District of South Carolina
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Gambling Ring Leader SentencedRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Bill Watkins (864) 282-2100
Columbia, South Carolina -----United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Izzat M. Khalil, age 54, of Travelers Rest, South Carolina, was sentenced today in federal court in Spartanburg, South Carolina, for violation of 18 U.S.C. ' 1955, which prohibits the operation of an illegal gambling business. Judge Mary G. Lewis sentenced Khalil to one year and one day imprisonment and ordered him to pay a $100 special assessment. According to his plea agreement, Khalil is forfeiting $194,522.00 in gambling proceeds to the United States.
Evidence at the change of plea hearing established that during the dates set forth in the indictment, Khalil conducted an illegal gambling business in and around Greenville, South Carolina. Five or more persons were involved in this activity and the business was in continuous operation for more than 30 days. The headquarters of Khalil’s business was 6129 Augusta Road, in Greenville South Carolina. Law enforcement used a number of confidential informants to make controlled purchases from Khalil’s gambling locations. For example, on January 31, 2012 and March 13, 2013, a confidential informant who was wired for video and audio made controlled gambling bets at 6129 Augusta Road. Each time the informant received a slip memorializing the transaction. Khalil employed individuals making the betting tickets, recording the wagers, and paying out when necessary. This activity was in violation of S.C. Code Ann. 12-21-2710 and 16-19-130.
The case was investigated by deputies of the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office handled the case.Hampton County Woman Sentenced in Drug Related ShootingRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Nick Bianchi (843) 727-4381
Columbia, South Carolina -----United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Roqel Connors, age 23, of Garnett, South Carolina was sentenced today in federal court in Charleston, South Carolina, for discharging a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). Senior United States District Judge Sol Blatt, Jr. of Charleston sentenced Connors to 10 years to be followed by 5 years supervised release.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that on December 11, 2011, Connors arranged to sell marijuana to a man in Beaufort, SC. As Connors was conducting the transaction with an individual in the back seat of a vehicle, an argument ensued and Connors fired her Glock handgun into the vehicle. The shot fired by Connors struck the driver of the vehicle, Mark Kevin Jones, in the back of the head, killing Jones.
The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive and Beaufort County Sheriff's Office. Assistant United States Attorney Nick Bianchi of the Charleston office prosecuted the case.Florence Man Pleads to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Bill Day (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina -----United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Andrew Stephen Jackson, age 44, of Florence, South Carolina has entered a guilty plea in federal court in Florence, to possession of child pornography, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(5)(B) and (b)(2) . United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell of Florence accepted the guilty plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Jackson was trading child pornography with an individual in Australia in October 2010. A search warrant was executed at Jackson's residence and thousands of images of child pornography were found on Jackson's computers.
Mr. Nettles stated the maximum penalty for possession of child pornography is imprisonment for 10 years and/or a fine of $250,000.
The case was investigated by agents of the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney William E Day, II of the Columbia office is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States 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.# # #
Travelers Rest Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Bill Watkins (864) 282-2100
Columbia, South Carolina -----United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Walter T. Alexander, age 31, of Travelers Rest, South Carolina, pled guilty today in federal court in Anderson, South Carolina, to possession of child pornography, a violation of 18 U.S.C. ' 2252A. United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain accepted the plea and will sentence Alexander once a pre-sentence investigation report has been prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that law enforcement began an investigation of Alexander after learning that an e-mail address associated with him had uploaded an image file containing child porn. The file was uploaded on October 10, 2012. A state law enforcement officer reviewed the upload and concluded that it did indeed contain child porn. Further investigation traced the IP address connected to the e-mail account to Alexander’s residence.
On April 22, 2013, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Alexander’s residence. They seized his computer and conducted a forensic examination of it. Approximately 90 child porn videos and 170 still images were found-- that is, images and videos of minors under the age of 18 engaged in sexually explicit conduct and the lascivious display of the genitals. Some of the minors had not attained the age of 12 and were prepubescent.
The case was investigated by agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Investigations, and the State Law Enforcement Division. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office handled 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.Spartanburg Man Pleads Guilty to Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Bill Watkins (864) 282-2100
Columbia, South Carolina -----United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Michael L. Wolfenbarger, age 42, of Spartanburg, South Carolina, pled guilty today in federal court in Anderson, South Carolina, to wire fraud, a violation of 18 U.S.C. ' 1343. United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain accepted the plea and will sentence Wolfenbarger once a pre-sentence investigation report has been prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Wolfenbarger acted as the middleman between various automotive dealerships and private individuals in the purchase and sale of used vehicles. Wolfenbarger utilized bank accounts at Branch Banking & Trust Company and The Palmetto Bank in his business affairs. Wolfenbarger would write checks drawn on bank accounts with insufficient funds or create counterfeit instruments and deposit these checks into other accounts. The pattern of depositing insufficient funds (“NSF”) checks and counterfeit instruments resulted in the books and records of the Banks showing inflated balances that permitted these NSF checks or counterfeit instruments to be honored rather than returned unpaid. Wolfenbarger would then withdraw monies from the Banks and/or write checks for goods and services based on inflated balances and thus take advantage of the time required for a check deposited in one bank to be physically presented for payment at the bank on which it was drawn. It was further part of the scheme and artifice to defraud that Wolfenbarger, rather than remitting funds to the automotive dealerships once a used vehicle had been sold, would deposit these funds in accounts with the Banks in an effort to perpetuate the kite and cover bad checks that he had written. Through this scheme an artifice, the victims lost in excess of $1 million.
The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office handled the case.# # #
Easley Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Bill Watkins (864) 282-2100
Columbia, South Carolina -----United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that James A. Newton, age 54, of Easley, South Carolina, pled guilty today in federal court in Anderson, South Carolina, to possession of child pornography, a violation of 18 U.S.C. ' 2252A. United States District Judge Timothy M. Cain accepted the plea and will sentence Newton once a pre-sentence investigation report has been prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that on April 17, 2013, an agent with the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Investigations, was conducting an investigation of individuals sharing child pornography. The agent logged onto a peer-to-peer file sharing program and downloaded child pornography from a user in Easley, SC. Further investigation revealed that this IP address was associated with Newton’s residence.
On July 9, 2013, agents executed a federal search warrant at his residence. Multiple computers and storage devices were seized. Newton had 121 child porn videos and 2,517 still images—that is, images and videos of minors under the age of 18 engaged in sexually explicit conduct and the lascivious display of the genitals. Some of the minors had not attained the age of 12 and were prepubescent.
The case was investigated by agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office handled 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.Three Members of the "Indigenous American Nationals" Sentenced to Ten Years in PrisonRead the Press Release
Contact Person: DeWayne Pearson (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina -----United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Jerry Elmo Hartsoe, age 57, of West Columbia, James Chappel Dew, age 59 of North Myrtle Beach, and Mark Shannon Manuel, age 49 of Franklin, Tennessee, were sentenced to 10 years incarceration by United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie of Columbia for their convictions on eight counts of mail fraud. Facts presented at trial proved that the three men defrauded victims through their West Columbia business, Eden Gifted Properties. The men claimed to be able to eliminate their customers’ debt using a series of secret government accounts.
According to the testimony presented in the case, Hartsoe, Manuel and Dew claimed to have access to a secret government account worth approximately $100 billion. For a fee or “donation” of 10% of the value of the debt, the men claimed to be able to satisfy and pay off mortgages, credit cards and any other types of debt. Using connections within various religious and political groups, the defendants traveled across the United States to host seminars and presentations. After identifying potential victims at these seminars and presentations, the defendants would solicit several thousand dollars from each victim and begin mailing a series of bogus documents to banks and other lenders. Witnesses testified that the men encouraged customers to seek cash advances from credit cards and to raid retirement accounts in order to pay Eden Gifted Properties’ fees. The court found that the men took over $675,000.00 from their victims and intended to cause over $83,000,000.00 in losses to banks and other financial institutions.
Claims made by the men during the trial and during sentencing are similar to arguments presented by so-called “sovereign citizens.” Sovereign citizens” are U.S. citizens who reject their citizenship status and claim that the government is operating outside of its jurisdiction. They generally do not recognize the authority of federal, state or local governments and renounce their obligation to adhere to the laws, policies or regulations created by those governments
The investigation and convictions were pursued in furtherance of the FBI’s national strategy aimed at disrupting the criminal activity of individuals claiming to be sovereign citizensand prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys T. DeWayne Pearson and John Potterfield of the Columbia office.Greenville Man Receives 97 Months Imprisonment for Possession of Child PornRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Bill Watkins (864) 282-2100
Columbia, South Carolina -----United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Christopher E. Miller, age 26, of Greenville, South Carolina, was sentenced today in federal court in Anderson, South Carolina, for possession of child pornography, a violation of 18 U.S.C. ' 2252A. Senior United States District G. Ross Anderson, Jr., sentenced Miller to 97 months imprisonment, five years of supervised release, and ordered him to pay a $100 special assessment fee.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that agents received information that someone located in Greenville, South Carolina, was using peer-to-peer software to download child pornography via the internet. Investigative efforts allowed law enforcement to determine the IP address that was utilized to download the child pornography. The Federal Bureau of Investigation then traced the IP address to Miller’s home.
