Drugs, money, torture and murder were all part of a detailed web of gang-related, organized crime that flourished in South Carolina from at least 2017 until now, according to a federal. Here is the full video of the press conference . pic.twitter.com/d7G9ESlzUY, Florida Police Benevolent Association (@FL_PBA) January 30, 2023. Medical Marijuana bill passes NC Senate; some cannabis supporters against bill, Re-using the cheater beans from breakfast for dinner with Chef Elizabeth, Product Test: Elissia and Caroline try out bundt cake pan with removable bottom, The Best of Charlotte Bridal Show at Camp North End on March 19th, Licensed counselor Felice Hightower talks impact of Social Media Algorithms, PLAN AHEAD: Latest Weather Forecast Video. Updated October 21, 2022 8:37 AM. In a statement released jointly by the National Sheriff's Association, Major County Sheriffs of America, Western States Sheriffs' Association, Southwestern Border Sheriffs' Coalition, and Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition, the groups asserted "that the two main drivers of illicit drugs leading to overdoses and violence into the U.S. are Sinaloa WTF? He counted playwright Tennessee Williams as a client and musician Jimmy Buffett as a friend. The Florida Police Benevolent Association (FPBA) also released a statement in the wake of the longtime sergeants death. Conventional thinking was that major smuggling originated in big cities like New York, Atlanta, or Chicago; however, David Forbes with the IRS and Claude McDonald with Customs received enough tips and rumors over the years to believe the culprits were closer to home. 'We did not make any arrests of users or first-level distributors,' said Verinder. Updated: Oct. 29, 2020 at 4:30 PM PDT. On Monday (March 8) South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said that, so far, 100 people are facing 297 counts and 487 charges total, News 19 reports. Civil wars and ocean chases pound the heart of the thrill-seeker. Investigators say six defendants in Mexico are now living among Jalisco New Generation Cartel members and are sourcing drugs directly from the cartel. A 30-month long ordeal ensued as the Australian court wrestled with whether the two could be extradited on a drug kingpin charge. Banned items included crack cocaine, knives, tobacco, guns, phones, and even candy. Feds bust major meth trafficking ring in Lexington, 17 arrested - WIS I thought my God thats just a mile from my house. As a member of the BSO Homicide Unit, Sgt. Purchase a new subscription and qualify for $100 of fine dining, theater tickets and MORE! 'These definitely are major players.'. Roberts says Adam thought he was taking Xanax for his anxiety but ended up with enough fentanyl in his system to kill four people. All rights reserved. Heres the link to the podcast on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MurdaughMurders?si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE, IMO This seems way more relevant knowing what we know now! And hes just missed beyond words, she said. |, All of these experiences relate to the astounding volume of marijuana and hashish smuggled into South Carolina by the so-called Gentlemen Smugglers with a street value, in todays dollars, of $1.8 billion. While both men delegated sailing and offloading to others early on, they enjoyed the thrill of smuggling and the lifestyle it afforded them, and they were always in search of a bigger adventure. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Their synergy was really something.. The arrests culminated a five-months investigation by the FBI, the Coast Guard, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Customs Service and the Beaufort County Sheriff's Department. Florida woman runs ultra-marathon distances for 23 consecutive days. We use cookies to better understand website visitors, for advertising, and to offer you a better experience. Folks, if this was a bag full of terrorists, if this was anthrax, our response would be overwhelming. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. An eight-month investigation at a South Carolina prison has resulted in the confiscation of more than 100 pounds of contraband and 20 arrests, the state's department of corrections announced . The investigation and prosecution is known as Operation Jackpot, which was chronicled in a book called Jackpot: High Times, High Seas, and the Sting That Launched the War on Drugs by Jason Ryan. The statement on theinvestigation revealed alleged connections to Mexican drug trafficking cartels operating in South Carolina and Georgia. A wall in the back of the room filled with pictures of young people in the same situation. 