The full list of defendants and the charges they each face can be found here. South Carolina Grand Jury Indicts 43 In 'Las Senoritas' Drug Ring 7-year-old baseball umpire seeks Guinness World Record. But, by pooling their collective expertise, they were an extraordinarily effective weapon against drug smuggling. represent clients in a variety of civil and criminal matters. Operation Jackpot was also one of the first federal task forces to combine investigators from a variety of federal agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Customs, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Customs Patrol. Now it's closing after donors sent school a big message. Purchase a new subscription and qualify for $100 of fine dining, theater tickets and MORE! CLICK HERE. 9 arrested after drug bust in Greenwood County, deputies say. I believe the drug smuggling is discussed in Podcast Episodes 31 and 32. Copyright 2022 WBTV. 20 people arrested for using drones to deliver over 100 pounds of Given their standards and their college educations, the two men were nicknamed the Gentlemen Smugglers.. 'They were headed for New York City and Miami.'. Simpson Says Hes Not Qualified To Say If Alex Murdaugh Did It. They reportedly were part of a drug trafficking organization that operating in Pickens, Greenville, Laurens, Anderson, and Oconee Counties. Thats so many kids that could have died. He was really fun to be with. Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. Barry and Les decided to look for a quieter entry point for their product. We have an open microphone policy here at FITSNews! 2023 Columbia Metropolitan. The upstate has become a hub," Wilson said at a press conference. Thousands of grams of cocaine, and hundreds of grams of meth and marijuana were also found, along with four firearms. March 3 (UPI) -- A sheep spotted wandering loose on a British highway was given a lift back to its owner by a concerned bus driver on her first day on the job. UNC drug bust lands 21 in jail connected to fraternities | wcnc.com And what about all the rumors you preach as gospel. David and Chuck fed questions to her for the kingpin and used the information to set a trap. CLICK HERE. 170 charges filed against defendants linked to Mexican cartel . Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. McGowan is accused. Hero Down: Broward Sheriffs Office Sergeant Kevin Forsberg Dies Unexpectedly. Curiously, though, police did not immediately say what type of drug Jonathan Sears allegedly possessed/ intended to distribute. First Published: 1:00 PM PDT, May 19, 2022 Officials seized paraphernalia in South Carolina and Georgia, leading to 34 individuals facing charges. 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. The. All rights reserved. 3 charged after over 20 pounds of methamphetamine seized in Spartanburg Co. According to the release, the investigation in total from both locations seized large quantities of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine including some mixed with fentanyl, marijuana, xanax, multiple firearms, and $63,000. But these moms believe getting some of the big fish off the street could save the lives of many. He said the street value of the more than 1,000 kilos of methamphetamine seized by law enforcement is over $75 million. Tom Rhoad died in March 2005 after suffering an aneurysm. Im thinking serious cartel and/ or gang bosses who are higher up. Dubbed "Operation Pentagon," the investigation targeted the distribution of heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and crack cocaine that has "plagued" the county, Smalls said. Updated October 21, 2022 8:37 AM. Got a tip for a story? The smugglers also borrowed plantations along the coast owned by rich Northerners who rarely visited. Les and another defendant, Wally Butler, were found living in Australia and arrested on May 5, 1983. In 1971, they asked Barry and another hotel guest to sail to Jamaica to bring back 400 pounds of marijuana. You didnt have any I love yous or goodbye or nothing. With a heavy heart, we announce the untimely loss of a longtime employee, Sergeant Kevin Forsberg, who passed away on Friday, January 27, 2023, Sheriff Tony wrote. Click this link for the original source of this article. According to Governor McMaster, The task force decided to use that publicity to let them know we were coming. Some smugglers quickly surrendered or were easily arrested and took plea deals in exchange for testifying against their co-defendants. He said, Hi Bart, my names Christy Campbell, and Im here to turn myself in, says Bart. If you are the author or represent the host site and would like this content removed now and in the future, please contact USSANews.com using the email address in the Contact page found in the website menu. Email him at [email protected]. SCDC Inmates Darrell Foster McCoy, Jr. a/k/a DJ and Matthew David McCoy have been involved in drug trafficking since 2011. District of South Carolina | 34-Count Federal Indictment Charges 12 The co-conspirators also face multiple charges related to their role in the drug trafficking operation. 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. Feds indict 40 in SC organized crime case with ties to drugs, murder News 19 reports that much of the operation was in the Upstate counties. Thousands of kilos of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine were pumping into Greenville County.. After college, Les moved to Key West and started a landscaping business, cutting grass for $5. Barry flew to Jamaica to meet with suppliers, while Les and three others struggled to sail there in storms, high seas, and high winds. 2 arrested after approx. $3.4M worth of cocaine found in - WPDE To cut costs, Amazon delays completion of second headquarters, closes retail stores, 'Saving Private Ryan,' 'True Romance' actor Tom Sizemore dead at 61, Dozens killed, injured as Jakarta fuel depot fire engulfs neighborhood, Migrant woman dies after U.S. Coast Guard stops vessel carrying 54, 3 children killed, 2 hospitalized in North Texas domestic incident. 