room in Columbia after making an undercover buy of narcotics from that location. During execution of the search warrant, deputies encountered Waiters and recovered two firearms inside the hotel room. After advise of rights, Waiters admitted possession of one of the firearms. Waiters is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon his prior state drug convictions.

Waiters faces a maximum of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and 3 years of supervised release on the firearm charge. However, if he is deemed an armed career criminal based upon his extensive prior record, he faces a statutory mandatory minimum 15 years imprisonment with a maximum of life, a fine of $250,000, and 5 years of supervised release. 

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and was prosecuted as part of Project CeaseFire, a joint federal, state and local initiative focused upon aggressively prosecuting firearm cases in an effort to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer. Project CeaseFire is South Carolina’s implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a crime reduction strategy originally launched in 2001. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority and reinstituted PSN nationwide. Assistant United States Attorney William K. Witherspoon of the Columbia office handled the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated that Rondell Lakevis Waiters, age 35, of Columbia, plead guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). Chief United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten, of Columbia, accepted the guilty plea and will impose a sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report, which will be prepared by the United States Probation Office.

Evidence presented in court established that on April 11, 2018, deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department executed a lawful search warrant on a hotel room in Columbia after making an undercover buy of narcotics from that location. During execution of the search warrant, deputies encountered Waiters and recovered two firearms inside the hotel room. After advise of rights, Waiters admitted possession of one of the firearms. Waiters is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon his prior state drug convictions.

Waiters faces a maximum of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and 3 years of supervised release on the firearm charge. However, if he is deemed an armed career criminal based upon his extensive prior record, he faces a statutory mandatory minimum 15 years imprisonment with a maximum of life, a fine of $250,000, and 5 years of supervised release. 

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and was prosecuted as part of Project CeaseFire, a joint federal, state and local initiative focused upon aggressively prosecuting firearm cases in an effort to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer. Project CeaseFire is South Carolina’s implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a crime reduction strategy originally launched in 2001. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority and reinstituted PSN nationwide. Assistant United States Attorney William K. Witherspoon of the Columbia office handled the case.

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COLUMBIA, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina Sherri Lydon, in conjunction with the Civil Division of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), announced today that the 3M Company (3M), headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, has agreed to pay $9.1 million to resolve allegations that it knowingly sold dual-ended combat arms earplugs to the United States military without disclosing defects that hampered the effectiveness of the hearing protection devices.   

The settlement announced today resolves allegations that 3M violated the False Claims Act by selling or causing to be sold defective earplugs to the Defense Logistics Agency.  Specifically, the United States alleged that 3M, and its predecessor, Aearo Technologies, Inc., knew that its Combat Arms Earplugs, Version 2, were too short for proper insertion into users’ ears and that the earplugs could loosen imperceptibly and therefore did not perform well for certain individuals.  The United States further alleged that 3M did not disclose this design defect to the military.

 “Today’s settlement demonstrates our continuing vigilance to protect the men and women serving in the United States military from defective or fraudulent products,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Chad A. Readler of the Department’s Civil Division.  “Government contractors who seek to profit at the expense of our military will face appropriate consequences.”

“Through rigorous enforcement of the False Claims Act, we protect taxpayer dollars from waste, fraud, and abuse,” said U. S. Attorney Sherri Lydon.  “And in this case in particular, we are proud to defend the integrity of our military programs and ensure that our men and women in uniform are adequately protected as they serve our country.”

“Today’s settlement will ensure that those who do business with the government know that their actions will not go unnoticed,” said Frank Robey, director of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command’s Major Procurement Fraud Unit.  “Properly-made safety equipment, for use by our Soldiers, is vital to our military’s readiness. Our agents will respond robustly to protect the safety of our military.”

“This settlement demonstrates the commitment of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and our law enforcement partners to hold companies accountable for supplying substandard products, in particular products that could directly impact our service members’ health and welfare.  DCIS protects the integrity of Defense Department programs by rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse that negatively affect the wellbeing of our troops,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert E. Craig, Jr., DCIS Mid-Atlantic Field Office.

The allegations resolved by the settlement were brought in a lawsuit filed under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act.  The act permits private parties to sue on behalf of the government when they believe that defendants submitted false claims for government funds and to share in any recovery.  As part of today’s resolution, the whistleblower will receive $1,911,000. 

The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the Civil Division of the Department of Justice and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, with support from the Department of Defense.  The settlement was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Stan Ragsdale and Brook Andrews and DOJ Trial Attorney Brandie Weddle.  The case was investigated by Special Agent Jennifer Coleman of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command and Special Agent Gil Rosen of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.

The case is captioned United States ex rel. Moldex-Metric v. 3M Company, Case No. 3:16-cv-1533-MBS (D.S.C.).  The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. 

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The Department of Justice announced today that 3M Company (3M), headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, has agreed to pay $9.1 million to resolve allegations that it knowingly sold the dual-ended Combat Arms Earplugs, Version 2 (CAEv2) to the United States military without disclosing defects that hampered the effectiveness of the hearing protection device.    

“The Department of Justice is committed to protecting the men and women serving in the United States military from defective products and fraudulent conduct,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Chad A. Readler of the Department’s Civil Division.  “Government contractors who seek to profit at the expense of our military will face appropriate consequences.”

“Through rigorous enforcement of the False Claims Act, we protect taxpayer dollars from waste, fraud, and abuse,” said U. S. Attorney Sherri Lydon for the District of South Carolina.  “And in this case in particular, we are proud to defend the integrity of our military programs and ensure that our men and women in uniform are adequately protected as they serve our country.”

"Today's settlement will ensure that those who do business with the government know that their actions will not go unnoticed," said Frank Robey, director of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command's Major Procurement Fraud Unit. "Properly made safety equipment, for use by our Soldiers, is vital to our military's readiness. Our agents will respond robustly to protect the safety of our military."

“This settlement demonstrates the commitment of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service and our law enforcement partners to hold companies accountable for supplying substandard products, in particular products that could directly impact our service members’ health and welfare.  DCIS protects the integrity of Defense Department programs by rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse that negatively affect the wellbeing of our troops,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert E. Craig, Jr., DCIS Mid-Atlantic Field Office.

The settlement announced today resolves allegations that 3M violated the False Claims Act by selling or causing to be sold defective earplugs to the Defense Logistics Agency.  Specifically, the United States alleged that 3M, and its predecessor, Aearo Technologies, Inc., knew the CAEv2 was too short for proper insertion into users’ ears and that the earplugs could loosen imperceptibly and therefore did not perform well for certain individuals.  The United States further alleged that 3M did not disclose this design defect to the military. 

The allegations resolved by the settlement were brought in a lawsuit filed under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act.  The act permits private parties to sue on behalf of the government when they believe that defendants submitted false claims for government funds and to share in any recovery.  As part of today’s resolution, the whistleblower will receive $1,911,000.  

The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the Civil Division of the Department of Justice, the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, the Army Criminal Investigation Command, and the Defense Criminal Investigative Service.        

The case is captioned United States ex rel. Moldex-Metric v. 3M Company, Case No. 3:16-cv-1533-MBS (D.S.C.).  The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability. 

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that Keith D. Cook, age 38, of Greer, pled guilty in federal court in Spartanburg, to possession of child pornography, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A.  United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins, of Spartanburg, accepted the plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that on January 18, 2017, law enforcement conducted a search warrant at Cook’s home after receiving information that he was uploading child pornography to a mobile device.  A search warrant was conducted at the home and Cook was located at his place of business.  Law enforcement recovered Cook’s cell phone and located multiple images of children, some prepubescent, engaging in the lascivious display of the genitals.  Cook was questioned and admitted to downloading the child pornography that led to the search warrant. 

Ms. Lydon stated that because Cook has a prior conviction for possessing child pornography he is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years.  The maximum penalty Cook can receive is a fine of $250,000 and/or imprisonment for 20 years, supervised release of up to life, plus a special assessment of $100. 

The case was investigated by agents with the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office handled the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated that James Jacob Parrish, Jr., age 36, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, was sentenced in federal court to 105 months imprisonment with 3 years of supervised release to follow. Parrish plead guilty last November to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). Chief United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten imposed the sentence.

Evidence presented in court established that at approximately 8:00pm on Sunday, March 26, 2017, deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department (“RCSD”) were dispatched to an alarm and shots fired call at Columbia Mall on Two Notch Road. The mall was closed at the time. Deputies located a vehicle registered to Parrish parked in the median of the mall parking lot with a flat front tire and noticed bullet holes in the glass door of the Sears Automotive Department with spent 9mm shell casings lying on the sidewalk in front of the door. Upon making entry into the Sears Automotive Department, deputies noticed an interior glass door had been shot out as well.

The RCSD’s Special Response Team (“SRT”) responded to the scene and ultimately located Parrish barricaded inside an interior room. SRT tried to negotiate with Parrish to surrender peacefully and during the negotiations, Parrish made threats to shoot the officers. After unsuccessful negotiations, SRT made entry into the room and encountered Parrish pointing a loaded Kahr 9mm handgun at them. SRT was able to safely apprehend Parrish and placed him under arrest. Parrish was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment for a foot injury he sustained when he fell through a ceiling while trying to escape detection. While at the hospital, Parrish attempted to take a handgun from a deputy on two separate occasions.

Parrish is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon his prior North Carolina state convictions, which include possession of marijuana (2000), carrying a concealed weapon (2002), possession of stolen goods (2003), two separate counts of possession of cocaine (2003), possession with intent to distribute a counterfeit substance (2003), sell of cocaine (2003), and second degree murder/second degree kidnapping/attempted robbery with a deadly weapon/conspiracy to commit robbery with a deadly weapon (2005). Parrish was released on North Carolina parole in 2015.    

