Obviously this news outlet will keep close tabs on this investigation as it moves forward . Bob Byers got a 25-year sentence plus eight years for his escape. While law enforcement had tried to catch the smugglers in the past and, in a few instances, succeeded, they were hampered in the 1970s by unsophisticated or nonexistent equipment, insufficient support, and the miles and miles of South Carolina shoreline. |, All of these experiences relate to the astounding volume of marijuana and hashish smuggled into South Carolina by the so-called Gentlemen Smugglers with a street value, in todays dollars, of $1.8 billion. The Lowcountry paper only got part of the story, though . They grew their network to include names like Tom Rolex Rhoad, John Smokin Sneakers Jamison, Ashley Brunson, Bob Willie the Whale Bauer, Christy Campbell, and Frank Gunn, to name just a few, and occasionally partnered with a Virginia smuggling ring led by Barry Ice Cream Toombs that included Virginia brothers Lee and Michael Harvey. This would totally explain why LE is keeping such a tight, tight lid on everything. Or an issue youd like to address proactively? Barry and Les decided to look for a quieter entry point for their product. Its incredible all the corruption and criminal activity that shes uncovered in the three years that shes been investigating the Murdaughs. He was also a member of the cast of A&Es The First 48, where he and his team raced to solve murders immediately after crimes are committed. Bookings are updated several times a day so check back often! WALTERBORO, S.C. (WCSC/Gray News) - The jury in the Alex Murdaugh murder trial has convicted the disbarred Lowcountry attorney of murdering his wife and son. Pair nabbed with 6.5 kilos of cocaine in arrest along I-95 in Nash Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Bob Byers died in 2004. Between February 1, 2021, and December 14, 2022, law enforcement seized over 25 kilograms of methamphetamine (with a street value of approximately $800,000) and 30 guns as part of this investigation. In January 1981, Ronald Reagan became president and promoted a stiff policy on drugs. For more information about our use of cookies, our collection, use, and disclosure of personal information generally, and any rights you may have to access, delete, or opt out of the sale of your personal information, please view our Privacy Policy. And hes just missed beyond words, she said. Les Riley lives on Seabrook Island. 65+ pounds of fentanyl in largest ever York County SC drug bust | Rock Detric McGowan Arrested in Alleged South Carolina Drug Bust after Story Went Viral February 27, 2019, 4:19 PM This good Samaritan who went viral for buying $540 worth of Girl Scout cookies was. 53 charged, 24 arrested in drug operation in Spartanburg Co. - WSPA 7NEWS Military Digest Charleston man saved. FITSNews - One of the hottest rumors in Hampton county, | Facebook I dont think so either but others have theorized about it so I thought Id post just to show there had been an investigation going on in Hampton county for a year. Id want to see the actual lab result before I believed it. By signing up to the Blaze News newsletter you agree to receive electronic communications from Blaze Media that may sometimes include advertisements or sponsored content. Taco trucks used as part of South Carolina drug trafficking operation New live-action 'Peter Pan' trailer shocks with major character changes, Jane Fonda Suggests She Was Set Up During Fox Interview, The Biden Administration is Just Insane & Should Be Removed At Once. Defendant Marcy Dawn Vickers allegedly fled in 2022. Les and Barry considered marijuana a nearly legal product. If you engage in this illicit type of activity, drug trafficking, youre going to eventually get busted and were going to put you away, Wilson said. As a true crime community, we promote civil discussions surrounding the alleged crimes of Alex Murdaugh and related entanglements. Because of lax drug coastal patrols, hometown familiarity and a plethora of inlets, South Carolina was the gentlemen smugglers' most frequent destination for offloading drugs. With each trip, Barry and Les learned more about the smuggling business. Large drug bust in Hampton County (for those of you who believe drugs played a role in the murders). Even though task force members cooperated with one another, their superiors sometimes tried to throw up turf-related roadblocks. Within a short time, the men identified Barry as someone who recently used cash for a large land purchase. 