District of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that nine sex traffickers were sentenced in United States District Court in Charleston for their roles in a conspiracy to force underage girls and young women into sex trafficking by means of force and threats of force throughout the southeast.

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, were convicted at trial in March 2017.  McMillan was sentenced to 40 years imprisonment for Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking and Trafficking of a Minor for Sex Involving Force, Fraud, and Coercion, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a)(1) and (b)(1).  Miller was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for Conspiracy to Commit Sex Trafficking and Trafficking of a Minor for Sex Involving Force, Fraud, and Coercion, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1591(a)(1) and (b)(1). 

The following defendants pled guilty to 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, was sentenced to 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.

Defendant Damon Jackson (aka “D”, aka “Daddy Frost”), who was also convicted at trial, has yet to be sentenced.

Evidence in the case established that the defendants preyed on over 100 vulnerable female victims, many minors, forcing them on a regular 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.

U. S. Attorney Drake stated, “Over the past several years, we have seen gangs and what were formerly exclusively drug conspiracies expand into human trafficking to fund their organizations.  We have the legal tools to take the organizations apart, and need the public’s help.  If you see something, say something.  The Polaris Hotline, 1-888-3737-888, is available 24 hours a day to receive tips.”

“Human trafficking is a heinous crime, akin to modern day slavery,” said acting Atlanta HSI Special Agent in Charge Gregory L. Wiest. “These significant sentencings should serve as a grave warning that HSI special agents and our law enforcement partners, like the North Charleston Police Department, will use our full investigative resources to holding criminals accountable.”

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 Attorney Matt Austin and Rhett DeHart of the Charleston office prosecuted the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Robert Christopher McCoy, age 23, of Columbia, South Carolina and Terrone J. Anderson, age 21, of Columbia, South Carolina were sentenced to 115 months and 96 months respectively in Federal District Court today. McCoy previously entered a guilty plea to Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of 18, U.S.C. § 922(g).  Anderson previously entered a guilty plea to Possession With Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of a Methamphetamine mixture, in violation of 21 U.S.C § 841.  United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten, of Columbia, accepted the guilty pleas and imposed their sentences today at the Matthew Perry Federal Courthouse in Columbia.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that on September 22, 2017, Robert McCoy and Terrone Anderson were traveling in a car near Bradley Drive and Robin Road in the Columbia, when Columbia Police Officers observed them smoking marijuana in the vehicle.  After a traffic stop was conducted, Anderson was found to be in possession of two pills in his pants.  A search of the vehicle revealed an additional 800 pills in the center console of the vehicle and a 9-millimeter semi-automatic handgun in the floorboard.  During the guilty plea, McCoy admitted that he knowingly and intentionally possessed the firearm.  Prior to possessing the firearm, McCoy has previously been convicted of multiple South Carolina convictions for Burglary, Criminal Conspiracy, Discharging a Firearm Into an Occupied Vehicle, Unlawfully Carrying a Pistol, Assault and Battery and others.  Anderson admitted to knowingly possessing all the pills, which were lab tested and confirmed to be approximately 300 grams of a methamphetamine mixture. Anderson further admitted that he intended to sell the pills for profit.  Anderson has previously been convicted of Accessory After the Fact to Felony and Threatening the Life of a Public Official.  It was noted at the guilty plea that Anderson was on state parole for those state prior convictions at the time of the federal drug trafficking crime.

This case was expedited for federal prosecution pursuant to Operation “Real Time.”  McCoy and Anderson were arrested on September 22, 2017, and just 68 days later, they pled guilty to the above charges.  They have been in continuous custody since their arrest on September 22, 2017, and they will remain in custody until they serve out their federal sentences.

The goal of the “Real Time” program is to identify individuals for federal prosecution with significant criminal histories who continue to actively possess firearms in the community.  “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, state-wide, 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.

U.S. Attorney Beth Drake commended the partnership between local, state, and federal agencies that led to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the U.S. Attorney’s Office adopting the case. “We work best when we work together.  This ‘real time’ identification of high risk offenders is smart policing and we welcome the opportunity to work alongside our state chiefs, sheriffs, and solicitors in taking violent repeat offenders out of our communities. Columbia Chief Holbrook is a leader here, using our Real Time partnership in combination with his community policing focus for a safer Columbia.”

The case was investigated by agents of the Columbia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  Assistant United States Attorney JD Rowell of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Kenneth Eric Coe, Jr. a/k/a “Junior,” age 23, of Darlington, SC, pled guilty in federal court in Florence, to aiding and abetting Robbery of United States Government Property, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2114 and 2, and aiding and abetting the Use of and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Furtherance of a Crime of Violence, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 924(c) and 2.  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 on March 29, 2017, Coe along with another individual robbed a person having lawful charge, custody, and control of $400.00 belonging to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives by use of a firearm.  During the hearing, the agent presented evidence that during the robbery, a firearm was pointed at the victim in order to force the victim to give up the cash. 

Under Coe’s plea agreement, he faces a mandatory minimum of seven years imprisonment with a maximum penalty of life in prison. 

The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Hartsville Police Department.   Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Hummel of the Florence office and J.D. Rowell and William Lewis of the Columbia office handled the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Beth Drake announced today that Spencer Johnson and Frank Truitt, both age 27, were sentenced to 87 months imprisonment and 71 months imprisonment, respectively, in federal court in Florence, South Carolina.  Both men pled guilty to participating in drug and firearm conspiracies.

Johnson and Truitt were members of the Billies East Side Bloods, a local set of the United Blood Nation, operating in the Florence and Myrtle Beach areas of South Carolina. According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Moorman, Johnson was a high-ranking gang member who was principally responsible for transporting to New York firearms stolen and/or unlawfully possessed by gang members, including Truitt.  Once in New York, Johnson would purchase heroin and return with it to South Carolina.  Johnson, Truitt, and other gang members would then sell the heroin locally in South Carolina.

The investigation was 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, the 15th Circuit’s Drug Enforcement Unit, and the Georgetown Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Everett McMillian is also assisting in the prosecution.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Jesus Patino-Lopez, age 31, of Murrells Inlet, SC, pled guilty in federal court in Florence, to Illegal Re-Entry into the United States, a violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).  United States Magistrate Judge Thomas E. Rogers, III, of Florence, accepted the plea, and United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins, Jr., of Spartanburg, will impose sentence after review of the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

The evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that on June 23, 2017, ICE–Enforcement and Removal Operations Officers in Charleston, SC, encountered Patino-Lopez at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center where he was detained for local charges.

A records check revealed that Patino-Lopez is a native and citizen of Mexico and had two prior removals in 2009.  On both occasions, he was removed from the United States back to Mexico.  A records check also revealed that Patino-Lopez had not received permission to enter, re-enter, or remain in the United States. 

The maximum penalty the Defendant can receive for this charge is 2 years imprisonment.