Agents executed a search warrant at Miller’s home in Greenville. They seized computers from the home and conducted a forensic examination. Agents discovered hundreds of still images and videos of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office handled 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.Aynor Resident Sentenced for Theft of Government Funds, FirearmsRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Bill Day (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina -----United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Steven Mickey Bunker, age 47, of Aynor, South Carolina was sentenced today in federal court in Florence, South Carolina, for theft of government funds, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641, and conspiracy to make false statements when purchasing a firearm, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell of Florence sentenced Bunker to imprisonment for 24 months, 3 years of supervised release, and restitution in the amount of $108,489.36.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that the Department of Veterans Affairs began an investigation of Steven Mickey Bunker after the Sun News interviewed Bunker and published an article concerning injuries he claimed to have sustained while serving in the military in Iraq. After the news article was published, the Department of Veterans Affairs was notified because the newspaper received so much negative feedback indicating that Bunker had made false statements concerning his injuries. At the time, Bunker was receiving total disability from the VA as a result of his claims that he was paralyzed and unable to walk, drive, eat, or otherwise take care of himself without assistance. Bunker’s total disability included payment for others to take care of him at his home. Bunker also received over $40,000 to purchase a vehicle to be driven by someone without the use of their legs, which Bunker promptly traded for a Hummer. The VA’s investigation revealed that Bunker was able to walk, drive, and otherwise take care of himself. As a result of Bunker’s false claims, he received over $159,000 in VA benefits. In addition, Bunker had purchased twenty-three firearms using straw purchasers. The straw purchasers falsely stated on the ATF forms that they were purchasing the firearms for themselves when in fact Steven Bunker picked out and paid for the firearms. Steven Bunker was not permitted to purchase firearms because of a prior felony conviction for lewd act or attempted lewd act upon a minor less than 16 years of age.
The case was investigated by agents of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day II prosecuted the case.Court Prohibits South Carolina Tax Return Preparer from Preparing Returns for OthersRead the Press Release
Contact Person: George Conits (864) 282-2100
Tax Preparer Filed Returns for Others that Overstated Tax Refunds by Claiming Fabricated IRA Deductions and Bogus Education Credits
Columbia, South Carolina -----United States District Court Judge Mary Geiger Lewis, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, permanently barred Sandra Burton from preparing federal income tax returns for others, the U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles announced today.
According to the complaint, from 2006 through 2008, Burton operated her own tax preparation business, Burton Tax Service, and then worked as a tax preparer at J. Moss Financial Services through 2012. While operating Burton Tax Service in 2007 and 2008, Burton allegedly prepared returns for others that improperly claimed fabricated IRA deductions and bogus education credits to reduce her customers’ tax liabilities and/or increase the size of their refunds. The complaint further alleges that Burton closed her tax preparation business after the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) executed a search warrant on her business in 2008.
According to the complaint, even after closing Burton Tax Service, Burton continued to prepare returns for others. As alleged, Burton prepared over 1500 returns in 2011 and 2012 as a tax preparer at J. Moss Financial Services. The complaint further alleges that Burton continued to claim unsubstantiated education credits on returns she prepared while employed at J. Moss Financial Services.
In December 2012, Burton pleaded guilty to ten counts of willfully aiding and assisting in the preparation and presentation of materially false income tax returns for returns she prepared while operating Burton Tax Service. Burton was sentenced to serve 21 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $355,529 in restitution to the IRS.
Burton consented to entry of the injunction.
Return preparer fraud is one of the IRS' Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2014. The IRS has some tips on their website for choosing a tax preparer. In the past decade, the Tax Division has obtained injunctions against hundreds of unscrupulous tax preparers. Information about these cases is available on the Justice Department website. An alphabetical listing of persons enjoined from preparing returns and promoting tax schemes can be found on this page. If you believe that one of the enjoined persons or businesses may be violating an injunction, please contact the Tax Division with details.Columbia Felon Sentenced to Three Years for Carrying Pistols While Out on BondRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Jim May (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina -----United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated that Raheem Fitzgerald Bethel, age 27, of Columbia, was sentenced today in federal court in Columbia, South Carolina, to a term of imprisonment of 35 months in federal prison. On January 15, 2013, Bethel, a previously convicted felon who was on bond for attempted murder, was arrested by the Columbia Police Department with two pistols, one of which was stolen. After being released again on bond, Bethel was arrested on September 14, 2013 in possession of another stolen pistol. A federal Grand Jury subsequently indicted Bethel on February 5, 2014. Senior United States District Judge Margaret B. Seymour sentenced Bethel to 35 months in prison.
This prosecution is part of the United States Attorney’s ongoing efforts with the Columbia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to identify and prosecute violent felons who possess firearms.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay N. Richardson.67 Year-Old Church Secretary Sentenced to Federal Prison for Stealing from ChurchRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Jim May (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina -----United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Sandra A Stroupe, age 67, of Clover, South Carolina was sentenced today in federal court in Columbia, South Carolina, to a term of imprisonment of 24 months in federal prison. Stroupe was the secretary/bookkeeper at the Clover ARP Church for over 38 years. Beginning in at least 2006 and continuing until April of 2013 Stroupe embezzled over $600,000 of church money.
Senior United States District Judge Margaret B. Seymour sentenced Stroupe and ordered that Stroupe pay restitution to her victim.
The case was investigated by agent Devon Mahoney of the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney James (Jim) Hunter May of the Columbia Office prosecuted the case.Former Conway Pastor SentencedRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Bill Day(803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina -----United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Archie Larue Evans was sentenced late yesterday afternoon in federal court in Florence, South Carolina, for Mail Fraud, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1341, and conspiracy to Structure Transactions with a Financial Institution and to Launder Money, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell of Florence sentenced Evans to seven years imprisonment; three years supervised release and ordered Evans to pay restitution of $3,763,339.53.
Evidence presented at the sentencing hearing established that Evans was the pastor of Tilley Swamp Baptist Church located in Conway, South Carolina. Evans also owned a limited liability corporation, Gold & Silver, LLC. Beginning in 2004, members of the congregation of the Tilley Swamp Baptist Church and others entered into investment contracts with Evans and Gold & Silver, LLC, which guaranteed the investors much higher interest payments than the rate being paid by financial institutions. From January 2009 to October 2011, Evans was involved in a Ponzi scheme and hid the fact that he had lost or spent the money invested with him by paying investors what he claimed to be their earned interest payments using funds he received from new investors. Evans continued to collect money from investors and caused losses of more than $2,500,000.00.
From May 2010 until October 2011, Evans was also involved in a conspiracy with others to structure currency deposits with Anderson Brothers Bank and First Citizens Bank, both in Conway. The deposits were structured in order to avoid the bank’s reporting requirements so that Evans’ conspirators’ income would not be reported. One of the individuals involved with Evans in structuring the deposits was involved in a lawsuit with an insurance company that had issued a bond on the individual’s business. The individual had pledged his investments with Evans as collateral and was attempting to hide assets from the insurance company. Evans opened three checking accounts with Anderson Brothers Bank and structured deposits in excess of $500,000.00 through the accounts. Evans structured approximately $340,000.00 into the accounts he had with First Citizens Bank.
Evans was taken into custody immediately after being sentenced because he attempted to bring a firearm to the sentencing hearing.
The case was investigated by agents of the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day II of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.Columbia Man Sentenced to Life Plus 10 Years in Drug Conspiracy Involving Robbery/MurderRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Nancy Wicker (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina -----United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Izell D. Grissett, a/k/a ABuddy@, age 27, of Columbia, South Carolina, was sentenced in federal court by United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. of Columbia. Grissett was sentenced to LIFE imprisonment plus 120 months (10 years) consecutive on charges of conspiracy to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and more than 280 grams of Acrack@ cocaine, robbery affecting interstate commerce (Hobbs Act), brandishing and discharging a firearm in connection with a crime of violence and a drug trafficking offense (924(c)), possession with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and a quantity of “crack” cocaine, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Evidence presented at the trial and in other hearings connected to the case, established that from 2005 until his arrest in 2013, Grissett sold multi-kilograms of cocaine and crack cocaine in and around the Columbia area. In 2010, Grissett and a co-defendant (who previously pled guilty and was sentenced to 30 years) robbed their drug suppliers of two kilograms of cocaine. In executing the robbery Grissett shot two persons, killing one person. The second victim sustained life-threatening injuries.
The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Richland County Sheriff=s Department and the City of Columbia Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys William Witherspoon and Nancy Wicker of the Columbia office handled the case.Sex Offender Enters Guilty Plea for Failing to Register in OrangeburgRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Bill Day (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina -----United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Tyrone King, a/k/a “Tyrone Leonard,” age 39, of Orangeburg, South Carolina, has entered a guilty plea in federal court in Columbia, to Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2250(a). United States District Judge J. Michelle Childs of Columbia accepted the guilty plea and will impose sentence after she has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that King was convicted in September 2008 for Committing a Lewd Act on a child Under 16 Years Old in South Carolina. After serving his sentence, King resided in North Carolina but failed to register as a sex offender and committed Common Law Robbery so was sentenced again in June 2012. When King was paroled in September 2013, he absconded his supervision and moved to Orangeburg without registering as a sex offender in either North or South Carolina. King was arrested in Orangeburg on April 4, 2014.
Mr. Nettles stated the maximum penalty for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender is imprisonment for 10 years and/or a fine of $250,000.