4-day drug sweep nets 19 arrests in Hampton County By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. Cartels dont play games. The owner of multiple businesses in the Five Points shopping and entertainment district in downtown Columbia, South Carolina and the former vice president of its influential neighborhood association was arrested along with a relative last week on multiple drug charges. Their synergy was really something.. [2], Last edited on 2 September 2022, at 16:19, "25 years later, 8,000 pounds of pot could get man 5 years", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Operation_Jackpot_(drug_investigation)&oldid=1108113124, This page was last edited on 2 September 2022, at 16:19. But these moms believe getting some of the big fish off the street could save the lives of many. South Carolina's Operation Jackpot broke new ground for civil asset This was a year-long investigation that resulted in the arrests of six people. Both suspects were released from the Florence County Detention Center on April 2, 2022, on a $50,000 surety bond each. A South Carolina sheriff's office has concluded a one-year investigation into a major drug operation that saw them seizing enough fentanyl to kill around 15 million people. Also important were the right boats: some were made for blue water (long term, open sea) sailing; some were not. The theory would hold more weight if there were rumors or gossip of drug use coming out of the woodwork, but I dont think any have come to light. The drugs were busted in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Mexico, Central and South America, and also in the Caribbean Sea. In a case reaching both sides of the Rio Grande, 43 Upstate drug trafficking defendants now face a total of 170 charges after being indicted by the South Carolina statewide grand jury. YORK COUNTY, S.C. (WBTV) - The York County sheriff provided more information Monday on a huge drug bust. Attorney General Alan Wilson said a joint investigation in the Upstate called "Los Banditos" alleges much of the drug trafficking was run and . Typical agency turf wars were not allowed; anyone who refused to play nice was excused from the team. South Carolina drug bust catches Charleston college drug ring pushing They were arraigned late Wednesday in Charleston before U.S. District Judge Sol Blatt Jr. Large drug bust in Hampton County (for those of you who believe drugs played a role in the murders). According to a federal indictment, the defendants have been identified as Glenn Talley Jr., Leonard Gatling, Stephanie Amber Hawkins, Joe Kent Graham, Jermaine Louis . Now it's closing after donors sent school a big message. Rounding up these folks could well get them talking about the big drug bosses. Detric McGowan Arrested in Alleged South Carolina Drug Bust - Yahoo! Theyre dealing death: York County, S.C. state leaders speak on fentanyl bust. Updated: Oct. 29, 2020 at 4:30 PM PDT. He has other friends that have died as well. pic.twitter.com/d7G9ESlzUY, Florida Police Benevolent Association (@FL_PBA) January 30, 2023. The Delhi Police on Wednesday destroyed over 2,800 kgs of . National Park Service: 'Never push a slower friend down' in a bear encounter, March 2 (UPI) -- The National Park Service offered some sage advice for park visitors who encounter bears: "Never push a slower friend down. Finally, having an accessible and secluded place to offload was vital. The Seoritas allegedly coordinated with inmates at the S.C. Department of Corrections (SCDC) via contraband cell phones to deliver drugs primarily methamphetamine to co-conspirators in the South Carolina Upstate. Youre gonna eventually know someone this has happened to and I think Cody would be very proud of all of us for trying to help stop this problem, said Alsobrooks. He was as pleasant as can be.. Growing up a few miles from Les in Columbia, Barry Foy spent his youth delivering newspapers and eggs, working on construction crews, and pumping gas. York County, SC. They learned they could make more money if they obtained their product from Colombia rather than Jamaica. 2023 Columbia Metropolitan. Banned items included crack cocaine, knives, tobacco, guns, phones, and even candy. North Carolina. 100 charged in 'Prison Empire;' South Carolina's largest drug ring The property had a deep water dock. Got something youd like to say in response to one of our articles? We are forever indebted to his brave service and pray that he will Rest In Peace.. Press J to jump to the feed. Purchase a new subscription and qualify for $100 of fine dining, theater tickets and MORE! I believe it was his girlfriend, Morgan Doughty, that said he used cocaine on multiple occasions during her sworn deposition. Possession of drug paraphernalia charge; $95,000 secure bond; . UNC drug bust lands 21 in jail connected to fraternities | wcnc.com Last week, deputies seized more than 30,000 grams of the drug fentanyl from a home on Golden Pond Drive in Clover. Methinks a killer(s) may be among those photos?! Lt. Robert Stewart became Chief of SLED, and Cam Currie became a U.S. District Court judge. He walked in and stood in front of Barts desk. A major drug bust in upstate South Carolina resulted in 124 charges against 34 defendants allegedly involved with a Mexican cartel trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine in the southeast. State Attorney General Alan Wilson announced grand jury indictments Wednesday against the owners of the Los Primos restaurant in Greenville, S.C. All these kids have had other friends that have died, said Alsobrooks. The attorney general's office said a "substantial portion" of the drugs seized in Atlanta were intended for South Carolina. British bus driver stops to give loose sheep a lift. The story is utterly fantastic, with a list of villains so long one has trouble keeping up with them all. Les bought a home on Hilton Head, as well as other property, and used it for offloading his merchandise. It was just talked on Wednesday, see you later and there was no later, she said. March 3 (UPI) -- A New Brunswick couple who initially thought a burglar had broken into their home discovered the invader was actually a panicked deer. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Houses, land, boats, and prized cars all disappeared into government coffers, much to the consternation of the Gentlemen Smugglers and their associates. If its similar in Hampton county none of the people were major players instead addict selling to other addicts but who knows. During the search, agents found suspected fentanyl, methamphetamine, marijuana, buprenorphine, and alprazolam along with digital scales and smoking pipes in the home and in Glover's purse in a car on the property. A 30-month long ordeal ensued as the Australian court wrestled with whether the two could be extradited on a drug kingpin charge. COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO)- Officials with the FBI Columbia field office and Columbia Violent Gang Task Force say nine individuals face drug trafficking charges. Operation Jackpot was a federal drug task force based in South Carolina that captured and convicted more than 100 marijuana smugglers from 1983 to 1986 during President Ronald Reagan's War on Drugs. Alex Murdaugh gets life in prison in murder of wife, son Les Riley grew up just a few miles from downtown Columbia. Barry Foy and Les were making so much money it was hard to figure out what to do with it all. The investigation and prosecution is known as Operation Jackpot, which was chronicled in a book called Jackpot: High Times, High Seas, and the Sting That Launched the War on Drugs by Jason Ryan. The trucks run by Mexican restaurant Los Primos. The smugglers also borrowed plantations along the coast owned by rich Northerners who rarely visited. First Published: 1:00 PM PDT, May 19, 2022 Officials seized paraphernalia in South Carolina and Georgia, leading to 34 individuals facing charges. 37 people indicted in large-scale meth trafficking network Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. Among the chief targets of Operation Jackpot were South Carolina marijuana kingpins Barry Foy, from Billinge and Les Riley, who stood accused of smuggling 347,000 pounds of marijuana and 130,000 pounds of hashish into the United States. The longest sentence went to Lee Harvey, who received 40 years for drug smuggling, possession of machine guns and silencers, intimidation of a grand jury witness, and racketeering, among other charges. Taylor Lynnette Glover (Lancaster County Sheriff's Office) Our hearts go out to Sergeant Kevin Forsbergs family, friends and colleagues at Broward Sheriffs Office where he served in the BSOs Homicide Unit, the FPBA said. Nine indicted on federal drug trafficking conspiracy in South Carolina On the other side are the avengers the scores of investigators and prosecutors that read like a whos who of South Carolina legal minds. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina and before that he was a bass player and a dive bar bouncer. He has friends that have died. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family Broward Sheriffs Office Sergeant Kevin Forsberg, both blood and blue. Throughout the extensive multi-agency investigation, it was revealed that the much of the drug trafficking was coordinated by current and former prison inmates through contraband cell phones. The cartel we believe is primarily involved in this is La Familia," Homeland Security Deputy Special Agent Mike Prado said. India News | Press Trust of India | Wednesday December 21, 2022. So both were allegedly dealing marijuana, right? Under South Carolina law, trafficking in cocaine is a felony punishable by a prison term of between 25 and 30 years, no part of which may be suspended nor probation granted and a fine of up to $200,000. One of the hottest rumors in Hampton county, South Carolina at the moment is that a massive drug bust orchestrated last month by sheriff Thomas "T.C." Smalls is somehow tied to a brutal double homicide that took place in early June at a hunting compound owned by one of the Palmetto State's most prominent families. 