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) and the RCSD and was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office handled the case. Project CeaseFire is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.  In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001. 

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that Justin Dewayne Barr, age 33, of Scranton, SC, was sentenced in federal court in Florence, South Carolina, for Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Cocaine Base, and Marijuana.  United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell, of Florence, sentenced Barr to 188 months in federal prison with 5 years of supervised release to follow, to run consecutive to a two-year federal supervised release revocation which Barr is currently serving. 

The evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that on February 28, 2017, a deputy with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office observed a vehicle make an improper turn and then proceed through a red light.  The deputy initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle.  Upon making contact with the driver, Justin Barr, the deputy smelled an odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle and asked Barr to step out.  After exiting the vehicle, Barr ran, and a foot chase ensued.  During the chase, Barr fought with the deputy and turned the deputy’s wrist, pressing the deputy’s taser into the deputy’s inner thigh while it was cycling and causing the deputy to be briefly incapacitated.  Barr was taken into custody shortly thereafter.  A search of Barr’s person revealed two bags of marijuana and just over $1,000 in cash.  A search of the vehicle revealed a bag of cocaine, a bag of cocaine base, a set of digital scales, and a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol, loaded with eleven rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber.  The evidence presented also established that prior to his possession of the firearm, Barr had been convicted of a crime for which he could have received more than one year in prison.  

The case was investigated by agents of ATF, the Florence County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lake City Police Department and was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project CeaseFire, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases.  Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Hummel of the Florence office handled the case.  Project CeaseFire is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.  In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001. 

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Columbia, South Carolina –------- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Jeffery Michael Patterson, age 41, of Townville, South Carolina, was sentenced in Federal Court to three years’ probation for violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001.  The sentence was handed down by District Judge Timothy M. Cain.

The facts of the case are as follows.   Patterson was employed at a local FAA approved airplane repair and service facility.  During the course of a routine evaluation of employees Patterson represented that he had FAA certifications to do certain work on airplanes. The repair facility tried to verify this information through the FAA and were advised that Patterson held none of the certifications that he claimed to have.  The matter was then referred to the Inspector General (I/G) of the Federal Department of Transportation (DOT) for investigation.  I/G Special Agents interviewed Patterson and he made false statements to them to include the false statement that he had the FAA certifications but that they were under other names because his name had been changed numerous times by the Treasury department to protect his family from drug dealers who had been investigated by his father while working as a drug enforcement officer.  At the guilty plea hearing, as well as at the sentencing hearing, Patterson admitted that this story was completely made up and bogus.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David C. Stephens of the Greenville Office.  United States Attorney Lydon commended Stephens, the FAA and the DOT I/G for their vigorous investigation and prosecution of the case.  She stated that, “Insuring the safety of our aircraft of all types, including commercial and military, is of great importance and one way this is accomplished is to be sure that persons working on or certifying same as airworthy, are qualified to do so.” 

 

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that Michael James Bembry, age 28, of Florence, South Carolina, pled guilty in federal court in Florence to charges arising out of South Carolina and Pennsylvania.   The South Carolina charges were for conspiracy to manufacture and pass counterfeit money, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371, and the Pennsylvania charges were for manufacturing counterfeit money, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 471.  Bembry agreed to the transfer of the Pennsylvania charges for the purpose of pleading guilty to those and all other pending federal charges at the same time in South Carolina.  United States District Judge Bryan Harwell, of Florence, accepted the plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

The evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that Bembry was involved in a conspiracy to manufacture and pass counterfeit $100 and $50 bills in multiple states including South Carolina, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.  This conspiracy, which began in 2015, included at least nine defendants who were responsible for making and passing over $100,000 in counterfeit money. 

Bembry and other conspirators manufactured counterfeit money at several residences in Florence, South Carolina, and in a room at the Roosevelt Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  The counterfeiting method employed by Bembry and others involved using cleaning fluid or bleach to remove or “wash” the images from genuine $1 and $10 bills until only blank genuine currency paper remained.  They would then use a genuine $100 bill, known as a “parent note”, to print images of that $100 bill onto the blank genuine currency paper.  By this method the perpetrators would print numerous counterfeit $100 bills on genuine currency paper all bearing the same serial number as the $100 parent note.  They would then go to various businesses and purchase small items with the counterfeit $100 bills in order to obtain genuine currency as change.       

In May 2015, multiple counterfeit $100 bills, a genuine $100 “parent note”, a printer, and other counterfeiting materials were seized by local law enforcement from a car Bembry was driving in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey.  Later, in July 2016, Bembry and a codefendant passed a counterfeit $100 bill at a business in Bryson City, North Carolina.

Ms. Lydon stated the maximum penalty Bembry can receive is imprisonment for 20 years and a fine of $250,000.00.  The case was investigated by agents of United States Secret Service with the assistance of the Florence County Sheriff’s Office, the Florence Police Department, the Egg Harbor Township Police Department, and the Bryson City Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office is prosecuting the case with the assistance of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated that Bryshun Genard Furlow, age 34, of Lexington, was sentenced in federal court to 180 months (15 years) imprisonment with 6 years of supervised release to follow. Furlow plead guilty in April to possession with intent to distribute cocaine, methamphetamine, and a substance containing both methamphetamine and cocaine, as well as to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C), and 851 and Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1), 924(a)(2), and 924(e). Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie, of Columbia, imposed the sentence.

Evidence presented in court established that on November 3, 2016, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department executed a state search warrant at Furlow’s Wessinger Street apartment after having made three separate controlled purchases of crack cocaine in September and October 2016 from Furlow at the apartment. During the search of the apartment, deputies recovered baggies of cocaine, methamphetamine, and tablets consisting of cocaine and methamphetamine. Deputies also recovered two digital scales, $5,422, a pyrex dish with cocaine residue, a .40 caliber handgun, a .38 caliber revolver, and various rounds of .40 caliber and .38 caliber ammunition.  Furlow, his girlfriend, and two children were at the apartment at the time of the search. After being advised of his rights, Furlow admitted to the drugs in the apartment.  

Furlow is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon his prior Georgia state convictions for possession with intent to distribute cocaine (2003), possession with intent to distribute marijuana (2003), possession of cocaine (2008), aggravated stalking (2008), arson 1st degree (2 counts)(2008), terroristic threats (2008) and his prior South Carolina state conviction for distribution of crack cocaine (April 2016).  Due to his extensive prior record, Furlow was classified as an armed career criminal and career offender, which increased his potential sentences.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department and was prosecuted as part of Project CeaseFire, a joint federal, state and local initiative focused upon aggressively prosecuting firearm cases in an effort to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer. Project CeaseFire is South Carolina’s implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a crime reduction strategy originally launched in 2001. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority and reinstituted PSN nationwide. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office handled the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that Benjamin Thomas Samuel McDowell, age 31, of Conway, South Carolina, was sentenced in federal court in Florence for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g).  United States District Judge Bryan Harwell, of Florence, sentenced McDowell to 33 months’ imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release.

Evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that the FBI became aware of McDowell’s escalating white supremacist views on social media where McDowell advocated violence against non-whites and even expressed admiration for Dylann Roof and the extreme acts of violence perpetrated by him.  Of particular concern to the FBI were McDowell’s comments regarding a particular Jewish Synagogue which implied that this place of worship might be a possible target of violence.  McDowell also used social media to communicate an interest in acquiring a gun.  In response, the FBI arranged for an undercover agent posing as a member of a white supremacist organization to become acquainted with McDowell for the purpose of determining the nature of his white supremacist leanings and whether McDowell intended to carry out any acts of violence. 

McDowell and the undercover agent engaged in multiple recorded conversations during which McDowell reaffirmed his respect for Dylann Roof and spoke generally about committing acts of violence against people of the Jewish and Muslim faiths.  McDowell also repeated his desire to obtain a gun.  While McDowell never revealed any specific plan to attack a particular location or victim, he did express a general desire to use the gun to commit acts of violence.  During further conversations with the undercover FBI agent, McDowell eventually specified that he wanted a .40 caliber Glock pistol and .40 caliber hollow-point ammunition.  The agent was able to set up a controlled sale of a .40 caliber pistol and ammunition to McDowell to take place on February 15, 2017.  The FBI provided the agent with a .40 caliber Glock which had been rendered “inert” by having the firing pin shaved down so that the gun could not fire.  On February 15, the agent met with McDowell and sold him the inert .40 caliber pistol and hollow-point ammunition for $109.00.  Soon thereafter McDowell was arrested in the parking lot of a Hampton Inn in Myrtle Beach, during which the pistol and ammunition were recovered from a bag McDowell was carrying.  During a post-arrest interview, McDowell admitted to agents that he had purchased the gun and ammunition.

Prior to February 15, 2017, McDowell had been convicted of a felony which prohibits him from possessing a firearm or ammunition. 

Following McDowell’s guilty plea, the U.S. Probation Office prepared a presentence investigation report which included McDowell’s sentencing range as calculated according to the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.  The Probation Office concluded that McDowell’s guideline imprisonment range was 27 to 33 months.  In mitigation, defense counsel emphasized, among other things, McDowell’s mental health issues and limited intellectual functioning.  However, he was sentenced to 33 months’ imprisonment, the high end of the guideline range.          

