District of South Carolina
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Charleston Bank Robber Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Charleston, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Johnathan Clayton, age 39, of Charleston, South Carolina, was sentenced to eight years in federal prison after pleading guilty to bank robbery by force, violence, and intimidation.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on October 13, 2017, at approximately 11:35 a.m., a bank on Broad Street was robbed by a black male, approximately 30 years old and 6’7” tall. The bank teller stated that the man was wearing a work uniform and demanded money from the teller’s drawer or he would shoot her. The teller did not see a gun, but the male had his left arm by his side and looked as though he was concealing something near his left pant pocket. He began to count down from five and told the teller to “stop procrastinating.” After he received approximately $1,860, he fled the bank on foot.
City of Charleston Police Department officers reviewed the surveillance video and determined that the suspect was Johnathan Clayton. The bank teller and other witnesses at the bank were able to positively identify Clayton as the suspect in a photo lineup.
United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel sentenced Clayton to a total of 96 months in federal prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Charleston City Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Assistant United States Attorney Emily Limehouse of the Charleston office prosecuted the case.
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Columbia Man Sentenced to over 5 Years on Federal Drug and Firearm ChargesRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Reggie Denard Goodwin, age 47, of Columbia, South Carolina, was sentenced to over 5 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine and to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Evidence presented to the court showed that on March 13, 2018, deputies with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department stopped Goodwin’s vehicle after observing a traffic violation. Deputies smelled marijuana and asked Goodwin, the driver, to exit the vehicle. Goodwin actively resisted arrest, struck the officer’s arm, and tried to flee. A loaded .380 caliber handgun, which was later determined to be stolen, was found in Goodwin’s pocket. Inside the car, deputies located a digital scale and baggies of cocaine, crack cocaine, and marijuana. After waiving his rights, Goodwin admitted that he tried to run because he had drugs and a gun. Goodwin was arrested on state charges and released on state bond.
Three months later, while out on that state bond from the March 2018 drug and gun offenses, Goodwin was involved in a high speed chase on June 1, 2018, after Richland County Sheriff’s Department deputies attempted to stop his truck for a traffic violation. The chase ensued through highly populated areas of Columbia, including Devine Street and Garners Ferry Road. During the chase, a deputy observed Goodwin throwing baggies out of his truck. Goodwin lost control and wrecked his truck as he crossed into oncoming traffic over a raised median at the on-ramp to I-77. Goodwin exited the truck with a handgun in his hands, which he tossed into the brush when he attempted to flee. Goodwin resisted arrest and struggled with deputies. He was arrested on state charges and released again on state bond. Thereafter, a federal complaint and arrest warrant were issued. Goodwin was arrested and remains in federal custody.
Federal law prohibits Goodwin from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon prior state convictions for possession of cocaine and possession of crack cocaine (1990); burglary 2nd degree (1990); grand larceny (1991); receiving stolen goods (1994); forgery (1996); burglary 2nd degree/strong arm robbery, possession of crack cocaine, and grand larceny (1996); burglary 2nd degree and grand larceny (1996); possession with intent to distribute marijuana (2006); and possession of crack cocaine (2006).
Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr., sentenced Goodwin to 63 months in federal prison, to be followed by a 6-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. It 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 implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.
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Former CEO of Hospital Chain to Pay $3.46 Million to Resolve False Billing and Kickback AllegationsRead the Press Release
Gary D. Newsome, former CEO of Health Management Associates LLC (HMA), a hospital chain that was headquartered in Naples, Florida, has agreed to pay the United States $3.46 million to settle allegations that he caused HMA to knowingly submit false claims to government health care programs by admitting patients who could have been treated on a less costly, outpatient basis, the Department of Justice announced. The settlement also resolves allegations that Newsome caused HMA to pay remuneration to Emergency Department (ED) physicians in return for referrals.
“Those who bill federal health care programs for unnecessary hospital stays will be held accountable for wasting federal dollars,” said Assistant Attorney General Jody Hunt for the Department of Justice’s Civil Division. “Patients deserve the unfettered, independent judgment of their health care professionals. We will pursue those who cause hospitals to offer financial incentives to physicians in return for improper patient referrals that undermine the integrity of our health care system.”
“A physician’s health care decisions should be driven by what is in the patient’s best interest, not by what helps line a provider’s pockets,” said Barbara Bowens, the Acting U.S. Attorney for South Carolina for purposes of this case. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will not tolerate false claims based on unnecessary hospital admissions, which drive up health care costs and can harm patients.”
“Providers are expected to closely follow rules and bill properly. Further, in this case, the government contended that Newsome directed illegal payments for referrals,” said Derrick L. Jackson, Special Agent in Charge of the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Taxpayer money wasted is money stolen from vital government health programs.”
The settlement resolves allegations that Newsome caused HMA to pressure ED physicians to increase inpatient admissions by recommending admission without regard to medical necessity. The government claimed that the inpatient admission of these beneficiaries was not medically necessary, and that the care needed by, and provided to, these beneficiaries should have been provided in a less costly outpatient or observation setting. Hospitals generally receive significantly higher payments from Medicare for inpatient admissions as opposed to outpatient treatment; therefore, the admission of beneficiaries who do not need inpatient care, as alleged here, can result in substantial financial harm to the Medicare program.
The United States also alleged that Newsome caused HMA to pay remuneration to EmCare, a company that provided physicians to staff HMA hospital EDs, to recommend admission when patients should have been treated on an outpatient basis. As part of the alleged scheme, Newsome caused HMA to make certain bonus payments to EmCare ED physicians and tied EmCare’s retention of existing contracts and receipt of new contracts to increased admissions of patients who came to the ED.
Newsome served as CEO of HMA from September 2008 through July 2013. HMA was acquired by Community Health Systems Inc. (CHS), another hospital chain, in January 2014, after the alleged conduct at HMA occurred.
HMA and EmCare have already resolved their liability to the government for these allegations. In September 2018 HMA entered into a civil settlement under which it paid $61.8 million. Simultaneously, HMA entered into a Non-Prosecution Agreement (NPA) with the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section under which it paid a $35 million monetary penalty. In addition, an HMA subsidiary that formerly owned one hospital pled guilty to a single count of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, and paid a $3.25 million fine. In December 2017, EmCare paid $29.6 million to resolve these allegations.
This settlement resolves a lawsuit originally filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina by Jacqueline Meyer, a former employee of EmCare, and J. Michael Cowling, a former employee of HMA, under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act, which permit private citizens to bring lawsuits on behalf of the United States and share in any recovery. Meyer and Cowling will receive approximately $725,000 from the settlement. The case was transferred to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and is United States ex rel. Meyer & Cowling v. HMA, Inc., 1:14-cv-00586-RBW (D.D.C).
The settlement was the result of a coordinated effort by the Civil Division’s Commercial Litigation Branch, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
Union Woman Receives 2 Years in Federal Prison for Fraudulent Tax Preparation ServiceRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Ashley E. Browning, age 32, of Union, South Carolina, was sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty to preparing and presenting false tax returns. United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain of Anderson sentenced Browning to 2 years in federal prison and ordered that she pay over $200,000 in restitution to the federal government.
Evidence presented to the court established that Browning prepared and filed, and assisted in preparing and filing of, multiple tax returns for customers in exchange for fees. Browning carried out this conduct from her home in Union County and also from the homes of her customers who resided in and around Union County. Browning repeatedly falsified information in returns she prepared in order to generate fraudulent refunds. For example, Browning repeatedly submitted false information about customers’ income, federal withholding, and educational expenses. Because of this pattern of falsification, the Government issued approximately $200,000 more in refunds than it would have if accurate and honest information had been submitted by Browning.
The case was investigated by agents with the Internal Revenue Service and the Union City Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office prosecuted the case.
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U.S. Attorney Encourages Public Participation in DEA’s 17th National Prescription Drug Take Back DayRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- U.S. Attorney Sherri A. Lydon today encouraged public participation in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s 17th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The biannual event will take place this Saturday, April 27, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at thousands of collection sites around the country, including 66 here in South Carolina. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is an effort to remove opioids and other medicines from the nation’s homes, where they are vulnerable to misuse, theft, or abuse by family members and visitors, including children and teens.
“Opioid fatalities in South Carolina swelled by 700% between 2002 and 2017,” said U.S. Attorney Lydon. “Working together, we can break the vicious cycle of drug abuse, addiction, and overdose that has devastated countless families across our state. The DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is an opportunity to safely dispose of your prescription drugs, helping to keep dangerous narcotics out of the wrong hands and to stop opioid addiction before it starts.”
Robert J. Murphy, the Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division said, “Addressing the problem of the abuse of controlled pharmaceuticals continues to be one of DEA’s top priorities. One way to address this issue is to encourage the public to properly remove their unwanted, unused, and dated prescription medications from their homes. DEA and its law enforcement, tribal, and community partners are holding its seventeenth take-back event in order to child proof and teen proof homes so that these medications cannot be abused. I invite you to do your part in the midst of this opioid crisis as we strive to make our communities safer.”
Last October, South Carolinians participating in DEA’s Drug Take Back Day turned in 7,526 pounds of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal. Overall, in its 16 previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners have taken in over 11 million pounds—more than 5,400 tons—of pills. The disposal service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. (The DEA cannot accept liquids, needles, or sharps. It can accept only pills or patches.)
Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 91 Americans die each day from an opioid overdose. Some painkiller abusers move on to heroin: Four out of five new heroin users started with painkillers.
Flushing medications down the toilet or throwing them in the trash pose potential safety and health hazards. This initiative addresses the public safety and public health issues that surround medications languishing in home cabinets, becoming highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse.
For more information or to locate a collection site near you, visit https://takebackday.dea.gov/#collection-locator.
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Columbia Man Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison for Theft of FirearmsRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Jonathan Donnell Thompson, a/k/a “Joe-Nae,” a/k/a “Jonathan Joe Nate Thompson,” age 37, of Columbia, South Carolina, was sentenced to 4 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to steal firearms from a federal firearms licensee.
Evidence presented to the court showed on August 5, 2016, Tony’s Guns and Police Supplies, a federal firearms licensee in Sumter, was burglarized and approximately 75 handguns were stolen. The investigation revealed similarities between that burglary and other burglaries of liquor stores in several counties. Law enforcement was able to identify Cedrick K. Reddick, age 26, of Columbia, 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. Both Thompson and his co-defendant Reddick were charged federally with the gun store theft. Of the 75 firearms stolen, only 21 of them have been recovered by law enforcement, some in the hands of felons who are prohibited from possessing firearms and were prosecuted federally.
Thompson has prior state convictions for driving under suspension (two separate counts), forgery less than $5,000, simple possession of marijuana (two separate counts), possession of cocaine (two separate counts), and receiving stolen goods. One week prior to this August 5, 2016 incident, Thompson pleaded guilty in Richland County to malicious injury to real property stemming from a February 2016 attempted burglary at a Columbia liquor store.
United States District Judge J. Michelle Childs sentenced Thompson to 48 months in federal prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
Thompson’s co-defendant Reddick was sentenced on April 12, 2019, to a total of 84 months (7 years) in federal prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of court-ordered supervision. That 84-month sentence is comprised of 70 months on the new firearm convictions and a consecutive 14-month revocation of his prior federal supervision.
The case was investigated by 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. 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 implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.
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Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Distribution of Oxycodone Resulting in the Death of Former University of South Carolina StudentRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Anthony James Edward Hunt, 24, of Columbia, South Carolina, pleaded guilty in federal court to the distribution of oxycodone resulting in death.
Evidence presented to the court showed that in January 2016, Hunt sold a former University of South Carolina student, named in the indictment as R.B., alprazolam tablets on January 24 and 26, 2016, after R.B. expressed her desire to commit suicide. When the alprazolam tablets failed to cause R.B. to die, Hunt advised R.B. that she could take her life by ingesting oxycodone tablets, and he provided her with detailed instructions on how to consume the oxycodone pills. On January 27, 2016, Hunt sold R.B. ten 30-milligram oxycodone tablets. The next day, R.B. was found deceased in her apartment. Experts opined that R.B.’s death was caused by an oxycodone overdose. After his arrest, Hunt admitted to law enforcement that he distributed the oxycodone to R.B. knowing that she intended to commit suicide.