63 people face drug charges after South Carolina investigation Posted: Mar 31, 2021 / 03:00 PM EDT Updated: Mar 31, 2021 / 03:08 PM EDT SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA) - Sixty-three people are facing. Representatives from various federal agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Agency, United States Customs, and the IRS, were invited to a meeting in Columbia to form a task force along with SLED. Mario Pacella 1612 Newcastle, Suite 201 Brunswick GA 31520 (912) 264-6465 (Phone) (877) 787-6652 (Toll-Free) (912) 264-2470 (Fax) Centrally located in Columbia, South Carolina, the attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, L.L.C. . Unbeknownst to his grandmother, Skip charged the smugglers a fee to offload their product there. He spent his free time between classes his senior year burning up the road between Columbia and Key West, Florida, where he worked as a doorman. Kentucky man stops for breakfast, wins $50,000 lottery prize. As a member of the BSO Homicide Unit, Sgt. South Carolina. Firefighters hoist horse stranded in backyard swimming pool. Piece by piece, the task force identified a web of drug smugglers, half of whom were South Carolina natives. You didnt have any I love yous or goodbye or nothing. The sheriff added that 87 people have lost their lives to fentanyl so far in 2022. Barry was apprehended at the LaGuardia airport wearing a full-length mink coat. The agents deserve all the credit, says Bart Daniel of the task force. Unfortunately, Columbia police did not immediately respond to these inquiries and news of the arrests broke Sunday afternoon in The (Charleston, S.C.) Post and Courier. 'King Of Five Points' Arrested As Part Of Massive Drug Bust - FITSNews Here is the full video of the press conference . Another tip came through phone numbers salvaged from a suspected drug boat scuttled in the Edisto River. Eight people suspected of importing the drug from Colombia and distributing it throughout the East Coast were arrested as they arrived at a Sea Pines Plantation Home to pick up the cocaine. They owned homes on St. Barthlemy and drank copious amounts of expensive wine. His loved ones and his BSO family will forever carry on his legacy.. March 3 (UPI) -- A Massachusetts library said a book was recently returned with a note apologizing for the tome being 56 years overdue. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Those involved are allegedly in a drug ring associated with Mexican cartels, state officials said. But, by pooling their collective expertise, they were an extraordinarily effective weapon against drug smuggling. While law enforcement had tried to catch the smugglers in the past and, in a few instances, succeeded, they were hampered in the 1970s by unsophisticated or nonexistent equipment, insufficient support, and the miles and miles of South Carolina shoreline. "A well-known, very violent cartel thats operated for many years in Mexico.. Tolson said the amount of fentanyl recovered in the bust was enough to kill every person in York County. To source the best marijuana, Barry partnered with another smuggler named Bob the Boss Byers, who took Barry into the mountains of Colombia to meet farmers directly. Still, they had the added challenge of crossing oceans and, in the case of Lebanon, interrupting a civil war that had been raging for five years. In discussing the issue with Brian Wellesley, Internal Revenue Service criminal investigation chief for North and South Carolina, Henry learned of a novel Net Worth approach successfully used in Southern California to identify probable criminals there by comparing the costs of their homes, cars, boats, and extravagant lifestyles with their likely income. National. Im his mother what else would I say. An eight-month investigation at a South Carolina prison has resulted in the confiscation of more than 100 pounds of contraband and 20 arrests, the state's department of corrections announced . Dubbed "Operation Pentagon," the investigation targeted the distribution of heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and crack cocaine that has "plagued" the county, Smalls said. Later, he moved into a Hollywood, Florida, beachside hotel frequented by men who participated in, among other activities, drug dealing. CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Nine people are facing federal charges after a major drug bust in the Hollywood area of southern Charleston County. 63 people face drug charges after South Carolina investigation The verdict came in shortly before 7 p . Click this link for the original source of this article. When the hospital drug tested Paul the night of the boating accident, there were no drugs in his system. Updated October 21, 2022 8:37 AM. South Carolina authorities seize enough fentanyl to kill 15 million Information from the Los Banditos investigation was used to make another bust in Atlanta, where authorities seized approximately 200 kilos (441 pounds) of methamphetamine, 3.5 kilos (7.7 pounds) of cocaine, 3.2 kilos (7 pounds) of heroin, 5 ounces of cocaine mixed with fentanyl, 183 pounds of marijuana, 900 Xanax pills, and multiple firearms from stash houses in apartments, the attorney general's office said. SCDC Inmates Darrell Foster McCoy, Jr. a/k/a DJ and Matthew David McCoy have been involved in drug trafficking since 2011. While it was a more lucrative product, cocaine smugglers invariably toted automatic weapons. An abandoned van full of sacks of Lebanese hashish was found following a raid on Edisto Island in November 1981. Cape Fear Bust: 20 arrests, 50 weapons, 10,000 grams of narcotics Henry immediately sought to attack drug smuggling at the highest levels of the trade. Some even volunteered to come along, enticed by the idea of cruising