We spent a lot of time together. This content is made available by use of the public RSS feed offered by the host site and is used for educational purposes only. Tom Rhoad received a 15-year sentence, Barry Foy got 18 years, and Les Riley was sentenced to 21 years. Will Folksis the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. We use cookies to better understand website visitors, for advertising, and to offer you a better experience. On the other side are the avengers the scores of investigators and prosecutors that read like a whos who of South Carolina legal minds. SCDNR never sought a warrant to compel the hospital to draw Pauls blood that night, but the hospital did anyway The doctor said that no drugs were found in Pauls system.. LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (WIS) - Lexington County deputies have arrested a 26-year-old man after investigators found more than 90 pounds of marijuana in his home. According to the South Carolina Attorney Generals Office, the owners of the Los Primos restaurant located in Greenville, South Carolina, allegedly ran and facilitated most of the drug trafficking. 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. Those involved are allegedly in a drug ring associated with Mexican cartels, state officials said. Ultimately, Operation Jackpot would indict four smuggling rings operating in South Carolina. Military Digest Charleston man saved. I think Paul being a CI is a bit far fetched because there was only casual mention of him smoking weed a handful of times and ONE mention of doing cocaine months prior to the boating accident. It is a drop in the bucket. All rights reserved. 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. According to arrest records, 33-year-old Geoffrey Sears was charged with manufacturing marijuana while 39-year-old Jonathan Sears was charged with possession with intent to distribute and a separate charge of possession with intent to distribute in close proximity to a school. You didnt have any last words. In January 1981, Ronald Reagan became president and promoted a stiff policy on drugs. Les Riley lives on Seabrook Island. He was joined at a news conference in Columbia by S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) chief Mark Keel and other authorities. If its similar in Hampton county none of the people were major players instead addict selling to other addicts but who knows. The case was investigated by the South Carolina State Grand Jury, which was assisted in this case by a partnership of the Attorney Generals State Grand Jury Division, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the South Carolina Department of Corrections Office of the Inspector General, the Greenville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit, the Thirteenth Circuit Solicitors office, Anderson County Sheriffs Office, Pickens County Sheriffs Office, Spartanburg County Sheriffs Office, Easley Police Department, Abbeville County Sheriffs Office, and the Oconee County Sheriffs Office. Reflecting back, Governor McMaster says, It was virtually impossible to catch them in the act. History and legal buffs will appreciate reliving the 1970s with the challenges faced by the task force and the ingenuity used to achieve its objective. 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 . Now, 13 years after the last Gentleman Smuggler was sentenced, they are all out of prison. It was unprecedented for the agencies to share information, much less work together and out of the same office. Police in South Carolina seized more than 65 pounds of fentanyl Wednesday in a drug raid that officials describe as the largest-ever seizure of . The return trip home was worse, especially when they were fired upon when straying too close to Cuba. <p>Pounds of various drugs were transported by taco trucks owned by a restaurant as part of a large drug-dealing operation in South Carolina, state authorities said Wednesday.</p> Thousands of kilos of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine were pumping into Greenville County.. The co-conspirators also face multiple charges related to their role in the drug trafficking operation. 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. 'F****** AMATEUR HOUR': Furious Democrats lash out at Biden for announcement on radical DC crime law, Gun-toting road-rage motorist shot dead after armed man warns him to stop approaching him and his wife; cops say it looks like self-defense, Railroad union: Workers getting sick at site of Norfolk Southern's catastrophic hazmat spill in East Palestine, Teen bragged in rap song about killing another rapper, sheriff says, but cried 'like a baby that lost his pacifier' when charged with murder, Florida man allegedly told roommate, 'Im going to go over there and kill them all' before murdering his daughter and 3 others, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. When that happened, the task force only had to call on Henry, who bulldozed through any problem using the considerable political power at his disposal. Paul and drugs are rumors . We need to bring awareness to this issue, that drug dealers are not dealing drugs anymore. I thought my God thats just a mile from my house. Chelsie Marie Anderson, Jennifer Nicole Burns, and Amy Deanna Cobb a/k/a Emma allegedly fled to Mexico in late 2018-2020. Theres no way theyd have the gumption to kill Maggie and Paul. Given their standards and their college educations, the two men were nicknamed the Gentlemen Smugglers.. What if someone not affiliated with drugs at all wanted Paul taken out and hired somebody local on the fringes of society? Forsbergs death in a Facebook post several days later. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family Broward Sheriffs Office Sergeant Kevin Forsberg, both blood and blue. Bob Duncan said, 'It will be studied in law enforcement academies for many semesters on how this went so smoothly. A man has been arrested for a major drug bust in Rutherford County, according to the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office. South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh was sentenced to life in prison without parole Friday, a day after he was convicted of murder in the shooting deaths of his wife and son. SPARTANBURG COUNTY, SC (WSPA) - Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright announced Thursday charges for 53 suspects during their Operation Repeat Offender drug operation. ', Suspected burglar inside New Brunswick home was a panicked deer. Published: Oct. 24, 2022 at 3:06 AM PDT | Updated: Oct. 24, 2022 at 6:55 AM PDT YORK COUNTY, S.C. (WBTV) - The York County sheriff provided more information Monday on a huge drug bust. Mandy does an amazing job with her investigative journalism. 