35 Arrests in Sumter County Drug Sting - Strom Law Firm South Carolina prosecutors have announced its biggest drug bust in state history, with 100 defendants facing nearly 500 charges. If there is a drug connection to Alex, he would definitely be the big fish in the region. The couple is also known as Rob and Lynn Greene. Jonathan Sears who owns or co-owns a lengthy list of Columbia establishments including The Bird Dog, The Cotton Gin, The Gourmet Shop, Hendrix, Jakes Bar and Pavlovs was arrested along with his relative, Geoffrey Sears, on Blossom Street last Thursday by officers of the Columbia, S.C. police department (CPD). March 3 (UPI) -- A Kentucky man who stopped to buy some breakfast said he lost his appetite when he won $50,000 from a scratch-off lottery ticket. Forsbergs death in a Facebook post several days later. No way drug dealers did this imo . The Lowcountry paper only got part of the story, though . J. South Carolina Drug Bust Found Drugs Allegedly Being Sold From 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. CLICK HERE. 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. As with anyone accused of committing any crime, the Sears are considered innocent until proven guilty by our criminal justice system or until such time as they may wish to enter some form of allocution in connection with a plea agreement with prosecutors related to any of the charges which have been filed against them. SLED agents began arresting suspects in the case on January 3, 2023 assisted by local law enforcement agencies. Officials refused to identify the fifth Colombian arrested. The numbers led back to Les. Major drug bust in South Carolina linked to 'violent - TheBlaze Our hearts go out to Sergeant Kevin Forsbergs family, friends and colleagues at Broward Sheriffs Office where he served in the BSOs Homicide Unit. Four drug-related arrests made at Lancaster, S.C. home - WBTV We decided to figure out who they were and catch them at home. With this new approach, the task force leveled the playing field. Officials say they tracked down . When I saw the address come up we knew people that used to live on that road. With each trip, Barry and Les learned more about the smuggling business. Cartels dont play games. Bob Byers died in 2004. He was as pleasant as can be.. 'For the most part, these drugs were not headed for South Carolina,' he said. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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 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. So they are applauding the work, knowing much more work needs done. The adventurous will enjoy tales of exotic locales, fugitive escapades, and mountains of drugs and money. Alleged drug traffickers in South Carolina used taco trucks to transport pounds of meth, cocaine and heroin, state prosecutors said Wednesday. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family Broward Sheriffs Office Sergeant Kevin Forsberg, both blood and blue. 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. 'They're dealing death': York County, S.C. state leaders speak on Charges range from drug trafficking and weapons to burglary and kidnapping. In the 1970s, kingpins and Columbia natives Les Riley and Barry Foy smuggled an astounding amount of marijuana and hashish into South Carolina, equating $1.8 billion in todays dollars. 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. In time, the drug trade grew crowded in South Florida. Also, 2 guys were arrested one month before the murders on drug charges: https://fox28media.com/news/local/deputies-2-arrested-meth-seized-in-hampton-county-south-carolina-drug-operation 13 51 51 comments New Add a Comment Tardis301 1 min. Nine indicted on federal drug trafficking conspiracy in South Carolina 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. COLUMBIA, S.C. State prosecutors have charged 100 people in what they said Monday was the largest number of defendants ever indicted in one drug operation in South Carolina courts. That is certainly what it would seem like. 18 Biggest Drug Busts In U.S. History - Yahoo! Others, including Barry and Les, were harder to bring in. One of the defendants, a paralegal, is accused of sending drugs and phones into prison through hollowed out court transcripts, ABC News 4 reports. South Carolina. The Florida Police Benevolent Association (FPBA) also released a statement in the wake of the longtime sergeants death. The escapades are daring and dangerous, with heart pounding chases, life-threatening clashes with nature, and audacious smugglers halting a raging civil war on more than one occasion. Hes an incredible person to me of course. As a member of the BSO Homicide Unit, Sgt. Among the chief targets of Operation Jackpot were South Carolina marijuana kingpins Barry Foy, from Billinge and Les Riley, who stood accused of smuggling 347,000 pounds of marijuana and 130,000 pounds of hashish into the United States. The payday for smugglers was double that of marijuana. Wilson announced. At this point, it is not immediately clear how either Jonathan or Geoffrey Sears would be connected to such an investigation but hopefully our FOIA request will yield additional information as to the nature (and the status) of this inquiry. Paul and drugs are rumors . The surviving Gentlemen Smugglers still gather occasionally at an event they call The Felons Ball., In the fall of 1986, in a speech in Columbia, President Reagan said, Operation Jackpot was our first major breakthrough in our war on drugs.. 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. Later, he moved into a Hollywood, Florida, beachside hotel frequented by men who participated in, among other activities, drug dealing. Agents also seized about $1 million in property, including the rented home, the yacht and five vehicles. Mark Powellisanaward-winning former TV journalist, government communications veteran, and a political consultant. They learned they could make more money if they obtained their product from Colombia rather than Jamaica. We are forever indebted to his brave service and pray that he will Rest In Peace. This is the second drug bust along I-95 in Nash County this week. Here is the full video of the press conference . 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. South Carolina drug bust catches Charleston college drug ring pushing The task force, in concert with the U.S. Attorneys Office, worked to bring the Gentlemen Smugglers and their associates to justice. As a true crime community, we promote civil discussions surrounding the alleged crimes of Alex Murdaugh and related entanglements. I thought my God thats just a mile from my house. Click this link for the original source of this article. At last, the High Court ruled that Americas kingpin statute was an extraditable offense in 40 nations of the former British Empire.