Hunt faces a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. United States District Judge J. Michelle Childs of Columbia accepted the guilty plea and will sentence Hunt after receiving and reviewing a presentencing report prepared by the United States Probation Office.
“This case reveals the dangers associated with the illegal distribution of prescription drugs, particularly opioids,” said U.S. Attorney Lydon. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office will never tire in our fight for justice for victims of unscrupulous drug dealers, and we will continue to work with law enforcement and community leaders to stem the tide of an epidemic that has devastated countless American families.”
The charges against Hunt were the result of an investigation led by Drug Enforcement Administration Agent Adam Roberson, with the assistance of the Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Richland County Coroner’s Office, Columbia Police Department, University of South Carolina Police Department, and Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney Benjamin Garner of the Columbia office is prosecuting the case.
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Former Company Executive Sentenced to over Four Years in Federal Prison for Construction Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Columbia, SC - United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Thomas Brock, age 62, of Camden, South Carolina, was sentenced to 51 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud.
According to information presented during his guilty plea and sentencing, Brock was involved in a decade-long scheme to defraud the government in the acquisition of military construction contracts. Under programs instituted by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), certain military and federal government contracts are specifically set aside for award to minorities, women, and service veterans. These programs are intended to provide small businesses with an opportunity for growth and experience working through the federal government.
Brock was an executive with Boykin Contracting and used various straw-owners within the company to pose as a female, an African-American, a disabled person, and a veteran in order to qualify for over $160 million dollars’ worth of these government construction contracts. Based on information presented in court, Brock illegally acquired the contracts and siphoned money from the company to support a lavish lifestyle. The scheme fell apart when Brock fraudulently acquired loans to cover the company’s losses and fell behind on the repayments, prompting a civil lawsuit and a criminal investigation.
United States District Judge J. Michelle Childs of Columbia sentenced Brock to 51 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
“Companies who wish to obtain federal contracts set aside for businesses run by women, minorities, veterans, or those with disabilities must play by the rules,” said U.S. Attorney Lydon. “We will not tolerate those who cheat the system for their own gain, victimizing the government, the companies who should have received these valuable benefits, and the American taxpayer.”
“Providing false statements to obtain federal contracts set aside for small businesses owned and operated by disadvantaged individuals and our nation’s veterans will be met with justice,” said SBA Inspector General Hannibal “Mike” Ware. “Today’s sentencing sends a strong message that those responsible will be held accountable. I want to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their support and dedication to pursuing justice in this case.”
"This sentencing is the product of a thorough investigation and demonstrates the commitment of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and our law enforcement partners to hold corrupt contractors accountable when they scam small businesses owned by veterans and other disadvantaged individuals,” said Special Agent in Charge Robert E. Craig, Jr., DCIS Mid-Atlantic Field Office. “DCIS will continue to protect the integrity of the Department of Defense by rooting out fraud, waste, and abuse that negatively impacts the welfare of men and women who have served, and continue to serve, our nation."
"This sentencing is the culmination of more than five years of investigative work by our agents and our law enforcement partners," said Frank Robey, director of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command's Major Procurement Fraud Unit. "Abusing the laws established to protect small businesses and businesses owned by disabled veterans to line your pockets is truly disgraceful."
The case was investigated primarily by the SBA, DCIS, and VA and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney T. DeWayne Pearson of the Columbia office.
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Former SCDC Corrections Officer Sentenced to Federal Prison for Smuggling Contraband into Corrections FacilityRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that former South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) Officer Joshua Cave, 30, of Allendale, South Carolina, was sentenced to 6 months in federal prison and 6 months of probation after pleading guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Honest Services Wire Fraud.
Evidence presented to the court showed that SCDC inmates paid Cave bribes in exchange for smuggling alcohol into Allendale Correctional Institute. Evidence showed that Cave received at least ten bribes amounting to over one thousand dollars.
United States District Judge J. Michelle Childs of Columbia sentenced Cave to 6 months in federal prison and 6 months of probation, to be followed by a 2-year term of court-ordered supervision.
“We are grateful for the women and men at the South Carolina Department of Corrections who put on their uniform every day and work hard to protect inmates, prison staff, and the general public,” said U.S. Attorney Lydon. “But this case should serve as a warning to those employees who would violate the public trust by smuggling contraband into our corrections facilities: If you bring contraband into our prisons, you will end up in prison. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to stand with SCDC as we root out corruption in our prison system.”
“We will pursue prison time for any correctional officer or staff member who brings contraband into an SCDC institution,” S.C. Department of Corrections Director Bryan Stirling said. “A correctional officer holds a position of public trust. If he or she violates that trust, it puts fellow officers, staff, inmates, and the public at risk. This kind of conduct will not be tolerated.”
Cave is one of 19 former SCDC employees—including corrections officers, a nurse, and food service employees—indicted on federal charges related to accepting bribes and bringing contraband into South Carolina prisons. Defendants Douglas Hawkins, Shatara Wilson, and Shakeel Malik Monroe have pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Honest Services Wire Fraud and await sentencing.
The case was investigated by The Federal Bureau of Investigation and South Carolina Department of Corrections Police Services. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney William Camden Lewis of the Columbia office.
Columbia Felon Sentenced to 7 Years in Federal Prison for Theft of FirearmsRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Cedrick K. Reddick, age 26, of Columbia, South Carolina, was sentenced to a total of 7 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to steal firearms from a federal firearms licensee (“FFL”) and to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence presented to the court showed on August 5, 2016, a FFL in Sumter, South Carolina, was burglarized and approximately 75 handguns were 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 the FFL. Both Reddick and his co-defendant Jonathan Thompson were charged federally with the gun store theft. Thompson is awaiting sentencing in federal court after previously pleading guilty.
Federal law prohibits Reddick from possessing firearms based upon a prior South Carolina 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 prior New Jersey federal conviction. Reddick’s prior federal supervision was revoked as a result of this new criminal conduct.
United States District Judge J. Michelle Childs sentenced Reddick to a total of 84 months in federal prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of court-ordered supervision. That 84-month sentence is comprised of 70 months imprisonment on the new firearm convictions and a consecutive 14-month revocation of his prior federal supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, the South Carolina 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. 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 implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.
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20 Year-Old Man Sentenced to over 22 Years in Federal Prison for His Role in Lexington Home InvasionRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Quintrell Morris, age 20, of Columbia, South Carolina, was sentenced to over 22 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, conspiracy to use/carry/possess/brandish firearms during and in relation to and in furtherance of a crime of violence, use/carry/possess/brandish firearms during and in relation to and in furtherance of a crime of violence, and felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Evidence presented to the court showed that in the early morning hours of December 30, 2017, deputies with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office responded to 911 call referencing a home invasion on Maple View Drive. Upon approaching the residence, deputies noticed the door open, entered the home, and found two armed men, Morris and his co-defendant Brandon Thompson. After detaining both Morris and Thompson, deputies located a female, who had been tied up, and her children, one of whom had called 911. The female advised that they had forced her to open a safe and give them the money from it. Deputies seized a loaded Bushmaster AR-15 .223 caliber assault rifle from Morris and a loaded Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun from Thompson. A ballistic vest was also seized from Thompson’s vehicle, which was located nearby. The investigation revealed that Morris and Thompson went to this home in an effort to rob the homeowners of proceeds from various businesses they operated.
Federal law prohibits both Morris and Thompson from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon their prior state convictions. Morris, a gang member who had just been placed on state probation two months prior to the incident, has prior state convictions for possession of a stolen motor vehicle and unlawful carrying of a weapon. Thompson has prior state convictions for armed robbery and assault with intent to kill. Thompson has also plead guilty in federal court and is awaiting sentencing.
United States District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis sentenced Morris to a total of 272 months in federal prison, to be followed by a 5-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). 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 implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Observes National Crime Victims’ Rights WeekRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina – United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that the United States Attorney’s Office has joined with state and local partners to honor National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. Events included the South Carolina Victims’ Rights Week Conference, held April 2-4, and a Unity Ceremony on April 2.
Each April, the Department of Justice and United States Attorneys’ offices observe National Crime Victims’ Rights Week nationwide by taking time to honor victims of crime and those who advocate on their behalf. This year’s observance takes place April 7-13, with the theme: Honoring Our Past. Creating Hope for the Future. The annual observance is an opportunity to bring victim advocates, law enforcement, and crime victims together to increase awareness of victims’ rights and provider services. It serves as a way to honor the courage and resilience demonstrated by those impacted by crimes and to pay homage to the advocates serving them.
“Victims of crime deserve justice. This Department works every day to help them recover and to find, prosecute, and convict those who have done them harm,” said Attorney General William P. Barr. “During this National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, we pause to remember the millions of Americans who have been victims of crime and we thank public servants who have served them in especially heroic ways. This week the men and women of the Department recommit ourselves once again to ensuring that crime victims continue to have a voice in our legal system, to securing justice for them, and to preventing other Americans from suffering what they have endured."
“The women and men in the U.S. Attorney’s Office work hard every day to uphold the rule of law, to keep the citizens of South Carolina safe, and to seek justice for victims of crime and their loved ones,” said U.S. Attorney Lydon. This National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, we are honored to join victim advocates, law enforcement, and the community in remembering victims of crime and paying tribute to the public servants and advocates who serve, encourage, and empower them. We are especially grateful to Brittany Todd, who shared the story of her assault and her daughter’s kidnapping and delivered an inspiring message of hope at this year’s Unity Ceremony. Our office will forever be amazed at Brittany’s strength and resilience.”
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The Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime, within the Office of Justice Programs, leads communities across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week each year. President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in 1981 to bring greater sensitivity to the needs and rights of victims of crime. More information about the Office of Justice Programs and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov. More information about Crime Victim’s Rights Week can be found at https://ovc.ncjrs.gov/ncvrw/.
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U.S. Attorney Attends Pilot Test of Micro-Jamming Technology in South Carolina PrisonRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that the federal Bureau of Prisons conducted a pilot test of micro-jamming technology this week at the Broad River Correctional Institution in Columbia, South Carolina. The test was the first collaboration of its kind in a state corrections facility. It was conducted to determine if micro-jamming could disable cell signals and prevent wireless communication by inmates using contraband cellphones in a housing unit.
“I am so encouraged by what I observed firsthand standing in a cellblock beside SCDC Director Bryan Stirling, as federal officials tested cellphone micro-jamming technology,” said U.S. Attorney Lydon. “The technology was designed and deployed to block signals from contraband cellphones inside the prison, while ensuring that there was no interference with wireless signals used by the public outside the facility. It is incredibly promising to see the potential for technology to address contraband cellphones in prisons, which for years have threatened our corrections and law enforcement officers and our community.”
Contraband cellphones pose a significant safety threat to the general public, prison workers, and other inmates. In partnership with the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina has brought a number of cases against both inmates using contraband phones to harm the public and SCDC employees smuggling contraband—including cellphones—into prisons. For example, the office has recently prosecuted inmates who have used contraband phones to move large quantities of methamphetamine from California to South Carolina; access the dark web and buy a mail bomb intended to kill an ex-wife; and defraud members of the military of over $560,000 through a “sextortion” scheme.
“I am so grateful to Director Stirling, who has led the effort to allow state and local prisons to jam cell signals and made the entire country aware of the need for this tool,” Lydon said. “He should be applauded for his tireless efforts to protect both the general public and the prison population from the safety threat posed by contraband cellphones. This is a game changer for law enforcement who work to protect the public from criminal enterprises run from within prisons.”
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Greenwood Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Murder for Hire with Hate Crime EnhancementRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Brandon Cory Lecroy, age 26, of Greenwood, South Carolina, was sentenced to ten years in the Federal Bureau of Prisons after pleading guilty to murder for hire. United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks of Charleston sentenced Lecroy to the statutory maximum for the offense, followed by three years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
Evidence presented to the court established that the Federal Bureau of Investigation received information that Lecroy had contacted a white supremacist organization to seek assistance with the murder of his African American neighbor. The FBI was able to direct Lecroy to an undercover agent, who posed as a hitman to determine if Lecroy was serious about causing harm to his neighbor. On March 20, 2018, via a recorded telephone conversation, Lecroy made an arrangement with the undercover agent to pay for the murder of his neighbor. During the phone call, Lecroy told the agent “$500 and he’s a ghost.” In other words, Lecroy offered to pay $500 for the death of his neighbor. In the same conversation, Lecroy also made a request to put a “flaming cross” in the front yard and have the neighbor hung from a tree. Lecroy also made statements about taking over the neighbor’s property once the murder was accomplished.