This case was investigated by officers of the ICE–Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Horry County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Hummel of the Florence office handled the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina-------United States Attorney Beth Drake announced today that a hearing for Thomas Lawton Evans Jr., age 37, of Boiling Springs, South Carolina, has been set for Monday, March 5, 2018, at 1:30 P.M. in the federal courthouse, 85 Broad St., in Charleston, SC,

Evans has been charged in a criminal complaint out of the District of South Carolina with Kidnapping involving a person under the age of eighteen.  Evans was arrested in Mississippi, and has been transported back to Charleston, South Carolina, to be arraigned in federal court on the complaint. 

The case is being investigated by Special Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and by the Charleston Police Department. 

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

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Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Emanuel Alexander Cheeseboro, a/k/a “Mandoo” was sentenced in federal court in Columbia, South Carolina, for six (6) counts of possession with the intent to distribute a quantity of crack cocaine, a violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), two (2) counts of felon in possession of a firearm, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), two (2) counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), and one (1) count of possession of a quantity of marijuana, a violation of 21 U.S.C. § 844(a).  United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr., of Columbia, sentenced Cheeseboro to 622 months (51.8 years) incarceration followed by 6 years of supervised release.  Cheeseboro was also fined $5,000 and has to pay an $1100 special assessment. 

Evidence presented during the trial established that after numerous complaints from citizens, ATF and the Columbia Police Department began investigating drug dealing in the Martin Luther King Park area of Columbia.  Law enforcement made multiple undercover purchases of crack cocaine from Cheeseboro in the spring of 2014.  These purchases took place at different houses in the MLK Park area.  In each case, Cheeseboro was captured on video selling the undercover police officer crack cocaine.  During one purchase, Cheeseboro bragged about and displayed a 9mm Taurus firearm with a laser that he kept during nighttime drug purchases.  

Pursuant to a search warrant executed during the investigation at a house where Cheeseboro was present, police found crack cocaine, marijuana, and scales.  Law enforcement was also able to locate a firearm sometime after the search warrant that they were able to link to Cheeseboro, a convicted felon. 

On June 8, 2016, CPD officers detained Cheeseboro and a female who were both located in a vehicle at a residence in Columbia, known as “the Hole.”  During their investigation and search of the car, officers found a Smith and Wesson .38 caliber pistol under the driver’s seat, a quantity of crack cocaine on the female driver, and a quantity of marijuana in the trunk of the car.  According to the female occupant, Cheeseboro asked her to hide the crack cocaine on her person and shoved the gun under her seat when the police arrived. 

The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Columbia Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorneys William K. Witherspoon and Alyssa Richardson of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.

This case 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.

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Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Juan Jose Mejia-Contador, age 23, from Mexico pled guilty in federal court in Florence, South Carolina, to Illegal Re-Entry into the United States after deportation, a violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a).  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.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that on November 26, 2017, ICE-ERO Officers assigned to the Pacific Enforcement Response Center discovered Mejia-Contador while he was in custody at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center in Horry County on state charges.  Immigration records revealed that Mejia-Contador was a native and citizen of Mexico who had previously been deported from the United States on five occasions.  Mejia-Contador has never received permission to enter or remain in the United States.

Ms. Drake stated the maximum penalty Mejia-Contador can receive is imprisonment for 2 years and a fine of $250,000.00.

The case was investigated by officers of the ICE-Enforcement and Removal Operations in Charleston, with the assistance of the Conway Police Department.  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 Beth Drake stated that Michael Andrew Gary, age 27, of Camden, South Carolina, pled guilty in federal court to two counts of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g). Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr., of Columbia, accepted the guilty plea and will impose 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 January 17, 2017 officers of the Camden Police Department stopped Gary for a traffic offense, and arrested him for Driving Under Suspension.  A search of the car that Gary was driving revealed a .32 caliber Colt pistol.  Gary admitted the firearm was his.  At the time of his arrest, Gary had previous felony convictions that prohibit him from possessing a firearm.

Approximately 6 months later, on June 16, 2017, officers of the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Department encountered Gary sitting in a car in a hotel parking lot.  After officers smelled a strong odor of marijuana, they searched the car and found a Taurus 9 mm firearm in the trunk of the car.  Again, Gary acknowledged that the firearm belonged to him.     

Gary faces a maximum of 10 years , a fine of $250,000, and up to 3 years of supervised release on each count.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Camden Police Department and the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office and was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Assistant United States Attorney Nancy C. Wicker of the Columbia office handled the case.

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.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated that Tyrez Lavor Johnson, age 31, of Hartsville, entered a guilty plea in federal court in Florence to possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846, and felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g). 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 Hartsville, South Carolina area. In October 2017, investigators made a controlled purchase of a quantity of cocaine base from Johnson. Johnson was later found in possession of a .357 caliber revolver during his arrest on the drug distribution charge. Johnson was prohibited from possessing the firearm due to a prior conviction for a controlled substance offense.

Ms. Drake stated the defendant faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of $1,000,000.

The case was investigated by agents of the Hartsville Police Department, the Darlington County Sherriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher D. Taylor of the Florence office handled the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Tayquan Thomas, age 23, of Florence, South Carolina, pled guilty in federal court in Florence, to Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2250(a).  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 in 2013 Thomas was convicted in Pitt County, North Carolina, of Indecent Liberties with Child, to which the conviction required him to register as a sex offender in any state where he resided, was employed, or was a student.  Under the law, Thomas was required to inform authorities if he ever changed his address, and if he moved to another state, he was required to notify authorities of both the state he was leaving as well as the state to which he was moving.  In September 2017, the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office discovered that Thomas had left his previous address without informing them as required, and they issued a warrant for his arrest.  The matter was referred to the United States Marshals Service which soon discovered that Thomas had moved to an address in Florence, South Carolina.  On October 25, 2017, Thomas was located at the Florence address by a task force officer working with the U.S. Marshals Operation Intercept Fugitive Task Force.  When the officer attempted to arrest Thomas, he fled in a vehicle, then on foot, but was eventually apprehended after a tracking dog (K-9) was deployed.    

Ms. Drake stated the maximum penalty Thomas can receive is imprisonment for 10 years and a fine of $250,000.

The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service with the assistance of the Florence County Sheriff’s Office and the Pitt County Sheriff’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office is prosecuting 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 Beth Drake stated today that David Michael Gibson, age 39, of Columbia, was sentenced for Conspiracy to Manufacture and Pass Counterfeit Currency, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, § 371.  United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis, of Columbia, sentenced Gibson to 30 months in jail.  Previously, Judge Lewis sentenced Travis Cree Stafford, age 39, and Justin William Watson, age 32, both of Columbia, to 46 months and 9 months in jail, respectively.  They both were involved in the counterfeiting scheme with Gibson.

Facts presented in court established that on March 15, 2016, SLED and the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Department conducted a search warrant at the residence of Stafford.  Officers recovered devices and materials used to make counterfeit currency.  Stafford admitted making between $100,000 and $150,000 in counterfeit currency over six to seven years. 