The case was investigated by agents of the FBI with the assistance of the Horry County Police Department, the Myrtle Beach Police Department and the Horry County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office is prosecuting the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that James Robert Fix, age 47, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was sentenced in federal court in Florence for Possession of Child Pornography, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(5)(B).  United States District Judge Bryan Harwell, of Florence, sentenced Fix to 84 months’ imprisonment followed by supervised release for life and a restitution payment of $1,000.00.  During his term of supervised release, Fix will be required to register as a sex offender, attend sex offender treatment, refrain from unsupervised contact with children or use of the internet without approval, and submit to polygraph examinations.

The evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that federal agents executed a search warrant at Fix’s Myrtle Beach residence on November 24, 2015, based on information that he was receiving child pornography via email.  On that same day agents also interviewed Fix who admitted to possessing child pornography and surrendered his laptop computer and cellphone to the agents.  During forensic analyses of the computer, cellphone and a thumb drive seized during the search, agents located numerous videos and images containing child pornography.

The case was investigated by agents with ICE-Homeland Security Investigations.  Assistant United States Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Office, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that Shadrick Jarmarcus Jett, age 27, of Florence, South Carolina, was sentenced in federal court in Florence for conspiracy to manufacture and pass counterfeit money, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.  United States District Judge Bryan Harwell of Florence sentenced Jett to 18 months’ imprisonment followed by 3 years of supervised release.

The evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that Jett was involved in a conspiracy to manufacture and pass counterfeit $100 and $50 bills in multiple states including South Carolina and North Carolina.  This conspiracy, which began in 2015, included at least nine codefendants who were responsible for making and passing over $100,000 in counterfeit money. 

Jett was directly involved in making counterfeit.  In fact, he was found in possession of a genuine $100 “parent note” used to print counterfeit $100 bills when his car was stopped and searched by the Florence County Sheriff’s Office after a short chase.  During the search of Jett’s car deputies found the genuine parent note along with eleven completed counterfeit $100 bills and over 450 uncut partial images of counterfeit $100 bills all bearing the same serial number as the recovered parent note.  Secret Service determined that 230 counterfeit $100 bills bearing this same serial number were passed beginning in June of 2017.        

The case was investigated by agents of United States Secret Service with the assistance of the Florence County Sheriff’s Office and the Florence Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office prosecuted the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated that Brandon Shane Polston, age 32, of Lancaster, plead guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of firearms, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1), 924(a)(2), and 924(e), and to possession of machineguns and a destructive device not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Sections 5841, 5861(d), and 5871. Co-defendants Austin Lee Ritter, age 23, and Kimberly Denise Cannon, age 40, both of Lancaster, each plead guilty to the same charges on June 25, 2018. United States District Judge Michelle Childs, of Columbia, accepted the guilty pleas and will impose sentences after she has reviewed the presentence reports, which will be prepared by the United States Probation Office.

Evidence presented in court established that on the early morning hours of November 26, 2017, an officer with the Lancaster Police Department conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by co-defendant Cannon after observing her littering. Further investigation during the traffic stop revealed the following inside the vehicle:  a FNH, model M249, 5.56mm machinegun, two (2) Colt, model M-16, 5.56mm machineguns, two (2) Beretta, model M9, 9mm pistols, a Colt, model M203, 40mm grenade launcher (“destructive device”), night vision goggles, and various military items stolen from the Lancaster National Guard Armory. Officers also recovered various items stolen from WalMart, including an employee identification badge and employee vest.

After the traffic stop, Polston and a co-defendant Ritter were located at the a local motel and found in possession of a small quantity of methamphetamine. A review of surveillance video from the motel showed Polston and his co-defendants Ritter and Cannon bringing the bags containing the firearms back and forth between the vehicle and the motel room. Additionally, searches of Ritter and Cannon’s cell phones revealed various photos and text messages relating to the stolen firearms. One of the photos appeared to be a “selfie” of Ritter sitting in the front seat of a vehicle with Polston sitting in the rear seat beside a M-16 machinegun. During the investigation, both Ritter and Cannon advised agents that Polston took them to an area near a residential complex where they retrieved bags containing the stolen firearms from a ditch.

Polston and his co-defendants Ritter and Cannon are all prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon their prior state convictions. Polston has prior convictions for breaking into autos (2 counts), malicious injury to person property over $2,000, but less than $10,000, assault and battery 1st degree, burglary 2nd degree (2 counts), receiving stolen goods over $2,000 but less than $10,000, and property offense 3rd or subsequent. Polston was released from the South Carolina Department of Corrections in February 2017.  

Polston, like co-defendants Ritter and Cannon, faces a maximum of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and 3 years of supervised release on each of the firearm charges. 

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Lancaster Police Department, and the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and was prosecuted as part of Project CeaseFire, a joint federal, state and local initiative focused upon aggressively prosecuting firearm cases in an effort to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer. Project CeaseFire is South Carolina’s implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a crime reduction strategy originally launched in 2001. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority and reinstituted PSN nationwide. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office handled the case.

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United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that a Federal Grand Jury in Greenville, South Carolina, returned Indictments against the following:

Greenville Resident Indicted on Fraud and Related Activity in Connection with Access Devices.  Marius Zegrean , age 32, of Greenville, South Carolina, was charged in a 1-count indictment with Fraud and Related Activity in Connection with Access Devices, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section, 1029(a)(5).  The maximum penalty Zegrean could receive is 15 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.  The case was investigated by agents of the United States Secret Service and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney William J. Watkins, Jr., of the Greenville office for prosecution.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in these indictments are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

 

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United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that a Federal Grand Jury in Columbia, South Carolina, returned an Indictment against the following:

Columbia Man Indicted for Firearm And Drug Charges.  Reggie Denard Goodwin, age 47, of Columbia, was charged in a four-count indictment with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition (2 counts), possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine and a quantity of cocaine base (commonly known as “crack cocaine”), and use/carry/possession of a firearm in connection with/in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(c) and Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). These charges stem from his arrests on March 13, 2018, and June 1, 2018, in Columbia.

The felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition charges each carry a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. The drug charge carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years, a fine of $2,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 3 years. The use/carry/possession of a firearm in connection with/in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime carries a statutory mandatory minimum of 5 years imprisonment with a maximum of life, a fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to 5 years.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office for prosecution.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in indictments are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that Keith R. Hudson, 70, from Charleston, South Carolina, pled guilty in federal court before United States District Court Judge Richard M. Gergel.  He had been indicted for defrauding the VA by receiving $197,237 in benefits after falsely claiming to be a military veteran of combat in Vietnam. This is a violation of Title 18, United States Code, § 1347(a)(1). He faces a potential ten year sentence.

Court documents presented during the hearing established that in 2015, Mr. Hudson applied to the VA in Charleston for benefits.  He used a falsified form from the Department of Defense, called a DD-214, (“Report of Separation from Active Duty”) which is a Department of Defense form given to members of the military who are separating from service.  In the form, he said that was a veteran of the war in Vietnam.  He represented that he was in the Navy and saw combat as a medic, suffering wounds and other trauma.  He claimed that he served from August 1, 1967 through October 31, 1971 and said that he received two Purple Hearts.

The investigation conducted by the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General (OIG) showed that this DD-214 was forged and false.  For instance, Mr. Hudson’s rank was listed as HN and E-4 (in the United States Navy, HN is actually the equivalent of E-3).  In the awards section, it stated that he received a Combat Medic Badge.  However, this is an award which is only given for service in the United States Army.  It also did not list the proper citation for a Purple Heart.   And the form stated Mr. Hudson received the Fleet Marine Force Medal with Marine Device.  There is no such medal.  It also had a stamp from the Alaska State Defense Force, which is suspicious as that group is not an official military organization, being comprised of volunteers.  Additionally, the service branches do not permit their records to be combined with or loaned to other entities, including National Guard units.  And, the typeset of the Social Security number on the DD-214 was different from the rest of the document.

In fact, Mr. Hudson never was in the military.  The investigation conclusively showed that there were no records in the National Personnel Records Center in St Louis, Missouri for him from any branch of service. 

Additionally, employment records for him from 1967 through 1971 established that he worked at a variety of jobs in New York and in Maine.  In two of them, he applied for employment and was fingerprinted.  These fingerprints were still on file and matched his prints.  As such, he was in the United States during the years 1967 through 1971.  Therefore, Mr. Hudson was never in the United States Navy nor did he ever see combat in Vietnam.

The investigation also showed that he had previously been prosecuted for the same scheme using the same DD-214 form in 2005 in Connecticut, where he had been placed in a pretrial diversionary program.   

United States Attorney Lydon said that these cases are very important for our country and for our community.  “This is a particularly awful type of white collar crime.  Veteran health benefits are for those who served our nation in the military.  The VA has limited numbers of physicians and resources.  There is not much to spare.  Every dollar and every minute of time stolen from the VA is something that is stolen from a veteran. VA fraud is on the increase and so we are grateful for the work of the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General for their investigative work on the case.”

Statistics bear out what the United States Attorney said.  Between April of 2017 and October of 2017 alone, the VA Office of Investigations made 80 arrests, and recovered $2.9 million in restitution, fines and penalties relating to things like VA health-care benefits fraud. This is more than twice the amount recovered in the same period a decade ago.

The Resident Agent in Charge for the IG in Asheville is G. Scott Bailey, who said “we aggressively investigate cases where individuals defraud the VA and take benefits meant for our nation’s veterans.”  He noted that the VA Office of Inspector General has a hotline, staffed weekdays between 8:30 a.m. .and 2 p.m. Eastern time, at 1-800-488-8244.  He said “If anyone has any knowledge of fraud going on at the VA, please call.  We’ll investigate.”

Assistant United States Attorney Sean Kittrell of the Charleston office prosecuted the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Dustin Tiller, age 32, was sentenced to 220 months (or 18 years and 3 months) imprisonment in federal court in Greenville.