On April 9, 2018, Lecroy met with the undercover agent in Greenwood. During this meeting, Lecroy pointed out the neighbor’s residence and discussed future targets he wanted killed or maimed. Lecroy also provided the agent with a $100 cash down payment. After the exchange of funds, law enforcement officers descended on the scene and arrested Lecroy without incident.
The case was investigated by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office prosecuted the case.
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South Carolina U.S. Attorney Announces Operation Dismantling One of the Largest Medicare Fraud Schemes in HistoryRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today one of the largest health care fraud schemes in the history of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), and the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CID). The announcement was made at a press conference at Palmetto GBA in Columbia, South Carolina, a Medicare administration contractor whose payment safeguarding services seek to eliminate Medicare abuse, fraud, and waste.
Operation Brace Yourself, which originated in South Carolina, has resulted in the execution of over 80 search warrants in 17 federal districts and charges against 24 defendants so far. These defendants include owners, managers, and others associated with six telemedicine companies, the owners of dozens of durable medical equipment (DME) companies, and three licensed medical professionals. The alleged health care fraud scheme involves more than $1 billion in loss.
“Simply put, the law applies equally to all in South Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney Lydon. “The same spoon that serves indictments on drug dealers, felons in possession of firearms, and corrupt officials will also feed those companies and individuals who engage in Medicare fraud. White collar crime is not victimless. All taxpayers will endure the rising cost of health care premiums and out-of-pocket costs as a result of fraud on our Medicare system. I am honored to stand with our partners at the FBI, HHS-OIG, and IRS-CID, who led this outstanding and nationally significant investigation from right here in South Carolina.”
“This case demonstrates the ability of the FBI in South Carolina to successfully investigate the most expansive and complex of investigations. Wherever facts take us, the FBI is always ready to pursue perpetrators and bring them to justice,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge Jody Norris.
“Health care fraud schemes, such as the massive, sweeping operations charged here, divert desperately needed funding from government health programs and the people they serve,” said Derrick Jackson, Special Agent in Charge, Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General for the region including South Carolina. “Working closely with our law enforcement partners we are dedicated to disrupting schemes of health care organization owners, managers, licensed medical professionals, and others intent on enriching themselves at the expense of U.S. taxpayers. All contemplating such ill-gotten gains should expect aggressive investigation and prosecution.”
“The American tax system is designed to provide vital government services to our citizens. It is not a slush fund for thieves and fraudsters,” said IRS-CID Special Agent in Charge Matthew D. Line. “IRS Criminal Investigation is committed to unraveling complex financial transactions and money laundering schemes where individuals attempt to conceal the true source of funds. We stand committed with our partners to pursue and prosecute those involved to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Palmetto GBA is committed to assisting law enforcement and other agencies in their efforts to identify and prevent Medicare fraud. Protecting the Medicare program from fraud is important to all of us, including the seniors that rely on Medicare for their health benefits, the providers that furnish their care, and the taxpayers who pay for it,” said Palmetto GBA President and COO Joe Johnson.
The charges announced today aggressively target an entire scheme of health care fraud, from the initial kickback through the billing of Medicare. The alleged scheme began with payments of kickbacks by DME companies to an offshore call center. The call center purchased advertisements that targeted Medicare beneficiaries. The calls were routed overseas and to call centers run by members of the conspiracy. The call centers “up-sold” the beneficiaries to get them to accept numerous “free or low-cost” DME braces, regardless of medical necessity. The caller was then routed to medical professionals working with fraudulent telemedicine companies for back, shoulder, wrist and knee braces that were often medically unnecessary.
Certain members of the conspiracy allegedly controlled an international telemarketing network that lured over hundreds of thousands of elderly or disabled patients into a criminal scheme that crossed borders. They allegedly paid doctors to prescribe DME either without any patient interaction or with only a brief telephonic conversation with patients they had never met or even set eyes on. The physicians’ “prescriptions” were then sent back to the call center, which provided the “prescription” and other information to the DME companies. Two dropship companies that were indicted would then ship low-cost Chinese made braces to the Medicare patients. The DME companies would then fraudulently bill Medicare. The proceeds of the scheme were laundered through international shell corporations and used to purchase exotic automobiles, yachts, and luxury real estate.
In the District of South Carolina, charges were brought against Andrew Chmiel, 43, of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, and companies in which he had an ownership interest—including 10 DME companies, two dropship companies, and two additional companies that facilitated the fraud—for their alleged participation in a $200 million scheme related to the payment of kickbacks and bribes in exchange for medically unnecessary DME orders. The charges are the result of an extensive investigation by the FBI, HHS-OIG, and IRS-CID. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jim May and Will Lewis of the Columbia office.
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Greenville Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Murder for HireRead the Press Release
Greenville, South Carolina-------United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Travis Dale Brady, age 36, of Greenville, South Carolina, was sentenced in federal court in Greenville after pleading guilty to a murder for hire charge. United States District Judge Bruce H. Hendricks sentenced Brady to the statutory maximum term of 120 months in federal prison, followed by court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
Evidence presented to the court established that Brady was terminated from his employment with a Greenville business in 2016. In 2017, he began to make comments and plans indicating that he wanted to seek revenge on those he deemed responsible for his job loss. As Brady made contact with various persons, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was notified and initiated an investigation. During an approximately year-long investigation, Brady met with undercover FBI agents and confidential sources with whom he discussed plans that initially involved setting off a truck bomb at a business site of his former employer, but later evolved into sending a mail bomb to the home of a couple he deemed most responsible for his firing. During the investigation, Brady sought the assistance of his colleagues. Unknown to Brady at the time, those colleagues were undercover FBI agents and confidential sources. The plan culminated on March 15, 2018, after Brady ordered a mail bomb from an undercover operative and then paid $100 to have the bomb placed in the mail. It was Brady’s intent to have the bomb “exterminate” the couple. Agents from the FBI then arrested Brady.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Max Cauthen of the Greenville office.
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Greenville Man Looking to Join ISIS Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison on Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
Greenville, South Carolina-------United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Michael Bruce Messer, Jr., age 51, of Greenville, South Carolina, was sentenced in federal court in Greenville after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. United States District Judge Bruce H. Hendricks sentenced Messer to the statutory maximum term of 120 months in federal prison, followed by court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
Evidence presented to the court established that on April 11, 2018, Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) went to Messer’s residence to meet with him. While there, they recovered a .38 caliber pistol. Then on May 9, 2018, Special Agents of the FBI and ATF returned to the residence with a search warrant and recovered another .38 caliber pistol, .38 caliber ammunition, and assorted items related to ISIS. During their investigation, the FBI had determined that Messer had posted a message in an online forum that he was interested in joining ISIS and volunteering to be a suicide bomber.
Federal law prohibits Messer from possessing firearms based upon his prior state and federal convictions running from 1986 to 2018. Messer’s prior convictions include grand larceny, burglary, forgery, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). It 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 implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. Assistant United States Attorney Max Cauthen of the Greenville office prosecuted the case.
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Columbia Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison for Preparing False Tax ReturnsRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Marilyn Kirkland was sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty to aiding and assisting in the preparation of false income tax returns. Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr., of Columbia, sentenced Kirkland to 27 months in federal prison. The judge further ordered that Kirkland repay $903,402 in restitution and, after her release from the Bureau of Prisons, that she serve one year of court-ordered supervision.
Evidence presented to the court showed that from 2014 through 2016, Marilyn Kirkland operated a tax return preparation business in Columbia, South Carolina. Kirkland fraudulently increased her clients’ tax refunds by preparing returns that reported fictitious income and expenses for businesses in order to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit. Kirkland also included false education credits. In total, Kirkland prepared approximately 500 fraudulent tax returns that included over $900,000 in false claims from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
Agents of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation Division investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney John C. Potterfield of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.
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Three Greenville Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Armed RobberyRead the Press Release
Greenville, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Mark Betancourt, age 35, Joseph Sansosti, age 26, and Juan Betancourt, age 26, all of Greenville, South Carolina, were sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty to Hobbs Act Robbery, Conspiracy to Commit Hobbs Act Robbery, and Brandishing a Firearm in Furtherance of Hobbs Act Robbery. Senior United States District Judge Henry M. Herlong, Jr., of Greenville, sentenced Mark Betancourt to 180 months in federal prison, Sansosti to 135 months in federal prison, and Juan Betancourt to 48 months in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system. Each man was also sentenced to five years of supervised release and ordered to forfeit $37,283.00.
Evidence presented to the court established that in May 2015, Mark Betancourt recruited his brother, Juan Betancourt, who was nearly ten years Mark’s junior, to assist him in robbing a business in Greenville, South Carolina. On May 23, 2015, Sansosti arranged to meet with Mark and Juan Betancourt. Mark Betancourt was the mastermind of the operation and drove the two younger men to the business. Sansosti and Juan Betancourt entered the store, where Sansosti placed one of the employees in a choke hold and held a gun to her head. Sansosti then dragged the employee over to the register, where the robbers took the money.
The case was investigated by the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It 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 implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. Assistant United States Attorney Jamie Lea Schoen of the Charleston office prosecuted the case.
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Simpsonville Felon Found in Possession of over a Kilogram of Methamphetamine Sentenced to 20 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Greenville, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Larry Anthony Ladson, Jr., 29 years old, of Simpsonville, South Carolina, who was convicted by a federal jury of possessing 500 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute in October 2018, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
The evidence presented at trial showed that in March 2018, Ladson was found hiding in a bathtub when officers with the Fountain Inn Police Department were performing a protective sweep of a residence located in Simpsonville. Law enforcement originally arrived on scene after receiving a report of a domestic incident involving a firearm. After initially detaining three other individuals who were connected with the location, officers were clearing the residence when they discovered Ladson fully clothed in the bathtub with the lights off at approximately 2:45 p.m. In the adjacent bedroom, law enforcement found Ladson’s driver’s license along with other identifying documents, in addition to a digital scale and clear plastic baggies used for drug packaging in plain view. Upon obtaining a search warrant, a further search of the bedroom revealed over 1,000 grams of methamphetamine packaged in 19 separate bags, which were concealed in a backpack and hidden under layers of Ladson’s clothes in his closet. The majority of the bags contained approximately 56 grams of the clear, crystal substance and were packaged for distribution in two-ounce quantities.
At the time of the incident, Ladson already had a warrant out for his arrest from a federal firearms violation occurring in October 2017. Ladson was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury on the methamphetamine charge and has been in continuous custody since his March 2018 arrest. Prior to the incident, Ladson had numerous state convictions, to include: possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (2014); possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (2014); two convictions for possession with intent to distribute marijuana (2014); burglary in the second degree, violent (2013); criminal domestic violence of a high and aggravated nature (2013); and assault and battery in the first degree (2013).
The charges against Ladson were the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Fountain Inn Police Department. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project CeaseFire initiative. Project CeaseFire is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a crime reduction strategy originally launched in 2001 that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Turning the tide of rising violent crime in America is a top priority for the Department of Justice, which has reinstituted PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy. Assistant United States Attorney Justin Holloway of the Florence office prosecuted the case.
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Orangeburg Felon Sentenced to Maximum on Federal Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Eugene Jonathan James, age 21, of Orangeburg, South Carolina, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence presented to the court showed that at approximately 12:36 a.m. on May 27, 2017, officers with the Cayce Department of Public Safety were running radar on Knox Abbott Drive when they observed a car traveling 15-20 mph over the speed limit. After activating their blue lights and siren in an attempt to conduct a traffic stop, a chase ensued across the Blossom Street Bridge into Columbia. At one point, the driver of the car appeared to stop, but when officers approached, the car sped off again. Ultimately, the car stopped near the Riverwalk and the sole occupant/driver, later identified as James, fled on foot, disregarding officers’ commands for him to stop. James fled into the woodline off the Riverwalk and assumed a crouched position. He appeared to the officers to be lying in wait for them. After threatening to use his taser to get James to comply, one officer heard gunshots and felt pain. That officer, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, was shot in the chest and leg, and the other officer was shot in his leg. Officers returned fire and called for backup assistance.