Stafford used the counterfeit money to support his drug habit.  He purchased his first batch of $1,000 for $100 from a drug dealer.  He began experimenting in manufacturing bills and sold them for 10% of face value.  In early 2016, he taught his friend and roommate David Gibson how to make them.  He and Gibson made around $5,000 to $7,000 in counterfeit FRNs.  Gibson washed real currency while Stafford made bills on an inkjet printer. 

Gibson and his girlfriend would pass the notes at small stores in Kershaw County. 

Stafford sold counterfeit bills to Justin William Watson.  Watson agreed to buy $10,000 in counterfeit money for $1,000, but Stafford only produced $5,000, for which Watson paid him $200. 

The United States Secret Service, SLED, and the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Department investigated the case.  Assistant United States Attorney Winston David Holliday, Jr., of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Martin Luther Dease, age 54, of Clio, South Carolina, pled guilty in federal court in Florence, to Theft of Government Funds, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.  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 from November 2016 through May 2017, Dease illegally obtained Child’s Insurance Benefits from the Social Security Administration by falsely representing himself to be the father of his niece.  In fact, as part of the application process, Dease submitted a fraudulent birth certificate, purporting to be his niece’s, in which he listed himself as the father.  Through this scheme, Dease illegally obtained over $41,000 from the Social Security Administration. 

Ms. Drake stated the maximum penalty Dease can receive is imprisonment for 10 years and a fine of $250,000.

The case was investigated by the Office of the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration.  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 Beth Drake stated today that James Robert Fix, age 46, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, pled guilty in federal court in Florence, to 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, 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 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.

Ms. Drake stated the maximum penalty Fix can receive is imprisonment for 10 years and a fine of $250,000.

The case was investigated by agents with ICE- Homeland Security Investigations.  Assistant United States Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office is prosecuting 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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Charleston, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Beth Drake announced today that Judy Villanyi, 48, of Summerville, South Carolina, was sentenced to five months imprisonment for violating 18 U.S.C. § 7272, Obstructing and Impeding the Due Administration of the Tax Code.  The offense carried a maximum possible punishment of up to three years imprisonment.

Villanyi pled guilty to the offense in August of 2017.  She was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Richard Gergel. 

The conviction is the result of an investigation conducted by the Internal Revenue Service and Federal Bureau of Investigations. 

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Benjamin Thomas Samuel McDowell, age 30, of Conway, South Carolina, pled guilty in federal court in Florence, South Carolina.  McDowell pled guilty to 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, accepted the plea and will impose sentences after he has reviewed the presentence report, which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

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.  Soon thereafter McDowell was arrested in the parking lot of a hotel 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.                                  

Ms. Drake stated the maximum penalty McDowell can receive is imprisonment for 10 years and a fine of $250,000.00. 

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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Please attribute the following statement to Justice Department spokesman Devin O'Malley:

"The National Institute of Justice—the research, development, and evaluation agency of the Department of Justice—has never tested nor certified ballistic items, such as backpacks, blankets, or briefcases, other than body armor for law enforcement. Marketing that claims NIJ testing or certification for such products is false."
Background:

In recent days, multiple media outlets have repeated misleading statements made by companies about "NIJ certification" of their ballistic backpack products.

Additional Background:

The only ballistic-resistant product that NIJ certifies is law enforcement body armor that meet the requirements of NIJ’s Compliance Testing Program (CTP), which are then listed on NIJ’s Compliant Products List.  Testing body armor involves a technically rigorous test campaign that must be carried out by one of four laboratories that are accredited by the National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program and approved by NIJ to participate in the CTP.  The protocols and procedures are described in the current NIJ performance standard NIJ Standard 0101.06, Ballistic Resistance of Body Armor.  In addition, NIJ offers many informational resources on law enforcement body armor at policearmor.org.
 

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Shadrick Jarmarcus Jett, age 26, Joel Ray Cain, Jr., age 25, Gary Jerome Smart, age 26, all of Florence, SC, and Christopher Jamall Moody, age 27, of Effingham, SC, pled guilty in federal court in Florence, South Carolina.  Jett, Cain, and Smart pled guilty to conspiracy to manufacture and pass counterfeit money, and Moody pled guilty to conspiracy to pass counterfeit money, all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.  United States District Judge Bryan Harwell, of Florence, accepted the pleas and will impose sentences after he has reviewed the presentence reports which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

The evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that these four defendants were 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, Cain and Smart were involved in manufacturing counterfeit at multiple locations, including residences in Florence, SC.  In fact, during a search of Cain’s Florence residence agents seized an Epson printer and a genuine $100 “parent note”, both of which belonged to Cain and were used to print counterfeit $100 bills.  Jett was also 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.     

All four defendants also passed counterfeit $100 bills at various locations in South Carolina and North Carolina during 2016 and 2017.  Cain passed a counterfeit $100 bill at a business in Easley, South Carolina.  He also passed counterfeit $100 bills at businesses in Greensboro and Lenoir, North Carolina.  Smart passed counterfeit $100 bills at businesses in Greenville and Spartanburg, South Carolina.  Jett passed a counterfeit $100 bill in Concord, North Carolina.  In March of 2017, Christopher Moody presented a counterfeit $100 bill to an employee of a business in Troy, North Carolina, after which he was arrested and found in possession of additional counterfeit $100 bills bearing serial numbers matching those of counterfeit bills passed by other codefendants in this case.    

Ms. Drake stated the maximum penalty these four defendants can receive is imprisonment for 5 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 and the Florence Police Department.  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 Beth Drake stated today that the Drug Enforcement Administration arrested Anthony James Edward Hunt, age 22, of Columbia.  Hunt was charged in a federal indictment with unlawfully distributing oxycodone, which resulted in the death of a former University of South Carolina student on January 28, 2016.  Hunt faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.  The indictment further charges Hunt with unlawfully distributing alprazolam (commonly known as Xanax) and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. 

Multiple law enforcement agencies participated in this case, including the DEA Tactical Diversion Squad, City of Columbia Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Richland County Coroner’s Office, and University of South Carolina Police Department.

Ms. Drake stated that this case represents the Department of Justice’s commitment to combatting the unlawful distribution of opioids. Assistant United States Attorney Ben Garner of the Columbia office is prosecuting the case.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this case are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

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Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that brothers Lorenzo Vince Green, age 29, and Javontay Jamal Green, age 25, of Beaufort, South Carolina, were sentenced in federal court in Charleston, South Carolina, for carjacking.  Lorenzo Vince Green was also convicted of brandishing a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence.  United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel, of Charleston, sentenced Lorenzo Vince Green to 130 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.  His prior record includes prior felony convictions for burglary and armed robbery.  Javontay Jamal Green was sentenced to 97 months’ imprisonment to be followed by 3 years of supervised release.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that on February 27, 2016, the Green brothers approached a handicapped and wheelchair bound man as he was attempting to enter his vehicle after leaving a restaurant in Beaufort.  Lorenzo Vince Green then pointed a firearm at the victim before the brothers took the victim’s car keys and fled with his vehicle.  Officers located the vehicle a short time later and arrested the brothers as they were attempting to flee through a wooded area.