'These are all upper-level or. Thousands of grams of cocaine, and hundreds of grams of meth and marijuana were also found, along with four firearms. An abandoned van full of sacks of Lebanese hashish was found following a raid on Edisto Island in November 1981. 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. Les bought a home on Hilton Head, as well as other property, and used it for offloading his merchandise. 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. South Carolina prosecutors have announced its biggest drug bust in state history, with 100 defendants facing nearly 500 charges. All Rights Reserved. Theyre dealing death: York County, S.C. state leaders speak on fentanyl bust. Methinks a killer(s) may be among those photos?! Folks, if this was a bag full of terrorists, if this was anthrax, our response would be overwhelming. 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. When the hospital drug tested Paul the night of the boating accident, there were no drugs in his system. Henry immediately sought to attack drug smuggling at the highest levels of the trade. Back then, the U.S. Attorneys Office had little security and nothing to keep someone from walking off the street and into a prosecutors office. Specifically, date rape druggings which are alleged to have occurred at Sears establishments. At Henry and Brians suggestion, the two began following the money. I highly suggest you watch Mandy Matneys Murdaugh Murders Podcast - especially those about Alexs possible connection to drugs smuggling along the east coast. Music, radio and podcasts, all free. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and seven children. Well hold the line from here. Overdue book returned to Massachusetts library after 56 years. They reportedly were part of a drug trafficking organization that operating in Pickens, Greenville, Laurens, Anderson, and Oconee Counties. Lt. Robert Stewart became Chief of SLED, and Cam Currie became a U.S. District Court judge. State Attorney General Alan Wilson announced grand jury indictments Wednesday against the owners of the Los Primos restaurant in Greenville, S.C. Alleged drug traffickers in South Carolina used taco trucks to transport pounds of meth, cocaine and heroin, state prosecutors said Wednesday. Piece by piece, the task force identified a web of drug smugglers, half of whom were South Carolina natives. Just after the first trial, a man did just that. The defendants, mostly from South Carolina, were traced to alleged narcotics operations through a 'paper trail' of bank drafts, passports and other documents. The investigation was dubbed Las Seoritas because several women among the main targets allegedly fled to Mexico to escape prosecution in the United States. A normal hashish load had a street value of $90 million. News of these arrests was first sent to our tip line early Friday morning and FITSNews sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the city seeking information related to the arrests over the weekend. Barry Foy followed his prison time with a career in real estate and construction. Rest easy, hero. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); South Carolina Grand Jury Indicts 43 In Las Senoritas Drug Ring, Senate Panel Advances Certificate Of Need Repeal, Murdaugh Murders Media Coverage: Access Issues Debated, Child Sexual Assault Allegations Rock Midlands South Carolina Murder Case, Greg Leon Murder Case: Perjury Charge Filed, SLED Agent Incapacitated On Witness Stand After Reported Drug Exposure, LIVE FEED Murdaugh Murders Trial: Alex Murdaugh Sentencing Hearing, Murdaugh Murders Trial: Alex Murdaugh Guilty On All Counts, O.J. 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. The payday for smugglers was double that of marijuana. Author: Holly Matkin. "When you look at the I-85 corridor from Charlotte to Atlanta, obviously its an artery for this type of illicit activity.. 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. Or an issue youd like to address proactively? Les and another defendant, Wally Butler, were found living in Australia and arrested on May 5, 1983. Sergeant Forsberg gave and dedicated everything he had to his family, friends, coworkers, and the community.. Does anybody else think its just an amazing coincidence that LE rounded up all these local Hampton/ Colleton county drug knuckleheads about a month after the Murdaugh murders? 'In layman's terms, this is enough cocaine for . Forsbergs family in the wake of their loss has raised more than $34,000 so far. Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. LEXINGTON, S.C. (WIS) - A more than two-year investigation landed 17 people in federal custody as authorities busted a drug trafficking ring in the Midlands. York County, SC. Theyre dealing death, Tolson said. Also Hampton county had 388 overdoses and 15 deaths in one year that seems really high for a county of 19,000 people. Also, these arrests are reportedly just the beginning of a much broader investigation . The investigation, asset seizures, defendant arrests, and trials were full of extraordinary tales and consumed the lives of task force members for four years. Officials with the Lexington County Sheriff's Department said Javier Ayala has been charged . Listen online or download the iHeart App. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. 2023 Blaze Media LLC. These are just the highlights of this incredible, true tale. Unbeknownst to his grandmother, Skip charged the smugglers a fee to offload their product there. 170 charges filed against defendants linked to Mexican cartel . The Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office announced that three people were recently charged after over 20 pounds of methamphetamine was found during a narcotics investigation. York County and South Carolina leaders say current state and federal laws are not strict enough to keep fentanyl off South Carolina streets so there need to be sweeping changes. With each trip, Barry and Les learned more about the smuggling business. 