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. 2023 Blaze Media LLC. They were executed with premeditation. South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh was sentenced to life in prison without parole Friday, a day after he was convicted of murder in the shooting deaths of his wife and son. He is also an author and an avid Civil War enthusiast. What is the talk on the street? Wilder still, the two main characters hail from Columbia, South Carolina. Patty Roberts is not mincing her words when speaking on fentanyl. 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. Barry and Les met in Key West where, in 1973, Barry persuaded Les that smuggling grass was much more lucrative than cutting it. With a heavy heart, we announce the untimely loss of a longtime employee, Sergeant Kevin Forsberg, who passed away on Friday, January 27, 2023, Sheriff Tony wrote. 8,333 people were booked in the last 30 days (Order: Booking Date ) First Prev This hit the drug smugglers smack in the purse strings. Military Digest Charleston man saved. 'For the most part, these drugs were not headed for South Carolina,' he said. I dont believe there was a drug connection to the Murdaughs but it wouldnt surprise me if LE saw this as an opportunity to round up a bunch of local criminals (of varying levels of serious criminality) and see if anything shook loose in exchange for some leniency. The property had a deep water dock. According to investigators, the large drug operation trafficked in more than 1,000 kilograms of methamphetamine, or more than 2,200 pounds. 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. Officials with the Lexington County Sheriff's Department said Javier Ayala has been charged . Obviously this news outlet will keep close tabs on this investigation as it moves forward . After a drug bust in South Carolina, 34 people are facing charges, according to the press release from the South Carolina attorney general. So both were allegedly dealing marijuana, right? The upstate has become a hub," Wilson said at a press conference. State Attorney General Alan Wilson announced grand jury indictments Wednesday against the owners of the Los Primos restaurant in Greenville, S.C. March 2 (UPI) -- A Minnesota police officer came to the rescue of a raccoon he spotted running around with a jar stuck over its head. 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. Consider it one of the more comic scenes in an $850 million drug-smuggling saga that rocked the South Carolina Lowcountry in the early 1980s. 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. https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/local/hampton-county-guardian/2021/07/23/county-wide-operation-pentagon-nets-least-18-arrests-h-c/8075562002/. Bone-Breakers, crossbow . Specifically, date rape druggings which are alleged to have occurred at Sears establishments. The York County. The five Colombians in custody are Jorge Samuel Cruz, Luis F. Taboada-Garcia, Felipe Janer and Juan Carlos Perez. The Canal Street home was raided last Thursday by CPD narcotics agents prior to the Sears arrests. They owned homes on St. Barthlemy and drank copious amounts of expensive wine. Piece by piece, the task force identified a web of drug smugglers, half of whom were South Carolina natives. 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. Our hearts go out to Sergeant Kevin Forsbergs family, friends and colleagues at Broward Sheriffs Office where he served in the BSOs Homicide Unit. Plantation, FL Broward Sheriffs Office (BSO) Sergeant Kevin Forsberg died unexpectedly on Jan. 27. South Carolina partnered with Georgia and federal authorities to make the drug bust. According to North Charleston authorities, Vernon Tyrell Willis, 26, has been arrested and charged with 13 counts of second-degree assault and battery. Les Riley lives on Seabrook Island. The surviving Gentlemen Smugglers still gather occasionally at an event they call The Felons Ball., In the fall of 1986, in a speech in Columbia, President Reagan said, Operation Jackpot was our first major breakthrough in our war on drugs.. Its the most amazing story going on in law enforcement in the United States today, said Henry at the time. March 2 (UPI) -- A Florida woman earned a Guinness World Record when she completed 23 ultra-marathon runs -- 31.1 miles -- in a 23-day period. The statement on theinvestigation revealed alleged connections to Mexican drug trafficking cartels operating in South Carolina and Georgia. So they are applauding the work, knowing much more work needs done. Attorney General Wilson said that drugs in the southeast are typically trafficked across the southern border and sent to Atlanta, where they are then distributed to neighboring states. 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. This is the second drug bust along I-95 in Nash County this week. A 30-month long ordeal ensued as the Australian court wrestled with whether the two could be extradited on a drug kingpin charge. COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - According to the FBI Columbia Field Office and the Columbia Violent Gang Task Force, nine people were indicted Tuesday for drug . And what about all the rumors you preach as gospel. The case is referred to as "Prison Empire," one of the state's largest narcotics conspiracy investigations ever indicted. Soldiers would sometimes even help load drugs onto the boats and then, once they were clear of land, fighting resumed. Press J to jump to the feed. Under South Carolina law, trafficking in cocaine is a felony punishable by a prison term of between 25 and 30 years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted and a fine of up to $200,000. The product was better and fetched a higher price. Operation Jackpot defendants were tried in three large batches and represented by well-known South Carolina defense attorneys such as Gedney Howe, Arthur Howe, Ed Bell, and Sol Blatt. Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Throughout the extensive multi-agency investigation, it was revealed that the much of the drug trafficking was coordinated by current and former prison inmates through contraband cell phones. 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. 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. One of the defendants, a paralegal, is accused of sending drugs and phones into prison through hollowed out court transcripts, ABC News 4 reports. In time, the drug trade grew crowded in South Florida. As a true crime community, we promote civil discussions surrounding the alleged crimes of Alex Murdaugh and related entanglements. Politics. For those who want the full story of this local legend, Jackpot is a something-for-everyone kind of tale. 9 arrested after drug bust in Greenwood County, deputies say. We use cookies to better understand website visitors, for advertising, and to offer you a better experience. Got a tip for a story? They learned they could make more money if they obtained their product from Colombia rather than Jamaica. Georgia. Theyre dealing death: York County, S.C. state leaders speak on fentanyl bust. Judge Hawkins died in 2005, Dewey Greager in 2017, and Cam Littlejohn in 2018. Investigators say six defendants in Mexico are now living among Jalisco New Generation Cartel members and are sourcing drugs directly from the cartel. The third island resident was identified as Kathy G. Gerald, 39. In the 1970s, the drug was widely used, and the publics attitude was apathetic. Curiously, though, police did not immediately say what type of drug Jonathan Sears allegedly possessed/ intended to distribute. We are forever indebted to his brave service and pray that he will Rest In Peace.. The last fugitive from Operation Jackpot was arrested in 2007. Hero Down: Broward Sheriffs Office Sergeant Kevin Forsberg Dies Unexpectedly. Sergeant Forsberg was a great father, family man, great person, great friend to those who knew him, and a great law enforcement officer, the tribute read. Defendant Kelli Edwards allegedly fled in October 2022. The story is utterly fantastic, with a list of villains so long one has trouble keeping up with them all. South Carolina drug bust catches Charleston college drug ring pushing cocaine, Ecstasy and Xanax By Tobias Salinger NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Jun 24, 2016 at 8:06 pm Nine young people arrested as. Possession of drug paraphernalia charge; $95,000 secure bond; . It is a drop in the bucket. Forsbergs family in the wake of their loss has raised more than $34,000 so far. India News | Press Trust of India | Wednesday December 21, 2022. CLICK HERE. Barry Foy and Les were making so much money it was hard to figure out what to do with it all. The. 'This has been the most aggressive, high-tech, team-oriented operation in the history of South Carolina,' Daniel said. About 80 law enforcement officers descended on the home and made the arrests Wednesday without firing a shot, Verinder said. Typical agency turf wars were not allowed; anyone who refused to play nice was excused from the team. Coast Guard Cmdr. The sheriff added that 87 people have lost their lives to fentanyl so far in 2022. We decided to figure out who they were and catch them at home. With this new approach. His loved ones and his BSO family will forever carry on his legacy.. 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. They were arraigned late Wednesday in Charleston before U.S. District Judge Sol Blatt Jr. King World Productions Inc. 2023 Inside Edition Inc. and CBS interactive Inc., Paramount companies. In January of this year, reporter Kailey Cota of The Daily Gamecock the student newspaper for The University of South Carolina reported that multiple students and other Five Points patrons reported being illegally drugged at Cotton Gin, Pavlovs Bar and Jakesduring the fall 2020 semester., At least three victims submitted incident reports in connection with these alleged druggings describing how they felt nauseous, dizzy and then vomited and blacked out., By the time we had driven from Cotton Gin [I was] completely limp, one victim recalled. Theyre dealing death, Tolson said. Given their standards and their college educations, the two men were nicknamed the Gentlemen Smugglers.. Investigators believe the alleged drug traffickers were responsible for moving more than 1,000 kilograms (more than one ton) of methamphetamine, 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of cocaine, and 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of heroin in the state. However, it looks like a lot to us. Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor Walt Wilkins said in thestatement, This was a very large scale organized drug operation that allegedly was trafficking kilograms of drugs every week into Greenville County,, The hard work and dedication of the Greenville Drug Enforcement Unit, SLED, and the South Carolina State Grand Jury has significantly decreased the availability of drugs in the Greenville Community and arrested some of its worst drug dealers., Aristocrat Constance Marten and Sex-Offender Mark Gordon's Missing Baby Found Dead in Countryside, Cops Say, GOP Legislator Introduces Bill That Would Eliminate Florida's Democratic Party, Florida Student, 17, Who Attacked Teacher to Be Tried as Adult, Woman Convicted in Connection to Lady Gaga Dognapping Sues Singer for $500,000 Reward Money, 5 Ballet Dancers Seriously Injured in California Hit-and-Run Car Crash Strive to Heal to Return to the Stage, 17-Year-Old Michigan Boy Slain by 13-Year-Old and 14-Year-Old Who He Offered Ride Home on Cold Night: Police. 