The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Beaufort County Sheriff's Office and the Fourteenth Circuit Solicitor’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorney Nick Bianchi of the Charleston office prosecuted the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Jimmy Hunter, age 48, of Lancaster County, South Carolina was sentenced in federal court in Columbia, South Carolina, for felon in possession of a firearm.  Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie, of Columbia, sentenced Hunter to 78 months incarceration followed by 3 years of supervised release.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that on September 1, 2017, the Lancaster County Drug Task Force was following up on a drug overdose investigation that involved Hunter.  Officers went to Hunter’s residence located in Lancaster to speak to him concerning the overdose.  After knocking on the door several times, a guest of Hunter opened the door and walked onto the front porch.  As she opened the door, an investigator smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the residence.  The guest was interviewed about the overdose on the porch of the residence.  After investigators finished speaking to the guest, she was advised that officers had detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside the residence.  She was asked if anyone else was at the residence, and she stated that it was Hunter’s residence and that he was still next door. Officers then obtained a search warrant for the residence.

When the officers entered the residence, several illegal items were immediately located out in the open on the master bedroom bed such as marijuana, scales, and crystal methamphetamine in a clear plastic bag and on a tray.  A thorough search also revealed crystal methamphetamine, syringes, and spoons throughout the residence.  These items were located in almost every room of the residence to include the living room desk, under the bar, the bathroom, the master bedroom dresser as well as on the master bedroom bed. The officers also located several firearms and ammunition in an open gun safe located in the master bedroom.  When officers searched the bedroom closet, they observed several cases of ammunition, a ballistic vest, holsters, and several ammunition cans of firearm magazines.

Officers recovered the following firearms: an Anderson model AM15, .223 caliber rifle, a Mossberg (Companhia Brasiliera)  model 702 Plinkster, .22 caliber rifle, a Romarm/Cugir model M-10, 7.62 caliber rifle, a Mossberg Maverick model 88, 12 gauge shotgun, a Springfield/Stevens 12 gauge shotgun, and a Gerstenberger U. Eberwein .32 caliber revolver.  At least 3300 rounds of ammunition were found in the gun safe and the master bedroom closet.

The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Lancaster County Sheriff's Department.  Assistant United States Attorney William K. Witherspoon of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.

This case 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.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that the Drug Enforcement Administration arrested six defendants who are charged with conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl in the midlands of South Carolina.  Based on the investigation, agents seized over sixteen pounds of methamphetamine, nine pounds of heroin, and three pounds of fentanyl. 

The defendants named in the criminal complaint are Endira Torres, Devon Tremain Thomas, Matias Castro Hernandez, Leslie Geraldene Gutierrez, Alan Alberto Maldonado-Dominguez, and Luis Antonio Cruz-Gonzales.  All defendants appeared this week for bond hearings at the Matthew J. Perry Federal Courthouse in Columbia, South Carolina, before the Honorable Shiva V. Hodges, United States Magistrate Judge, and remain in federal custody.

Multiple law enforcement agencies participated in this case, including the DEA Columbia Provisional Task Force, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, South Carolina Highway Patrol, Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

This case represents another example of the fine work being done by Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies working together in South Carolina.  Assistant United States Attorney Ben Garner of the Columbia office is prosecuting the case.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this case are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Beth Drake announced that Barbara Powell, age 59, of Charleston, was sentenced in federal court in Charleston, South Carolina, for bribery of a public employee, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 201.  United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel, of Charleston, sentenced Powell to 6 months imprisonment, 3 years supervised release, and a $12,500 fine.

The investigation in this case proved the existence of public corruption in construction contracts at the Joint Base in Charleston (JBC).  JBC was formed in 2010 when the Naval Weapons Station and the Charleston Air Force base merged.  As a large and aging military base, JBC hires private companies on a regular basis to renovate and/or build facilities.

Barbara Powell was a government-contracting officer at JBC, and her duties included awarding and administering construction contracts to private companies for the federal government.  From 2011 until 2015, Powell solicited and received dozens of bribes from subcontractors at JBC.  The value of the bribes exceeded $15,000.  In return for these bribes, Powell steered projects to some subcontractors to the detriment of other subcontractors, and she forwarded the bid proposals of some subcontractors to other subcontractors that paid her bribes.  As a contracting officer for the federal government, it was illegal for Powell to provide confidential pricing information to anyone outside the government.

The case was investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations.  Assistant United States Attorney Rhett DeHart of the Charleston office prosecuted the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Beth Drake announced that Joseph Hamrick, age 68, of Goose Creek, was sentenced in federal court in Charleston, South Carolina, for receiving kickbacks involving federal contracts, in violation of 41 U.S.C. § 8702.  United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel, of Charleston, sentenced Hamrick to 12 months imprisonment, 3 years supervised release, and a $50,000 fine.

The investigation in this case proved the existence of public corruption in construction contracts at the Joint Base in Charleston (JBC).  JBC was formed in 2010 when the Naval Weapons Station and the Charleston Air Force base merged.  As a large and aging military base, JBC hires private companies on a regular basis to renovate and/or build facilities.

Joseph Hamrick was a quality control officer for Chugach, Inc., which was the prime contractor at JBC from 2007 through 2014.  Later in the scheme, Hamrick served in the same position at Aspen Construction, another contractor at JBC. 

Beginning in 2011, Hamrick demanded that subcontractors pay him kickbacks to approve their work at JBC.  As a quality control officer for a prime contractor, Hamrick had the authority to approve or disapprove a subcontractor’s work at JBC and to slow the payments to subcontractors.  Hamrick’s position gave him power over subcontractors, which he used to solicit kickbacks. 

From 2011 until 2015, Hamrick solicited and received more than 40 kickbacks at JBC.  The value of the kickbacks exceeded $40,000.  In addition to these kickbacks, Hamrick received hundreds of free lunches and other gifts provided by subcontractors over which he had authority.  These kickbacks related to federal contracts at JBC.  In return for these kickbacks, Hamrick steered subcontracting jobs at JBC to various subcontractors.  

The case was investigated by the Defense Criminal Investigative Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations.  Assistant United States Attorney Rhett DeHart of the Charleston office prosecuted the case.  

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated that Dustin Gregory Martin, age 47, of Greenville, was sentenced in federal court in Greenville for felon in possession of a firearm, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g). United States District Judge Michelle Childs imposed a sentence of 115 months followed by three years of supervised release.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that on April 5, 2017, Greenville County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a motel room on Augusta Road in reference to locating a wanted person. Martin was in the room when the Deputies arrived and a Glock .9mm pistol was seized from under the pillow on the bed in the room.

The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office along with agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case. This case is part of the Real Time initiative. Assistant United States Attorney Max Cauthen in the Greenville U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case.