The case was investigated by agents of the U.S. Marshal. Assistant United States Attorney William E Day, II of the Columbia is prosecuting the case.Illegal Re-entry Defendant SentencedRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Bill Day (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina -----United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that ABIZAHI GARDUNO-RIVERA, a/k/a “Afrain Guzman,” age 34, of Mexico, was sentenced in federal court in Columbia, South Carolina, for Illegal Re-Entry. United States District Judge Childs of Columbia, South Carolina sentenced to eighteen months in federal custody to be followed by three years supervised release. The Defendant is also required to surrender for Deportation by Homeland Security when he completes his sentence.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Garduno-Rivera is a citizen of Mexico and was initially deported in October 1998. In September 2002, he was located in Georgia where he was serving a 12 year sentence for Trafficking in Cocaine. Following completion of his sentence, Garduno-Rivera was again deported in May 2006. On September 5, 2013, he was arrested by the Aiken County Sheriff's office for Trafficking Methamphetamine, Possession of Hydrocodone, and 3 counts of Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security - Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was contacted when it was discovered Garduno-Rivera was in the United States illegally.
Mr. Nettles stated the maximum penalty for illegal re-entry is imprisonment for 20 years and/or a fine of $250,000.
The case was investigated by the Aiken County Sherriff's Office and ICE. Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II of the Columbia is prosecuting the case.Pinson Guilty of RacketeeringRead the Press Release
Contact Person: JD Rowell (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina -----The United States Attorney’s Office announced that a jury returned guilty verdicts in the case of United States v. JONATHAN PINSON. The jury considered 45 counts of a Superseding Indictment charging JONATHAN PINSON, age 44, of Greenville, South Carolina with various violations of federal law, including §18 USC §1962(d) (commonly called a RICO conspiracy), theft of federal funds, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering, making false statements, extortion under color of law and state law bribery. The Superseding Indictment specifically alleged that PINSON used his position as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of South Carolina State University (SCSU) to commit illegal acts on behalf of the enterprise. Co-defendant, ERIC ROBINSON, age 44, of Greenville was acquitted of 7 counts in which he was charged. The jury considered evidence that PINSON was engaged in four different schemes. One scheme revolved around the 2011 homecoming concert at SCSU and PINSON’s efforts to steer the concert promotion contract to his close friend and former SCSU roommate, ROBINSON, in exchange for a kickback.
Other schemes included PINSON’s theft of government funds earmarked for the installation of a diaper plant in Marion County. Evidence showed that proceeds from the grant, intended to create jobs in rural Marion County, were instead pocketed by PINSON and his associates, Lance Wright, Tony Williams, and Phil Mims, each of whom has pled guilty to charges related to the fraud.
PINSON was also convicted of theft of government funds received from a 10 million dollar American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant (commonly known as stimulus money) intended for the development known as the Village at Rivers Edge (VRE).
In the final scheme PINSON again used his position as Chairman of the Board of SCSU to influence officials at SCSU to purchase land known as “Sportsman’s Retreat”. The seller of the property, Richard Zahn, PINSON’s business partner, testified that he agreed to pay a kickback to PINSON in the form of a new Porsche Cayenne, an SUV valued at approximately 90 thousand dollars.
During the two and one-half week trial, the Government called twenty witnesses, introduced approximately 200 exhibits and played 118 secretly recorded telephone calls. The calls, authorized by a court-ordered wiretap, covered from July 21 to November 20, 2011.
The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), State Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG) and Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI). Assistant United States Attorneys Nancy C. Wicker, Jane B. Taylor, J.D. Rowell, and T. DeWayne Pearson of the Columbia office prosecuted this and other related cases stemming from this investigation.
PINSON will be sentenced at a later date after the United States Probation Office has completed their presentence investigation and report.Gaston Man Indicted for Being a Felon in Possession of FirearmRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Beth Drake (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina -----United States Attorney's Office announces today that Warren Dominque McDaniel, age 27, of Gaston, South Carolina was arrested today after being charged in a 2-count federal indictment. McDaniel was charged with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). The maximum penalty McDaniel could receive is 10 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. The indictment stems from an April 14, 2014, shooting incident in Gaston and from a July 22, 2010, incident in Columbia. The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, and the Columbia Police Department, and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia 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.Easley Dentist Pleads Guilty to Failing to Pay over Employment TaxesRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Will Lucius (864) 282-2100
Columbia, South Carolina -----United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that DANIEL PASUI, age 43, of Easley, South Carolina, pled guilty today in federal court in Anderson, to eight counts of failing to pay over to the Internal Revenue Service taxes that had been withheld from employees of his dental practice as well the practice’s share of FICA contributions, each a violation of Title 26, United States Code, Section 7202. Senior United States District Judge G. Ross Anderson, Jr. accepted the plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed a presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
Had the case gone to trial, the Government was prepared to show that during eight quarters between March 2009 and June 2011, PASUI collected employment taxes, accounted for the collections on filed returns, but failed to pay over to the Internal Revenue Service a total of approximately $308,781.00.
Mr. Nettles stated the maximum penalty PASUI can receive on each count is a fine of $250,000.00 and/or imprisonment for 5 years, plus a special assessment of $100.00.
The case was investigated by Criminal Investigation agents of the Internal Revenue Service. Assistant United States Attorney William C. Lucius of the Greenville office handled the case.# # #
Columbia Man Admits to Conspiracy to Distribute OxycodoneRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Bill Day (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina -----United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that John Lanier Britt, age 52, of Columbia, South Carolina has entered a guilty plea in federal court in Florence, to conspiracy to distribute oxycodone, a violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846. United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten of Florence accepted the guilty plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Britt was involved in the illegal distribution of oxycodone, a powerful prescription pain medication, for more than three years. Audio and video recordings of Britt selling oxycodone were made during the investigation. A search of Britt's house was conducted when Britt was arrested resulting in drugs being seized and evidence being found that Britt had sold almost 300 pills in the three days before he was arrested.
Mr. Nettles stated the maximum penalty for conspiracy to distribute oxycodone is imprisonment for 30 years and/or a fine of $2,000,000.
The case was investigated by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Diversion. Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II of the Columbia office is prosecuting the case.# # #
Five Defendants Appear in Federal Court on Drugs and Firearms Charges After Police Seize in Excess of 26 Pounds of Methamphetamine and Five FirearmsRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Beth Drake (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina ----- United States Attorney William N. Nettles announced today that a federal magistrate judge arraigned Rory Severin, age 45, William Scott Powell, age 40, Chad Edward Moore, age 42, Marie Higgins, age 36, and Angel Miranda Luna, age 24, on federal narcotics and firearms charges.
A federal grand jury has charged these individuals with conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute in excess of 500 grams of a mixture or substance containing methamphetamine. Chad Edward Moore also has been charged with felon in possession of a firearm, and Powell, Moore, Higgins, and Miranda Luna have been charged with possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking charge.
The investigation culminated on two dates: April 22, 2014, and May 5, 2014. On April 22, 2014, law enforcement officers arrested Severin, Powell, Moore, and Higgins, and seized in excess of two pounds of methamphetamine and four firearms. On May 5, 2014, law enforcement officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle which Luna Miranda was driving in the Atlanta, Georgia, area. After arresting Luna Miranda, officers seized approximately 26 pounds of methamphetamine, $90,000 in cash, and a firearm Luna Miranda was using in his residence to protect the drugs and drug proceeds.
If convicted on the charges in the indictment, the defendants face 10 years to life imprisonment. The Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations, the Douglasville, Georgia, Police Department, the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, and the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Andy Moorman with the U.S. Attorney=s Office will be prosecuting.#####
Top Two Officers of Joe Gibson Suzuki Guilty as Charged in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Beth Drake (803) 929-3000
Lewis Jones Harward, Jr., age 41, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Richard James Harward, age 40, of Belton, South Carolina Lennie Wylie Sanders, age 32, of Danville, Virginia Wanda Suzette Smith, age 59, of Fountain Inn, South Carolina Kathy Valentine Stewart, age 60, of Easley, South Carolina Brian J. Sullivan, age 56, of Lawrenceville, Georgia
Columbia, South Carolina ----- United States Attorney Bill Nettles announced today that Paul Michael Gibson, age 57, of Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Billy John Mills, Jr., age 45, of Huntersville, North Carolina, have pled guilty as charged to a three count Federal Wire Fraud Indictment. The pleas were accepted by District Judge Timothy M. Cain sitting in the G. Ross Anderson Federal Courthouse in Anderson, South Carolina. Gibson and Mills join seven others who have entered pleas of guilty for their roles in the operation of Suzuki dealerships operating in Spartanburg and Gaffney, South Carolina, under the name of Joe Gibson Suzuki. (Names, ages and addresses of these seven are at the end of this release.) All nine will be sentenced after the preparation of Presentence Reports. Assistant United States Attorney David C. Stephens of Greenville was in charge of the prosecution of the case and presented the guilty pleas to the Court.
USA Nettles advised that the copy of the indictment attached hereto sets forth in detail the facts of the case, but that in summary Joe Gibson Suzuki, at one point one of the most productive Suzuki dealerships in the country, was an organization riddled with illegal practices. These practices included false advertising, false statements to induce banks to finance uncreditworthy purchasers, and false reporting of sales to cause bonuses to be paid by Suzuki of North America. Mr. Gibson was the owner of the dealership and Mr. Mills ran the day to day operations of the business. At the guilty plea hearing, AUSA Stephens stated that there was a “culture of corruption” that permeated the entire business. Joe Gibson Suzuki is no longer in business.
Mr. Nettles commended agents of the United States Postal Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their years of work in investigating this case. Mr. Nettles stated that many aspects of this case were novel and that he was unaware of other criminal prosecutions of car dealers for misleading advertisements as in this case.