The evidence presented at Tiller’s guilty plea and sentencing hearings revealed that Tiller, an inmate in the South Carolina Department of Corrections, was the mastermind and leader of a multi-state drug trafficking organization that facilitated the transportation and distribution of multiple kilograms of methamphetamine in the Upstate of South Carolina, Atlanta, Georgia, Kentucky, and elsewhere.  During the course of the conspiracy, Tiller directed other conspirators, both inmates in the South Carolina Department of Corrections and individuals on the outside, to travel to Atlanta, Georgia, to retrieve kilogram quantities of methamphetamine, to sell the methamphetamine in Greenville and Anderson Counties, and to transport drug proceeds back to the source(s) of supply in Georgia and elsewhere.  The investigation culminated in the arrest of Tiller and others in August and September of 2016, after federal agents intercepted a load of methamphetamine that members of the organization were transporting from Georgia to South Carolina.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Moorman, Deputy Chief for the Narcotics Unit, is the lead prosecutor. 

The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Drug Enforcement Task Force, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, the Anderson Police Department, and the Franklin County (GA) Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. 

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that a total of fifteen defendants have been indicted as part of a drug conspiracy. In December 2017, four defendants, John Phillip Drawdy, age 39, Leigh Antley McCamy, age 36, Blake Allen Smith, age 28, and Kimberly Hartley, age 29, were indicted in a Superseding Indictment for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 846. These four defendants pleaded guilty to the Conspiracy charge in May 2017, each admitting to dealing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Each defendant is awaiting sentencing and faces a statutory mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of ten years and a maximum term of life.

Last week, a grand jury indicted an additional eleven Lexington County defendants in a related methamphetamine conspiracy, also in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), and 846. The eleven defendants, or co-conspirators, are:

Jennifer Logan, age 41 

Terri Moore, age 40

Brian Lorick, age 45   

Andrew Michael Chamberlain, age 31    

James Lloyd, age 28   

Willie Ricardo Gordon, a/k/a “Rico,” age 33   

Jeremy Davis, age 31  

Robert Pendleton, a/k/a “Bobby,” age 39   

Marcus Young, a/k/a “Lay Low,” age 29  

Kyndal Hancock, age 25 

David Peeples, age 35 

 

The Indictment also charges various firearm and drug-related offenses, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g) and 924(c), and Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A), 841(b)(1)(B), and 841(b)(1)(C). If convicted, these eleven defendants face the same possible penalties as the previous four defendants:  a statutory mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of ten years and a maximum term of life.

          Additionally, one more Lexington County defendant, Jeffery Shane Tager, age 32, has been charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(A). Tager faces a statutory mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of ten years and a maximum term of life.

These cases were investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. ATF Resident Agent-In-Charge Eddie Eubanks had this to say, “From December 2016 to now, our office with the assistance of our state and local law enforcement partners conducted an investigation that resulted in the prosecution of over twenty-five defendants from Lexington and Aiken County.  ATF is very proud of the investigation results and will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to reduce violent crime in our communities.”    

United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon had this to say, “We are committed to using our resources to address violent crime and drug distribution in our neighborhoods. Our partnerships with local law enforcement agencies are crucial to our efforts.” This case is being prosecuted as a part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.

The United States Attorney also stated that all charges in indictments are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. This case is being handled by Assistant United States Attorney Alyssa Leigh Richardson of the Columbia office.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated that Austin Lee Ritter, age 32, and Kimberly Denise Cannon, age 40, both of Lancaster, each plead guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of firearms, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1), 924(a)(2), and 924(e), and to possession of machineguns and destructive device not registered to them in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, in violation of Title 26, United States Code, Sections 5841, 5861(d), and 5871. United States District Judge Michelle Childs, of Columbia, accepted the guilty plea and will impose sentence after she has reviewed the presentence report, which will be prepared by the United States Probation Office.

Evidence presented in court established that on the early morning hours of November 26, 2017, an officer with the Lancaster Police Department conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Cannon after observing her littering. Further investigation during the traffic stop, revealed the following inside the vehicle:  a FNH, model M249, 5.56mm machinegun, two (2) Colt, model M-16, 5.56mm machineguns, two (2) Beretta, model M9, 9mm pistols, a Colt, model M203, 40mm grenade launcher (“destructive device”), night vision goggles, and various military items stolen from the Lancaster National Guard Armory. Officers also recovered various items from WalMart, including an employee identification badge. After the traffic stop, Ritter and a co-defendant were located at the Carriage Inn Motel and found in possession of a small quantity of methamphetamine. A review of surveillance video from the motel showed Ritter, Cannon, and the co-defendant bringing the bags containing the firearms back and forth between the vehicle and the motel room. Additionally, searches of Ritter and Cannon’s cell phones revealed various photos and text messages relating to the firearms. Ritter and Cannon’s co-defendant’s case is still pending in federal court and he remains innocent unless and until he is proven guilty. 

Both Ritter and Cannon are prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon their prior state convictions. Ritter has prior convictions for accessory after the fact of a felony, possession of a controlled substance, breach of trust, receiving stolen goods, and theft of a controlled substance. Cannon, who was on state probation at the time of this incident, has prior convictions for shoplifting, assault and battery, and obtaining property by false pretenses.  

Ritter and Cannon each face a maximum of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and 3 years of supervised release on each of the firearm charges. 

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Lancaster Police Department, and the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and was prosecuted as part of Project CeaseFire, a joint federal, state and local initiative focused upon aggressively prosecuting firearm cases in an effort to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer. Project CeaseFire is South Carolina’s implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a crime reduction strategy originally launched in 2001. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority and reinstituted PSN nationwide. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office handled the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated that Phillip Thompson of Augusta, Ga. was sentenced for conspiracy involving theft of government funds, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, § 371.  United States District Judge J. Michelle Childs, of Columbia, sentenced Thompson to 23 months in jail after a sentencing hearing. The judge further ordered that Thompson repay $4,580,469.83 in restitution and, after his release from the Bureau of Prisons, that he serve three years on supervised release.

Facts presented in court established that Thompson worked at the Savannah River Site for Wise Services, and that, beginning in September of 2009 and continuing for several years, Thompson was involved in a scheme in which he and a codefendant stole money using false and fraudulent invoices. An investigation by the U. S. Department of Energy Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation revealed that Thompson and his codefendant stole more than six million dollars.

April G. Stephenson, Acting Inspector General for the Department of Energy Office of Inspector General, said: “The Office of Inspector General remains committed to ensuring the integrity of our contractors and subcontractors. Those who choose to abuse their positions of trust while hiding behind sophisticated embezzlement and fraud schemes, will be held accountable.

The U. S. Department of Energy Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.  Assistant United States Attorney John C. Potterfield of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.

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Charleston, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that defendant Damon Jackson  (aka “D”, aka “Daddy Frost”) was sentenced to 40 years imprisonment in United States District Court in Charleston for his role in a conspiracy to force underage girls and young women into sex trafficking by means of force and threats of force throughout the southeast.

Defendant Jackson was previously convicted at trial in March 2017 along with two co-defendants Bakari McMillan, a/k/a “Bizzle”, age 25, of Columbia, and Corey Miller, a/k/a “Clow”, a/k/a “C”, a/k/a “OG P”, age 44, of Orangeburg.  McMillan was sentenced to 40 years imprisonment for his conviction on one count charging Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§  1591(a)(1), (a)(2), and 1594(c) along with one count of Trafficking of a Minor for Sex Involving Force, Fraud, and Coercion, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a)(1) and (b)(1).  Mr. Miller, also convicted of the Conspiracy Count, was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a)(1), (b)(1), and 2. 

The remaining defendants previously pled guilty to one count of Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking. 

Defendant Tremel Black, a/k/a “Sincere”, a/k/a “New York”, age 33, of New York, was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment.

Defendant Robert Black, a/k/a “Kareem Banks”, a/k/a “Nino Black”, a/k/a “Black”, age 47, of New York, received a sentence of 20 years imprisonment.

Defendant Desmond Singletary, a/k/a “Six”, age 32, of Florence, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.

Defendant Kerry Taylor, a/k/a “KJ”, age 23, of Columbia, was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment.

Defendant Ryan Turner, a/k/a “Gotti” , a/k/a “Qweezy”, age 25, of Columbia, was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

Defendant Da’Shun Curry, a/k/a “Dae Dae”, age 25, of Columbia, was sentenced to 9 years imprisonment.

Defendant Howard Parker, a/k/a “Poppa”, age 25, of Columbia was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment.

Evidence presented at the trial and sentencing hearings established that the defendants preyed on over 100 vulnerable female victims, many minors, forcing them on an almost a daily basis to have sex with numerous “Johns” a night from 2014 through the summer of 2016.  The defendants used brutal tactics, including physical beatings, brandings, supplying and withholding of drugs, threats, and various other forms of psychological manipulation in order to ensure their victims complied with a series of rules that were imposed upon them.

As part of their sentences, all of the defendants were given lifetime supervision, mandatory registration as a sex offender, and participation in a computer/internet monitoring program, amongst other conditions imposed on convicted sex offenders.

“These sentences send the clear message that human trafficking will not be tolerated in South Carolina,” said United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon.  “The defendants in this case preyed on some of the most vulnerable among us.  Without the coordinated effort of the investigative team, these atrocities may never have come to light.”

“Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery, and the threats and abuse inflicted on these particular victims only adds to the heinous nature of the crime,” said Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Atlanta Nick S. Annan. “HSI is committed to working with our federal, state and local partners to find and prosecute criminal traffickers while ensuring the victims of this terrible crime are rescued and get the care they need.”

