U. S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced on Wednesday that 37 people have been federally-indicted as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces' Operation Say Uncle. His upbringing was typical of the South, with plenty of time spent hunting, fishing, and escorting the occasional debutante. The Coast Guard monitored the vessel's trip from Colombia to the dock at the rented home in the exclusive Sea Pines Plantation development, but authorities waited for six days until the distributors, known as 'Mr. It is a drop in the bucket. Still, they had the added challenge of crossing oceans and, in the case of Lebanon, interrupting a civil war that had been raging for five years. According to a news. Got a tip for a story? South Carolina. Chelsie Marie Anderson, Jennifer Nicole Burns, and Amy Deanna Cobb a/k/a Emma allegedly fled to Mexico in late 2018-2020. Both suspects were released from the Florence County Detention Center on April 2, 2022, on a $50,000 surety bond each. Specifically, date rape druggings which are alleged to have occurred at Sears establishments. Surrey couple plans to pay off mortgage after winning $500,000. Les bought a home on Hilton Head, as well as other property, and used it for offloading his merchandise. 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. Last week, deputies seized more than 30,000 grams of the drug fentanyl from a home on Golden Pond Drive in Clover. Id want to see the actual lab result before I believed it. 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. 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. On Wednesday, a Durham man was arrested after a chase hitting 120 mph and the "Gray Death" drug was found, deputies say. Got something youd like to say in response to one of our articles? It wouldnt be the best idea but who knows? Officials say they tracked down . That is apparently the maximum for the possession with intent to distribute fentanyl drug charges. About 80 law enforcement officers descended on the home and made the arrests Wednesday without firing a shot, Verinder said. Related: Search warrant leads to seizure of more than 30 kilograms of fentanyl in York County. They would of been BUSTED. 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. While it was a more lucrative product, cocaine smugglers invariably toted automatic weapons. Kingpin Les Riley, who grew up in Columbia and attended USC, had a Southern upbringing that included hunting, fishing, and escorting the occasional debutante. The verdict came in shortly before 7 p . Detric McGowan Arrested in Alleged South Carolina Drug Bust after Story Went Viral February 27, 2019, 4:19 PM This good Samaritan who went viral for buying $540 worth of Girl Scout cookies was. The smugglers also borrowed plantations along the coast owned by rich Northerners who rarely visited. Minnesota officer removes jar from raccoon's head. 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. Will Folksis the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Theres no way theyd have the gumption to kill Maggie and Paul. Charlestons famous restaurant, 82 Queen, was seized as well. According to North Charleston authorities, Vernon Tyrell Willis, 26, has been arrested and charged with 13 counts of second-degree assault and battery. Daniel said the cocaine could have been sold for about $100 million if processed into crack. The cocaine was found in secret compartments aboard a twin-masted, 47-foot sailing yacht named the 'Arc.'. The York County sheriff provided more information Monday on a huge drug bust. The Florida Police Benevolent Association (FPBA) also released a statement in the wake of the longtime sergeants death. The defendants, mostly from South Carolina, were traced to alleged narcotics operations through a 'paper trail' of bank drafts, passports and other documents. Eight people suspected of importing the drug from Colombia and distributing it throughout the East Coast were arrested as they arrived at a Sea Pines Plantation Home to pick up the cocaine. Yet our response to the opioid and fentanyl crisis is underwhelming, Tolson said. 63 people face drug charges after South Carolina investigation Posted: Mar 31, 2021 / 03:00 PM EDT Updated: Mar 31, 2021 / 03:08 PM EDT SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA) - Sixty-three people are facing. Alleged drug traffickers in South Carolina used taco trucks to transport pounds of meth, cocaine and heroin, state prosecutors said Wednesday. Les and Barry enjoy a ride on a fishing boat with Barry displaying a bag of pot. Bone-Breakers, crossbow . Within a short time, the men identified Barry as someone who recently used cash for a large land purchase. Officials with the Lexington County Sheriff's Department said Javier Ayala has been charged . Smugglers Barry Foy, Les Riley, and Wally Butler celebrate a days catch in Hilton Head at a king mackerel tournament, where they blended into society while leading secret lives. He was as pleasant as can be.. All these kids have had other friends that have died, said Alsobrooks. York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson gathered with some S.C. lawmakers Monday, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, to talk about the lack of laws to combat fentanyl in the state. After a drug bust in South Carolina, 34 people are facing charges, according to the press release from the South Carolina attorney general. 2022 Blaze Media LLC. Greenville, South Carolina--- Acting United States Attorney M. Rhett Dehart announced today that, on Thursday, August 12, 2021, a joint team of 130 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers simultaneously executed 20 federal search warrants and arrested 12 individuals charged in a 34-count federal indictment for their roles in a drug trafficking organization that operated primarily . South Carolina. NYC Asking People to Give Bikes to Illegal Aliens! 