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. 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. 7-year-old baseball umpire seeks Guinness World Record. And yes, he has LOTS of hats (including the above-pictured Washington Senators lid). SLED agent Robert Stewart and Bart Daniel also traveled to Australia while the case was being appealed. Thousands of kilos of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine were pumping into Greenville County.. Those murders look very much like a drug hit and probably not a hit by some low down on the food chain drug users. 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. We have an open microphone policy here at FITSNews! Im his mother what else would I say. RALEIGH, N.C. Federal authorities have arrested 21 people at the University of North Carolina, Duke University and Appalachian State University in connection with a "large drug network" bust . Bookings are updated several times a day so check back often! The Florida Police Benevolent Association (FPBA) also released a statement in the wake of the longtime sergeants death. 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. Unbeknownst to his grandmother, Skip charged the smugglers a fee to offload their product there. 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. [2], Last edited on 2 September 2022, at 16:19, "25 years later, 8,000 pounds of pot could get man 5 years", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Operation_Jackpot_(drug_investigation)&oldid=1108113124, This page was last edited on 2 September 2022, at 16:19. Bob Jendron retired after a long career as a federal prosecutor, while his former coworker, Bart Daniel, served as U.S. attorney from 1989-1992 and is now a partner in a Charleston law firm. He has friends that have died. 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. The co-conspirators would then drive to Atlanta and other locations to pick up kilograms of methamphetamine, bring it to South Carolina, and then distribute it in the Upstate, according to police and prosecutors. 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/. Paul and drugs are rumors . 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. A normal hashish load had a street value of $90 million. Tom Rhoad died in March 2005 after suffering an aneurysm. Or an issue youd like to address proactively? The task force, in concert with the U.S. Attorneys Office, worked to bring the Gentlemen Smugglers and their associates to justice. The payday for smugglers was double that of marijuana. CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Nine people are facing federal charges after a major drug bust in the Hollywood area of southern Charleston County. Many of the smugglers and kingpins evaded arrest for years, resulting in manhunts across the United States and world through the early and mid-1980s, and captures in Antigua, Australia, Miami, New York, and San Diego. Im thinking serious cartel and/ or gang bosses who are higher up. Typical agency turf wars were not allowed; anyone who refused to play nice was excused from the team. Illegal drugs,. National. '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. Bigs,' arrived to collect the shipment. Christian K-8 school last year declared that 'we stand with the LGBTQIA+ community and believe in their holiness.' The smugglers also borrowed plantations along the coast owned by rich Northerners who rarely visited. March 3 (UPI) -- A New Brunswick couple who initially thought a burglar had broken into their home discovered the invader was actually a panicked deer. In January 1981, Ronald Reagan became president and promoted a stiff policy on drugs. This was a year-long investigation that resulted in the arrests of six people. Thats so many kids that could have died. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? 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. The adventurous will enjoy tales of exotic locales, fugitive escapades, and mountains of drugs and money. SCDNR never sought a warrant to compel the hospital to draw Pauls blood that night, but the hospital did anyway The doctor said that no drugs were found in Pauls system.. 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. Police from the Lee County sheriff's office, in coordination with South Carolina correctional authorities, made the busts following an eight-month investigation into the rings, which used drones to make late-night deliveries of contraband to the prison. 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. This content is courtesy of, and owned and copyrighted by, https://bluelivesmatter.blue and its author. . Barry Foy followed his prison time with a career in real estate and construction. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); South Carolina Grand Jury Indicts 43 In Las Senoritas Drug Ring, Senate Panel Advances Certificate Of Need Repeal, Murdaugh Murders Media Coverage: Access Issues Debated, Child Sexual Assault Allegations Rock Midlands South Carolina Murder Case, Greg Leon Murder Case: Perjury Charge Filed, SLED Agent Incapacitated On Witness Stand After Reported Drug Exposure, LIVE FEED Murdaugh Murders Trial: Alex Murdaugh Sentencing Hearing, Murdaugh Murders Trial: Alex Murdaugh Guilty On All Counts, O.J. It wouldnt be the best idea but who knows? 