Responding officers located James in the woodline with a .40 caliber Smith and Wesson lying at his feet. James had also been shot. Further investigation revealed that the car driven by James had been stolen during a carjacking in Orangeburg on May 14, 2017. The serial number of the firearm had been burned in an attempt to obliterate it; however, law enforcement was able to restore the serial number and determined that the gun had been stolen during the theft of a Jeep in Orangeburg on May 15, 2017. A ballistics examination of the firearm matched it to the fired bullet recovered from one of the officers’ bulletproof vests and to a May 16, 2017, shooting incident in Orangeburg.
Federal law prohibits James from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon an April 2017 Orangeburg conviction for burglary 3rd degree for which he received a probationary sentence. At the time of the instant offense, James was on state probation and out on state bond for unrelated Richland County state armed robbery and weapon charges stemming from a March 2017 incident.
During the sentencing hearing, the court heard from one of the officers who was shot and from his wife. His wife said, “As a law enforcement officer’s spouse, we know the risks our loved ones take when they strap on their body armor and kiss us on the way out of the door. We know that may be the last kiss. We pray for their safety and their safe return home. As a spouse, we dread phone calls in the middle of the night and knocks on the door – especially when our loved ones are working. My nightmare became reality, with one simple phone call.”
United States District Judge Michelle Childs sentenced James to the statutory maximum of 120 months in federal prison, to be followed by a 3-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Cayce Department of Public Safety, the Columbia Police Department, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
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 implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.
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U.S. Attorney to Join Federal Law Enforcement for Press Conference Tomorrow at 12:00 p.m.Read the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that a press conference will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at 12:00 p.m., at Palmetto GBA, 17 Technology Circle, Columbia, SC 29203.
Represented at the press conference will be the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, and the Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations.
WHEN: Tuesday, April 9, 2019, at 12:00 p.m.
WHERE: Palmetto GBS
17 Technology Circle
Columbia, SC 29203
NOTE: Press inquiries regarding logistics should be directed to Lance Crick, 864-282-2105. All media must present a government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license). Members of the media wishing to attend the remarks should gather in the lobby of Palmetto GBS at 11:30 a.m., 30 minutes in advance.
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“Let States Jam Prison Cellphones,” says U.S. Attorney Sherri LydonRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon authored today an opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal highlighting the public safety threat posed by contraband cellphones in prisons entitled, “Let States Jam Prison Cellphones.” U.S. Attorney Lydon also announced a series of cases the U.S. Attorney’s Office has prosecuted in federal court to help stop the flow of contraband cellphones into state prisons and punish those who use them to harm the public.
“We do not put criminals behind bars only to have them continue their criminal enterprises from inside prison,” said U.S. Attorney Lydon. “We will continue to use every tool available to us to stop this threat to public safety. But until our state and local partners are permitted to jam cellphone signals in prisons, inmates with time on their hands and unrestricted access to the Internet will continue to run drug rings, scam innocent Americans, and perpetrate crimes that help them grow their wealth while incarcerated.”
South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) Director Bryan Stirling stated, “Because of contraband cellphones, criminals are physically incarcerated, however, they are virtually out there amongst us, continuing their criminal ways from behind our nation’s prison walls.”
Among the cases the U.S. Attorney’s Office has prosecuted with the assistance of SCDC and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) are:
SCDC Prisoner and Co-Conspirator Sentenced to Federal Prison for Roles in Dark Web Mail Bomb Plot
In April 2018, a federal jury convicted Michael Young, Jr., and Vance Volious, Jr., both of Columbia, of dealing drugs and plotting to kill Young’s ex-wife with a mail bomb they bought with bitcoin from the Dark Web. While incarcerated in SCDC, Young obtained a contraband cellphone, which he used to run a drug business distributing marijuana he obtained from a California supplier and from the Dark Web. Drugs purchased by Young were shipped to a conspirator’s residence before being picked up by Volious for re-distribution.
While this drug conspiracy among Young, Volious, and others was operating, the conspirators also plotted to kill Young’s ex-wife. This was not the first time that Young had tried to kill her; he was serving a 50-year sentence after having been convicted of attempting to kill her and of murdering her father in 2007.
In February 2017, Young accessed the Dark Web from prison on his contraband cellphone and started a dialogue with an undercover FBI agent, whom he believed to be a foreign explosives dealer. Young paid for a mail bomb to be sent to a conspirator’s residence in Irmo and for the re-shipment label addressed to his ex-wife to be sent to Volious’ house in Columbia.
Fears obtained the labels from Volious, armed the mail bomb, and was surveilled by the FBI delivering the inert explosives package to the Post Office in Irmo on June 6, 2017. After a United States Postal Inspector recovered the mail bomb, Young, Volious, and co-defendant Tyrell Fears, of Irmo, were arrested on federal charges.
Young and Volious were convicted of conspiracy, transport of an explosive with the intent to kill, mailing a non-mailable explosive with the intent to kill, and carrying an explosive during the commission of another felony. Fears pleaded guilty to carrying an explosive during the commission of a felony and conspiracy. In February 2019, Young was sentenced to 525 months in federal prison, and Fears was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison. In March 2019, Volious was sentenced to 255 months in federal prison.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Joint Terrorism Task Force, United States Postal Inspection Service, South Carolina Department of Corrections’ Division of Police Services, State Law Enforcement Division, South Carolina Information and Intelligence Center, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Lexington Country Sheriff’s Department, Irmo Police Department, USC Division of Law Enforcement and Safety, and Columbia Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Will Lewis of the Columbia office and former Assistant United States Attorney Jay Richardson, with assistance from Dan Goldberg of the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office.
For more information, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/scdc-prisoner-and-co-conspirator-sentenced-federal-prison-roles-dark-web-mail-bomb-plot.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Initiates Forfeiture Proceedings Seizing $400,000 From Prison Accounts of 15 Inmates
The U.S. Attorney’s Office recently initiated civil forfeiture proceedings in which the federal government has seized over $400,000 from the prison accounts of just 15 inmates. According to the seizure warrants, this money was derived from unlawful activity including extortion and the distribution of narcotics and other contraband.
Five Inmates Among Fifteen Defendants Indicted for Wire Fraud, Extortion, and Money Laundering Scheme at SCDC
In November 2018, the U.S. Attorney’s Office indicted 15 defendants—five of whom are inmates in SCDC—for their roles in a wire fraud, extortion, and money laundering scheme. According to the indictments, the inmates used contraband cellphones to orchestrate a scheme to defraud members of the United States Military. The inmates, using smartphones, joined Internet dating websites and posed as young women seeking a romantic relationship with young men in the military. They downloaded nude pictures, pretended to be the women in the pictures, and sent them to the servicemen. They then asked the service members to text nude pictures and other personal information in return.
After exchanging nude pictures and other personal information, the inmates called the service members and claimed to be the young woman’s father. The inmates told the service members that the “daughter” was a minor and threatened to notify law enforcement that the service member was exchanging nude pictures with a minor unless the service member paid money. The inmates used various means to extort the service members, often claiming that the money was needed to replace the computer or to pay medical bills for the trauma that the “underage daughter” suffered from the sexually explicit text messages. On occasion, the inmates impersonated law enforcement or lawyers to further the scheme.
The inmates then directed the service members to wire money to individuals in South Carolina. To assist in the scheme, the inmates recruited others outside of the prisons to retrieve the money that was wired by the service members and transfer the money to the inmates, often keeping some of the proceeds. In some instances, these individuals provided the inmates with debit card numbers so they could access the criminal proceeds in prison via contraband cellphones. Other times, the individuals wired the money directly into the inmates’ prison accounts.
In total, the “sextortion” schemes resulted in 442 service members paying a total of more than $560,000. The service members involved were from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. The five inmates who have been indicted federally on wire fraud, money laundering, and extortion charges are Wendell Wilkins, Jimmy Dunbar, Antwine Lamar Matthews, Rakeem Spivey, and David Paul Dempsey.
This case was investigated by the Naval Criminal Investigative Services, Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigations, Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Services, Air Force Office of Special Investigations, U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Command, United States Marshals Service, South Carolina Department of Corrections, and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Limehouse and Rhett DeHart of the Charleston office are prosecuting the case.
For more information, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/5-inmates-among-15-defendants-indicted-wire-fraud-extortion-and-money-laundering-scheme.
Former SCDC Employees and Corrections Officers Indicted for Accepting Bribes and Smuggling Contraband
In 2016, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began a partnership with SCDC and SLED to investigate the smuggling of contraband into prisons by SCDC staff. The investigation uncovered a number of SCDC employees who accepted bribes to smuggle into prison various contraband, such as cellphones, narcotics, and tobacco.
Since April 2018, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has indicted 19 former SCDC employees—including corrections officers, a nurse, and food service employees—on federal charges related to accepting bribes and bringing contraband into South Carolina prisons. The federal violations alleged include Use of Interstate Facilities to Facilitate Bribery; Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud Depriving South Carolina of the Right to Honest Services; and Possession with Intent to Distribute Narcotics. To date, Douglas Hawkins, Joshua Cave, Shatara Wilson, and Shakeel Malik Monroe have pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Honest Services Wire Fraud.
This operation was a combined law enforcement effort by the FBI, SLED, SCDC, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Will Lewis of the Columbia office is prosecuting the cases.
For more information, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/federal-indictments-unsealed-14-former-scdc-employees-and-correction-officers-arrested.
Five Inmates Convicted in Drug Trafficking Ring that Operated from Inside South Carolina Prisons
In September 2016, a federal grand jury charged 15 defendants—5 of whom are current SCDC inmates—with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and related offenses. The defendants used telephones, primarily contraband cellphones, and the U.S. Mail to facilitate the drug offenses charged, and they conspired to launder drug money by conducting money transfers, cash withdrawals, and purchases of and deposits onto pre-paid cash cards.
The five SCDC inmates—Sok Bun, Paul Ray Davis, Jhon Marlon Acosta, James Robert Peterson, and Samuel Travis Wiggins—capitalized on their nearly unfettered access to contraband cellphones to not only continue their criminal activities, but to direct the criminal activities of nine “facilitators” outside of prison, all of whom were willing to accept drug packages for distribution and collect payment on behalf of the inmates. The inmates routinely brokered and managed the delivery and distribution of methamphetamine from California to the upstate of South Carolina and elsewhere in the state. The contraband cellphones were often equipped with touch screens and Internet access, which enabled prisoners to coordinate drug transactions, confirm shipment and delivery, and transfer drug trafficking proceeds.
All but two of the inmate defendants pleaded guilty. In September 2017, after a week-long trial, a federal jury convicted Bun and Peterson on all counts. During the trial, the jury heard numerous recorded calls made by Bun, Peterson, and other inmates from inside South Carolina prisons. In nearly all of the recorded phone calls between inmate defendants, at least one inmate was using a contraband cellphone. The jury also heard directly from inmate witnesses about how accessible cellphones were to inmates and the various means by which phones were smuggled into the facilities.
Bun was sentenced to 360 months in federal prison, which will follow the life sentence he is currently serving in SCDC for a 2006 Spartanburg County murder conviction. Peterson was sentenced to 330 months in federal prison, which will follow the 35-year sentence he is currently serving for murder and assault and battery with intent to kill, both 2005 Cherokee County convictions. Jhon Marlon Acosta was sentenced to 188 months in federal prison. Samuel Travis Wiggins was sentenced to 300 months in federal prison. Inmate Paul Davis awaits sentencing.
The convictions were the result of a multi-year Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation. The OCDETF Program is a partnership between federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. Its principal mission is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug-trafficking organizations primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. The investigation was conducted by the FBI with the assistance and cooperation of the United States Postal Service, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations, SLED, SCDC, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Spartanburg City Police Department, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, ICE - Homeland Security Investigations, Drug Enforcement Administration, and the United States Marshals Service. Assistant United States Attorney Leesa Washington and former Assistant United States Attorney Jeanne Howard, both of the Greenville office, prosecuted the case.