9 arrested after drug bust in Greenwood County, deputies say. Jonathan Sears who owns or co-owns a lengthy list of Columbia establishments including The Bird Dog, The Cotton Gin, The Gourmet Shop, Hendrix, Jakes Bar and Pavlovs was arrested along with his relative, Geoffrey Sears, on Blossom Street last Thursday by officers of the Columbia, S.C. police department (CPD). The 53-year-old sergeants exact cause of death was not released. ", Woman wins $100,000 lottery prize 11 hours after $11,000 casino jackpot. Charges range from drug trafficking and weapons to burglary and kidnapping. These are low level dealers. These losers may have been the only people left in the county who would hang out with Paul. They learned they could make more money if they obtained their product from Colombia rather than Jamaica. Nine indicted on federal drug trafficking conspiracy in South Carolina https://youtube.com/@MurdaughMurders?si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE, https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/local/hampton-county-guardian/2021/07/27/two-more-suspects-custody-operation-pentagon-arrest-tally-now-20/5385106001/. Other choices included an abandoned oyster shelling company on Hilton Head and West Bank Plantation on Edisto Island, owned by Ella Seabrook, grandmother of Barry and Les friend, Skip Sanders. National. Later, he moved into a Hollywood, Florida, beachside hotel frequented by men who participated in, among other activities, drug dealing. Others, including Barry and Les, were harder to bring in. Assistant United States Attorneys Cam Currie, Bob Jendron, Cam Littlejohn, and Bart Daniel assisted in the effort both by helping with asset identification and seizure and with prying criminals out of the countries where they were hiding. It is a drop in the bucket. Copyright 2022 WBTV. March 3 (UPI) -- A Massachusetts library said a book was recently returned with a note apologizing for the tome being 56 years overdue. Police in Costa Rica Seize 4.3 Tons of Cocaine, 2nd-Largest Drug Bust in Country's History, Month-Long Operation Ends in Huge California Drug Bust as $1.19 Billion in Marijuana Is Seized, Argentine Cops Bust Drug Ring Allegedly Using Fake World Cup Trophies to Smuggle Drugs, 26 Tons Of Cocaine Seized Offshore In Historic U.S. Drug Smuggling Bust. Theres no way theyd have the gumption to kill Maggie and Paul. Email him at mark@fitsnews.com. For more information about our use of cookies, our collection, use, and disclosure of personal information generally, and any rights you may have to access, delete, or opt out of the sale of your personal information, please view our Privacy Policy. Operation Jackpot (drug investigation) - Wikipedia Barry Foy and Les were making so much money it was hard to figure out what to do with it all. Well hold the line from here. LEXINGTON, S.C. (WIS) - A more than two-year investigation landed 17 people in federal custody as authorities busted a drug trafficking ring in the Midlands. We need to bring awareness to this issue, that drug dealers are not dealing drugs anymore. Got something youd like to say in response to one of our articles? By working with our partners at SLED and local agencies, were able to investigate and prosecute complex trafficking conspiracies like this one and defend the rule of law.. Chelsie Marie Anderson, Jennifer Nicole Burns, and Amy Deanna Cobb a/k/a Emma allegedly fled to Mexico in late 2018-2020. Investigators alleged the drug operation was linked to a Mexican drug cartel. Has anyone heard anything? Forsberg oversaw a unit of dedicated men and women, who all collectively work tirelessly to protect the community from some of societys most dangerous individuals, his obituary read. Barry was apprehended at the LaGuardia airport wearing a full-length mink coat. The cartel we believe is primarily involved in this is La Familia," Homeland Security Deputy Special Agent Mike Prado said. As native South Carolinians, they did not take long to settle on the lush Carolina coast, with its virtually endless waterways and, in the 1970s, undeveloped seclusion. This is the second drug bust along I-95 in Nash County this week. South Carolina. Alex Murdaugh gets life in prison in murder of wife, son Bob Duncan said, 'It will be studied in law enforcement academies for many semesters on how this went so smoothly. A major drug bust in upstate South Carolina resulted in 124 charges against 34 defendants allegedly involved with a Mexican cartel trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine in the southeast. 