The following is a list of others convicted in this case:#####
Sumter Man Sentenced to Fifteen Years in Drug Trafficking and Firearm CaseRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Jay Richardson (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina ----- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated that Alvis Damon Williams, age 27, of Sumter, was sentenced today in federal court in Columbia, South Carolina, to a term of imprisonment of 180 months in federal prison. The defendant was convicted by a federal jury on February 18, 2014. Williams was sentenced for dealing in crack cocaine and cocaine (21 U.S.C. §841), possessing a firearm in furtherance of narcotics trafficking (18 U.S.C. §924(c)), and illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon (18 U.S.C. §922(g)). Williams had multiple prior felony drug convictions and was sentenced by The Honorable Joseph F. Anderson, United States District Judge.
A Federal Grand Jury returned a four-count indictment on August 20, 2013, based on Williams’ actions in June of 2013, when Williams possessed a firearm while distributing cocaine in Sumter. Officers with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office observed Williams distributing cocaine and stopped Williams’s Chevrolet Impala finding a .40 caliber Colt pistol. In addition to the pistol, Williams had $1,600 in cash, crack and powder cocaine secreted inside a false-bottom canister, marijuana, a scale, three cell phones, plastic baggies, and creatine, which is used to cut or dilute cocaine.
The case was the result of a collaborative effort between the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. “The cooperation of local and federal law enforcement ensures that dangerous criminals are caught and prosecuted,” said United States Attorney Bill Nettles. “The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office deputies were integral in the investigation of Williams. This case demonstrates the United States Attorney’s Office’s dedication in joining with local law enforcement agencies to remove violent drug offenders from the streets.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jay N. Richardson.# # #
Florence Man Pleads to Possessing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Contac Persont: Bill Day (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina ----- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Andrew Stephen Jackson, age 44, of Florence, South Carolina has entered a guilty plea in federal court in Florence, to possession of child pornography, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(5)(B) and (b)(2) . United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell of Florence accepted the guilty plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Jackson was trading child pornography with an individual in Australia in October 2010. A search warrant was executed at Jackson's residence and thousands of images of child pornography were found on Jackson's computers.
Mr. Nettles stated the maximum penalty for possession of child pornography is imprisonment for 10 years and/or a fine of $250,000.
The case was investigated by agents of the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney William E Day, II of the Columbia office is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States 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.# # #
Columbia Gang Member Sentenced to Maximum 10 Years on Federal Firearm and Ammunition ChargeRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Stacey Haynes (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina ----- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that MICHAEL JUAN SMITH, a/k/a “Flame,” a/k/a “Junior,” age 21, of Columbia, South Carolina was sentenced to 120 months (10 years) imprisonment today in federal court. Following the term of imprisonment, SMITH will be on federal supervised release for three (3) years. SMITH pled guilty on February 19, 2014, to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2). United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr. imposed the sentence after a contested sentencing hearing. The sentence is the maximum sentence allowed under federal law for being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. SMITH still faces pending charges in state court for the actual shooting that occurred on October 13, 2013.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing in federal court established that shortly after 2:00 am on October 13, 2013, SMITH, along with several friends, was in the Five Points area of Columbia. Surveillance videos show SMITH, a gang member, and his friends walk up Harden Street towards the Library nightclub. At one point, surveillance video shows SMITH adjusting a handgun in his jacket pocket as he walks up the street, transferring it from one pocket to another. SMITH and the group return down Harden Street a short time later and after passing by the fountain area where taxis pick up customers, SMITH and his group become involved in a confrontation with another group of individuals. At this point, SMITH fires his handgun striking an innocent bystander standing in line at the taxi stand. That bystander, an 18 year old college student, was paralyzed as a result. SMITH attempted to flee the scene on foot, but was immediately apprehended on Harden Street by a Columbia Police Department officer responding to the shooting. SMITH refused demands to take his hand from his jacket pocket and a search revealed a loaded Glock .40 caliber handgun in SMITH’s front jacket pocket. At the scene, SMITH voluntarily uttered, “I did not mean to shoot.” SMITH later told officers that people shot at him and he picked up the Glock from the ground as he ran away from them. Witnesses at the scene, however, identified SMITH as the shooter. An analysis of gunshot residue from SMITH’s hand was consistent with him having fired a gun and ballistics testing determined that a .40 caliber shell casing recovered at the scene of the shooting was consistent with being fired from SMITH’S .40 caliber handgun. A check of a law enforcement database revealed that the firearm had previously been reported as stolen during a burglary in Richland County.
The investigation revealed that SMITH, who was on state probation and also on state parole at the time of the incident, is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and/or ammunition based upon his prior state conviction for attempted burglary 2nd degree of a dwelling and a separate state conviction for burglary 2nd degree.
The case was investigated by the Columbia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office handled the case.#####
Myrtle Beach Man Convicted of Producing Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Contac Persont: Bill Day (803) 929-3000
Florence, South Carolina ----- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Webster Douglas Williams, III, age 55, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina has entered a guilty plea in federal court in Florence, to producing child pornography, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a) and (e). Additionally, Williams, III entered a guilty plea to travel in interstate commerce to engage in sexual acts with a minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C § 2423(b) and to possession of child pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C § 2252A. United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell of Florence accepted the guilty plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Williams produced child pornography for more than five years by filming his activities with children who were from four to eleven years old at the time. Williams also took children to Florida where he engaged in sexual activities with one of the children. When Williams' house was searched by the Horry County Police Department in November 2011, more than one million images of child pornography were found in the form of pictures and videos on computers, cd's and elsewhere. Hidden cameras, computers, cd's and other material used by Williams in producing and collecting child pornography were also found and seized.
Mr. Nettles stated the maximum penalty for producing child pornography is imprisonment for 30 years and/or a fine of $250,000, the maximum penalty for travel in interstate commerce to engage in sexual acts with a minor is also imprisonment for 30 years and/or a fine of $250,000, and the maximum penalty for possession of child pornography is imprisonment for 10 years and/or a fine of $250,000.
The case was investigated by agents of the Horry County Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney William E Day, II of the Columbia office is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s 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.# # #
Former Deputy Sheriff Pleads Guilty to Seizing and Distributing Gambling MachinesRead the Press Release
Contac Persont: Carrie Fisher (864) 282-2100
Columbia, South Carolina ----- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Michael Todd Parker (37) of Cherokee County, South Carolina, pled guilty to one count of violating 18 U.S.C. § 666. Parker is a former deputy sheriff of the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office (“CCSO”). Between 2010 and 2012, Parker corruptly seized a number of illegal poker machines from local businesses and then redistributed the same illegal poker machines from which he personally benefitted financially. Parker was terminated from the CCSO in 2012. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment, $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, and the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Carrie Fisher Sherard.# # #
Midlands Men Sentenced in Counterfeiting SchemeRead the Press Release
Contac Persont: Winston Holliday (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina ----- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated that Steven Leonard Smart, age 32, of Cayce, Joshua Kendrell Smart, age 25, of Fairfax, and Frederick Shante Redfearn, 25, of Columbia, were sentenced today in federal court in Columbia, South Carolina, for participating in a Conspiracy to Make, Forge, and Pass Counterfeit Money, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. Chief United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten of Columbia sentenced Steven Smart to 38 months imprisonment; Joshua Smart to twenty months imprisonment; and Redfearn to four years of probation.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Redfearn was a salesman for Sears. Steven and Joshua Smart, who were brothers, purchased flat screen televisions and an Xbox from a Columbia-area Sears using counterfeit money, and then attempted to return the goods at the Sears in Aiken for genuine currency. Redfearn knew about the fake money but facilitated the sale in exchange for $800 counterfeit money that he could spend himself. Sears employees in Aiken identified the bogus transactions and contacted law enforcement officers. Counterfeiting equipment and additional bogus bills were found at an apartment frequented by the Smart brothers.
The case was investigated by the United States Secret Service. Assistant United States Attorney Winston Holliday of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.# # #
Lexington County Sherriff James Metts Indicted in Connection with Bribery Scheme to Aid Illegal AliensRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Bill Nettles (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina ----- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that James R. Metts (68), of Lexington, SC, was charged by a federal grand jury in a 10-count indictment. According to allegations in the Indictment, Metts accepted bribes from friends in return for using his position, power, and influence as Sherriff to interfere with the proper identification and processing of certain illegal aliens detained at the Lexington County Detention Center. Two others, Danny Frazier (46) and Greg Leon (47), both of Lexington, SC, have been charged by the State Grand Jury with bribing Metts.
United States Attorney Bill Nettles was joined in making the announcement by South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, Special Agent in Charge David A. Thomas of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Assistant Special Agent in Charge Kenneth R. Burkhart of Homeland Security Investigations; and Chief Mark Keel of the State Law Enforcement Division.
“Public corruption at any level will not be tolerated,” said United States Attorney Bill Nettles. “These indictments are a product of a new team at the United States Attorney’s Office whose goal is to use an unprecedented level of cooperation with state and federal agencies in routing out public corruption and returning public trust to the people.”
Metts was charged with Conspiracy to Violate Federal Law and Interfere with Government Function (18 U.S.C. §371), Use of Interstate Facility to Facilitate Bribery in violation of South Carolina Code Sections 8-13-705 and 16-9-220 (18 U.S.C. §1952), Use of Interstate Wire to Defraud the Citizens of Lexington County of Their Right to Honest Services (18 U.S.C. §1343, 1346), and Conspiracy to Harbor Illegal Aliens (8 U.S.C. §1324).