For more information, visit https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/fifteen-charged-drug-trafficking-ring-operated-inside-south-carolina-prisons; https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/jury-convicts-spartanburg-brothers-federal-court-drug-and-money-laundering-charges.
United States Attorney’s Office Supports Advocacy Day for Access and IndependenceRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon stated today that, in its continued efforts to support the commitments in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the U.S. Attorney’s Office participated in Advocacy Day for Access and Independence 2019.
This annual event was led by Able SC, which is a Center for Independent Living organization, whose mission includes empowering people with disabilities to live active and self-determined lives. There were several speakers on the State House grounds for today’s event including members of the SC General Assembly, various South Carolina departments, disability advocates, non-profit entities, and members of the disability community. Support groups from around the state participated and hundreds of people attended the event.
First Assistant United States Attorney Lance Crick provided remarks on behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office. In South Carolina, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Department of Justice have conducted several reviews of local and state governmental ADA compliance since 1994, resulting in several agreements with all levels of local government. Crick said that these ADA reviews in South Carolina have generally been positive and most governmental entities have responded cooperatively. He further noted that the majority of officials are aware of their ADA obligations and have made progress in meeting them.
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U.S. Attorney's Office to Host Greater Upstate Reentry Job Fair & Expo to Help Secure Employment for Individuals with Criminal RecordsRead the Press Release
Greenville, South Carolina – United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that 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 United States Probation Office are continuing their statewide partnership to help individuals with prior criminal backgrounds secure employment.
The Third Annual Greater Upstate Reentry Job Fair & Expo will be held Wednesday, April 10, 2019, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, at McAlister Square, located at 225 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville, SC.
This job fair, which is intended as a resource for Upstate residents, is part of a series of events held annually in Florence, the Midlands, the Lowcountry, and the Upstate. The partner organizations have tailored the expo to help people with a criminal record overcome the particular obstacles they face after returning home.
The fair and expo will include area employers friendly to hiring individuals with a criminal background and other organizations who provide resources for returning citizens.
Professional dress is required. As always, the event will feature workshops on how to seek expungements and pardons of prior criminal convictions.
Interested employers or vendors should inquire with Diana Goldwire at (864) 315-9751 or [email protected].
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Gray Court Felon Sentenced to More Than Two Years in Federal Prison on Gun ChargeRead the Press Release
Florence, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Derrick Bernard Cunningham, age 48, of Gray Court, South Carolina, was sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty to being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm. Chief United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell of Florence sentenced Cunningham to 27 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system.
Evidence presented at Cunningham’s guilty plea hearing established that on May 26, 2018, a lieutenant with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) located Cunningham, who was wanted for outstanding warrants, at a hotel in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Cunningham was detained and placed in handcuffs, and the lieutenant noted that Cunningham continually tried to roll onto his left side. The lieutenant observed a heavy object in a pocket of the vest Cunningham was wearing. Cunningham claimed he did not know whether the object was a firearm and that he had borrowed the vest from a friend. A search revealed a Jiminez .380 caliber handgun, loaded with six rounds of ammunition. Federal law prohibits Cunningham from possessing firearms because he has prior state convictions for grand larceny, burglary, and armed robbery.
The charges against Cunningham were the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), SLED, and the North Myrtle Beach Police Department. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Project CeaseFire is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a crime reduction strategy originally launched in 2001 that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Turning the tide of rising violent crime in America is a top priority for the Department of Justice, which has reinstituted PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy. Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Hummel of the Florence office prosecuted the case.
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Former South Carolina Resident Pleads Guilty to Charity Fraud Scheme Targeting Marine Corps FamiliesRead the Press Release
Charleston, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that John Shannon Simpson, age 43, of Lee County, Florida, has entered a guilty plea in federal court to Wire Fraud. United States District Judge David C. Norton of Charleston accepted the guilty plea and will impose sentence after he has received and reviewed a presentence report prepared by the United States Probation Office.
Evidence presented to the court established that in May 2014, Simpson founded a charitable organization entitled “Marines and Mickey” and served as the President. The purpose of the charity was to provide funds to selected United States Marines Corps (USMC) service members and their families to defray their costs of visiting the Walt Disney Resorts. The charity was also supposed to provide funds to the families of newly graduated Marines to defray the families’ costs of attending USMC boot camp graduations, including some held at Parris Island, South Carolina, and San Diego, California.
The charity claimed in its promotions and requests for money that 100% of the donations went directly to Marines and their families through the charity’s programs. The charity actively solicited donations on and near the USMC base in Parris Island, South Carolina, and elsewhere. The remainder of monies raised by the charity were a combination of private and corporate donations to the charity, including by USMC recruits and recent boot camp graduates.
While acting as the charity’s President and in support of fundraising for the charity, Simpson falsely represented himself as a retired career Marine with as much as 20 years of service, a retired Master Sergeant, a former Drill Instructor, and a Recon Marine.
In fact, Simpson spent less than five years in the Marine Corps. He entered active duty on June 28, 1993. He was absent without leave (AWOL) from June 10, 1996, to June 19, 1997. The highest rank he achieved prior to going AWOL was Lance Corporal/E-3, and his operational specialty was Basic Disbursing Clerk. Simpson was found guilty at a Special Court Martial for violation of Article 86 (Absence without leave) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, was reduced in rank to Private/E-1, and was given a Bad-Conduct Discharge, which was effective on May 5, 1998.
By misleading donors and volunteers about his military background, Simpson was able to add credibility to his solicitations for money.
The charity was in operation from May 2014 through 2016, and it received approximately $481,000 in donations during that time period. However, despite Simpson’s claims that 100% of the donations would go to Marines and their families through the charity’s programs, only about $90,000—or about 19% of the donations—were used for charitable purposes. Simpson diverted the remainder of the monies in the charitable accounts, approximately $391,000, for his personal use and enrichment.
Additionally, during 2015 and 2016, Simpson made unauthorized withdrawals from the bank accounts of at least seven active-duty Marines who had recently graduated from boot camp. Simpson convinced them to allow him to make recurring withdrawals from their accounts in nominal amounts to support the charity. Instead, he used their debit card numbers to make unauthorized withdrawals from their accounts in a combined total amount of more than $5,000.
Simpson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and/or a fine of $250,000.
The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Assistant United States Attorney Dean H. Secor of the Charleston is prosecuting the case.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Kicks Off 28th Annual Seminar Series on School SafetyRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that this week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina kicked off its 28th Annual Safe Schools Seminars Series in Greer, West Columbia, and Florence. The Safe Schools Seminars bring together law enforcement and school personnel charged with protecting children—such as superintendents, administrators, counselors, school resource officers, nurses, and social workers—to discuss some of the safety issues today’s students face.
Following this week’s seminars, U.S. Attorney Lydon stated, “As we join with Walterboro in mourning the loss of a precious young life this week, we are reminded of the weight of our responsibility to ensure schools are a safe place for students to learn and grow. Through our Safe Schools partnership, we will continue working toward that goal. I am grateful to our law enforcement partners and educators across the state who work tirelessly to protect our students.”
Topic sessions during the Safe Schools Seminars include De-Escalation in the Education Environment; Behavior Threat Assessment; Vaping: How It’s Affecting Our Youth; and Don’t Get Sued: Protecting Educators, Administrators, and SROs from Liabilities.
The Safe Schools Seminars are hosted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Association, the South Carolina Department of Education, the Francis Marion University Police Department, the West Columbia Police Department, the Lexington Police Department, the Greer Police Department, and the North Charleston Police Department.
Upcoming Safe Schools Seminars will be in Lexington on April 16, and North Charleston on June 12.
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Law Enforcement Officers Charged in Federal Court with Taking Bribes to Falsify Immigration Documents and Protect Drug Trafficking ProceedsRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that nine individuals, including seven law enforcement officers, have been indicted in federal court in South Carolina on visa fraud and drug charges.
One of the schemes alleged in the Indictment involved fraudulent U Nonimmigrant Visas (“U-Visas”), which are set aside for victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse as a result of the crime. To obtain a U-Visa, a law enforcement official must certify that the alien is assisting that law enforcement agency in the investigation or prosecution of the crime of which the alien was a victim. According to the Indictment, four officers helped individuals obtain fraudulent U-Visas by taking bribes for fraudulent certifications and creating fraudulent incident reports indicating that aliens were victims of crimes.
The Indictment further alleges that officers took bribes in exchange for protecting methamphetamine and cocaine or the proceeds of drug trafficking.
The charges as to each defendant are:
Springfield Police Department Chief Lacra Sharod Jenkins: Conspiracy, Visa Fraud, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
Springfield Police Department Officer Allan Hunter, Jr.: Conspiracy, Visa Fraud, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Carolyn Colter Franklin: Conspiracy, Visa Fraud, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Nathaniel Miller Shazier, III: Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Stanley Lavalle Timmons: Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Deputy James Albert Tucker: Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Willie Paul David Rogers: Conspiracy and Visa Fraud;
Saurabhkumar B. Patel, of Orangeburg, South Carolina: Conspiracy; and
Tarang Patel, of Newport, Kentucky: Conspiracy and Visa Fraud.
If convicted, Jenkins, Hunter, Franklin, Timmons, Shazier, and Tucker face a maximum penalty of life in federal prison. Rogers, Saurabhkumar Patel, and Tarang Patel face a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment.
“With this Indictment, we honor the hard work and dedication of the very fine officers across South Carolina who put on the police uniform every day and risk their lives to protect the rest of us,” said U.S. Attorney Lydon. “If these allegations are proved, these defendants do not deserve to wear the badge and should not be allowed to bring disrepute on the overwhelming majority of men and women in blue who serve South Carolina with integrity. We will not tolerate the hypocrisy of those who would pretend to enforce the law, while violating it themselves as they seek to line their own pockets. We call that public corruption, and we will always call it out.”
The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from ICE - Homeland Security Investigations and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William Camden Lewis and Alyssa Leigh Richardson of the Columbia office.
U.S. Attorney Lydon stated that all charges in the Indictment are merely accusations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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20190328-2_-_indictment.pdfLancaster County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Court to Illegally Possessing a GunRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Deangelo Raheem Roseboro, age 25, of Lancaster, South Carolina, entered a guilty plea in federal court to possession of a firearm by a person who had been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a year. United States District Judge J. Michelle Childs of Columbia accepted the guilty plea and will impose sentence after she has received and reviewed a presentence report prepared by the United States Probation Office.
Evidence presented to the court established that on December 6, 2017, a Lancaster County deputy made a routine traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Roseboro. As the deputy approached the vehicle, he saw Roseboro reaching in the floor board of the passenger side of the vehicle. The deputy asked Roseboro for his driver’s license, insurance, and registration. Roseboro stated the car belonged to his uncle and that he only had a driver’s permit, which he did not have with him. The deputy told Roseboro that he smelled marijuana and asked why he was reaching into the floorboard of the vehicle. Roseboro told the deputy that there was no marijuana in the car but that there was a gun in the car that belonged to his uncle. As the deputy tried to get Roseboro out of the car to detain him, Roseboro ran away. After a brief search, Roseboro was found hiding in a friend’s apartment. Deputies searched the vehicle and found a fully loaded SCCY, model CPX-1, 9mm pistol. Federal law prohibits Roseboro from possessing firearms and ammunition based on a previous conviction for his involvement in the murder of a Chester City councilman.
Roseboro faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and/or a fine of $250,000.
The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office and 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 implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Assistant United States Attorney William K. Witherspoon of the Columbia office is prosecuting the case.
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McBee Men Sentenced to Federal Prison Following Theft of 69 Firearms from Federal Firearms LicenseeRead the Press Release
Florence, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Larry Eugene Alford, 30, and Dale Carroll Drew Oneal, 24, both of McBee, South Carolina, were sentenced in federal court for gun and drug charges. Alford was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison, followed by 5 years of court-ordered supervision, after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Oneal was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison, followed by 3 years of court-ordered supervision, after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition and possession of 69 stolen firearms. Chief United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell of Florence sentenced both defendants. There is no parole in the federal system.