5, 2022 at 7:26 PM EDT . Last week, deputies seized more than 30,000 grams of the drug fentanyl from a home on Golden Pond Drive in Clover. On Saturday, Shackeel Aaron Coleman, 29, of Conway, South Carolina, was charged with two counts of trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic cocaine, and maintaining a vehicle for controlled substances. If its similar in Hampton county none of the people were major players instead addict selling to other addicts but who knows. Sergeant Forsberg served 21 years with the Broward Sheriffs Office and was a great asset to the BSOs Homicide Unit. South Carolina: Man receives million dollar bond after drug bust The case is referred to as "Prison Empire," one of the state's largest narcotics conspiracy investigations ever indicted. Just after the first trial, a man did just that. Barry flew to Jamaica to meet with suppliers, while Les and three others struggled to sail there in storms, high seas, and high winds. A man has been arrested for a major drug bust in Rutherford County, according to the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office. Tolson said the amount of fentanyl recovered in the bust was enough to kill every person in York County. This is absolutely the pill of death, said Patty Roberts, a mother who lost her son to a fentanyl death. Daniel said the cocaine could have been sold for about $100 million if processed into crack. COLUMBIA, S.C. State prosecutors have charged 100 people in what they said Monday was the largest number of defendants ever indicted in one drug operation in South Carolina courts. Published: May. He walked in and stood in front of Barts desk. Unbeknownst to his grandmother, Skip charged the smugglers a fee to offload their product there. A South Carolina sheriff's office has concluded a one-year investigation into a major drug operation that saw them seizing enough fentanyl to kill around 15 million people. Our hearts go out to Sergeant Kevin Forsbergs family, friends and colleagues at Broward Sheriffs Office where he served in the BSOs Homicide Unit, the FPBA said. Thousands of grams of cocaine, and hundreds of grams of meth and marijuana were also found, along with four firearms. Minnesota officer removes jar from raccoon's head. Henry and Assistant U.S. Attorney John McIntosh and Cam Littlejohn assisted the Australian prosecutors at the hearing. He was an assistant United States attorney at the time. Theyre dealing death, Tolson said. [1] Known as the 'gentlemen smugglers' because of their college educations and aversion to violence, Foy, Riley and their associates regularly sailed drug-laden boats from Jamaica, Colombia and Lebanon through the marshes of the Eastern Seaboard. March 3 (UPI) -- A 7-year-old Louisiana boy with a firm grasp of baseball rules is seeking a Guinness World Record as the world's youngest umpire. 'In layman's terms, this is enough cocaine for every man, woman, and child in South Carolina to get high at least one time,' he said. Bob Byers was caught in Antigua by DEA agent Dewey Greager and David Forbes, who posed as buyers of his $900,000 sailboat, La Cautiva. The adventurous will enjoy tales of exotic locales, fugitive escapades, and mountains of drugs and money. Politics. Mandy does an amazing job with her investigative journalism. Girl Scout cookies: Good Samaritan Detric McGowan who bought $540 of Its much more organized, as seen in this case. This hit the drug smugglers smack in the purse strings. Simpson Says Hes Not Qualified To Say If Alex Murdaugh Did It. Asheville Police arrest 4 on multiple drug charges - WHNS Specifically, date rape druggings which are alleged to have occurred at Sears establishments. What if someone not affiliated with drugs at all wanted Paul taken out and hired somebody local on the fringes of society? Especially, when it is quite literally close to home. After a drug bust in South Carolina,. Also, these arrests are reportedly just the beginning of a much broader investigation . After college, Les moved to Key West and started a landscaping business, cutting grass for $5. The agents deserve all the credit, says Bart Daniel of the task force. According to the South Carolina Attorney Generals Office, the owners of the Los Primos restaurant located in Greenville, South Carolina, allegedly ran and facilitated most of the drug trafficking. Also, 2 guys were arrested one month before the murders on drug charges: https://fox28media.com/news/local/deputies-2-arrested-meth-seized-in-hampton-county-south-carolina-drug-operation 13 51 51 comments New Add a Comment Tardis301 1 min. Published: Oct. 24, 