The charge of Conspiracy to Violate Federal Law and Interfere with Government Function carries a maximum sentence of 5 years and a $250,000 fine; each charge of Use of Interstate Facility to Facilitate Bribery carries a maximum sentence of 5 years and a $250,000 fine; each charge of Use of Interstate Wire to Defraud the Citizens of Lexington County of Their Right to Honest Services carries a maximum sentence of 20 years and a $250,000 fine; and the charge of Conspiracy to Harbor Illegal Aliens carries a maximum sentence of 10 years and a $250,000 fine. Additionally, these charges include a maximum term of supervised release following imprisonment of 3 years.
This multi-agency investigation included the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Homeland Security Investigations; State Law Enforcement Division (SLED); and South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorneys Nancy Wicker, Julius N. Richardson, and James H. May for prosecution.
The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this indictment are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
View Full Indictment Here#####
Federal Grand Jury IndictmentRead the Press Release
Contac Persont: Beth Drake (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina ----- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that a Federal Grand Jury in Columbia, South Carolina, returned an Indictment(s) against the following:Maryland Man Indicted for Wire Fraud
Charles Brown, age 53, of Laurel, Maryland was charged in a 17-count indictment with Wire Fraud, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. §1343. The indictment charges that, between in or about March of 2009, and continuing to in or about October 2012, Mr. Brown devised scheme to defraud the United States and to obtain money and property from the United States by means of materially false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises. The indictment alleges that scheme involved The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Concern Procurement Program.
The maximum penalty Brown could receive is 20 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. The case was investigated by agents of the Veterans Administration OIG and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney John Potterfield of the Columbia 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.# # #
Video Poker Operator IndictedRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Beth Drake (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina ----- Larry Flynn, a/k/a “L.W.,” age 39, of Richland County, South Carolina was charged by a Federal Grand Jury in a 2-count Indictment. Larry Flynn was charged with Operation of an Illegal Gambling Business, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. §1955 and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. §1956(h) for his operation of the gambling business “Magic Minutes.” The maximum penalty Flynn could receive is 10 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. The case is a part of an on-going investigation by agents of the IRS Criminal Investigations, FBI, Homeland Security, SLED and the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorneys Jim May and Jay Richardson of the Columbia office for prosecution.#####
Four Sentenced in Dillon-Based Prescription Drug RingRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Winston Holliday (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina ----- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated that Tracey Lee Rowell, age 41, of Latta, Bobby Lee Scott, age 29, of Dillon, Denise Locklear, 35, of Latta, and Lakisha Marie Clark, age 28, of Dillon, were sentenced today in federal court in Columbia, South Carolina, for participating in a Conspiracy to Distribute Oxycodone, a violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846. Chief United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten of Columbia sentenced Rowell, the ringleader, to twenty years imprisonment; Scott to seventy months imprisonment; Locklear to 37 months imprisonment; and Clark to two years imprisonment.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Rowell was the leader of a prescription forgery ring. The drug of choice was Roxicodone, a brand name for Oxycodone, which is a highly addictive painkiller. Rowell provided forged prescriptions to co-conspirators, who then had the prescriptions filled in pharmacies in South and North Carolina. They would then provide the pills to Rowell, who used some and sold the rest. Rowell also shared some of the pills with others in the conspiracy for their personal use. The typical prescription was for 120 pills; the total conspiracy involved almost 42,000. Each tablet had a street value of $20 to $25.
The case was investigated by the newly formed Tactical Diversion Squad of the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant United States Attorney Winston Holliday of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.#####
Bloods Street Gang Investigation Culminates in Life SentenceRead the Press Release
Contact Person: J.D. Rowell (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina ----- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Calvin James Hall age 43 of Irmo, South Carolina was sentenced today in federal court in Columbia, South Carolina to life in prison without the possibility of parole. On July 25, 2013, a federal jury convicted Hall of being a member or associate of the Bloods Street gang as part of a conspiracy to commit racketeering (RICO Conspiracy). As to the racketeering conspiracy charge the jury unanimously found that Hall agreed that the racketeering activity that would be or was committed included: (1) Distribution, Possession with Intent to Distribute, and Trafficking in controlled substances, in violation of SC Code Sections 44-53-370 and 44-53-375; (2) Distribution, Receipt, Concealment, Buying, Selling, and Otherwise Dealing in Controlled Substances, including Cocaine, Cocaine Base, Marijuana, and Other Controlled Substances, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841 and 846; (3) Recruiting, Enticing, or Transporting a Minor in Interstate Commerce or to Benefit Financially from Participation in a Venture which Recruits, Entices, or Transports Minors to Engage in Commercial Sex Acts, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1591; (4) Obstruction of Justice; and (5) Witness Tampering. In addition to the above RICO conspiracy conviction, Hall was also convicted of six related federal violations involving conspiracy to traffic crack cocaine, use of a telephone in furtherance of drug trafficking, attempted armed robbery of a drug dealer, and related charges. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson Jr. of Columbia sentenced to Hall to a statutory mandatory life sentence, without the possibility of parole. Hall faced this sentence in part because of his two prior felony drug convictions.
Hall was one of 39 members and associates of the Bloods street gang that were indicted and arrested in the summer and fall of 2012. The investigation was the second wave of an FBI investigation that began in 2007 of the violent street gang. As of the date of this release, all 39 defendants charged in the case have been convicted and all received sentences that included periods of incarceration in the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
During Calvin Hall’s trial, evidence was presented that the Bloods street gang was formed in 1998, when James Powell a/k/a Munchie, came to Columbia, South Carolina, from New York because he was on the run from the police for a shooting he committed. Powell began initiating young men in Columbia in 1998 or 1999 into the Gangsta Killa Blood (GKB) set of the Bloods and that set was operating in Columbia in 2011 when Hall and his coconspirators were arrested and charged. Evidence at the trial demonstrated that the Bloods were involved in coordinated armed robberies of drug dealers, the posting of young women on the internet for prostitution, crack cocaine trafficking, financial crimes, and other criminal activity.
Evidence during Hall’s trial established that on May 23, 2011, Hall, along with two codefendants and Blood Gang members Nicholas Jason Wright and Stewart Stroman, conspired to commit an armed robbery of a marijuana dealer in or around Lexington County, South Carolina. Witnesses testified that after Stroman put Wright in contact with Hall, they along with three other conspirators went to the marijuana dealers house to rob him. When Hall breached the front door armed with a pistol, he was shot in the stomach by a resident of the house.
Despite being shot in May of 2011, evidence at trial demonstrated that Hall continued to associate with the Bloods and in June of 2012, he was the beneficiary of a drug robbery committed by Wright and other Bloods gang members in Greenville, South Carolina. Witnesses testified that Stroman coordinated a robbery in Greenville in which Wright, Kenneth Timmons and several other Bloods shot a drug dealer in the gut who refused to tell them where his cocaine was. After the dealer was shot, the conspirators came back to Columbia, where Calvin Hall purchased a large quantity of the cocaine from his conspirators. Witnesses testified that Hall provided one of the guns that was used in the Greenville robbery.
The investigation resulted in a number of Bloods gang leaders being sentenced to federal prison including Titus Will Bowman, a/k/a “T.I”; Torrean Antwan Sims, a/k/a Slim; and David Andrea Jenkins, a/k/a “Arma G.” Bowman, a high level leader and shooter, was sentenced to 220 months incarceration by Judge Anderson on December 16, 2013. Other notable sentences include Andre Cummings (108 months incarceration), Craig Xavier Alston (177 months incarceration), Nicholas Wright (180 months incarceration); Stewart Stroman (96 months incarceration); Nathaniel Farmer (151 months incarceration); Jarius Jones (108 months incarceration); Antwain Brisbon (200 months incarceration); Odel “Teazy” Martin (240 months incarceration); Joshua “Metro” Kitt (168 months incarceration); Hassaan R. Brown (115 months incarceration); Kenneth “Keno” Timmons (190 months incarceration) and Alex Russell Anderson (151 months incarceration).
U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles said, "Organized violent criminals who exploit our communities to fund their criminal enterprises are a focus of our Violent Crime and Narcotics Division. The work of the prosecutors, agents and good citizens that made this case is remarkable and will have a tangible impact on the quality of life in our neighborhoods."
"Dismantling violent gangs is a continuing priority for the FBI. This verdict is the direct result of joint efforts with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, and we will continue to work diligently with our colleagues to investigate and eradicate gangs and the violence they perpetrate. Together we are committed to restoring safety and security to our communities", said David A. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge, FBI.
This case was investigated by the Columbia Violent Gangs Task Force (CVGTF), led by agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The CVGTF is part of the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force initiative. The CVGTF is an investigative and enforcement partnership between the FBI, Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD), Columbia Police Department (CPD), South Carolina Law Enforcement The case was prosecuted by AUSA J.D. Rowell and AUSA William Witherspoon, out of the United States Attorney’s Office in Columbia, South Carolina.Camden Accountant Found Guilty of TheftRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Winston Holliday (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina ----- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that former C.P.A. Joseph Glenn Folsom, Jr., age 61, of Camden, has been convicted of four counts of Interstate Transportation of Stolen Money, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2314, after a three-day trial in Columbia that concluded Wednesday. United States District Judge Joseph F. Anderson, Jr., of Columbia presided over the trial and will sentence Folsom at a later date.
Evidence presented at the trial established that Glenn Folsom prepared the taxes for “E.F.” and her husband for thirty years. E.F. requested Folsom to draft her will in December 2006. He did so, naming himself as the executor. When she died ten months later, Folsom used his power as executor to steal funds from the estate and buy classic cars, an airplane, and lake property for himself. In all, he stole approximately $580,000.
“The United States Attorney’s Office will continue to prosecute those who abuse the trust placed in them by our most vulnerable citizens, in this case, an elderly woman and her family. We are grateful for a system of justice that holds Glenn Folsom and those like him accountable for their actions,” said Mr. Nettles.