The Real Time initiative is part of 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.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated that Fareed Abdul Jabar, age 34, of Atlanta, was sentenced in federal court in Greenville for felon in possession of a firearm, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g). United States District Judge Michelle Childs imposed a sentence of 46 months followed by three years of supervised release.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that on March 29, 2017, a Greenville County Sheriff’s Deputy initiated a traffic stop on a car driven by Jabar.  A subsequent search of the vehicle led to the seizure of a loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol and marijuana.

The Greenville County Sheriff’s Office along with agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case. This case is part of the Real Time initiative. Assistant United States Attorney Max Cauthen in the Greenville U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case.

The Real Time Initiative is part of 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.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Marcial Esteban-Vasquez , age 39, of Mexico, has entered a guilty plea in federal court in Columbia, to Illegal Re-Entry, a violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a).  United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie, of Columbia, accepted the guilty 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 Esteban was encountered by ICE-Enforcement and Removal Operations Deportation Officers on December 13, 2017 while they were assisting DEA agents in an investigation concerning Esteban. The investigation revealed that Esteban is a citizen of Mexico who had been deported three times pursuant to an order of removal. U.S. Attorney Drake stated the maximum penalty for Illegal Re-Entry is imprisonment for up to 20 years, a term of supervised release of not more than three years and/or a fine of $250,000.

The case was investigated by officers of the ICE-Enforcement and Removal Operations.  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 Beth Drake stated today that Felicia L. Prysock, age 41, of Wellford, South Carolina, was sentenced to 24 months and one day in prison for Aggravated Identity Theft, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, § 1028A; and Obtaining a Controlled Substance by Fraud, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, § 843(a)(3). Chief Judge Terry L. Wooten presided at the hearing and also ordered restitution to Medicaid of $1,132.12.   

Evidence presented at the change of plea established that Prysock filled ten different prescriptions forged in the names of a doctor and her children and had Medicaid pay for them.  The conduct occurred between July 2016 and April 2017.  The investigation revealed that these prescriptions were for Schedule II opioids, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, and Adderall. 

The United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, along with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, 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 Beth Drake stated today that Michael A. Rawson, age 48, of the United Kingdom, pled guilty in federal court in Greenville, to conspiracy to commit visa fraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.  Senior United States District Judge Henry M. Herlong, Jr., of Greenville, 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 Rawson and other associates made false statements to the United States in an effort to get an L1 Visa, which allows for intra-company transfers if certain criteria are met, to aid in the establishment of a for-profit basketball academy in the United States: 22ft Basketball Academy.  At one time 22ft Basketball Academy had relationships with Shannon Forrest Christian School and Anderson Christian School.  A key false statement was that 22ft Dutch, a related entity, was operational in Europe and would remain so after Rawson immigrated to the United States to work with 22ft US.  In truth, 22ft Dutch had no operational office and ceased to do business while Rawson was in the United States.  Thus, there could be no legitimate intra-company transfer. 

Ms. Drake stated the maximum penalty Rawson can receive is a fine of $250,000 and/or imprisonment for 5 years, supervised release of 3 years, plus a special assessment of $100. 

The case was investigated by agents with the ICE – Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office handled the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated that Desmond Lamar Williams was sentenced for Preparation of False Tax Returns, a violation of Title 26, United States Code, § 7206(2).  Chief United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten, of Columbia, sentenced Williams to 24 months in jail after a sentencing hearing. 

Facts presented in court established that Williams was an active duty member of the United States Army for many years, and that for the tax years 2011-2014, he also worked as a tax preparer. An investigation by the Internal Revenue Service revealed that many of the returns Williams prepared contained false information. As a result of Williams’ fraudulent actions, the government suffered a loss of $712,728.00.

The Internal Revenue Service investigated the case.  Assistant United States Attorney John C. Potterfield, of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.

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United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that a Federal Grand Jury in Greenville, South Carolina, returned Indictments against the following:

Greenville County Resident Indicted for Assaulting a Federal Employee.  Kenneth David Sipple, age 58, of Travelers Rest, South Carolina, was charged in a one count indictment with assaulting a federal employee, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 111.  The maximum penalty Sipple could receive is a fine of $250,000.00 and/or imprisonment of 20 years.  The case was investigated by agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Protective Service, and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney David C. Stephens of the Greenville office for prosecution.

Two Aliens Charged with Illegal Re-Entry into the United States.  Jorge Luis Silva-Aguiar, age 44, and Jose Pineda-Flores, age 47, were each charged in separate indictments with illegal re-entry to the United States, a violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326.  The maximum penalty each could face is a fine of $250,000.00 and/or imprisonment up to 10 years depending on their record. The cases were investigated by agents of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Max Cauthen of the Greenville Office.

Individual Charged with False Claim to be a US Citizen.  Fermin Jimenez-Virelas, age 38, was charged in a two count indictment with false claim to be a United States citizen, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 911, and false use of a social security number, a violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 408(a)(7)(B).  The maximum penalty he could face is a fine of $250,000.00 and/or imprisonment of 5 years. The case was investigated by agents of ICE-Homeland Security Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Max Cauthen of the Greenville Office.

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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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Jay Byron Wright, age 42, of the Calhoun State Prison in Morgan, Georgia, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, § 1349.  Judge Mary Geiger Lewis accepted the plea and will sentence Wright at a later date.  

Evidence presented at the hearing established that Jay Byron Wright and other prisoners called citizens of Oregon using a cell phone smuggled into their prison, told the Oregonians they were in contempt of court for not showing up for jury duty, and that they owed the court money.  The Oregonians could pay this money by obtaining Money Pak Green Dot cards for the specified value and providing the numbers on the cards to the callers.  The numbers gave the callers access to the value on the card, which could then be transferred onto other Green Dot cards.  At least three people in Oregon fell for this scam, and they transferred values slightly less than $1,000 to cards used by various co-conspirators in South Carolina. 

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

The Deschutes County (Oregon) Sheriff’s Office and SLED (South Carolina) 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 Beth Drake announced today that Leroy Anthony Griffin, age 30, of Myrtle Beach, was charged in a single-count indictment with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute oxycodone.  Griffin faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine of $1,000,000.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration Tactical Diversion Squad and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, assisted by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Drug Enforcement Administration Florence Office, and the Fifteenth Circuit Drug Enforcement Unit.  The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Hummel of the Florence office for prosecution.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this Indictment are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Kenneth Wayne Richardson, age 36, of Moncks Corner, South Carolina was sentenced in federal court in Charleston, South Carolina, for Possession of Child Pornography involving Prepubescent Minors, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(5)(B).  United States District Judge David C. Norton, of Charleston, sentenced Richardson to 210 months (17.5 years), $8,500 restitution, and supervised release for life.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that on two different occasions Richardson posted web-links containing child pornography videos to internet chat rooms. Law enforcement agents traced the postings to internet protocol (IP) addresses associated with Richardson. Agents executed a search warrant at Richardson’s residence and seized a computer tablet belonging to Richardson that contained multiple images of child pornography. Richardson admitted that he possessed child pornography, including on his internet “cloud” account. He also admitted to posting web-links to chat rooms. Agents also executed a search warrant on Richardson’s internet “cloud” account and discovered over 4,000 images and 3,000 videos containing child pornography. These images and videos included adults engaged in sexual acts with prepubescent minors as well as sadistic and masochistic conduct.