Evidence presented to the court at Oneal’s guilty plea hearing established that on November 14, 2017, two subjects wearing camouflage-colored clothing and masks and carrying a large cardboard box and blue tote bag broke into and burglarized a Federal Firearms Licensee in Patrick, South Carolina. The subjects stole 69 firearms. The Darlington County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a house where a witness saw Oneal and Alford on the day of the burglary with a blue tote bag and a large cardboard box. Deputies found camouflage-colored clothing, a blue tote bag, and two firearms stolen from the FFL burglary, along with five other firearms.
On November 17, 2017, Oneal was arrested on a state probation violation warrant, and officers found a firearm stolen during the FFL burglary in the vehicle he was driving. Officers found a second firearm stolen during the FFL burglary on the ground near the vehicle. Federal law prohibits Oneal from possessing firearms and ammunition based on his prior felony conviction for Receiving Stolen Goods.
Evidence presented to the court at Alford’s guilty plea hearing established that on November 16, 2017, an undercover agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and a confidential informant purchased five of the firearms stolen during the FFL burglary from Alford at his house in McBee. The undercover agent also purchased an Oxycodone pill from Alford, and during the transaction, there was a scoped rifle in the room. Federal law prohibits Alford from possessing firearms and ammunition based on his prior felony controlled substance offense conviction.
The charges against Alford and Oneal were the result of an investigation by ATF, the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office, and the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office. This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Project CeaseFire is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a crime reduction strategy originally launched in 2001 that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Turning the tide of rising violent crime in America is a top priority for the Department of Justice, which has reinstituted PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy. Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Hummel of the Florence office prosecuted the case.
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Federal Grand Jury Returns Indictment in $300 Million Nationwide Investment Fraud and Ponzi SchemeRead the Press Release
Greenville, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that a Federal Grand Jury in Greenville, South Carolina, returned an Indictment alleging a conspiracy to engage in mail and wire fraud. Scott A. Kohn, age 64, of Newport, California, and Future Income Payments, LLC (FIP), an entity organized under the laws of Nevada, are charged in the Indictment.
According to the Indictment, FIP operated a Ponzi scheme in which it actively recruited pension holders who were desperate for money, including many veterans of the United States Armed Forces. The pensioners made monthly payments to FIP in exchange for a lump sum payment or loan. The adjusted annual percentage rate on these transactions often exceeded 100%.
FIP then solicited investors to purchase “structured cash flows,” which were the pensioners’ monthly pension payments. FIP promised the investors a rate of return between 6.5% and 8%. It took active steps to conceal from the investors the usurious nature of its transactions with the pension holders. FIP diverted new investor funds flowing into the business to fund payments to earlier investors in order to keep the scheme operational. When FIP ceased doing business in early 2018, investors were owed approximately $300 million. The scheme alleged in the Indictment victimized over 2,600 individuals.
“The scheme alleged in this Indictment took advantage of pensioners facing difficult financial situations – including veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces – and preyed upon innocent investors to the tune of roughly $300 million,” said U.S. Attorney Lydon. “Along with our federal, state, and local partners, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina will continue to aggressively prosecute those who seek to line their own pockets by robbing individuals of their hard-earned money.”
The maximum penalty Kohn could face for the conspiracy charge is 20 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. The case is being investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office for prosecution.
The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this Indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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20190312-1_-_indictment.pdfColumbia Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Wilbert Green, Jr., age 30, of Columbia, South Carolina, pleaded guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Evidence presented in court established that at approximately 8:45 p.m. on April 13, 2018, officers of the Columbia Police Department and the Midlands Gang Unit were patrolling the Lorick Circle area of Columbia with special agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) after having received several firearm-related reports the previous month. As they drove through an apartment complex on Lorick Circle, officers/agents observed what appeared to be a black pistol magazine protruding from Green’s right rear pants pocket. Officers/agents exited their vehicles and made contact with Green, who was also holding an open container of beer, in violation of the open container law. Green failed to comply with directives of officers/agents to quit reaching behind to his back pocket and to turn around and put his hands on a nearby car. Green advised officers/agents, “I know the law….I just got out of prison.” Officers secured Green and located a loaded Hi-Point 9mm with an extended magazine in Green’s rear right pants pocket. A ballistics analysis revealed that the Hi-Point 9mm handgun was linked to shell casings recovered from an unsolved July 2017 shooting off Garners Ferry Road. Officers/agents also learned that Green had outstanding warrants from 2015 for attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime in Clarendon County.
Federal law prohibits Green from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon prior North Carolina and South Carolina state convictions for assault with a deadly weapon to inflict serious injury (N.C. 2009); criminal domestic violence, wherein he threatened a female with a firearm and slapped her (S.C. 2013); and assault and battery 1st degree, wherein he shot a man during a robbery (S.C. 2015).
Green faces a maximum of 10 years in federal prison, a fine of $250,000, and 3 years of court-ordered supervision on the felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition charge.
Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie of Columbia accepted the guilty plea and will impose sentence after she has received and reviewed a presentence report prepared by the United States Probation Office. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office is prosecuting the case.
The case was investigated by ATF and the Columbia Police Department. It 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 implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
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Hanahan Man Sentenced to over 11 Years in Federal Prison for Using a Gun in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
Charleston, South Carolina---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Valdimere Rasheen Rivers, age 30, of Hanahan, South Carolina, was sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty to possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. United States District Judge Richard M. Gergel of Charleston sentenced Rivers to 137 months in federal prison, to be followed by 2 years of court-ordered supervision.
Evidence presented to the court showed that agents of the U.S. Postal Service alerted the Charleston County Sheriff's Office and the Hanahan Police Department that Rivers was receiving suspicious packages from California, and he was arrested while returning from the post office with a box of marijuana in his vehicle. When officers stopped Rivers, he texted his girlfriend with instructions to retrieve money and additional marijuana from the couple's townhouse. As a surveillance team closed in on the residence, Rivers’ girlfriend dropped a container of marijuana into a nearby dumpster and loaded thousands of dollars of cash into one of Rivers' cars. She was arrested, and a search of the townhouse revealed additional marijuana and a loaded revolver. An additional shipment of marijuana addressed to one of Rivers' relatives was also intercepted. In all, authorities seized over five pounds of marijuana and more than $4,500.00 in cash.
The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the United States Postal Service, the Charleston County Sheriff's Office, and the Hanahan Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Chris Schoen of the Charleston 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 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. The Department of Justice 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, the Attorney General 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 Woman Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison Following Second Counterfeiting ConvictionRead the Press Release
Greenville, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Jessica A. Dishinger, age 24, of Greenville, South Carolina, was sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty to manufacturing counterfeit money. United States District Judge J. Michelle Childs sentenced Dishinger to 48 months in federal prison, followed by three years of court-ordered supervision. This was Dishinger’s second federal counterfeiting conviction.
Evidence presented to the court established that in the summer of 2018, Dishinger passed counterfeit federal reserve notes at various locations throughout the Upstate of South Carolina. Based on a local investigation, Greenville City Police officers developed probable cause and executed a search warrant on Dishinger’s home. Officers located in Dishinger’s bedroom resume paper, a paper cutter, and a deskjet printer—all of which are commonly used to manufacture counterfeit money. In addition, officers found multiple counterfeit federal reserve notes hidden throughout the premises. Dishinger manufactured the counterfeit notes to help fund her consumption of methamphetamine.
The case was investigated by agents with the Greenville City Police Department and the United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office prosecuted the case.
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Gang Leader and Co-Conspirators Collectively Sentenced to Nearly 55 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Florence, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that nine defendants, including six current or former members of a criminal street gang, were sentenced in federal court on drug and firearms violations.
During the sentencing hearings, United States District Judge Bruce Howe Hendricks characterized the gang as one of the most dangerous criminal organizations the federal government has prosecuted in the Florence and Myrtle Beach areas in many years.
Assistant United States Attorney Andy Moorman presented evidence to the Court that overwhelmingly established that Barbara Landy, age 27, was the leader of a subset of a national criminal street gang, and she communicated directly with a national gang leader who was incarcerated in the Western part of the United States. As the leader, or four star general, in charge, Landy directed drug shipments, assisted in the trafficking of weapons, and ordered the payment of “homage,” or dues by inferior gang members. For her leadership role in this dangerous and violent gang, the Court sentenced Landy to 210 months in federal prison.
The Court also sentenced Joshua Randall, age 31, to 195 months in federal prison. Evidence demonstrated that Randall was a lieutenant in the gang who reported directly to Landy and sold kilogram quantities of heroin and/or fentanyl to customers in the Myrtle Beach and Florence areas. During the course of the investigation, police arrested Randall on two separate occasions while in possession of guns and drugs.
Lee Tracy Riggins, age 27, was also a member of the gang. The Government presented evidence that Riggins participated in the gang’s drug distribution and firearms trafficking networks and was integral in gathering guns to be transported to and sold in New York, New York, to generate revenue for the gang. For his part, the Court sentenced Riggins to 120 months in federal prison.
The remaining Defendants sentenced were either lower level members of the street gang or non-gang members. Stanley Weaver, Brandon Randall, Jerrick Thomas, Dominique Chatman, Douglas Hart, and Joey Sinclair garnered combined sentences of 130 months, ranging from 35 months in federal prison to time served.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, 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 Solicitor’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit, and the Georgetown Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Andy Moorman, Everett McMillian, and Justin Holloway prosecuted the case.
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Oconee Woman Sentenced to 18 Years in Federal Prison on Meth ChargeRead the Press Release
Greenville, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Tabitha A. Hammond, age 37, of Seneca, South Carolina, was sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty to possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins of Spartanburg sentenced Hammond to 216 months in federal prison.
Evidence presented to the court established that on August 8, 2017, an Oconee County deputy sheriff was patrolling in the Fair Play area when he observed a vehicle turn without signaling and then turn quickly into a residence before he could initiate a traffic stop. The vehicle stopped at the residence for just a few minutes and resumed travel. Upon observing a defective break light, he initiated a traffic stop. There were four persons in the car and no one had a valid driver’s license with them. The deputy observed much suspicious behavior, including extreme nervousness, attempts to hide the contents of various bags, and one passenger giving indications of flight. The deputy received consent to search from the driver and located more than five pounds of methamphetamine in a bag belonging to Hammond. After being given her Miranda warnings, Hammond admitted to engaging in drug trafficking activity.
This case was investigated by the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office prosecuted the case.
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Notice of Court ProceedingsRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina -- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that arraignments have been scheduled for this afternoon in Columbia following the arrests yesterday in the Aiken-area pursuant to the multi-agency and jurisdictional “Operation Gunsmoke.” United States Magistrate Judge Paige Gossett will preside.
WHEN: Wednesday March 13, 2019, at 2:30 p.m.
WHERE: Matthew J. Perry, Jr., Courthouse
Courtroom #7
901 Richland Street
Columbia, SC 29201
The following individuals will be making initial appearances for arraignment and bond purposes:
Heather Collins, 42, of Aiken, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, and Methamphetamine, and multiple counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine and Crack Cocaine;
Cornelious F. McKie, 42, of Aiken, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, and Methamphetamine, and Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, and Methamphetamine;
Reihn Dracon Jennings, a/k/a “Red,” 28, of Aiken, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, and Methamphetamine, Distribution of Crack Cocaine, multiple counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Using and Carrying a Firearm During and In Relation to and in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
Christopher Johnson, a/k/a “Crip,” 32, of Aiken, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, and Methamphetamine, Distribution of Crack Cocaine, and multiple counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
Kevin D. Sheppard, a/k/a “Bean O”, 35, of Jackson, South Carolina, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, and Methamphetamine, multiple counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Using and Carrying a Firearm During and In Relation to and In Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and Dealing in Firearms without a License;
Jerome Morris Simmons, 38, of Aiken, charged with Distribution of Cocaine, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Using and Carrying a Firearm During and In Relation to and In Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and Dealing in Firearms without a License;
Keith Williams, 29, of Beech Island, South Carolina, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Distribution of Methamphetamine, Using and Carrying a Firearm During and In Relation to and In Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and Dealing in Firearms without a License;
Charlie Edward Carter, 31, of Beech Island, charged with Distribution of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Dealing in Firearms without a License;
Ray Hampton Baughman, 48, of New Ellenton, South Carolina, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
Xavier Mathaney, 26, of Aiken, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
U.S. Attorney Lydon stated that all charges in the indictments are merely accusations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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Lancaster Man Sentenced to Nearly 10 Years in Federal Prison for Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Jamarcus Dontaye Patterson, age 36, of Lancaster, South Carolina, was sentenced to 115 months (9.5 years) in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Following the term of imprisonment, Patterson will be on federal supervised release for 3 years. Senior United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten, of Columbia, imposed the sentence.