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. To cut costs, Amazon delays completion of second headquarters, closes retail stores, 'Saving Private Ryan,' 'True Romance' actor Tom Sizemore dead at 61, Dozens killed, injured as Jakarta fuel depot fire engulfs neighborhood, Migrant woman dies after U.S. Coast Guard stops vessel carrying 54, 3 children killed, 2 hospitalized in North Texas domestic incident. By signing up to the Blaze News newsletter you agree to receive electronic communications from Blaze Media that may sometimes include advertisements or sponsored content. ", Woman wins $100,000 lottery prize 11 hours after $11,000 casino jackpot. March 3 (UPI) -- A Kentucky man who stopped to buy some breakfast said he lost his appetite when he won $50,000 from a scratch-off lottery ticket. You didnt have any I love yous or goodbye or nothing. MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA Less than twenty months after 30 Horry County and Myrtle Beach-area drug traffickers were indicted based on a federal wiretap investigation into narcotics and violence, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Carolina announced today that all 30 have pleaded guilty and been sentenced in federal court. Possession of drug paraphernalia charge; $95,000 secure bond; . His upbringing was typical of the South, with plenty of time spent hunting, fishing, and escorting the occasional debutante. These losers may have been the only people left in the county who would hang out with Paul. ', Suspected burglar inside New Brunswick home was a panicked deer. Dubbed "Operation Pentagon," the investigation targeted the distribution of heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and crack cocaine that has "plagued" the county, Smalls said. The longest sentence went to Lee Harvey, who received 40 years for drug smuggling, possession of machine guns and silencers, intimidation of a grand jury witness, and racketeering, among other charges. Press J to jump to the feed. As a member of the BSO Homicide Unit, Sgt. Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony announced Sgt. Among the chief targets of Operation Jackpot were South Carolina marijuana kingpins Barry Foy, from Billinge and Les Riley, who stood accused of smuggling 347,000 pounds of marijuana and 130,000 pounds of hashish into the United States. We are forever indebted to his brave service and pray that he will Rest In Peace. He was a dedicated father, public servant and friend. One of the defendants, a paralegal, is accused of sending drugs and phones into prison through hollowed out court transcripts, ABC News 4 reports. Cape Fear Bust: 20 arrests, 50 weapons, 10,000 grams of narcotics. The sheriff added that 87 people have lost their lives to fentanyl so far in 2022. The Delhi Police on Wednesday destroyed over 2,800 kgs of . The owner of multiple businesses in the Five Points shopping and entertainment district in downtown Columbia, South Carolina and the former vice president of its influential neighborhood association was arrested along with a relative last week on multiple drug charges. All rights reserved. The product was better and fetched a higher price. Thats so many kids that could have died. March 3 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Britain responded to a home to rescue a horse that had fallen into its owner's swimming pool and was unable to get itself out. An abandoned van full of sacks of Lebanese hashish was found following a raid on Edisto Island in November 1981. The investigation, asset seizures, defendant arrests, and trials were full of extraordinary tales and consumed the lives of task force members for four years. The case, dubbed "Los Banditos" by investigators, has to date resulted in the seizure of nearly 11 kilograms (24 pounds) of methamphetamine, 584 grams (1.3 pounds) of cocaine, approximately $63,000 in cash, and over 20 firearms in South Carolina, according to the attorney general. Also, these arrests are reportedly just the beginning of a much broader investigation . The case was investigated by the South Carolina State Grand Jury, which was assisted in this case by a partnership of the Attorney Generals State Grand Jury Division, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the South Carolina Department of Corrections Office of the Inspector General, the Greenville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit, the Thirteenth Circuit Solicitors office, Anderson County Sheriffs Office, Pickens County Sheriffs Office, Spartanburg County Sheriffs Office, Easley Police Department, Abbeville County Sheriffs Office, and the Oconee County Sheriffs Office. Representatives from various federal agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Agency, United States Customs, and the IRS, were invited to a meeting in Columbia to form a task force along with SLED. Attorney General Alan Wilson said a joint investigation in the Upstate called "Los Banditos" alleges much of the drug trafficking was run and . According to a federal indictment, the defendants have been identified as Glenn Talley Jr., Leonard Gatling, Stephanie Amber Hawkins, Joe Kent Graham, Jermaine Louis . 'We did not make any arrests of users or first-level distributors,' said Verinder. March 3 (UPI) -- A Massachusetts library said a book was recently returned with a note apologizing for the tome being 56 years overdue. 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. Those involved are allegedly in a drug ring associated with Mexican cartels, state officials said. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. We use cookies to better understand website visitors, for advertising, and to offer you a better experience. At last, the High Court ruled that Americas kingpin statute was an extraditable offense in 40 nations of the former British Empire. Copyright 2022 WBTV. All Rights Reserved. Even though task force members cooperated with one another, their superiors sometimes tried to throw up turf-related roadblocks. The task force, in concert with the U.S. Attorneys Office, worked to bring the Gentlemen Smugglers and their associates to justice. Bookings are updated several times a day so check back often! He said the street value of the more than 1,000 kilos of methamphetamine seized by law enforcement is over $75 million. Paul and drugs are rumors . Operation Jackpot was also one of the first federal task forces to combine investigators from a variety of federal agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Customs, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Customs Patrol. Between February 1, 2021, and December 14, 2022, law enforcement seized over 25 kilograms of methamphetamine (with a street value of approximately $800,000) and 30 guns as part of this investigation. U.S Attorney E. Bart Daniel said the half-ton of uncut cocaine valued at $10 million was the largest confiscation of drugs in South Carolina history. They were executed with premeditation. If you engage in this illicit type of activity, drug trafficking, youre going to eventually get busted and were going to put you away, Wilson said. 170 charges filed against defendants linked to Mexican cartel . CLICK HERE. Bob Byers died in 2004. A man has been arrested for a major drug bust in Rutherford County, according to the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office. Some even volunteered to come along, enticed by the idea of cruising the Caribbean and returning on mattresses of marijuana bales. 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.. Bob Duncan said, 'It will be studied in law enforcement academies for many semesters on how this went so smoothly. According to my law enforcement sources, this ongoing investigation has less to do with marijuana a drug which most people in the Palmetto State (including me) believe should be legalized and more to do with a rash of recent date rape druggings that allegedly occurred in the Five Points region of Columbia. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and seven children. Both sides ceased fire when the smugglers boats arrived to pick up hashish because drug money paid for the war to go on. Drug traffickers used a Mexican eatery and taco trucks to transport drugs around South Carolina, state prosecutors said Wednesday. The owner of multiple businesses in the Five Points shopping and entertainment district in downtown Columbia, South Carolina - and the former vice president of its influential neighborhood. 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. It was a devastating blow to the task force. While law enforcement had tried to catch the smugglers in the past and, in a few instances, succeeded, they were hampered in the 1970s by unsophisticated or nonexistent equipment, insufficient support, and the miles and miles of South Carolina shoreline. Tom Rhoad received a 15-year sentence, Barry Foy got 18 years, and Les Riley was sentenced to 21 years. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? North Carolina. Make sure you see our stories daily directly to your inbox. As a true crime community, we promote civil discussions surrounding the alleged crimes of Alex Murdaugh and related entanglements. And yes, he has LOTS of hats (including the above-pictured Washington Senators lid). Theyre dealing death: York County, S.C. state leaders speak on fentanyl bust. Here is the full video of the press conference . Barry and Les met in Key West where, in 1973, Barry persuaded Les that smuggling grass was much more lucrative than cutting it. 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. Patty Roberts is not mincing her words when speaking on fentanyl. Operation Jackpot was a federal drug task force based in South Carolina that captured and convicted more than 100 marijuana smugglers from 1983 to 1986 during President Ronald Reagan's War on Drugs. Information from the Los Banditos investigation was used to make another bust in Atlanta, where authorities seized approximately 200 kilos (441 pounds) of methamphetamine, 3.5 kilos (7.7 pounds) of cocaine, 3.2 kilos (7 pounds) of heroin, 5 ounces of cocaine mixed with fentanyl, 183 pounds of marijuana, 900 Xanax pills, and multiple firearms from stash houses in apartments, the attorney general's office said. CLICK HERE. 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. He spent his free time between classes his senior year burning up the road between Columbia and Key West, Florida, where he worked as a doorman. I live in a small ass county not in South Carolina Our local da parades around big drug bust like this once a year. The attorney general's office said a "substantial portion" of the drugs seized in Atlanta were intended for South Carolina. Kentucky man stops for breakfast, wins $50,000 lottery prize. Ten other defendants are currently in prison. SLED agents began arresting suspects in the case on January 3, 2023 assisted by local law enforcement agencies. New live-action 'Peter Pan' trailer shocks with major character changes, Jane Fonda Suggests She Was Set Up During Fox Interview, The Biden Administration is Just Insane & Should Be Removed At Once. It was unprecedented for the agencies to share information, much less work together and out of the same office. 'They were headed for New York City and Miami.'. 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. Given their standards and their college educations, the two men were nicknamed the Gentlemen Smugglers.. CLICK HERE. The 53-year-old sergeants exact cause of death was not released. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? History and legal buffs will appreciate reliving the 1970s with the challenges faced by the task force and the ingenuity used to achieve its objective. They dont want you to see this Big Tech does its best to limit what news you see.