David A. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge of the F.B.I., said, “We are pleased by the resolution of this matter. This individual betrayed the confidence and trust placed in him, and the financial losses in this case were staggering. We will continue working with our partners to identify and stop those who line their own pockets at the expense of others.”
Mr. Nettles stated the maximum penalty for Interstate Transportation of Stolen Money is imprisonment for 10 years and/or a fine of $250,000.
The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Winston Holliday of the Columbia office is prosecuting the case.Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Affirms Freddie Grant's Federal ConvictionRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Stacey Haynes (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina ----- The United States Attorney’s Office stated today that the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a published opinion today affirming the federal conviction of FREDDIE GRANT, age 54, of Elgin, South Carolina. The written opinion may be found at http://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinions/daily-opinions. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments on the case on March 26, 2014, before a special session of the court held at the University of South Carolina School of Law. GRANT is currently serving a 212 months (17.6 years) imprisonment federal sentence for being a felon in possession of ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(e). GRANT was convicted in January 2013, following a one-day trial in federal court in Columbia. Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie imposed the sentence on April 18, 2013, which will be followed by five (5) years of supervised release.Federal Grand Jury IndictmentsRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Stacey Haynes (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina ----- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that a Federal Grand Jury in Columbia, South Carolina, returned Indictment(s) against the following:
Columbia Man Charged with Trafficking Counterfeit Medications
Arthur Fleming Moler, age 51, of Gaston, was charged in a four count Indictment with Trafficking in Counterfeit Goods, Copyright Infringement, Smuggling and Theft of Government Funds, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2320(a), 506(a)(1), 545 and 641 respectively. The maximum penalty he could receive is 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $2,000,000. The case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the United States Postal Service and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney T. DeWayne Pearson of the Columbia office for prosecution.
The United States Attorney stated that all charges in these Indictments are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.Columbia Man Sentenced to over 15 Years on Firearm and Ammunition ChargeRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Stacey Haynes (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina ----- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Charles Tarron Carter, age 28, of Columbia, South Carolina was sentenced today in federal court to 188 months (15.8 years) imprisonment, which will be followed by five (5) years of supervised release. The sentence stemmed from Carter’s earlier guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(e). Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie imposed the sentence.
Evidence presented at the earlier change of plea hearing established that on the afternoon of June 29, 2011, officers with the Columbia Police Department responded to a burglary alarm at a residence on Muller Avenue. Officers found a door to the residence, as well as a door to an apartment in the back of the residence, ajar. While checking for intruders, officers noticed crack cocaine and a Smith & Wesson .45 caliber handgun in plain view, along with items belonging to Carter, who utilized the rear apartment.
The investigation revealed that Carter is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and/or ammunition based upon his prior state convictions. Carter has previously been convicted in state court for burglary 2nd degree of a dwelling (2 separate convictions) and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine (2 separate convictions). The court determined that Carter was an armed career criminal subject to enhanced penalties on the firearm charge in light of his prior state convictions for violent felonies and serious drug offenses.
The case was investigated by the Columbia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office handled the case.Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms and Ammunition ChargeRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Stacey Haynes (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina ----- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that RICHARD ARMBRE WILLIAMS, age 42, of Columbia, South Carolina has entered a guilty plea in federal court to being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1), 924(a)(2), and 924(e). Senior United States District Judge Margaret B. Seymour accepted the plea and will impose a sentence after she has reviewed the presentence report, which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that at 7:18 pm on July 30, 2013, officers with the Columbia Police Department responded to the Fast Point Convenience Store on Fairfield Road, in reference to an alarm call. Upon arriving at the scene, officers observed WILLIAMS on the side of the building with his hand tucked into his waistline underneath his shirt. WILLIAMS, after making eye contact with officers, abruptly turned and ran. Despite officers yelling for him to stop, WILLIAMS continued running and dropped two firearms to the ground before ultimately being stopped by officers. Officers recovered the two firearms dropped by WILLIAMS, a Smith & Wesson .32 caliber revolver and a Glock 9mm pistol with rounds of 9mm ammunition, and also recovered a small amount of marijuana in two plastic baggies in WILLIAMS’ right pocket, along with two box cutter knives.
The investigation revealed that WILLIAMS is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms and/or ammunition based upon his prior state convictions. WILLIAMS has previously been convicted in state court for assault and battery with intent to kill (stemming from shooting in November 1990), assault & battery, voluntary manslaughter (stemming from a shooting in June 1990), possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of marijuana, and driving under suspension.
Mr. Nettles stated that WILLIAMS, who has three prior violent felony convictions, appears to be an armed career criminal subject to enhanced penalties under federal law. If the district court determines that WILLIAMS is an armed career criminal, he faces a statutory mandatory minimum of fifteen (15) years imprisonment with a maximum of life, a fine of $250,000 and a term of supervised release of five (5) years to follow the term of imprisonment.
The case was investigated by the Columbia Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office handled the case.Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to Firearms ChargeRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Stacey Haynes (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina ----- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that MARQUEL DAVON FOSTER, age 23, of Columbia, South Carolina has entered a guilty plea to making a false statement in the acquisition of firearms from a federal firearms licensee, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(a)(6) and 924(a)(2). Senior United States District Judge Margaret B. Seymour accepted the plea and will impose a sentence after she has reviewed the presentence report, which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that in January 2013, during the execution of a drug search warrant in Bridgeton, NJ, officers recovered a Masterpiece Arms .45 caliber pistol with a high capacity magazine. A trace of the firearm revealed that it was purchased by FOSTER in Columbia, SC in on February 6, 2012. Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) determined that FOSTER had purchased two firearms on February 6, 2012, two firearms on February 8, 2012, and 2 additional firearms on March 7, 2012. When agents approached FOSTER, he claimed that the Masterpiece Arms .45 caliber pistol with a high capacity magazine had been stolen a year earlier, but that he had the other five (5) firearms in his possession. When agents asked to see those five (5) firearms, FOSTER admitted that he did not have them and that he had purchased them for an individual from New Jersey that he met at the gun store in exchange for money. FOSTER stated that the individual, who he knew only by a nickname, gave him money, and asked FOSTER to purchase the firearms for him since he was unable to legally purchase them because he was a felon. FOSTER admitted to making a false statement on the forms to purchase the firearms and to purchasing a total of six (6) firearms for this individual in approximately a one month period. The six (6) firearms were a Hi-Point .380 caliber pistol, a Masterpiece Arms .45 caliber pistol, a European American Arms, Corp. .357 caliber revolver, a Ruger 9mm pistol, a Taurus .40 caliber pistol, and a Masterpiece Arms 9mm pistol. Only one of those firearms has been recovered as of this date.
Mr. Nettles stated that FOSTER faces a maximum of ten (10) years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and a term of supervised release of three (3) years to follow the term of imprisonment.
The case was investigated by ATF and was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Assistant United States Attorney Stacey D. Haynes of the Columbia office handled the case.Contractor Sentenced to Prison for Environmental CrimeRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Jim May (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina ----- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that David Braswell was sentenced in federal court in Florence, South Carolina, for violation of the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. § 7412. United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell of Florence sentenced Mr. Braswell to six months in prison, six months house arrest, three years supervised release and a $10,000.00 fine.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing in October established that the defendant ran CoolCote, a construction and renovation company in the Myrtle Beach area. The defendant was contracted to remove and replace siding on a high rise beach front condominium complex in Myrtle Beach. The defendant was made aware that the existing siding contained asbestos material and agreed to do the job for a lower price. The defendant did not provide the proper protection to his employees or obtain the proper permits to allow for the removal of asbestos. United States Bill Nettles stated: "The United States Attorney's Office is committed to protecting the citizens of South Carolina, our land, our water, and our air from contamination. Our office will continue to prioritize the environmental work we do with both federal and state agencies, to ensure these cases are brought to the forefront. I ask that you report any violations to the EPA at (800)241-1754 or http://www2.epa.gov/enforcement/report-environmental-violations."
"The defendant was hired to renovate a beach-front condominium building which he knew contained asbestos in the exterior surface coating,” said Maureen O’Mara, Special Agent in Charge of EPA’s criminal enforcement program in South Carolina. “Instead of removing the asbestos containing material legally and safely, he directed workers to pressure wash the material in violation of the work practice standards and as a result, contaminated a local beach and adjacent properties. Today’s sentence should serve notice that EPA and its partner agencies remain committed to protecting communities through tough enforcement of the nation’s environmental laws.”
The case was investigated by agents of the Environmental Protection Agency and South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Assistant United States Attorney Jim May of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.19 Arrested in International Round up on Federal Fraud ChargesRead the Press Release
Contact: (202) 514-2007
Washington, DC ----- Fifteen individuals were arrested today in South Africa, Canada, California, Wisconsin and Indiana, pursuant to an eight-count federal indictment on fraud charges filed in the Southern District of Mississippi. A total of 19 individuals were arrested across the United States and internationally on charges brought by federal prosecutors in Mississippi, South Carolina and Georgia.
Acting Assistant Attorney General David A. O’Neil of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis for the Southern District of Mississippi, Raymond Parmer Jr., Special Agent in Charge of Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New Orleans and Robert Wemyss, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Inspector in Charge made the announcement.
Another individual was arrested today in New York on a related Southern District of Mississippi complaint. Three defendants in South Carolina were arrested in Charleston, pursuant to a nine-count indictment, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia has filed related criminal complaints in Atlanta against two additional defendants. All of the indictments and complaints were unsealed yesterday.