Evidence presented in court established that on July 13, 2018, deputies with the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Plyler and Duke Streets after receiving a call that Jamarcus Patterson had pointed a firearm at someone. Deputies observed Patterson, who had outstanding state warrants at the time, walking down Plyler Street. When deputies approached, Patterson fled on foot. He was apprehended shortly thereafter, and deputies recovered a loaded Hi-Point .40 caliber pistol. At the time of the July offense, Patterson was on state bond for a December 24, 2017, weapon charge stemming from an incident at a residence in Lancaster wherein he was found in possession of a Beretta 9mm handgun, which had been stolen from the Lancaster National Guard Armory in November 2017. Patterson was arrested on new state charges, and a federal arrest warrant and complaint was issued charging Patterson with both weapon offenses.
Patterson entered a guilty plea to the July 2018 weapon charge. Following a contested sentencing hearing, the court increased Patterson’s sentence in light of evidence produced by the Government that Patterson had pointed and presented the stolen Beretta 9mm handgun during the December 24, 2017, dispute with a female at a residence in Lancaster.
Federal law prohibits Patterson from possessing firearms and ammunition based upon his prior state convictions: 2002 conviction for assault and battery with intent to kill, wherein he shot someone in the leg; 2013 conviction for burglary 2nd degree, where he and a co-defendant allegedly were armed during a burglary in which a two-month-old child was held at gunpoint; 2013 conviction for attempted strong arm robbery; and 2013 conviction for accessory before the fact to a felony.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office and 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 implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Assistant United States Attorneys Stacey D. Haynes, Chris Taylor, and Elliott Daniels of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.
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Greer Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison on Child Pornography ChargeRead the Press Release
Greenville, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Keith D. Cook, age 38, of Greer, South Carolina, was sentenced in federal court after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography. United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins, of Spartanburg, sentenced Cook to 10 years in federal prison and ordered that he serve 20 years under court-ordered supervision after his prison sentence is complete.
Evidence presented to the court established that on January 18, 2017, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Cook’s home after receiving information that he was uploading child pornography to a mobile device. Law enforcement recovered Cook’s cell phone and located multiple images of child pornography, some involving prepubescent minors. Cook was questioned and admitted to downloading the child pornography that led to the search warrant. More child pornography was discovered on a work computer at Cook’s place of business.
The case was investigated by agents with the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and the ICE – Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
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Four South Carolina Men Sentenced for International Wildlife SmugglingRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Steven Verren Baker, 38, of Holly Hill, South Carolina, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to participating in a Conspiracy to Smuggle Wildlife. Senior United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr., of Columbia, imposed the sentence and ordered Baker to forfeit $263,225.00 in proceeds.
On February 27, 2019, Joseph Logan Brooks, 29, formerly of Holly Hill, was sentenced to five months incarceration and five months home confinement for his participation in the conspiracy. Likewise, on March 1, 2019, fellow conspirator Matthew Tyler Fischer, 26, of Holly Hill, was sentenced to six months home confinement and two years’ probation. William Fischer, age 48, of Harleyville, South Carolina, was sentenced to two years’ probation and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine for a misdemeanor Wildlife Trafficking violation. All three participated in or facilitated Baker’s efforts.
Matthew Harrison Kail, age 30, of Pomona Park, Florida, and William Thomas Gangemi, age 26, of Freehold, New Jersey, have both pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
Evidence presented previously established that Baker was the ringleader of an international syndicate of wildlife smugglers exchanging turtles protected by international agreements back and forth between the United States and China. The activity took place from January through June 2016. Baker obtained protected turtles from Hong Kong to distribute here in the United States, and he shipped protected turtles from the United States to Asia.
The transactions were set up using the Facebook text messaging feature. Shipments were made internationally through the United States Postal Service. Several packages were intercepted entering the United States at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Winston David Holliday, Jr., of the Columbia office is prosecuting the case.
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26 Charged in Series of Federal Indictments in South Carolina and Georgia for Drugs, Illegal FirearmsRead the Press Release
Aiken, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that 26 individuals, many of them associates of a violent criminal street gang, have been indicted on drug and firearms charges after a series of investigations in South Carolina and Georgia.
The investigation and arrests were announced in a joint press conference held at the Aiken Department of Public Safety by the United States Attorney’s Offices for the District of South Carolina and the Southern District of Georgia.
The investigation was initiated by the Regional Anti-Gang Enforcement (RAGE) Task Force of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). It began in 2017 as an investigation of a member of a criminal street gang who is alleged to have coordinated continued criminal activity while being held in the Aiken County Detention Center awaiting retrial for murder in a 2008 drug-related home invasion.
From 2017 to the present, ATF agents in South Carolina and Georgia identified multiple targets in the investigation, many of them linked by association with the street gang. Nine defendants were named in three separate indictments by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia, while 17 additional defendants have been indicted in the District of South Carolina.
“We will not stand by and let violent criminal enterprises continue victimizing our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Lydon. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office in South Carolina is locking arms with our law enforcement partners, and we will spare no resource to take back our neighborhoods from criminal actors who are mixing violence and illegal drug distribution. I am proud to stand with our federal, state, and local partners, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Georgia, and I applaud their excellent work in these cases.”
“Our federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and prosecutors continue our relentless and unwavering effort to identify, arrest and prosecute associates of violent criminal street gangs and remove them from our neighborhoods,” said Bobby L. Christine, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. “City limits, county lines and state borders are no barrier to the professionals who fight tirelessly to eliminate drug-dealers and illegal firearms from our communities.”
The 17 defendants charged in South Carolina are:
Ronald Gartrell, a/k/a “RJ,” 33, of Aiken, South Carolina, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, and Methamphetamine, multiple counts of Distribution of Crack Cocaine, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
Heather Collins, 42, of Aiken, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, and Methamphetamine, and multiple counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine and Crack Cocaine;
Cornelious F. McKie, 42, of Aiken, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, and Methamphetamine, and Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, and Methamphetamine;
Reihn Dracon Jennings, a/k/a “Red,” 28, of Aiken, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, and Methamphetamine, Distribution of Crack Cocaine, multiple counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Using and Carrying a Firearm During and In Relation to and in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
Christopher Johnson, a/k/a “Crip,” 32, of Aiken, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, and Methamphetamine, Distribution of Crack Cocaine, and multiple counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
Quinton De’Shaun White, a/k/a “Q,” 29, of North Augusta, South Carolina, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, and Methamphetamine, Distribution of Methamphetamine, and Using and Carrying a Firearm During and In Relation to and In Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime;
Kevin D. Sheppard, a/k/a “Bean O”, 35, of Jackson, South Carolina, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, and Methamphetamine, multiple counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Using and Carrying a Firearm
During and In Relation to and In Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and Dealing in Firearms without a License;
Benjamin Roper, 42, of Aiken, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Dealing in Firearms without a License;
Jerome Morris Simmons, 38, of Aiken, charged with Distribution of Cocaine, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Using and Carrying a Firearm During and In Relation to and In Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and Dealing in Firearms without a License;
Antonio Maurice Scrivens, a/k/a “Bucko,” 34, of Aiken, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Using and Carrying a Firearm During and In Relation to and In Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and Dealing in Firearms without a License;
Keith Williams, 29, of Beech Island, South Carolina, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Distribution of Methamphetamine, Using and Carrying a Firearm During and In Relation to and In Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and Dealing in Firearms without a License;
Larry Thomas, 20, of Aiken, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Distribution of Methamphetamine, Using and Carrying a Firearm During and In Relation to and In Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime, and Dealing in Firearms without a License;
Charlie Edward Carter, 31, of Beech Island, charged with Distribution of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and Dealing in Firearms without a License;
Rudolph Keith Scott, 27, of Beech Island, charged with Distribution of Methamphetamine;
Ray Hampton Baughman, 48, of New Ellenton, South Carolina, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
Xavier Mathaney, 26, of Aiken, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon; and
Rashad Lundy, 27, of Aiken, charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.
The defendants indicted in Georgia are:
George Edward Powell, 51, of Blythe, Georgia, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and multiple counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Distribution of Methamphetamine;
Keldrick Demonta Streetman, 36, of Augusta, Georgia, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Distribution of Cocaine, and Distribution of Methamphetamine;
Jermarce Antonio Smith, 32, of Augusta, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Distribution of Methamphetamine;
Brandon Jermal Jenkins, 29, of Augusta, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Distribution of Methamphetamine;
Carl Walker, 56, of Augusta, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, multiple counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine, and multiple counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon;
Gwendolyn Johnson-Hill, 53, of Augusta, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Distribution of Methamphetamine;
John Willie Powell, 39, of Augusta, charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and multiple counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine;
Ziquane Sandford, 21, of Hephzibah, Georgia, charged with Conspiracy to Engage in the Business of Dealing in Firearms Without a License, False Statements in Acquisition of Firearms, Engaging in the Business of Dealing in Firearms Without a License, Possession of an Unregistered Short-Barreled Shotgun, and False Statements Concerning Information Kept by Firearms Dealer;
Jacquetta Yarbray, 23, of Hephzibah, charged with Conspiracy to Engage in the Business of Dealing in Firearms Without a License, False Statements in Acquisition of Firearms, and False Statements Concerning Information Kept by Firearms Dealer.
U.S. Attorney Lydon stated that all charges in the indictments are merely accusations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carlton R. Bourne in the District of South Carolina and Assistant United States Attorney Tara Lyons and Special Assistant United States Attorney Michael Marchman in the Southern District of Georgia.
Led by ATF’s RAGE Unit, the law enforcement entities listed below participated in the investigation and the arrests today. The ATF Regional Anti-Gang Enforcement (RAGE) Unit is a joint gang/violent crime task force with the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, North Augusta Department of Public Safety, Aiken Department of Public Safety, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Participating law enforcement and prosecution agencies:
State of South Carolina:
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) – Charlotte Field Division
Aiken County Sheriff’s Office
Aiken Department of Public Safety
North Augusta Department of Public Safety
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division
South Carolina Department of Probation, Pardon and Parole
State of Georgia:
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) – Atlanta Field Division
Richmond County Sheriff’s Office
Burke County (Georgia) Sheriff’s Office
Georgia Department of Community Supervision
United States Marshals Service (USMS)
Georgia State Patrol Aviation
State of West Virginia:
Wheeling Police Department
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) - Wheeling WV Satellite Office
Federal and State Prosecuting Entities:
United States Attorney’s Offices – The District of South Carolina and The Southern District of Georgia
South Carolina Second Judicial Circuit – Solicitor Strom Thurmond, Jr.
Superior Court of Augusta Judicial Circuit – District Attorney Natalie Paine
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United States Attorney Lydon Hosts Discussion on China’s Threat to America’s National SecurityRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that she hosted a discussion entitled, “China’s Threat to Our National Security: An Economic and Private Sector Perspective.” The discussion featured William R. Evanina, Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) in Washington, DC; Douglas Hemminghaus, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of National Security and Cyber in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Columbia field office; and David P. Burns, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Department of Justice’s National Security Division. In this first-of-its-kind meeting, NCSC and the Justice Department briefed members of the legal and business communities, heads of chambers of commerce, academics, and legislators about China’s threats to our nation’s economic prosperity.
More than 90% of the Department of Justice’s cases alleging economic espionage over the past seven years involved China. Over two-thirds of the Department’s cases involving thefts of trade secrets are connected to China. The talk aimed to educate attendees about economic threats posed by China, build bridges between law enforcement and law-abiding members of the business community, and ensure that attendees and their employers know that the federal government stands ready to help should they face data breaches, insider threats, or trade secret theft.
“The Department of Justice and the FBI will use all available tools to respond to China’s economic aggression and the threat that these actions pose to the prosperity and security of the United States and other nations that respect the rule of law,” said U.S. Attorney Lydon. “Law enforcement cannot fight this battle alone, however. We need our corporate citizens to be informed and vigilant about protecting themselves from victimization in this area. The conversation we had today is just the first step in what will be an ongoing dialogue with the business community.”