The case was investigated by agents of ICE-Homeland Security Investigations. The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the execution of the residential search warrant. 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 launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc  For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."

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Columbia, South Carolina –------- United States Attorney Beth Drake announced today that Jeffery Michael Patterson entered a plea of guilty on charges of making a false statement to federal agents.  Patterson faces a maximum sentence of up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.  Patterson will be sentenced by United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain after the completion of a presentence investigation.

The facts presented at the guilty plea hearing established that 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 was advised that Patterson held none of the certifications that he claimed to have.  The matter was then referred to the Inspector General (IG) of the Federal Department of Transportation for investigation.  IG 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, Patterson admitted that this story was bogus.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David C. Stephens of the Greenville Office.
 

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Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Beth Drake announced today that United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Brandon Singleton, age 34, of Seabrook, South Carolina, to 248 months in federal prison, without the possibility of parole, in federal court in Charleston.  Singleton and his five co-defendants were charged in a twenty-two count indictment involving cocaine and gun trafficking activities in the Beaufort, South Carolina area.  In July 2017, Singleton pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of 500 grams or more of cocaine, being a felon in possession of firearms, and possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking offenses.

During the course of the investigation, state and federal agents made undercover buys of nine firearms and more than 700 grams of cocaine from Singleton and his co-defendants.  As the leader of the organization, Singleton arranged and directed all of the undercover purchases.  In total, law enforcement seized 14 firearms from Singleton and his codefendants throughout the investigation, including stolen firearms, semi-automatic firearms, and high capacity magazines.

Singleton’s conviction is the result of an investigation conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, and investigators with the 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.  In response to the sentence, U.S. Attorney Drake stated, “ We work best when we work together.  Many thanks to the Beaufort County Sheriff and to ATF.  Your great work enabled us to make the case and make South Carolina safer.”   ATF Resident Agent in Charge Scott Perala stated, “This significant sentence is the result of the outstanding partnership between ATF and the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office working together with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to remove the most violent offenders involved in the criminal use of firearms and drug trafficking activities from the community.”  Assistant United States Attorney Emily Limehouse and Special Assistant United States Attorney Carra Henderson prosecuted the case. 

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Greenville, South Carolina – The United States Attorney’s Office, the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services; SC Works; SC Vocational Rehabilitation; SC Department of Employment and Workforce; SC Department of Social Services; and the US Probation Office are continuing their statewide partnership to help individuals with prior criminal backgrounds secure employment.

The Second Annual Greater Upstate Reentry Job Fair & Expo is being held Thursday, February 15, 2018, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the McAlister Square, located at 225 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville, SC.
This fair, which is especially intended as a resource for Upstate residents, is part of a series of fairs, including Florence, the Midlands, and the Lowcountry, held annually.  The partner organizations believe that a tailored expo for people with a criminal background will provide some focused help for the particular obstacles individuals face after returning home.

“Studies have demonstrated the essential role a job plays in the success of individuals returning from prison. Our state partners have tremendous expertise in hosting resource fairs and it is our privilege to partner with them in developing job fairs specifically for individuals with a criminal background,” said U.S. Attorney Beth Drake.  

The fair and expo will include area employers friendly to hiring individuals with a criminal background and other organizations who participate with, and provide resources for, returning citizens.  Any interested employers or vendors should inquire with Diana Goldwire at (864) 315-9751 or dgoldwire@dew.sc.gov.

Professional dress is required.  As always, the event will feature workshops on how to seek expungements and pardons of prior criminal convictions. 

“We are excited to connect South Carolinians to job opportunities. Where formerly incarcerated South Carolinians have stable jobs and lives, they are less likely to get in trouble with the law.  Employment is crime prevention and a part of community health, vitality and safety,” said USA Drake.    

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Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Sinclair Gibbs, age 31, of North Charleston, South Carolina, was sentenced in federal court in Charleston, South Carolina, for one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel, of Charleston, sentenced Gibbs to 57 months’ imprisonment, to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. 

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that on March 22, 2016, the North Charleston Police Department went to Gibbs’ residence to serve an arrest warrant on him. Inside Gibb’s residence, officers found a loaded .45 caliber handgun, along with cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana. Gibbs’ prior record includes multiple felony drug convictions

The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the North Charleston Police Department.  Assistant United States Attorney Nick Bianchi of the Charleston office prosecuted the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake announced today that a jury returned a guilty verdict following a two-day jury trial in federal court in Greenville, South Carolina, finding Harvest Maurice Sloan, age 38, of Greenville, guilty of possession by a firearm and ammunition by a felon.  The trial wrapped up yesterday afternoon and was held before United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis, of Columbia. Judge Lewis will impose a sentence after she has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

The government presented multiple witnesses during the course of the trial.  Witness testimony and the evidence presented by the government at trial established that on April 25, 2017, a Greenville police officer encountered the defendant, Harvest Maurice Sloan, at a car while the officer was investigating a stolen vehicle report. During a search of the car police located a backpack containing a loaded Ruger 9mm pistol, along with additional 9mm ammunition from the front seat area of the car.

A special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) retrieved calls made by Harvest Maurice Sloan from the Greenville County jail that contained conversations relating to the pistol recovered by police.

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 Max Cauthen prosecuted the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina – The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that a federal jury found Floyd Calhoun “Cal” Dent, III, of Lexington, South Carolina, and his two co-conspirators liable for defrauding the federal healthcare programs Medicare and Tricare of over $51 million.  The unanimous verdict was handed down on January 31, 2018, by a federal jury in Charleston, South Carolina. 

The United States alleged that Mr. Dent, along with his co-conspirators, paid illegal kickbacks to physicians across the country in order to get them to order medically unnecessary blood tests from Health Diagnostics Laboratory, Inc. (“HDL”) of Richmond, Virginia, and laboratory Singulex, Inc. of Alameda, California, in violation of the Anti-Kickback Statute and the False Claims Act.

“This jury verdict sends a strong message of accountability to those who would seek to take advantage of federal health care programs,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Crick.  “The District of South Carolina will continue to battle against Medicare and Tricare fraud.”

Over the course of the two week trial, the United States presented evidence that the defendants Cal Dent, Robert Bradford “Brad” Johnson of Hanceville, Alabama, and LaTonya “Tonya” Mallory of Richmond, Virginia, conspired to pay kickbacks to induce physicians to refer patients to HDL and Singulex.  The defendants arranged for “process and handling fees” of $17 to be paid to the physicians per referral and for the routine waiving of patient co-pays and deductibles.  As a result of those kickbacks, physicians referred patients’ blood samples to HDL and Singulex for medically unnecessary blood tests.  HDL and Singulex then submitted fraudulent claims to federal health care programs Medicare and Tricare for payment for the medically unnecessary tests. 