The case was investigated by Special Agent Shawn Caines with Homeland Security Investigations and Detective Charlie Benton with the City of North Charleston Police Department’s Human Trafficking Unit.  Assistant United States Attorneys Matt Austin and Rhett Dehart of the Charleston office prosecuted the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina –------- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated that Gregory Orville Bertelsen, age 71, of Greenville, South Carolina, pled guilty today to making false statements to secure a passport in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1542.  He faces a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000.00.   United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins, Jr., accepted the plea of guilty and will sentence Bertelsen at a later date.

Assistant United States Attorney David C. Stephens advised the Court of the following facts at the guilty plea hearing.  In August 2016, a passport renewal application in the name of a person having the initials PDL was received via mail at the National Passport Center in New Hampshire. The return address for the application was Greenville, South Carolina.  Due to certain questionable things on the application it was referred to Fraud Prevention Management (FPM).

FPM conducted records checks based on the name and identifiers used in the application and determined that PDL was actually a child who had died in 1952.  FPM then used facial recognition software and were able to match the photo on the PDL application with the photo on a passport that Defendant Bertelsen had previously obtained.  Bertelsen was interviewed and admitted that he had filed the false application for a passport in the name of PDL.

United States Attorney Lydon commended the State Department, Diplomat Security Service for their continuing vigilance in protecting our passport system.

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Greenville, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that Matthew Vinson Leopard, age 40, of Anderson, South Carolina, was sentenced in federal court in Anderson, for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c).  United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain, of Anderson, sentenced Leopard to 120 months imprisonment and five years of supervised release. 

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Leopard had been dealing in both methamphetamine and firearms.  Specifically, Leopard was arrested, on November 22, 2016, in possession of 166 grams of methamphetamine, a Kel-Tec 9mm handgun, an SKS sawed off rifle, a 16-guage shotgun, and a .22 Long Rifle.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).  Assistant United States Attorney D. Josev Brewer of the Greenville office handled the case.

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Charleston, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Thomas Owen Haynes II, 46, of Bluefield, West Virginia, pled guilty to one count of Distribution and Receipt of Child Pornography and one count of Possession of Child Pornography.  The Receipt and Distribution count is punishable by a minimum five years imprisonment and a maximum of twenty years imprisonment.  The Possession count is punishable by up to twenty years imprisonment.

Facts at Haynes’ guilty plea indicated that the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) sent a lead to the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).  HSI used the ICAC lead to obtain a search warrant for Haynes’ home where they obtained evidence that Haynes’ had been using his cell phone to view, receive and distribute child pornography images and videos.  Haynes’ plea was accepted by United States District Court Judge David C. Norton, who will sentence Haynes at a later date. 

The conviction is the result of an investigation conducted by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations.  Assistant United States Attorney Nathan Williams is prosecuting the case. 

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov. 

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Greenville, South Carolina-------United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that Michael Jerome Davis, age 43, of Cross Hill, South Carolina, was sentenced in federal court in Anderson, South Carolina, for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g).  United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain sentenced Davis to a total term of 180 months in federal prison followed by supervised release.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that on August 7, 2017, Clinton Public Safety officers established surveillance near a residence where Davis and another male were seen driving and acting suspiciously in Clinton. Officers determined that Davis’ license was listed as suspended and conducted a traffic stop when he attempted to drive away from the residence.  As officers approached the car, one officer observed what he believed to be a firearm on the passenger side floorboard. Davis was removed from the vehicle and Davis stated he had a firearm under the driver's seat. A search of the vehicle was conducted and from under the driver’s seat officers located a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber pistol.

Davis is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms based upon his prior separate state convictions for Pointing and Presenting a firearm, Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Manufacturing Methamphetamine, and Assault and Battery 1st degree

The case was investigated by the Clinton Public Safety Department along with agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Project CeaseFire is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.  In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

Assistant United States Attorney Max Cauthen of the Greenville office prosecuted the case.

 

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- A federal grand jury has returned a thirty-eight count superseding indictment Tuesday charging Cameron Banks (a/k/a Reggie Staggers), age 32, of Georgetwon, S.C., Angela Pyatt, age 49, of Conway, S.C., and Solomon Pyatt, age 56, of Conway, S.C. with Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud, individual counts of Health Care Fraud, Money Laundering, Aggravated Identity Theft, Obstruction of a Health Care Crime Investigation, Wire Fraud, and Falsifying Documents.  The indictment marks the second superseding indictment in the case. 

Banks was originally the sole defendant in the first two indictments.  The first superseding indictment added allegations of Money Laundering and Falsifying Documents to the original indictment, which included seven counts of Health Care Fraud, in connection with an alleged scheme to submit fraudulent loan applications for dental services. 

The second superseding indictment adds defendants Angela and Solomon Pyatt,  alleging that Banks used his position as an employee of a dentistry practice to conspire with them, and others, to submit loan applications in the names of patients to a medical financing program operated by a federally insured bank.  The indictment alleges, however, that in a number of instances, no services were requested or provided to the patient or Banks fraudulently inflated the cost, causing the transfer of funds that Banks converted to his own personal use.

Including the Health Care Fraud Conspiracy, the second superseding indictment adds sixteen counts of Money Laundering, which allege that Banks conducted a number of financial transactions in an effort to conceal the source of the proceeds of the Health Care Fraud scheme and convert them to his own use.  These transactions included cash withdrawals and transfers in amounts ranging from $2,975 to $51,000.  Additionally, the indictment contains allegations of Aggravated Identity Theft and Obstruction of a Health Care Crime Investigation.

Unrelated to the Health Care Fraud Conspiracy, the second superseding indictment also includes two counts of Wire Fraud, both of which relate to fraudulent loan applications Banks used to purchase a 2014 Bentley Flying Spur and a 2015 Cadillac Escalade.

Last, the second superseding indictment includes four charges alleging Banks falsified documents he filed with the United States Department of Transportation in order to register as a commercial motor carrier and bus operator.  Specifically, Banks filed Motor Passenger Carrier Authority applications as the representative of several separate, individual entities including the Abundant Faith Lighthouse, Delta Trailways, New Generation Christian Church, and CJ Banks Transportation.  Banks is alleged to have knowingly falsified the filings for each entity by purposely withholding his involvement with the other entities as required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.  

The maximum penalty each of the three defendants could receive for Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud is 10 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000. 

The maximum penalty Banks could receive for each count of health care fraud is 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.  The maximum penalty he could receive for the money laundering counts is 20 years and a fine of $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved in the transaction, whichever is greater.  The maximum penalty he could receive for the Aggravated Identity Theft counts is a mandatory sentence of two years, which would run consecutively to any sentence imposed for any convictions of Health Care Fraud, the underlying felony.  The maximum penalty Banks could receive for the falsification of documents counts is 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.

The case was investigated by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, and the United States Department of Transportation - Office of Inspector General.  The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Matt Austin of the Charleston office for prosecution.

All charges in indictments are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

 

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Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Joshua Randall, age 30, Brandon Randall, age 29, and Lee Tracy Riggins, Jr., age 27, pled guilty to participating in a drug conspiracy that operated in the Florence, Charleston, and Myrtle Beach areas of South Carolina.  In addition, Joshua Randall pled guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and Lee Tracy Riggins, Jr., pled guilty to conspiring to possess firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Joshua Randall faces the possibility of life imprisonment as a result of his guilty plea, while Brandon Randall and Lee Tracy Riggins, Jr. face possible sentences of imprisonment of 20 years and 40 years respectively.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Moorman and Assistant U.S. Attorney Everett McMillian are prosecuting the case. 

Moorman told the Court during proceedings that these Defendants, working with other co-defendants, distributed heroin, cocaine, and/or marijuana to customers in Florence and Myrtle Beach.

The investigation has targeted members of the Billie East Side Bloods, a set of the United Blood Nation, and others who formed an agreement to distribute heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, and marijuana in South Carolina, and to traffic in and possess firearms for the purpose of advancing the drug conspiracy.

The investigation was and is being conducted by the FBI, the DEA, the Horry County Sheriff’s Office, the Horry County Police Department, the Myrtle Beach Police Department, the North Myrtle Beach Police Department, and the Georgetown Police Department. 

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Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that the following defendants were sentenced in federal court after previously entering guilty pleas for Reentry of a Removed Alien:

Juan Arturo Ramirez-Rojo,  age 39, of Columbia, South Carolina;

Mario Almarez-Juarez, age 24, of Leesville, South Carolina;

Hugo Rolando Canenguez-Montes, age 37, of Rock Hill, South Carolina; and,

Carmen Flores-Bautista, age 39, of Columbia, South Carolina.

United States District Judge J. Michelle Childs sentenced all of the defendants to time served, resulting in a sentence of approximately 2 months for Ramirez-Rojo, 5½ months for Almarez-Juarez, 6 months for Canenguez-Montes, and 2 days for Flores-Bautista. No supervised release was ordered as the defendants are subject to deportation upon completion of their sentences.

Evidence presented at the change of plea and sentencing hearings established that Ramirez-Rojo is a Mexican citizen who had previously been deported at least two times. He was encountered by ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations Deportation Officers on January 10, 2018, at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center after being arrested for Trafficking Cocaine. 

Almarez-Juarez is a Mexican citizen who had previously been deported at least 5 times. He was encountered by ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations Deportation Officers on December 31, 2017, at the Lexington County Detention Center after being arrested for Hit and Run and Driving Without Insurance. 

Canenguez-Montes is a citizen of El Salvador who had previously been deported. He was encountered by ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations Deportation Officers on December 24, 2017, at the York County Detention Center after being arrested for Criminal Sexual Conduct- 1st Degree and Kidnapping. 