The indictments allege the involvement of a West African transnational organized crime enterprise engaged in numerous complex financial fraud schemes over the internet. This mass marketing fraud includes romance scams, re-shipping scams, fraudulent check scams and work-at-home scams, along with bank, financial and credit card account take-overs.
The investigation was initiated in October 2011, by HSI agents in Gulfport, Mississippi, after U.S. law enforcement officers were contacted by a female victim who was the victim of a sweetheart scam. The victim received a package in the mail requesting that she reship the merchandise to an address in Pretoria, South Africa. The investigation later revealed that the merchandise was purchased using stolen personal identity information and fraudulent credit card information of persons in the United States. Investigators have identified hundreds of victims of this scam in the United States, resulting in the loss of millions of U.S. dollars.
Today’s arrests were the result of an investigation led by the HSI Gulfport office in partnership with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, South African Police Service, Toronto Police, HSI Cyber Crimes Center, Treasury Executive Office of Asset Forfeiture, HSI Ontario, HSI Charleston, Interpol South Africa, HSI Pretoria and HSI Atlanta.
The Department of Justice Office of International Affairs assisted in the provisional arrests of ten defendants in Pretoria, South Africa. Another defendant was arrested in Toronto, Canada, and the remaining defendants were arrested in the United States.
The case in Mississippi will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Annette Williams and Scott Gilbert, and will be scheduled for trial after extradition of the defendants to Mississippi. The South Carolina prosecution will be handled by Department of Justice Organized Crime and Gang Section trial attorneys Leshia Lee-Dixon and Robert Tully. The Georgia cases will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Shanya J. Dingle of the Northern District of Georgia.
An indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. Under the law, an indictment is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.14-542
DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE USE THE CONTACTS IN THE MESSAGE OR CALL THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT 202-514-2007.
Federal Grand Jury IndictmentsRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Beth Drake (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina ----- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that a Federal Grand Jury in Charleston, South Carolina, returned Indictment(s) against the following:
Aynor Man Indicted for Union Theft:
Timothy Gamble, age 44, of Aynor, South Carolina, was charged in a 1-count Indictment with Theft of Union Funds, a violation of Title 29, U. S. C. §501(c). The maximum penalty that Gamble could receive is 10 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. The case was investigated by agents of the Department of Labor and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Rhett DeHart of the Charleston office for prosecution.
Walterboro Man Indicted for Gun Charges:
Rodney Faulkenberry, age 55, of Walterboro, South Carolina was charged in a 2-count Indictment with being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Possession of a Stolen Firearm, a violation of Title 18, U. S. C. § 922. The maximum penalty that Faulkenberry could receive is 15 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000. The case was investigated by agents of the Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Rhett DeHart of the Charleston office for prosecution.
The United States Attorney stated that all charges in these Indictments are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.Easley Man Pleads Guilty to Theft of Government FundsRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Bill Watkins (864) 282-2100
Columbia, South Carolina ----- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Tony Lee Holcombe, age 61, of Easley, South Carolina, pled guilty yesterday afternoon in federal court in Spartanburg, to theft of Government funds, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641. United States District Judge Mary G. Lewis of Spartanburg accepted the plea and will impose sentence after she has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
In July 2010, the Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) awarded Holcombe disability pension benefits for a non-service related impairment. Holcombe was declared permanently and totally disabled. In the letter informing Holcombe of his pension, the VA instructed Holcombe to report immediately if his income, status, or net worth increased or changed.
In September 2012, the VA received an anonymous complaint indicating that Holcombe was operating a construction business while receiving a disability pension. Agents investigated and found Holcombe on a job site where Holcombe was remodeling a home for a client. Holcombe admitted owning R&T Exteriors with another individual. He explained that “We mainly do siding, boxing, and metal roofs.” Holcombe indicated that he was a “silent” partner in the business and grossed a substantial amount of money.
Agents continued their investigation of Holcombe and talked to former employees, co-workers, and contractors who confirmed that Holcombe was working and receiving undisclosed income during the period he was receiving VA benefits for permanent and total disability.
The VA has calculated the overpayment amount as $33,470.00.
Mr. Nettles stated the maximum penalty Tony Lee Holcombe can receive is a fine of $250,000 and/or imprisonment for 10 years, plus a special assessment of $100.
The case was investigated by agents of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of the Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorney Bill Watkins of the Greenville office handled the case.South Carolina State Former Counsel Pleads Guilty in Connection with Kickback SchemeRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Nancy Wicker (803) 929-3000
Charleston, South Carolina ----- The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that Edwin Donald Givens, age 50, of Columbia, South Carolina, pled guilty to an Information (copy attached) charging him with misprision of a felony in connection with a kickback scheme related to the 2011 South Carolina State University homecoming concert, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 4.
United States District Judge David C. Norton of Charleston accepted the plea and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
Evidence presented at the plea hearing established that GIVENS had actual knowledge of the commission of a federal felony offense involving the solicitation, receipt and payment of kickbacks by others involved with the concert, and that he failed to disclose such knowledge and took affirmative steps to conceal such information from federal law enforcement agents investigating the scheme, both prior to and during a November 14, 2011, interview with agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The maximum penalty GIVENS can receive is three (3) years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine, plus a special assessment of $100.
The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Office of Inspector General (HUD-OIG), and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS-CI). This case and its companion cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Nancy C. Wicker, Jane B. Taylor, DeWayne Pearson and J.D. Rowell.
PDF - Givens InformationInternational Cocaine Trafficking Network Impacting the Low Country and Midlands Charge in Charleston, SCRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Beth Drake (803) 929-3000
Charleston, South Carolina ----- William N. Nettles, the United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina; Harry S. Sommers, the Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”); Brock Nicholson, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) in Atlanta; Mark Keel, the Chief of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (“SLED”); and L. C. Knight, the Sheriff of Dorchester County, announce the arrests of defendants in a drug distribution conspiracy indictment involving a cocaine trafficking network operating between Mexico and South Carolina.
According to the federal indictment unsealed in Charleston, SC today, Jose Alfredo Sierra-Reynoso of Saint Matthews, SC, Michael Clark, a/k/a “Bizzy B” of Holly Hill, SC, Lonnell McFadden, a/k/a “June” of Holly Hill, SC, Marion Jerome Mack, a/k/a “Jigga” of Holly Hill, SC, Adryenne R. Johnson of Lexington, SC, Allen Washington, a/k/a “Dirty” of Holly Hill, SC, and Harold Robinson of Holly Hill, SC were charged by a grand jury with conspiring to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine in South Carolina. The indictment alleges the conspiracy began in or around July 2011.
The indictment is the culmination of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation conducted by DEA Charleston Task Force, the Dorchester/Summerville Metro Narcotics Unit, HSI Border Enforcement Security Team, and SLED.
In today’s enforcement operation, over 75 law enforcement officers executed arrest warrants and served search warrants in several South Carolina counties. Law enforcement agencies conducting the takedown operation include DEA, Dorchester/Summerville Metro Narcotics Unit, HSI, SLED, United States Marshals Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), South Carolina Highway Patrol, Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (ATF), Lexington County Sheriff’s Office, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, and Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office.
“Today’s operation is a testament to the effectiveness of the OCDETF program in dismantling drug trafficking organizations, from their South Carolina base up to their sources of supply,” said United States Attorney Bill Nettles of the District of South Carolina.
"International and interstate drug dealers should take heed that federal, state, and local law enforcement in South Carolina is well organized, cooperative and effective," said Special Agent in Charge Harry Sommers of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “This investigation is an excellent example of how South Carolina’s law enforcement community bands together to dismantle criminal networks.”
“Dismantling sophisticated transnational criminal organizations takes a lot of teamwork and a lot of effort,” said Special Agent in Charge Brock D. Nicholson, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Atlanta. “HSI is a strong supporter of the DEA’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and we are proud to have played a role in this investigation.”
“Criminals think they can avoid the law by running across county or state lines and even national borders. This collaborative effort among law enforcement agencies from every branch of government shows clearly there’s no place to hide for those who would do harm to our citizens.” said Chief Mark Keel of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.
“Cooperation and collaboration is the key to good, quality law enforcement and this case is prime example of how many agencies working toward a common goal can have far reaching success. The streets and citizens of Dorchester County are safer as a result of this partnership.” said Sheriff L. C. Knight of the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office.
The DEA Charleston Task Force is comprised of Special Agents and Task Force Officers from DEA, Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, Charleston Police Department, Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, Hampton County Sheriff’s Office, North Charleston Police Department, Mount Pleasant Police Department, South Carolina Highway Patrol, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and Summerville Police Department.
Prosecution of the investigation is led by Assistant United States Attorney Nick Bianchi of the United States Attorney’s Office in Charleston, SC.
The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.DEA's Eight Pill Take Back Event Yields Fruitful Results in South CarolinaRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Chuvalo J. Truesdell (404) 893-7124
Columbia, South Carolina ----- South Carolinians participating in the United States Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA’s) eighth National Prescription Drug Take-Back event on Saturday, April 26, 2014, turned in 5,698 pounds of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at sites set up throughout the state. This amount exceeded the previous statewide total collected during the October 26, 2013 Take-Back event which yielded 5,626 pounds.
“Harry S. Sommers, the Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the DEA Atlanta Field Division commented, “DEA’s eighth Prescription Drug Take-Back campaign was a huge success both locally and nationally. While South Carolinians turned in 5,698 pounds of unwanted or expired medications, nationally, more than 780,158 pounds of expired and unwanted prescription medications were collected with more than 4,440 sites that were available in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories. The local and national amounts collected are the highest amounts ever collected of the eight previous Take-Backs and the national amount collected is the second highest total ever collected. I would like to thank the multitude of partners (both law enforcement and non-law enforcement) who worked tirelessly to make this event another great success.”