2022 at 3:06 AM PDT | Updated: Oct. 24, 2022 at 6:55 AM PDT YORK COUNTY, S.C. (WBTV) - The York County sheriff provided more information Monday on a huge drug bust. Henry immediately sought to attack drug smuggling at the highest levels of the trade. One of South Carolina's largest drug smuggling bust News, news, seriousness, tension(1077866) - Lyrebirds music. The escapades are daring and dangerous, with heart pounding chases, life-threatening clashes with nature, and audacious smugglers halting a raging civil war on more than one occasion. The Seoritas allegedly coordinated with inmates at the S.C. Department of Corrections (SCDC) via contraband cell phones to deliver drugs primarily methamphetamine to co-conspirators in the South Carolina Upstate. We invite thought provoking exchanges while sharing facts from reliable sources and discussing distinguished theories and speculation while showing the utmost consideration and respect for the victims and being mindful of due process. The investigation and prosecution is known as Operation Jackpot, which was chronicled in a book called, Les Riley grew up just a few miles from downtown Columbia. The attorney general's office said the restaurant served as a regional hub through which drugs were trafficked to other states, with some drugs allegedly trafficked out of taco trucks owned by the restaurant owners. 'For the most part, these drugs were not headed for South Carolina,' he said. All Rights Reserved. A drug hit would not be carried out by the local crew, local boys are just the corner guys, there would be 10 more levels up if not more before you get to the head of the Snake. Got a tip for a story? Feds charge 9 with drug charges after 2-year investigation - Live 5 News Reflecting back, Governor McMaster says, It was virtually impossible to catch them in the act. At Henry and Brians suggestion, the two began following the money. Federal drug unit targets South Surrey home in bust spanning Lower Mainland. First Published: 1:00 PM PDT, May 19, 2022 Officials seized paraphernalia in South Carolina and Georgia, leading to 34 individuals facing charges. The task force used a 1978 amendment to the United States civil forfeiture provisions allowing the seizure of drug-related offenders property before conviction or without any conviction at all. Also, 2 guys were arrested one month before the murders on drug charges: https://fox28media.com/news/local/deputies-2-arrested-meth-seized-in-hampton-county-south-carolina-drug-operation. Sergeant Forsberg gave and dedicated everything he had to his family, friends, coworkers, and the community.. 'They were headed for New York City and Miami.'. The first of three trials began in Charleston before U.S. District Court Judge Falcon B. Hawkins, Jr., even while asset seizures, indictments, and arrest efforts continued with the other smugglers. Attorney general Alan Wilson announced the indictments on Thursday. National. David and fellow task force member Chuck Pittard were interviewing a friend of Barry Foys in Manhattan when Barry called her, saying he and his family were on their way to New York. After serving as U.S. attorney, attorney general, and lieutenant governor, Henry McMaster ascended to South Carolinas governorship in 2017 and was elected to his first full term in November 2018. Recent bookings, Arrests, Mugshots in South Carolina Bookings, Arrests and Mugshots in South Carolina To search and filter the Mugshots for South Carolina simply click on the at the top of the page. 'We smashed an international drug smuggling operation,' said Frederick B. Verinder, the FBI agent in charge of the investigation. India News | Press Trust of India | Wednesday December 21, 2022. Possession of drug paraphernalia charge; $95,000 secure bond; . This month the DEA made the biggest. After brief attempts at college, first at Newberry College and then at USC, Barry began selling marijuana in Five Points. Drug traffickers used a Mexican eatery and taco trucks to transport drugs around South Carolina, state prosecutors said Wednesday. He was joined at a news conference in Columbia by S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) chief Mark Keel and other authorities. If you are the author or represent the host site and would like this content removed now and in the future, please contact USSANews.com using the email address in the Contact page found in the website menu. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina and before that he was a bass player and a dive bar bouncer. Both brothers have been incarcerated at SCDC since 2015 and have allegedly continued trafficking methamphetamine from prison using contraband cell phones. I believe the drug smuggling is discussed in Podcast Episodes 31 and 32. In a case reaching both sides of the Rio Grande, 43 Upstate drug trafficking defendants now face a total of 170 charges after being indicted by the South Carolina statewide grand jury. Dubbed "Operation Pentagon," the investigation targeted the distribution of heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and crack cocaine that has "plagued" the county, Smalls said. His upbringing was typical of the South, with plenty of time spent hunting, fishing, and escorting the occasional debutante. On the other side are the avengers the scores of investigators and prosecutors that read like a whos who of South Carolina legal minds. According to North Charleston authorities, Vernon Tyrell Willis, 26, has been arrested and charged with 13 counts of second-degree assault and battery. Bob Byers got a 25-year sentence plus eight years for his escape. All of these experiences relate to the astounding volume of marijuana and hashish smuggled into South Carolina by the so-called Gentlemen Smugglers with a street value, in todays dollars, of $1.8 billion. Taylor Lynnette Glover (Lancaster County Sheriff's Office) National Park Service: 'Never push a slower friend down' in a bear encounter, March 2 (UPI) -- The National Park Service offered some sage advice for park visitors who encounter bears: "Never push a slower friend down. And yes, he has LOTS of hats (including the above-pictured Washington Senators lid). Got a tip for a story? NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. ( WCSC /Gray News) - Authorities in South Carolina say a youth pastor is facing more than a dozen assault charges for inappropriately touching young girls. That is apparently the maximum for the possession with intent to distribute fentanyl drug charges. Mario Pacella 1612 Newcastle, Suite 201 Brunswick GA 31520 (912) 264-6465 (Phone) (877) 787-6652 (Toll-Free) (912) 264-2470 (Fax) Centrally located in Columbia, South Carolina, the attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, L.L.C. In most areas, major highways were within an easy distance, aiding quick distribution to major cities like Atlanta; New York; Washington, D.C.; and Chicago. Surrey couple plans to pay off mortgage after winning $500,000. Officials with the Lexington County Sheriff's Department said Javier Ayala has been charged . The Delhi Police on Wednesday destroyed over 2,800 kgs of . He spent his free time his senior year burning up the road between Columbia and Key West, where he worked as a doorman and eventually met his partner in crime, Barry Foy, in 1973. Youre gonna eventually know someone this has happened to and I think Cody would be very proud of all of us for trying to help stop this problem, said Alsobrooks. To source the best marijuana, Barry partnered with another smuggler named Bob the Boss Byers, who took Barry into the mountains of Colombia to meet farmers directly. Or an issue youd like to address proactively? Click this link for the original source of this article. McClellanvilles creeks were popular, too. Some even volunteered to come along, enticed by the idea of cruising the Caribbean and returning on mattresses of marijuana bales. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? The. Typical agency turf wars were not allowed; anyone who refused to play nice was excused from the team. Published: Dec. 10, 2021 at 4:07 PM PST. He eagerly implemented it in South Carolina. Alleged drug traffickers in South Carolina used taco trucks to transport pounds of meth, cocaine and heroin, state prosecutors said Wednesday. Will Folksis the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency officials have filed a criminal complaint against four South Carolina men accused of operating a "clandestine" drug lab in a residential neighborhood near Lake. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. I believe it was his girlfriend, Morgan Doughty, that said he used cocaine on multiple occasions during her sworn deposition. CLICK HERE. SCDC Inmates Darrell Foster McCoy, Jr. a/k/a DJ and Matthew David McCoy have been involved in drug trafficking since 2011. Forsbergs death in a Facebook post several days later. The thought immediately went through my mind that I wonder if they were responsible for his death, said Roberts. Because of lax drug coastal patrols, hometown familiarity and a plethora of inlets, South Carolina was the gentlemen smugglers' most frequent destination for offloading drugs. Drug Bust: Latest News, Photos, Videos on Drug Bust - NDTV.COM