Flores-Bautista is a Mexican citizen who had previously been deported at least 2 times. She was encountered by ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations Deportation Officers at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center on December 7, 2016, after being arrested for Homicide by Child Abuse. 

Agents of ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated these cases. Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II, of the Columbia office is prosecuting these cases.         

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Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that Ulises Martinez-Garcia, age 31, of Columbia, South Carolina, was sentenced  in federal court in Columbia, South Carolina, for Reentry of Removed Alien, a violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326.  United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis, Jr., of Columbia, sentenced Martinez-Garcia to time-served (approximately 6 months imprisonment) with no supervised release as he is subject to deportation upon the completion of his sentence.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Martinez-Garcia is a Mexican citizen who had previously been deported at least four times.  He was encountered by ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations Deportation Officers on December 27, 2017 at the Alvin S. Glenn County Detention Center after being arrested for Driving Under the Influence.

Agents of ICE – Enforcement and Removal Operations investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II, of the Columbia office is prosecuting the case.  

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that Steven Verren Baker, age 38, of Holly Hill, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Smuggle Wildlife, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, § 371.  Senior Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr., accepted the plea and will sentence Baker at a later date.  

Evidence presented at the hearing established that Baker was the ringleader of an international syndicate of wildlife smugglers exchanging turtles protected by international agreements back and forth between the United States and China.  The activity took place from January through June 2016.  Baker obtained protected turtles from Hong Kong to distribute here in the United States, and he shipped protected turtles from the United States to Asia. 

The transactions were set up using the Facebook text messaging feature.  Shipments were made internationally through the United States Postal Service.  Several packages were intercepted entering the United States at John F. Kennedy International Airport

The maximum penalty faced by Baker is imprisonment for five years, with a potential fine up to $250,000.

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources investigated the case.  Assistant United States Attorney Winston David Holliday, Jr., of the Columbia office is prosecuting the case.

 

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that Casey A. Raines, age 38, of Greenville, was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for her involvement in a mail theft conspiracy, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.  United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks, of Charleston, imposed the sentenced, ordered that Raines pay $7,581.32 in restitution, and sentenced her to three years of supervised release once she has completed the sentence in the Bureau of Prisons. 

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Raines and others stole mail in and around Greenville County in an effort to obtain bank account numbers, routing numbers, and identification information.  Once in possession of this material they would create counterfeit checks and negotiate them to obtain money for methamphetamine. 

On June 10, 2016, a search warrant was executed in connection with this investigation at the Greenville home of co-conspirator Cary L. Wright, age 38, who has already been sentenced to 51 months in the Bureau of Prisons for his participation in the offense.  Items recovered from the residence included, but was not limited to, numerous pieces of mail belonging to others, checks stolen from the mail, financial transaction cards, blank check stock, counterfeit checks, and a computer used for check counterfeiting. 

Records recovered showed that Raines opened multiple bank accounts which were used by the conspiracy to deposit stolen and counterfeit checks.  Raines and the other would then withdraw the money and split the proceeds among themselves. 

The case was investigated by agents with the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, and the Greenville City Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office handled the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson sentenced Leandre Budden, a/k/a “Bubba,” age 35, to 235 months of incarceration as a result of his conviction for Possession of Firearms and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g), and Possession with Intent to Distribute Quantities of Cocaine and Crack Cocaine, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). 

Evidence presented in court established that in April and May of 2017, Budden sold both firearms and drugs throughout Sumter County, including a semiautomatic weapon. Budden is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms based upon his prior separate state convictions for armed robbery, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, grand larceny, and burglary.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Sumter County Sherriff’s Office. Budden was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Project Ceasefire is South Carolina’s continued application of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.  In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

Assistant United States Attorney Alyssa Leigh Richardson of the Columbia office handled the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that Julie A. Nelson, age 42, of Greenville, pled guilty in federal court in Greenville, to a conspiracy to defraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.  United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks, of Charleston, accepted the plea and will impose sentence after she has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Nelson and co-conspirator Julie K. McDowell, who has pled and is awaiting sentencing, stole mail throughout the upstate of South Carolina.  Nelson and McDowell altered checks stolen from the mail and also created counterfeit checks from the information obtained. Nelson and McDowell then went to various business in the upstate to pass the checks and obtain goods or cash.  Often they used the stolen identification documents to aid in the negotiation of the checks.  Law enforcement was able to identify McDowell and Nelson after obtaining surveillance video from various merchants and banks where the two conspirators cashed checks. Upon making arrests, law enforcement recovered approximately $40,000 in stolen checks and $80,000 in counterfeit checks.

Ms. Lydon stated the maximum penalty Nelson can receive is a fine of $250,000 and/or imprisonment for 5 years, supervised release of three years, plus a special assessment of $100. 

The case was investigated by agents with the United States Postal Inspection Service, the United States Secret Service, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, the Greenville City Police Department, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, and the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office handled the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri Lydon stated today that Edward Lawrence Johnson, II, age 42, of Florence, South Carolina, was sentenced in federal court in Florence by United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks to 51 months imprisonment and ordered to pay $1,246,122 in restitution, for violations of wire fraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343. 

Evidence presented at the change of plea and sentencing hearings established that Johnson defrauded at least 41 victims from 2007 to 2016 primarily on the internet by selling goods, such as cell phones, or services, such as promoting musicians, which he never provided.  Johnson used at least 11 aliases and 14 business names while defrauding individuals and businesses causing losses of $1,246,122.00. 

The case was investigated by the agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II, of the Columbia office handled the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated that Samuel Bobby Wright, age 67, and Horace Edmond Wright, age 52, of Charleston, South Carolina, pled guilty to multiple counts of Distribution of Heroin, in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841. Additionally, Samuel Bobby Wright pled guilty to multiple counts of Distribution of Fentanyl, also in violation of Title 21 U.S.C. § 841.  Senior United States District Judge Patrick Michael Duffy, of Charleston, accepted the guilty pleas and will impose the sentences after he has reviewed the presentence reports, which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearings established that on June 28, July 3, and July 27, 2017, Samuel Bobby Wright sold heroin from a residence slightly north of Septima Clark Parkway on the peninsula. He also sold fentanyl from the same address on multiple occasions in September of 2017.  Horace Edmond Wright sold heroin from outside of the same residence on July 13 and 18, 2017.

Ms. Lydon stated that the maximum penalty the Wrights could receive is 30 years imprisonment and a fine of $2,000,000 dollars.   The case was investigated by agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Charleston City Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Jamie Lea Schoen of the Charleston office prosecuted the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that Peggy Shelton McCarson, age 57, of Greenville, South Carolina, was sentenced to 180 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).  Senior United States District Henry M. Herlong, Jr. of Greenville sentenced McCarson on June 13, 2018.

At an earlier guilty plea hearing, Assistant U. S. Attorney Jeanne Howard, established that on January 25, 2017, McCarson was a passenger in a car stopped for a traffic violation.  After receiving consent to search the car, officers located a Smith and Wesson 9 mm handgun and 2 magazines with 32 rounds of ammunition on the floorboard of the passenger seat where McCarson had been seated.  Also on the passenger floorboard was a box containing 2 plastic baggies with methamphetamine, marijuana and a set of digital scales.  McCarson admitted the gun and drugs belonged to her.  Shortly thereafter a search warrant was executed at McCarson’s residence in Travelers Rest where officers found another firearm, ammunition and additional methamphetamine.

Because of her prior criminal history, including six felony convictions for armed robbery, McCarson is considered an armed career criminal and is prohibited from possessing a firearm and ammunition.    

The case was investigated by agents of the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina Highway Patrol and ATF and was prosecuted as part of Project CeaseFire, a joint federal, state and local initiative focused upon aggressively prosecuting firearm cases in an effort to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer. Project CeaseFire is South Carolina’s implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a crime reduction strategy originally launched in 2001. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority and reinstituted PSN nationwide. Assistant United States Attorney Jeanne Howard of the Greenville office handled the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that James  Kenneth  Purcell, age 45, of North Charleston, South Carolina was sentenced in federal court in Charleston, South Carolina, for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2250(a). United States District Judge David C. Norton, of Charleston, sentenced Purcell to 30 months imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that in 1995 Purcell was convicted in the State of New York of 3rd degree rape, which required him to register as a sex offender in any state where he lived, worked or attended school.  After serving his sentence, Purcell later moved to Maine and first registered there in January 2004. In 2008, while living in Maine, Purcell was convicted of Unlawful Sexual Contact for which he received a sentence of 2 years and 6 months. Purcell last registered in Maine on April 25, 2016.  Purcell subsequently moved to New Hampshire where he initially registered in July 2016 and last registered on November 21, 2016.  In late November 2016, Purcell left New Hampshire without notifying authorities and moved to South Carolina. Purcell failed to register as a sex offender in South Carolina despite being required to do so under law, and he was arrested in North Charleston by the United States Marshals Service Operation Intercept Fugitive Task Force on July 12, 2017.

The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service with the assistance of the Raymond, New Hampshire Police Department, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, and North Charleston Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Dean H. Secor of the Charleston office prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

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Columbia, South Carolina-------United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced multiple federal arrests today, effected by a collaborative effort between local, state, and federal law enforcement across multiple federal districts.  Indictments were unsealed in federal courts in South Carolina, North Carolina, and California during the arrested defendants’ initial appearance and arraignment hearings this afternoon.

The following have been charged in a two-count federal indictment with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of crack cocaine, cocaine, methamphetamine, oxycodone and marijuana, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846 and conspiracy to commit money laundering, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1956(h).