This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Prescription drugs that languish in home medicine cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high; more Americans (6.8 million) currently abuse prescription drugs than the number of those using cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens like LSD, and inhalants (sniffed household products) combined, according to the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.
Take-Back Days are presently needed because the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) as originally written didn’t provide a way for patients, caregivers, and pet owners to dispose of such controlled substance (CS) medications such as painkillers, sedatives, tranquilizers, and stimulants like ADHD drugs. People were flushing their old meds down the toilet or throwing them in the trash, but in recent years medicines have been found in the nation’s water supplies, and medications were being retrieved from the trash by those who would abuse or sell them.
To give people a more environmentally responsible and secure way to dispose of their meds, DEA launched its first Take-Back event in September 2010. Four days later, Congress passed the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the CSA to allow people and, in some instances, long term care facilities to regularly, conveniently, and safely dispose of their CS medications by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General to accept them. DEA is in the process of finalizing regulations to implement the Act.
SAC Sommers encourages parents, along with their children, to educate themselves about the dangers of legal and illegal drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.justhinktwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.dea.gov.Goose Creek Man Sentenced for Interstate Transportation of Stolen GoodsRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Rhett DeHart (843) 727-4381
Columbia, South Carolina ----- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Eugene Jones, age 60, was sentenced in federal court in Charleston, South Carolina, for Conspiracy to Transport Stolen Goods in Interstate Commerce, a violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 371 and 2314. United States District Judge David C. Norton of Charleston sentenced Jones to 36 months imprisonment and 3 years supervised release.
Evidence presented in this case establ ished that from at least 2007 through 2012, Eugene Jones led a conspiracy to transport stolen goods in interstate commerce via the Internet. It was part of the conspiracy thatJones owned and operated Patriot Pawn in North Charleston, S.C. Jonesrecruited dozens of persons to steal merchandise from retail stores including Lowes, Target, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Belk, K-Mart, Bed Bath and Beyond, and Best Buy. Jones suggested to his co-conspirators to steal specific merchandise, including computer software, calculators, tool kits, electronic devices, and kitchen appliances.
After stealing goods from area stores,the co-conspiratorstook the stolen goods to Patriot Pawn, where Jones and his employeesbought the stolen goods for far less than retail value, knowing the goods were stolen or obtained by fraud. Jones,with the assistance ofothers, sold the stolen goods on eBay, an Internet auction and shopping site.
Jones sold the stolen goods in transported in interstate commerce from South Carolina to buyers in other States, including Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, and California. During the conspiracy, approximately $1 million in stolen goods were sold on eBay and transported in interstate commerce, and Jones divided these illegal proceeds between himself and his co-conspirators.
The case was investigated by agents of the Secret Service and the North Charleston Police Departure. Assistant United States Attorney Rhett DeHart of the Charleston office prosecuted the case.U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles Announces S.C. Drug Endangered Children (DEC) AllianceRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Anne Frate (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina ----- U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles, announced today that 22 federal, state and local leaders have entered into an alliance to identify and protect drug endangered children in the State of South Carolina.
The South Carolina Alliance for Drug Endangered children includes professionals – various law enforcement agencies, social services specialists, child advocates, prosecutors, physicians, fire fighters, and local community groups – who are striving for an effective way to identify and protect those children removed from drug environments, who are in danger of physical, mental and emotional abuse, as well as, exposure to the use of firearms, violence or other dangerous items associated with drug manufacturing and distribution.
“Drug Endangered Children are at greater risk of death, developmental problems, supervisory, educational and emotional neglect, as well as physical and sexual abuse. It is the goal of the DEC Alliance to coordinate the response to these children’s needs in order to break the cycle of drug and child abuse,” said Bill Nettles.
“Children discovered in drug environments have critical physical, behavioral and mental health needs that if not properly addressed will have long-term impact in their lives. These guidelines address timely and proper intervention,” said Dr. Olga Rosa, of the U.S.C School of Medicine.
Importantly, these guidelines do not require additional funding in order to be successful. This interdisciplinary model utilizes existing social infrastructure and creates the framework needed for each agency to not work within their own silo, but to instead work together toward a common goal; happy, healthy, protected children.
U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles said, “This is yet another progressive program instituted by our office assembling a broad based coalition to make the citizens of SC safer and healthier and break the circle of violence. We thank everyone who has participated in this process. I am proud of the results.”
The following agencies have endorsed the State Guidelines and were integral to their completion:
For Law Enforcement and Prosecution:
The U.S. Attorney’s Office – Bill Nettles, U.S. Attorney
S.C. Attorney General – Alan Wilson, Attorney General
S.C. Law Enforcement Division – Chief Mark Keel
S.C. Sheriff’s Association – Jeff Moore, Executive Director
S.C. Department of Public Safety – Leroy Smith, Director
S.C. Police Chief’s Association – Terrence Green, Chief
S.C. Commission on Prosecution Coordination – David Ross, Executive Director
S.C. Solicitor’s Association – Chrissy Adams, President
For Child Protection and Victim Services:
S.C. Department of Social Services – Lillian Koller, Director
S.C. Crime Victims’ Council – Laura Hudson, Director
S.C. State Office of Victim Assistance – Dr. Larry Barker, Director
S.C. Network of Children’s Advocacy Centers – Kim Hamm, Executive Director
U.S.C. School of Law, Children’s Law Center – Harry Davis, Director
Medical Response and Treatment
U.S.C. School of Medicine – Olga Rosa, M.D. FAAP, Director
S.C. Children’s Advocacy Medical Response System - Olga Rosa, M.D. FAAP, Director
S.C. Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics – Deborah Greenhouse, M.D., President
S.C. Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services – Robert “Bob” Toomey, Director
The Medical University of South Carolina
Fire/HAZMAT, and Emergency Response
S.C. State Association of Fire Chiefs – Chief Tracy Wallace, President
S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control – Catherine Templeton, Director
S.C. EMS Association – Derek Kinney, President
S.C. Firefighter’s Association – Joe Palmer, Executive DirectorFlorence Attorney Pleads to Mail FraudRead the Press Release
Contact Person: Bill Day (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina ----- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that William J. Rivers,III, age 48, of Darlington, South Carolina, was sentenced in federal court in Florence by Chief United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten to 60 months and ordered to pay $2,702,060.00 in restitution, for violations of mail fraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that clients of Schurlknight & Rivers, P.A., a personal injury law firm in Florence, South Carolina, complained to the South Carolina Bar Association that they had been defrauded by William J. Rivers, III, and his partner, John L. Schurlknight. During the resulting investigation by the Disciplinary Counsel of the South Carolina Supreme Court, an investigator scheduled an appointment with John L. Schurlknight. However, on the day of the meeting with Schurlknight, he committed suicide. Investigation revealed that between October 2006 and November 2012, more than one hundred clients of the firm were defrauded of more than $3,300,000.00. Twenty six of the victims were directly attributable to actions by Rivers. Rivers defrauded his clients by forging their names on releases to settle personal injury cases and lying to his clients telling them the cases had not been settled. The money was then kept by the law firm. In addition to keeping the settlement monies of his clients, Rivers also failed to pay medical providers with the settlement proceeds, leaving the clients owing hundreds of thousands of dollars for the medical treatment they had received.
The case was investigated by the agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II, of the Columbia office handled the case.Construction Firms to Pay to Settle Alleged False Claims in Connection with Colleton County Road ProjectRead the Press Release
Contact Person: James Leventis (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina ----- The Lane Construction Corporation and McAfee Design and Distributing Co., Inc. have agreed to pay the United States a total of $400,000 to resolve allegations that these companies submitted false claims under the Department of Transportation’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program, the United States Attorney Bill Nettles announced today.
Lane Construction is the successor in interest to Rea Contracting LLC, a former Charlotte-based civil construction contractor, and is a national civil construction contractor that, amongst other things, contracts with federal and state governments to construct and improve highways in the eastern and southern United States. McAfee Design is a Georgia-based highway heavy contracting company that is qualified as a DBE subcontractor.
The settlement resolves allegations that Rea Contracting falsely claimed that McAfee Design, a certified DBE, had performed demolition and concrete work that was to be performed by a DBE when it knew or should have known that McAfee Design actually subcontracted the work to non-DBE contractors. These allegations involved a federally-funded highway construction project in Colleton County, South Carolina. All qualifying bids were required to designate a percentage of work that would be performed by a DBE. The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program was designed to provide women and minority contractors, who have faced historical barriers to entry in the construction industry, with fair opportunities to compete for federally-funded work.
“The District of South Carolina continues to devote significant resources to pursuing claims under the False Claims Act, and this settlement is yet another in a long string of successes,” said U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina William Nettles.
This civil settlement resolves a lawsuit filed under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provision of the False Claims Act, which allows private citizens with knowledge of false claims to bring civil actions on behalf of the government and to share in any recovery. The relator’s share in this case is $80,000. The qui tam lawsuit was filed in the District of South Carolina and is captioned United States ex rel. Michael S. Johnson and Greg Smith v. Rea Contracting LLC a/k/a Lane Carolinas Corporation, McAfee Design and Distributing Co., Inc., et al., Case Number 3:12-cv-3651. The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
The settlement with Lane Construction and McAfee Design was the result of a coordinated effort among the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina, the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, and the South Carolina Department of Transportation.