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. The numbers led back to Les. According to the release, the investigation in total from both locations seized large quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine including some mixed with fentanyl, marijuana, xanax, multiple firearms, and $63,000. Chelsie Marie Anderson, Jennifer Nicole Burns, and Amy Deanna Cobb a/k/a Emma allegedly fled to Mexico in late 2018-2020. Well hold the line from here. 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. As with anyone accused of committing any crime, the Sears are considered innocent until proven guilty by our criminal justice system or until such time as they may wish to enter some form of allocution in connection with a plea agreement with prosecutors related to any of the charges which have been filed against them. Updated: Oct. 29, 2020 at 4:30 PM PDT. 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. He said the street value of the more than 1,000 kilos of methamphetamine seized by law enforcement is over $75 million. At this point, it is not immediately clear how either Jonathan or Geoffrey Sears would be connected to such an investigation but hopefully our FOIA request will yield additional information as to the nature (and the status) of this inquiry. The man, now-identified as Detric McGowan, was arrested Tuesday morning in a U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) drug bust, reports CBS South Carolina affiliate WSPA-TV. Kingpin Les Riley, who grew up in Columbia and attended USC, had a Southern upbringing that included hunting, fishing, and escorting the occasional debutante. South Carolina. |, 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. Politics. When all the Operation Jackpot trials were over, more than 100 smugglers went to jail. A drop in the bucket compared to whats out there, she said. During the search, agents found suspected fentanyl, methamphetamine, marijuana, buprenorphine, and alprazolam along with digital scales and smoking pipes in the home and in Glover's purse in a car on the property. Got a tip for a story? The thought immediately went through my mind that I wonder if they were responsible for his death, said Roberts. March 2 (UPI) -- A Maryland woman scored a $100,000 prize from a scratch-off lottery ticket less than 12 hours after she scored an $11,000 jackpot at a casino. Copyright 2022 WBTV. The cocaine was found in secret compartments aboard a twin-masted, 47-foot sailing yacht named the 'Arc.'. Now, 13 years after the last Gentleman Smuggler was sentenced, they are all out of prison. 5, 2022 at 7:26 PM EDT . A trusted neighbor is on top of a 20-foot ladder in . The co-conspirators also face multiple charges related to their role in the drug trafficking operation. 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. represent clients in a variety of civil and criminal matters. 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. <p>Pounds of various drugs were transported by taco trucks owned by a restaurant as part of a large drug-dealing operation in South Carolina, state authorities said Wednesday.</p> 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. Just after the first trial, a man did just that. North Carolina. 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. He was an assistant United States attorney at the time. "Theres much more volume flowing into our communities. Within a short time, the men identified Barry as someone who recently used cash for a large land purchase. After college, Les moved to Key West and started a landscaping business, cutting grass for $5. Id want to see the actual lab result before I believed it. Bob Byers got a 25-year sentence plus eight years for his escape. 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. Drug traffickers used a Mexican eatery and taco trucks to transport drugs around South Carolina, state prosecutors said Wednesday. It is much more significant," he said. Agents also seized about $1 million in property, including the rented home, the yacht and five vehicles. 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. A man has been arrested for a major drug bust in Rutherford County, according to the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office. Investigators alleged the drug operation was linked to a Mexican drug cartel. 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. 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 As a member of the BSO Homicide Unit, Sgt. A fundraising campaign established to help Sgt. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and seven children. Mandy does an amazing job with her investigative journalism. That was a good feeling seeing all those pills were off the street. The two men were nicknamed the Gentlemen Smugglers given their standards and college education. David and Chuck fed questions to her for the kingpin and used the information to set a trap. 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. Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. Wild as it seems, the story is true. Just like him being a CI . The York County sheriff provided more information Monday on a huge drug bust. Listen online or download the iHeart App. Does anybody else think its just an amazing coincidence that LE rounded up all these local Hampton/ Colleton county drug knuckleheads about a month after the Murdaugh murders? Large drug bust in Hampton County (for those of you who believe drugs played a role in the murders). 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.