Darry Hemphill, a/k/a “D”, a/k/a “D-Hemp”, age 30 of Rock Hill

Mikie Marcell Caldwell, a/k/a “Big Mike”, age 36 of Charlotte

Gabriel L’Ambiance Ingram, a/k/a “Big Shot”, a/k/a“ Big Shot Rock, a/k/a “Rock”, age 29 of Rock Hill

Archie Arsenio Caldwell, a/k/a “Nuk”, a/k/a “Nuk Crook”, age 29 of Rock Hill

Dontavis Devar Jordan, a/k/a “Rock”, age 30 of Rock Hill

Darrelll Larod Crockett, a/k/a “Unc”, a/k/a “Croc”, age 46 of Rock Hill

Patricia Ann Hemphill, age 47 of Rock Hill

Drece Larod McMullen, a/k/a “Cup”, age 45 of Charlotte

Carl Michael Mann, II, a/k/a “Pike”, age 35 of Rock Hill

Herbert Reginald Demario Dewese, a/k/a “50”, a/k/a “Big 50”, age 28 of Rock Hill 

Cravelyn Squilla Davis, a/k/a “Sack”, a/k/a “Sack Gabanna”, age 25 of Blythewood

Odarrius Breonte Adams, a/k/a “Breezy”, age 34 of Charlotte

Seqvoya Anginette Neely, a/k/a “Sequoya Anginette Neely”, age 39 of Charlotte

Rondal Rollin, age 59 of Los Angeles, California

The defendants face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of $20,000,000.   

While most of the defendants were arrested in the Rock Hill and Charlotte area, three of the defendants were arrested elsewhere.  Davis was arrested in Columbia, (South Carolina), Adams was arrested in Georgia, and Rollin was arrested in California. 

Defendants Dontavis Devar Jordan, Carl Michael Mann, II, and Herbert Reginald Demario Dewese remain at large.  Law enforcement would request that any information regarding the whereabouts of these defendants be shared with local, state, or federal authorities.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Internal Revenue Service, United States Marshals’ Service, York County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit, City of Rock Hill Police Department, the Charlotte, North Carolina Police Department, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department, the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina, United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, and the York County Solicitor’s Office.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William K. Witherspoon of the Columbia office.

          USA Lydon praised the law enforcement partnerships in today’s arrests.  “Local, state, and federal law enforcement officers from several agencies across multiple states worked in lockstep today to not only secure arrests in this long term investigation but to also continue their daily collective mission to secure our communities.” 

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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Greenville, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that Jabrail Adrian Wofford, age 28, of Jonesville, South Carolina, was sentenced in federal court in Greenville, South Carolina, for Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841, and Possession of a Firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c).  United States District Judge Henry M. Herlong, Jr., of Greenville, sentenced Wofford to 180 months in federal prison followed by supervised release.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that on July 6, 2017, Union County Sheriff’s deputies executed a search warrant at the residence of Jabrail Adrian Wofford. During the search, a quantity of methamphetamine, cash, scales, and firearms were located in a bedroom. 

The Union County Sheriff’s Office along with agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Max Cauthen of the Greenville office prosecuted the case.

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Charleston, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that Justin Michael Hannah, age 38, of Hanahan, South Carolina has entered a guilty plea in federal court in Charleston, to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g).  United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel of Charleston accepted the guilty plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that on August 21, 2017, police officers responding to a 911 call regarding suspicious behavior at a North Charleston gas station discovered two firearms in a vehicle operated by Hannah. At the time of his arrest, Hannah had one or more felony convictions. North Charleston Police believe that they may have interrupted preparations for a robbery.

Ms. Lydon stated the maximum penalty for felon in possession of firearms and ammunition is imprisonment for 10 years and/or a fine of $250,000.

The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and officers of the North Charleston Police Department. 

The case was prosecuted as part of Project CeaseFire, a joint federal, state and local initiative focused upon aggressively prosecuting firearm cases in an effort to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer.  Project CeaseFire is South Carolina’s implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a crime reduction strategy originally launched in 2001.  Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority and reinstituted PSN nationwide. Assistant United States Attorney Chris Schoen of the Charleston office is prosecuting the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri Lydon announced today that a jury returned a guilty verdict following a trial in federal court in Anderson, South Carolina on Tuesday. The jury found Zee Zee Zelazurro, age 37, of Greenville, guilty of possessing a firearm after having been convicted of a felony and a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g).  The trial was held before United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain of Anderson, South Carolina.  Judge Cain will impose a sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report, which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.  Zelazurro may face up to life in prison and remains in custody.

Evidence presented by the government at trial established that, on May 2, 2017, officers of the Greenville Police Department responded to 911 calls regarding a shooting and other disturbances in the area of 100 Pelham Road. Officers encountered Zelazurro, who refused to comply with their instructions and pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at them. Officers took cover, and a standoff ensued. After a half an hour, officers were able to deescalate the situation, and Zelazurro was taken into custody. A .40 caliber Taurus semi-automatic handgun, which had been purchased by Zelazurro’s former girlfriend, was recovered from the scene. Zelazurro has prior convictions for Accessory after the Fact to Armed Robbery, Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Assault on a Federal Officer, and a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

Zelazurro’s case was expedited for federal prosecution as part of Operation “Real Time.”  The goal of this program is to identify individuals for federal prosecution with significant criminal histories who continue to actively possess firearms in the communities across South Carolina.  “Real Time” is a working collaboration between local, state, and federal law enforcement as well as state and federal prosecutors.  Since August of 2015, the initiative has resulted in the expedited federal prosecution of over 150 defendants and seizure of over 200 firearms as well as assorted ammunition from prohibited persons in the upstate.

“We are grateful to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the ATF for the successful prosecution of Zelazurro,” said Captain Howie Thompson of the Greenville Police Department Investigation Division. “I also commend the officers involved in Zelazurro’s arrest in 2017; their response, tactics, and teamwork resulted in Zelazurro’s peaceful surrender and minimized the threat to those living nearby. I can’t say enough about the collective efforts of the officers, investigators, and forensics personnel who provided prosecutors with the necessary evidence and support needed to reach this just verdict.”

“ATF is actively committed to investigating and apprehending criminals who illegally acquire and use firearms to commit violent crimes.  We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners and prosecutors in the upstate area to keep our communities safe,” said ATF Charlotte Field Division, Special Agent in Charge Wayne L. Dixie, Jr..

“Operation Real Time identifies armed repeat offenders in our communities and takes them off the streets,” said U.S. Attorney Sherri Lydon. “Convicted felons who continue to carry and use firearms need to know we are determined in our resolve to disarm and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.”

The case was investigated by the Greenville Police Department, the Greenville County Forensic Division, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant United States Attorney Jamie Schoen prosecuted the case.

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United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that a Federal Grand Jury in Greenville, South Carolina, returned Indictments against the following:

Reboot Owners and Employees Indicted on Conspiracy to Defraud and Obtain Money and Property.  Jonathan E. Field, age 40, of Mauldin, South Carolina; Jacob D. Brandt, age 38, of Lawrenceville, Georgia; Joshua M.  Watson, age 34, of Liberty, South Carolina; Michael G.  Lyles, age 21, of Fountain Inn, South Carolina; Bryan F.C. Schroeder, age 23, of Cottonwood, Arizona; Kenneth C. Carnes, age 25, of Taylors, South Carolina; Danny L.  Rainey, age 32, of Taylors, South Carolina; Larry D. Sample, age 39, of Brevard, North Carolina; Charles C.O. Matt, age 40, of Greenville, South Carolina; Richard A. Bolt, age 52, of Piedmont, South Carolina; Adriana R. Martinez, age 35, of Boiling Springs, South Carolina; Corey J. Haentjens, age 32, of Greenville, South Carolina; Justin Brock Rainey, age 30, of Taylors, South Carolina; Shena J. Field, age 40, of Mauldin, South Carolina; and Tara A. Kennedy, age 41, of Easley, South Carolina, were charged in a 1-count indictment.  All 15 defendants were charged with Conspiracy to Commit Wire and Mail Fraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349.  The maximum penalty all defendants could receive is 20 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.    The case was investigated by agents of the United States Secret Service and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney William J. Watkins, Jr., of the Greenville office for prosecution.

Pickens Resident Indicted on Possession of Child Pornography.  Jeffrey L. Harris, age 32, of Pickens, South Carolina, was charged in a 1-count indictment with Possession of Child Pornography, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(5)(B).  The maximum penalty Harris could receive is 20 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.  The case was investigated by agents of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney William J. Watkins, Jr., of the Greenville office for prosecution.

This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in these indictments are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

 

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Charleston, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that Mauricio Andulo Hidalgo, age 43, of Costa Rica, has entered a guilty plea in federal court in Charleston, to Theft of Government Funds, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641.  United States District Judge Patrick Michael Duffy, of Charleston, accepted the guilty plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report, which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Hidalgo used his position as President of SafetyPay-Central America to steal over $2,000,000 of government funds that were supposed to be transferred to a bank account maintained by the Department of State's Global Financial Services Center in Charleston.  SafetyPay-Central America had been hired as a subcontractor to handle the processing of visa application fees for the United States Embassy in Costa Rica.  As part of the scheme, Hidalgo diverted the funds from a SafetyPay bank account in Costa Rica to another Costa Rican account under his sole control.

Ms. Lydon stated the maximum penalty for Theft of Government Funds is imprisonment for 10 years and/or a fine of $250,000.