The verdict illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating health care fraud.  One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act.  Tips and complaints from all sources about potential health care fraud, waste, and abuse can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 900-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). 

This case was investigated by Assistant U.S. Attorney James Leventis of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina; the Commercial Litigation Branch of the Justice Department’s Civil Division; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia; Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General; the FBI; the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Office of Inspector General; and the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, Defense Criminal Investigative Service.

The civil lawsuit was filed in the District of South Carolina and is captioned United States of America et al v. BlueWave Healthcare Consultants Inc., 9:14-cv-00230-RMG.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that United States District Judge David C. Norton sentenced Frank “Kilo” Odom, age 30, of North Charleston, South Carolina, to 72 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.  Odom was convicted at trial earlier this year in federal court in Charleston on charges of felon in possession of a firearm and of selling cocaine to an undercover ATF agent.  The investigation, which began in 2015, was launched to investigate gun and drug-trafficking activities in the Charleston-metropolitan area.  During this investigation, agents made undercover buys from Odom, to include the purchase of cocaine and a .40 caliber pistol. 

Ms. Drake commended the agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) for their work on this case.  Assistant United States Attorney Sean Kittrell prosecuted the case.

This case was brought as 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 Beth Drake stated that Cedric K. Reddick, age 24, of Columbia, plead guilty in federal court to conspiracy to steal firearms from a federal firearms licensee and to being a felon in possession of a firearm, all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 371, 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). 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 U.S. Probation Office.

Evidence presented in court established on August 5, 2016, Tony’s Guns and Police Supplies, a federal firearms licensee, in Sumter, was burglarized and 69 handguns stolen. The investigation revealed similarities between that burglary and other burglaries of liquor stores in several counties. Through the investigation, law enforcement was able to identify Reddick as one of the suspects after a DNA match linked him to a burglary of one of the liquor stores. Additionally, a search warrant at Reddick’s apartment revealed a 9mm handgun stolen during the burglary of Tony’s Guns and Police Supplies. Reddick’s co-defendant’s case is still pending in federal court and he remains innocent unless and until he is proven guilty.

Reddick is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms based upon a prior state conviction for burglary 2nd degree and a prior New Jersey federal conviction for transportation of stolen firearms. At the time of this incident, Reddick was on federal supervised release after serving time on the 2013 federal conviction.  

Reddick faces a maximum of 5 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and 3 years of supervised release on the conspiracy charge. On the felon in possession of a firearm charge, Reddick faces a maximum of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and 3 years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the Clinton Police Department, the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department 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 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.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Fred Gilliard, a/k/a “Dr. Gilliard,” age 76, of Augusta, Georgia, has entered a guilty plea in federal court in Columbia, to drug distribution, a violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841.  United States District Judge J. Michelle Childs, of Columbia, accepted the guilty plea and will impose sentence after she has reviewed a presentence report prepared by the U.S. Probation Office. Following the guilty plea, United States Magistrate Judge Paige Jones Gossett denied Gilliard a bond, ordering he be detained pending sentencing.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that through the investigation into the Travelers of Murphy Village, located in North Augusta, the FBI and US Marshals Service learned that a doctor in the area was providing Travelers prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances that were then being sold throughout Murphy Village. Investigative efforts identified the defendant, Dr. Gilliard, as the doctor. The defendant’s background revealed two federal criminal convictions, once for illegal distribution of drugs – as a result of that conviction the defendant had an agreement with the DEA about the proper distribution of drugs. Law enforcement interviews with patients revealed that the defendant prescribed them various types of drugs, often accompanied with a sexual proposition. Using one cooperating witness to buy opioids from a source of pills, law enforcement then approached the person selling opioids. The pill seller agreed to cooperate and explained that Dr. Gilliard would proposition her for sexual favors in exchange for prescriptions and that Dr. Gilliard would contact her at all hours of the night. A review of Dr. Gilliard’s phone records showed an abnormal pattern of contacting his female patients. The cooperating individual selling the pills began to record telephone calls with Dr. Gilliard. In the recordings, Dr. Gilliard requested sexual favors from the cooperating witness in exchange for prescriptions. On June 14, 2017, the cooperating seller of pills recorded a meeting with Dr. Gilliard at a restaurant off exit 5 in South Carolina. Dr. Gilliard recounted that he knew that the cooperator’s mother had sold the last set of pills that Dr. Gilliard had prescribed to the mother. Dr. Gilliard further discussed providing the witness with a prescription only if the cooperating witness would have sex with him and described how he now had to go back to his office to make up notes to justify the prescription – the prescription was for hydrocodone, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Ms. Drake stated the maximum penalty for drug distribution is imprisonment for 20 years and/or a fine of $500,000.

The case was investigated by agents of the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service.  Assistant United States Attorneys Jim May and Jay Richardson of the Columbia office are prosecuting the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated that Harry Lee Goodwin, age 44, of West Columbia, pled guilty today in federal court to possessing heroin and “crack” cocaine with intent to distribute, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C). United States District Judge J. 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 in April 2017, a confidential informant, acting under the supervision and direction of West Columbia Police Department agents, made three controlled buys of heroin from Mr. Goodwin at his home on Augusta Street. 

As a result of the controlled buys, agents executed a search warrant at the home on April 13, 2017.  Agents seized approximately $1500 in cash, including a $20 bill used in one of the earlier controlled purchases.  Agents also recovered eight (8) foil packages containing heroin, as well as a small amount of “crack” cocaine, digital scales, and other drug paraphernalia. 

Goodwin admitted to agents that he sold approximately 30 – 40 bags of heroin each day, between 6 a.m. and noon, and made between $1200- $1500 each day.   After noon, he then went to Columbia to continue selling drugs from another location. 

Goodwin faces a maximum of 20 years, a fine of $1,000,000, and at least 3 years of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the West Columbia Police Department and was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Assistant United States Attorney Nancy C. Wicker of the Columbia office handled the case.

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.

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Greenville, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that the United States Attorney’s Office continued its firm commitment to upholding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  The U.S. Attorney’s Office provided the presenter on an ADA Workshop for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community.

The event was sponsored by the South Carolina Association of the Deaf, Inc. (SCAD) and the South Carolina Registry for Interpreters for the Deaf (SCRID).  SCAD is the statewide non-profit organization that focuses on promoting equal treatment toward deaf and hard of hearing citizens in education, employment, legislation, healthcare, and other fields pertaining to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing citizens of South Carolina.  SCRID provides local forums and an organizational structure for the continued growth and development of the profession of signed language interpretation.  Lead organizers for the event included Ms. Anita M. Steichen-McDaniel, SCAD’s Executive Director, and Ms. Susie Spainhour, SCRID President.  This event was held at the University Center of Greenville on Saturday, January 27, 2018.  AUSA Rob Sneed provided an overview of federal disability laws and focused on those aspects of the ADA of great interest to members of the deaf and hard of hearing community. 

The ADA requires that covered entities (State and local governments; businesses and nonprofit organizations that serve the public) communicate effectively with people who have communication disabilities.  The goal is to ensure that communication with people with these disabilities is equally effective as communication with people without disabilities.