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Serial Robber Pleads Guilty in Federal Court to Seven Robberies in North and South CarolinaRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Ron Luclaire Houser, 42, of Mathews, North Carolina, pleaded guilty in federal court to seven counts of Hobbs Act robbery and two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
Evidence presented to the court showed that Houser committed multiple armed robberies from November 2016 through January 2018 throughout North and South Carolina. In all, Houser robbed six Dollar General stores and a gas station. The robberies occurred in Fort Mill, Lancaster, and Lugoff, South Carolina, and Monroe and Ansonville, North Carolina. In each robbery, Houser threatened employees at gunpoint.
Houser faces of maximum penalty of life in federal prison. Senior United States District Judge Cameron M. Currie accepted the guilty plea and will sentence him after receiving and reviewing a presentencing report prepared by the United States Probation Office.
The charges against Houser were the result of an extensive and coordinated investigation between the Federal Bureau of Investigation the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office, Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office, and Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office of South Carolina and the Union County Sheriff’s Office, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office, Oakboro Police Department, Thomasville Police Department, and Stallings Police Department in North Carolina.
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 implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. Assistant United States Attorney Will Lewis of the Columbia office is prosecuting the case.
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Local, State, and Federal Law Enforcement will Join State Prosecutors and U.S. Attorneys from South Carolina and the Southern District of Georgia at a Press Conference Tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. in Aiken, South CarolinaRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that a press conference will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, March 12, 2019, at the Aiken Public Safety Department, J. Carroll Busbee Headquarters, 834 Beaufort Street NE, Aiken, SC 29801.
Represented at the press conference will be members of the Aiken Department of Public Safety; Aiken County Sheriff’s Office; North Augusta Department of Public Safety; South Carolina Law Enforcement Division; South Carolina Department of Probation, Pardon, and Parole Services; Richmond County (GA) Sheriff’s Office; Burke County (GA) Sheriff’s Office; the United States Marshals Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Second Circuit (SC) Solicitor’s Office; District Attorney’s Office (Augusta Judicial Circuit); and the United States Attorney’s Offices from the Southern District of Georgia and South Carolina.
NOTE: Press inquiries regarding logistics should be directed to Lance Crick, 864-282-2105. All media must present a government-issued photo ID (such as a driver’s license). Members of the media wishing to attend should gather at the media staging area at 2:00 p.m., 30 minutes in advance of the press conference.
Media Staging Area: Aiken Public Safety Department, J. Carroll Busbee Headquarters, 834 Beaufort Street NE, Aiken, SC 29801
Former Fifth Circuit Director of Communications Sentenced in Federal Court for FraudRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Nicole Halliett Holland, age 50, former Director of Communications for the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office and a resident of Columbia, South Carolina, was sentenced to three years probation after pleading guilty to committing Wire Fraud and Mail Fraud. Senior United States District Court Judge Cameron McGowan Currie presided. Holland also was ordered to pay $11,164.60 in restitution to the Solicitor’s Office.
Facts presented in court established that from 2011 to March 2018, Holland was employed by Daniel Edward Johnson at the Fifth Circuit Solicitor’s Office. During her time of employment, Nicole Holland used Solicitor’s Office funds to pay for personal expenses.
Using a Solicitor’s Office credit card issued to her for office-related expenses, she made the following unauthorized purchases, among others:
• In May 2017, various hotel stays at the Hampton Inn and Suites in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, totaling over $2,700. These charges correlate to Count 11 of the Indictment, which is the wire fraud for the August 7, 2017, payment covering these personal expenses.
• In March 2017, a $1,020 expense for a family member’s orthodontics treatment that Holland labelled as “tournament sponsorship.” This charge correlates to Count 19, the mailing of the Bank of America statement ending on March 8, 2017, which contained this expense.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorneys Winston D. Holliday, Jr., Alyssa L. Richardson, and William C. Lewis of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.
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District of South Carolina Takes Part in Largest-Ever Nationwide Elder Fraud SweepRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina – Attorney General William P. Barr and United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon today announced the largest coordinated sweep of elder fraud cases in history, surpassing last year’s nationwide sweep. The cases during this sweep involved more than 260 defendants from around the globe who victimized more than two million Americans, most of them elderly.
“Crimes against the elderly target some of the most vulnerable people in our society,” Attorney General William P. Barr said. “But thanks to the hard work of our agents and prosecutors, as well as our state and local partners, the Department of Justice is protecting our seniors from fraud. The Trump administration has placed a renewed focus on prosecuting those who prey on the elderly, and the results of today’s sweep make that clear. Today we are announcing the largest single law enforcement action against elder fraud in American history. This year’s sweep involves 13 percent more criminal defendants, 28 percent more in losses, and twice the number of fraud victims as last year’s sweep. I want to thank the Department’s Consumer Protection Branch, which led this effort, together with the Department’s Criminal Division, the more than 50 U.S. Attorneys’ offices, and the state and local partners who helped to make these results possible. Together, we are bringing justice and peace of mind to America's seniors.”
United States Attorney Lydon stated, “Our office is fully committed to the protection of the elderly as a part of the national Elder Fraud Initiative (EFI). Our prosecutors work day in and day out with law enforcement partners to protect the most vulnerable members of our society from harm. I thank Attorney General Barr and the Department of Justice for their leadership in putting a stop to elder fraud schemes.”
United States Attorney Lydon has appointed an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) as her statewide EFI coordinator and has designated an AUSA in each of the Columbia, Charleston, Florence, and Greenville Offices to lead the EFI efforts in their regions. Two cases prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina in the last year demonstrate that the EFI effort goes after anyone who seeks to harm the elderly financially, no matter how small or large the loss.
Lashonda Ravenell, age 29, of Charleston, South Carolina, pleaded guilty to a fraud charge in federal court after obtaining credit card information from a resident at the care facility where she worked and stealing $30,786.62 from him.
Melvin Wimmer, Jr., age 53, of Greenwood, South Carolina, is serving 75 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to a securities fraud scheme that targeted numerous elderly people. Mr. Wimmer, an “investment advisor,” talked his victims into investing their retirement savings with him. After obtaining approximately $3.6 million from them, he managed to lose $3 million of it through high-risk trading. At no time did he ever advise his clients of the risk to their money, and after losing the money he kept the venture going by providing his investors with bogus earnings statements to keep them in the game, to use a conman’s phrase. Wimmer will be under court-ordered supervision for five years when he is released from prison.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office’s EFI team has reached out to and is coordinating with numerous federal, state, and local groups that are committed to protecting the elderly from all types of abuse. Additionally, members of the EFI team are available to make educational presentations to any group throughout the State.
United States Attorney Lydon would invite the public to visit her office’s EFI website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/elder-justice-initiative. Additionally, reports of elder fraud may be made by calling any of the U.S. Attorney’s Offices in South Carolina and asking to speak to an elder fraud attorney.
Since President Trump signed the bipartisan Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (EAPPA) into law, the Department of Justice has participated in hundreds of enforcement actions in criminal and civil cases that targeted or disproportionately affected seniors. The Justice Department has likewise conducted hundreds of trainings and outreach sessions across the country since the passage of the Act.
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Thomas Lawton Evans Jr. Sentenced to Three Consecutive Life Terms in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Charleston, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Thomas Lawton Evans, Jr., 38, of Boiling Springs, South Carolina, was sentenced to three consecutive life terms in federal prison after pleading guilty to Kidnapping Involving a Person Under the Age of 18, Transportation of a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity, and Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Person under the age of Twelve. United States District Court Judge David Norton of Charleston imposed the sentence.
Facts presented to the court established that Evans followed a family into their Johns Island, South Carolina, home on February 13, 2018, then brutally assaulted and injured an adult resident. As she was assaulted, the resident told her four-year-old daughter to run, and the four-year-old hid in an upstairs bedroom, where she attempted to also hide her two-year-old brother. Evans went upstairs and kidnapped the four-year-old, placing her in the trunk of his car. He then drove with the girl through South Carolina and Georgia and into Alabama, where he was located by the Riverside Police Department. Riverside Police Department Chief Rick Oliver was able to separate the young girl from Evans before Evans sped away in a car. Evans was arrested later the same day in Jackson, Mississippi, after a police pursuit.
“Thomas Evans’ attack on this family was a random, evil act,” said U.S. Attorney Lydon. “But it would be the last random act in the story. For there would be nothing random about the excellent work of the FBI and Charleston Police Department that followed; nothing random about the police chief in Riverside, Alabama, who was determined to help; nothing random about a justice system that affords a defendant due process; and nothing random about prosecutors who hold individuals accountable for their violence. Everyone came together with a sense of purpose to make sure this story ended well. Our office will forever be amazed by this family’s strength and resilience.”
The convictions are the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Charleston Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Nathan Williams and Nick Bianchi of the Charleston office prosecuted the case.
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Orangeburg Man Pleads to Federal Firearm ChargeRead the Press Release
Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Keycon Deonte Keitt, age 32, of Orangeburg, South Carolina, pleaded guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Evidence presented in court showed that on March 5, 2018, Orangeburg Department of Public Safety (ODPS) deputies conducting a property check approached a vehicle in which Keitt was a passenger. After Keitt was observed moving and reaching around the back seat of the vehicle, Keitt initially ignored several verbal commands from deputies. Keitt was ordered out of the vehicle and deputies found a Taurus 9mm pistol on the rear seat near Keitt and within his reach. After Keitt admitted to possession of the firearm, deputies found two magazines and 19 rounds of ammunition, including one loaded magazine matching the pistol strapped to the inside of Keitt’s right leg.
Federal law prohibits Keitt from possessing a firearm or ammunition based upon prior state convictions, including two convictions for Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature in a case that involved a shooting; Threatening the Life of a Public Employee; Criminal Domestic Violence; two convictions for Assault; Burglary; two convictions for Pointing and Presenting a Firearm; and various breaking and entering, possession of stolen property, and property crime convictions, among others.
Keitt faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison, a fine of $250,000, and 3 years of court-ordered supervision. However, if the court determines enhanced penalties apply based on the Keitt’s prior criminal record, he may face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison.
United States District Judge J. Michelle Childs of Columbia accepted the guilty plea and will impose sentence after she has received and reviewed a presentence report prepared by the United States Probation Office.
The charge against Keitt was the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety. The case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Project CeaseFire is South Carolina’s implementation of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Elliott B. Daniels of the Columbia office.
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Greenville Business Owners Convicted by Federal Jury of Mail and Wire Fraud ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Greenville, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that Jonathan E. Field, age 41, and Shena J. Field, age 40, both of Mauldin, South Carolina, were found guilty of a conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud. A federal jury returned guilty verdicts late Friday evening after two hours of deliberation. United States District Judge Donald C. Coggins of Spartanburg received the verdict and will sentence the Fields after receiving and reviewing a Presentence Investigation Report prepared by the United States Probation Office.
Evidence presented at trial showed that the Fields owned and operated the business Reboot LLC, which purports to be a used electronics store. Reboot, however, was an organized fencing operation where shoplifters, many of whom suffered from drug addiction, unloaded their new-in-the-box stolen items for a fraction of the items’ retail value. The Fields posted the stolen items for sale on EBay and sold the items to honest purchasers who were uninformed as to the status of the items.
The evidence showed that the Fields welcomed the shoplifters’ business by not requiring production of sales receipts and implementing a no-questions-asked policy at Reboot. Store records entered into evidence showed that some shoplifters went to Reboot almost every day, and sometimes multiple times per day, to bring stolen goods. The Fields and store employees would also meet the shoplifters after hours at gas stations and other spots to receive the stolen goods. If Reboot oversold an item on EBay, the Fields would instruct selected shoplifters to obtain the item for Reboot so as to avoid bad feedback on the EBay website.
Law enforcement estimates that during the conspiracy period the Fields received hundreds of thousands of dollars in stolen merchandise. Thirteen co-conspirators have pleaded guilty and admitted their involvement in the Reboot criminal enterprise.
The maximum sentence the Fields face is 20 years in federal prison, a fine of $250,000, and three years of court-ordered supervision.
This case was investigated by the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew B. Moorman, Sr., and Bill Watkins of the Greenville office handled the case.
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