the Caribbean and returning on mattresses of marijuana bales. They dont want you to see this Big Tech does its best to limit what news you see. A trusted neighbor is on top of a 20-foot ladder in . Rest easy, hero. For those who want the full story of this local legend, Jackpot is a something-for-everyone kind of tale. MYRTLE BEACH, SOUTH CAROLINA Less than twenty months after 30 Horry County and Myrtle Beach-area drug traffickers were indicted based on a federal wiretap investigation into narcotics and violence, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of South Carolina announced today that all 30 have pleaded guilty and been sentenced in federal court. However, it looks like a lot to us. Thousands of kilos of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine were pumping into Greenville County.. ago ', Suspected burglar inside New Brunswick home was a panicked deer. Deputies seize more than 90 pounds of marijuana during drug bust at The owner of multiple businesses in the Five Points shopping and entertainment district in downtown Columbia, South Carolina - and the former vice president of its influential neighborhood. The arrests culminated a five-months investigation by the FBI, the Coast Guard, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Customs Service and the Beaufort County Sheriff's Department. Theres no way theyd have the gumption to kill Maggie and Paul. Tom Rhoad received a 15-year sentence, Barry Foy got 18 years, and Les Riley was sentenced to 21 years. Our hearts go out to Sergeant Kevin Forsbergs family, friends and colleagues at Broward Sheriffs Office where he served in the BSOs Homicide Unit. His upbringing was typical of the South, with plenty of time spent hunting, fishing, and escorting the occasional debutante. Author: Holly Matkin. According to investigators, the large drug operation trafficked in more than 1,000 kilograms of methamphetamine, or more than 2,200 pounds. Will Folksis the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. 20 people arrested for using drones to deliver over 100 pounds of A major drug bust in upstate South Carolina resulted in 124 charges against 34 defendants allegedly involved with a Mexican cartel trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine in the southeast. These losers may have been the only people left in the county who would hang out with Paul. Hilton Head was marijuana smuggling hotspot before 1980s bust | Hilton 'Operation Jackpot' indicts 40 - UPI Archives Many of the drugs were allegedly trafficked out of the restaurant, and also out of taco trucks owned by the restaurant, officials said. OCDETF plays a key role in the Attorney General's strategy to reduce the availability of illicit narcotics nationwide by identifying, disrupting, and dismantling drug traffickers, money . South Carolina prosecutors have announced its biggest drug bust in state history, with 100 defendants facing nearly 500 charges. On Saturday, Shackeel Aaron Coleman, 29, of Conway, South Carolina, was charged with two counts of trafficking in cocaine, conspiracy to traffic cocaine, and maintaining a vehicle for controlled substances. Attorney general Alan Wilson announced the indictments on Thursday. Assistant United States Attorneys Cam Currie, Bob Jendron, Cam Littlejohn, and Bart Daniel assisted in the effort both by helping with asset identification and seizure and with prying criminals out of the countries where they were hiding. Specifically, date rape druggings which are alleged to have occurred at Sears establishments. Civil wars and ocean chases pound the heart of the thrill-seeker. Folks, if this was a bag full of terrorists, if this was anthrax, our response would be overwhelming. Got a tip for a story? Sergeant Forsberg gave and dedicated everything he had to his family, friends, coworkers, and the community.. He said, Hi Bart, my names Christy Campbell, and Im here to turn myself in, says Bart. Could a rash of recent date rapes in this college town be the focus of city polices ongoing investigation?. Many of the smugglers and kingpins evaded arrest for years, resulting in manhunts across the United States and world through the early and mid-1980s, and captures in Antigua, Australia, Miami, New York, and San Diego. Curiously, though, police did not immediately say what type of drug Jonathan Sears allegedly possessed/ intended to distribute. Click this link for the original source of this article. No way drug dealers did this imo . State Attorney General Alan Wilson announced grand jury indictments Wednesday against the owners of the Los Primos restaurant in Greenville, S.C. Barry Toombs and at least five other fugitives holed up in Costa Rica were eventually extradited in February 1983. Bob Jendron retired after a long career as a federal prosecutor, while his former coworker, Bart Daniel, served as U.S. attorney from 1989-1992 and is now a partner in a Charleston law firm. Bob Byers was caught in Antigua by DEA agent Dewey Greager and David Forbes, who posed as buyers of his $900,000 sailboat, La Cautiva.
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