According to U.S. Attorney Beth Drake, community outreach efforts such as this continue the U.S. Attorney’s and DOJ’s long standing commitment to Project Civic Access, which is a wide-ranging effort to ensure that counties, cities, towns, and villages comply with the ADA by eliminating physical and communication barriers that prevent people with disabilities from participating fully in community life.  The training also supports her office’s ongoing support of the DOJ’s Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative, which is an initiative that will include effective communication for people who are deaf or have hearing loss, physical access to medical care for people with mobility disabilities, and equal access to treatment for people who have HIV/AIDS.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina enforces federal civil rights laws, including the Fair Housing Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.  Civil remedies under these statutes include monetary penalties, injunctions, civil judgments and more.

To learn more about the ADA and other laws protecting the rights of people with disabilities, log on to www.ada.gov/ta-pubs-pg2.htm or call the Justice Department's toll-free ADA Information Line at (800) 514-0301 or (800) 514-0383 (TDD).  The U.S. Attorney’s Office Civil Rights Program webpages are located at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/civil-rights.

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Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Beth Drake announced today that Antonio Crawley, age 40, was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole in federal court in Anderson.  The Court also imposed a money judgment against Crawley in the amount of approximately $231,000.

The evidence at trial showed that Crawley participated in a drug conspiracy that spanned 13 years, beginning in 2003.  Members of the conspiracy operated in South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Texas, and Louisiana.  Testimony from numerous witnesses established that during the course of the conspiracy, members of the conspiracy distributed in excess of 100 kilograms of cocaine, over 1,000 pounds of marijuana, and in excess of 5 kilograms of crack cocaine.

Crawley operated primarily in Anderson, South Carolina, as a local distributor.  The evidence showed that Crawley utilized multiple sources of supply for cocaine from Atlanta, Georgia and the Upstate of South Carolina. Crawley participated in the conspiracy for approximately nine years.

Law enforcement officers utilized remote surveillance, wiretaps, confidential sources and other investigative techniques to ultimately charge in excess of 20 defendants in the case.  Crawley and co-defendant Eric Scott were the only defendants who went to trial.

During the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized in excess of $1.5 million in U.S. Currency, over 5 kilograms of cocaine, quantities of marijuana and crack cocaine, and numerous firearms.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation Division, the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, the Anderson Police Department, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, the Greenville Department of Public Safety, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Franklin County (GA) Sheriff’s Office, and the Douglas County (GA) Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Moorman, Head of the Narcotics Unit, was the lead prosecutor. 

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Carmen Flores-Bautista, age 39, of Mexico, has entered a guilty plea in federal court in Columbia, to Illegal Re-Entry, a violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a).  United States District Judge J. 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 U.S. Probation Office.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Flores-Bautista was encountered by ICE-Homeland Security Investigations agents on January 10, 2017, at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in Columbia after she was arrested for Homicide by Child Abuse. An investigation revealed that Flores-Bautista is a citizen of Mexico who had been deported two times pursuant to an order of removal. U.S. Attorney Drake stated the maximum penalty for Illegal Re-Entry is imprisonment for 2 years and/or a fine of $250,000.

The case was investigated by agents of the ICE-Homeland Security Investigations.  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 Beth Drake stated today that Juan Arturo Ramirez-Rojo, age 39, of Mexico, has entered a guilty plea in federal court in Columbia, to Illegal Re-Entry, a violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a).  United States District Judge  J. 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 U.S. Probation Office.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Ramirez-Rojo was encountered by ICE-Homeland Security Investigations agents on January 10, 2017, at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in Columbia after he was arrested for Trafficking Cocaine. An investigation revealed that Ramirez-Rojo is a citizen of Mexico who had been deported two times pursuant to an order of removal. U.S. Attorney Drake stated the maximum penalty for Illegal Re-Entry is imprisonment for 2 years and/or a fine of $250,000.

The case was investigated by agents of the ICE-Homeland Security Investigations.  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 Beth Drake stated today that Terry Land, of Sumter, South Carolina, has entered a guilty plea in federal court in Columbia, South Carolina, to tax evasion, a violation of 26 U.S.C. § 7201.  Additionally, Land entered a guilty plea to operating a gambling business, in violation of 18 U.S.C § 1955.  Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, of Columbia, accepted the guilty plea and will impose sentence after Judge Anderson 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 Land became a target of an investigation due to a public corruption investigation that involved the video poker industry. The investigation revealed that several video poker companies were operating in and around the midlands, with Terry Land being involved with Lucky’s Cyber Center, Gamecock I, and Gamecock II. The investigation into these businesses found that Land had never filed any taxes as related to these businesses, in an interview he confessed.  Moreover, the investigation found that Land would deposit money from his gambling business into his roofing business; that he failed to keep records of the money the gambling businesses made, and dealt solely in cash in operating the gambling business. A calculation of the criminal tax owing is $17,264, $36,918, and $4,221 for tax years 2011, 2012 and 2013 – totaling $58,304.
The gambling business operated machines in numerous locations over the period of time from 2011 to 2014. The purveyors of the different locations received a portion of the winnings of the machines. The machines that were operated are in violation of State gambling statute. Mrs. Drake stated the maximum penalty for tax evasion is imprisonment for 5 years and/or a fine of $100,000, and the maximum penalty for operating a gambling business is imprisonment for 5 years and/or a fine of $250,000.

The case was investigated by agents of the FBI, IRS-CID, SLED, and the South Carolina Attorney General's Office.  Assistant United States Attorneys Jim May and Jay Richardson of the Columbia Office are prosecuting the case.

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Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated that Swan Nicoyis Jackson, age 22, of Camden, plead guilty yesterday in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, all in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1), 924(a)(2), and 924(e) and Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(D), and 851. Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie, 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 morning of June 2, 2017, Kershaw County Sheriff’s Department deputies encountered Jackson and another male walking down railroad tracks near a neighborhood that had recent thefts. When deputies asked Jackson and the other male to stop, they both ran. Deputies could smell marijuana emanating from their direction. During the chase, Jackson fell and deputies were able to catch up to him and found a 9mm handgun in his pants pocket, along with marijuana. Further investigation revealed that the firearm had been reported stolen from a residence.   

Jackson is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms based upon his prior separate state convictions for possession of crack cocaine, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, distribution of crack cocaine (2 counts), distribution of crack cocaine near a school, possession with intent to distribute marijuana 2nd offense, and possession of crack cocaine 3rd offense or more.    

On the firearm charge, Jackson faces a maximum of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and 3 years of supervised release on the felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition charge. However, if he is deemed an armed career criminal in light of his extensive prior convictions for serious drug offenses, he would face a statutory mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 15 years with a maximum of life, a fine of $250,000, and 5 years of supervised release on the firearm charge. Jackson faces a maximum of 10 years, a fine of $4,000,000 and 4 years of supervised release on the marijuana charge.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Department 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 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.

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