The case was investigated by special agents of the Department of State, Office of Inspector General, led by Inspector General Steve A. Linick.  Assistant United States Attorneys Marshall "Matt" Austin and Nathan Williams of the Charleston Office are prosecuting the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated that Jason Jarvis Parker, age 36, of Myrtle Beach, entered a guilty plea in federal court in Florence to possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a quantity of heroin and possession with intent to distribute a quantity of methamphetamine, a quantity of cocaine and 28 grams or more of cocaine base, all in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1). United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell, of Florence, accepted the plea and will impose sentence after a pre-sentence report is prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

This case was part of an investigation conducted by state and federal agents into the sale of illegal drugs in the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. On August 28, 2017, agents made a controlled purchase of heroin from Parker. Agents made additional controlled purchases of heroin from Parker on September 6, 2017 and September 20, 2017. After the last purchase, agents arrested Parker during a traffic stop and found him in possession of over 28 grams of cocaine base and quantity amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine.

Ms. Lydon stated the defendant faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 40 years and a fine of $5,000,000.

The case was investigated by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Florence, and the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Drug Enforcement Unity (DEU). Assistant United States Attorney Christopher D. Taylor of the Florence office handled the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that Anthony Scott Hunt, age 37, of Myrtle Beach, S.C., pled guilty in federal court in Florence to Felon in Possession of a Firearm.  United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell, of Florence, accepted the plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report, which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

The evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that on February 19, 2018, a complainant met with an officer at the Horry County Police Department (HCPD) regarding some disturbing Facebook posts by Anthony Scott Hunt, which were directed toward Horry County Police and Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU).  In the Facebook posts, Hunt referenced DEU in Horry County and stated he was “taking these…cops to war” and that he had automatic weapons, ammunition, and body armor.  He also stated he is “stalking my guns up” and that he had a “Beretta 45,” along with other specific guns, so he is “Ready for War.”  HCPD located, on the Facebook account, a picture of Hunt wearing what appeared to be a “Raiders” jersey and hat, bandana mask, and beaded bracelets while holding what appeared to be a Beretta pistol. 

Horry County detectives obtained a search warrant for the property where Hunt lived and located, in Hunt’s living quarters, a Beretta .45 caliber handgun, loaded with rounds of ammunition, along with the jersey, hat, bandana, and bracelets Hunt was depicted wearing in his Facebook picture.  Prior to his possession of the firearm, Hunt had been convicted of a crime punishable by a term of imprisonment exceeding one year. 

U.S. Attorney Lydon stated the defendant faces a maximum penalty of $250,000 and/or ten years imprisonment. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Horry County Police Department, the Horry County Sheriff’s Office, the Horry County Myrtle Beach Violent Crimes Task Force, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Bomb Team.  Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Hummel of the Florence office handled the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that Robert Christiansen, age 57, of San Antonio, Texas, plead guilty after one day of trial in federal court in Columbia, to using an interstate facility to induce a minor to engage in sexual activity and transporting a minor across state lines for the purpose of engaging in illegal sexual activity, violations of 18 U.S.C. §§ 2242(b) and 2423(a).  Christiansen faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years to life in prison for his offenses. Senior United States District Judge Margaret B. Seymour presided over the start of the trial, accepted the guilty plea, and will impose the sentence after U.S. Probation prepares a Pre-Sentence Report.

The evidence at trial established that Christiansen enticed and groomed a minor to travel from South Carolina to Texas for the purpose of having sex with her. Having met the victim in a Google forum for those suffering from depression and anxiety, Christiansen cultivated a relationship with the minor using text messages, calls, and online communications. At his insistence, the minor left her home in the middle of the night, got into a cab sent by Christiansen, and, using a ticket purchased by Christiansen, boarded a Greyhound bus bound for Texas. Recognizing the danger the victim was in, the FBI was able to obtain emergency cellphone location information to locate both the minor travelling on interstate 10 across Louisiana and Christiansen waiting on her arrival in a Greyhound bus station in Houston Texas. Coordinating with local law enforcement in Orange, Texas, just across the state line from Louisiana, the FBI was able to have the victim rescued from the Greyhound bus.        

Ms. Lydon stated, “Thanks to great work by the FBI and Richland County Sherriff’s Deputies, a child victim was saved from a dire fate. I hope that the public recognizes the extraordinary danger that online child predators present for children in our state.”    

The case was investigated by agents of the FBI and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Jay N. Richardson and Department of Justice Special Counsel James M. Burnham prosecuted the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated that Jonathan Stefan Vanderhorst, age 23, Jim Tracy Miller, age 28, and Demetrius Altman, age 39, all of Tabor City, N.C., have pled guilty in federal court in Florence South Carolina, before United States District Judge Brian Harwell. Miller and Altman pled guilty to Conspiring to Commit Hobbs Act Robbery, a violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 1951 and Hobbs Act Robbery, a violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 1951. Vanderhorst pled guilty to Conspiring to Commit Hobbs Act Robbery, a violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 1951; Hobbs Act Robbery, a violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 1951; Felon in Possession of Ammunition, a violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 922(g); and Discharging a Firearm in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence, a violation of Title 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). All are awaiting sentencing.

The evidence presented at the guilty plea hearings established that on May 3, 2016, Altman drove Miller and Vanderhorst to rob the Clarendon, N.C. Post Office. Upon arrival, Altman waited in the vehicle and Miller and Vanderhorst entered the Post Office. Vanderhorst jumped the counter, brandished a firearm, and struck the Post Office Clerk, the sole occupant of the post office. Ultimately, Vanderhorst and Miller stole $284.00 and the Clerk’s cell phone and left in Altman’s vehicle.

Thirteen days later, on May 16, 2016, Altman drove Miller and Vanderhorst from Tabor City, N.C. to Loris, S.C. to rob the Loris Market and Beverage store. Again, Altman stayed in the vehicle and Vanderhorst and Miller entered the store. The only occupants of the store were the owners, a husband and his wife, both of whom were working behind the checkout counter. After entering, Vanderhorst fired a shot at the female victim, fortunately missing her. Vanderhorst then approached the counter and fired another shot up into the ceiling. Thereafter, the store owner took the money out of the register and passed it to Vanderhorst who took the money handed it to Miller. Vanderhorst then turned and fired two shots, striking and ultimately killing the store owner. 

For each violation, Miller and Altman face a maximum possible penalty of forty (40) years, a fine of up to $250,000 and up to three (3) years supervised release. Vanderhorst faces a mandatory minimum penalty of ten (10) years and a maximum of life, a fine of $250,000 and a term of supervised release of at least three (3) years.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, the Horry County Police Department, and the Loris City Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Will Lewis, Jim May and Special Assistant United States Attorney and Chief Deputy of the Horry County Solicitor’s Office Scott Hixson prosecuted the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that Robert Bryan Mansfield, age 61, of Ladson, South Carolina, was sentenced today in federal court in Charleston, South Carolina, for distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.  United States District Judge David C. Norton, of Charleston, sentenced Mansfield to 240 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. 

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that on February 2, 2017, Special Agents with ICE-Homeland Security Investigations seized over a kilogram of fentanyl that had been shipped from Hong Kong and was destined for Mansfield at his residence in Ladson, S.C. Special Agents with ICE-Homeland Security Investigations in Charleston obtained and executed a search warrant at Mansfield’s residence and recovered over 100 grams of fentanyl, numerous other controlled substances and items associated with the distribution and trafficking narcotics. That same day, Postal Inspectors with the United States Postal Inspection Service also recovered 10 packages of fentanyl that Mansfield attempted to mail to various locations across the United States.

During the investigation into Mansfield, Special Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration were able to identify Mansfield as the source of fentanyl that led to an overdose death in December 2016.  Further investigation showed that Mansfield used the “dark web” to purchase fentanyl and other controlled substances from sources in Hong Kong and other foreign locations.  He then sold fentanyl and other controlled substances through the “dark web” and used the United States Postal Service to ship packages to customers throughout the country.         

Following the sentencing hearing, Assistant United States Attorney Nick Bianchi stated, “The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to working with federal, state and local law enforcement to combat the opioid epidemic on every level, particularly when the actions of drug dealers directly result in the deaths of others.  Through the diligent efforts of law enforcement, we were able to bring to justice an individual who was pushing large amounts of a lethal drug out throughout the country and were also able to begin to bring closure to one family who lost a loved one to this crisis.” 

“More than 20,000 Americans were killed last year by fentanyl and similar drugs and that number continues to rise,” said Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations Atlanta Nick S. Annan. “Homeland Security Investigations is committed to continuing to work with our law enforcement partners to do all we can to stop the illegal flow of fentanyl into the country, dismantle international opioid smuggling rings and prevent this serious crisis from spreading any further.” Annan oversees a three-state area of responsibility that includes Georgia and the Carolinas.

DEA Resident Agent in Charge Jason Sandoval added, “Unprecedented, tragic loss of life defines the drug crisis consuming communities across South Carolina.  The case of Robert Bryan Mansfield sends a resounding message to those sowing poison and fueling our shared tragedy.   Whether you are a dark web vendor or a traditional street dealer, DEA and its law enforcement partners will apply every resource to ensure you face the full measure of justice.” "The war on drugs has been an on-going and hard fought battle for law enforcement" stated David M. McGinnis, Inspector in Charge, Charlotte Division. "The U.S. Postal Inspection Service aggressively investigates cases involving the misuse of the U.S. mail system by criminals who traffic illegal contraband such as narcotics.  I fully commend the hard work and countless hours put forth by all of the law enforcement agencies involved, which resulted brining this individual to justice."

The case was investigated by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, ICE-Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office and the Summerville Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Nick Bianchi of the Charleston office prosecuted the case.

         

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