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. Sergeant Forsberg served 21 years with the Broward Sheriffs Office and was a great asset to the BSOs Homicide Unit. U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency officials have filed a criminal complaint against four South Carolina men accused of operating a "clandestine" drug lab in a residential neighborhood near Lake. Press J to jump to the feed. 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 post Hero Down: Broward Sheriffs Office Sergeant Kevin Forsberg Dies Unexpectedly appeared first on The Police Tribune. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. March 3 (UPI) -- A Kentucky man who stopped to buy some breakfast said he lost his appetite when he won $50,000 from a scratch-off lottery ticket. In this article we take a look at the 18 biggest drug busts in US history. Charlestons famous restaurant, 82 Queen, was seized as well. 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. Forty-three co-conspirators are charged with Trafficking Methamphetamine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy), which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years and a maximum sentence of 30 years. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); South Carolina's 'Trial of the Century' is over but the 'Murdaugh King Of Five Points Arrested As Part Of Massive Drug Bust In Columbia, South Carolina, Murdaugh Murders: South Carolina Attorney General Must Step In And Remove Rogue Solicitor, Governors Mansion Valet Killed In Car Crash, SCDOT: Internal Audits Show Rash Of Scandals, Alex Murdaugh Sentenced To Life Behind Bars, LIVE FEED Murdaugh Murders Trial: Alex Murdaugh Sentencing Hearing, Murdaugh Murders Trial: Alex Murdaugh Guilty On All Counts. Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. Drug traffickers used a Mexican eatery and taco trucks to transport drugs around South Carolina, state prosecutors said Wednesday. 'In layman's terms, this is enough cocaine for every man, woman, and child in South Carolina to get high at least one time,' he said. Defendant Kelli Edwards allegedly fled in October 2022. Published: Dec. 10, 2021 at 4:07 PM PST. Rounding up these folks could well get them talking about the big drug bosses. Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony announced Sgt. Curiously, though, police did not immediately say what type of drug Jonathan Sears allegedly possessed/ intended to distribute. When all the Operation Jackpot trials were over, more than 100 smugglers went to jail. But these moms believe getting some of the big fish off the street could save the lives of many. About 80 law enforcement officers descended on the home and made the arrests Wednesday without firing a shot, Verinder said. Got a tip or a story idea for Mark? Wild as it seems, the story is true. 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. March 2 (UPI) -- A Florida woman earned a Guinness World Record when she completed 23 ultra-marathon runs -- 31.1 miles -- in a 23-day period. They felt guns were unnecessary and, in fact, invited violence. David and fellow task force member Chuck Pittard were interviewing a friend of Barry Foys in Manhattan when Barry called her, saying he and his family were on their way to New York. First Published: 1:00 PM PDT, May 19, 2022 Officials seized paraphernalia in South Carolina and Georgia, leading to 34 individuals facing charges. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. After brief attempts at college, first at Newberry College and then at USC, Barry began selling marijuana in Five Points. He was a dedicated father, public servant and friend. 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. 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. Cartels dont play games. Soldiers would sometimes even help load drugs onto the boats and then, once they were clear of land, fighting resumed. Barry Foy and Les were making so much money it was hard to figure out what to do with it all. We have an open microphone policy here at FITSNews! 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. I believe it was his girlfriend, Morgan Doughty, that said he used cocaine on multiple occasions during her sworn deposition. As a true crime community, we promote civil discussions surrounding the alleged crimes of Alex Murdaugh and related entanglements. The statement on theinvestigation revealed alleged connections to Mexican drug trafficking cartels operating in South Carolina and Georgia. His upbringing was typical of the South, with plenty of time spent hunting, fishing, and escorting the occasional debutante. CLICK HERE. Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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.. Plantation, FL Broward Sheriffs Office (BSO) Sergeant Kevin Forsberg died unexpectedly on Jan. 27. Large drug bust in Hampton County (for those of you who believe drugs played a role in the murders). After a drug bust in South Carolina, 34 people are facing charges, according to the press release from the South Carolina attorney general. The sheriff added that 87 people have lost their lives to fentanyl so far in 2022. Attorney General Alan Wilson said a joint investigation in the Upstate called "Los Banditos" alleges much of the drug trafficking was run and . Get the news that matters most delivered directly to your inbox. SEE IT: Bidens message to Zelenskyy written in Ukraine Royal Palace guest book, Twitter 2023 USSA News, The Tea Party's Front Page. They stored it in monetary safe havens around the world but also spent it on homes, cars, and nice vacations. Got a tip for a story? The property had a deep water dock. National. Cam Currie, Bob Jendron, and David Forbes traveled to Australia to meet with authorities there and explain the severity of the charges against the men. Click to skip ahead and jump to the 10 biggest drug busts in U.S. history. COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - According to the FBI Columbia Field Office and the Columbia Violent Gang Task Force, nine people were indicted Tuesday for drug . pic.twitter.com/d7G9ESlzUY, Florida Police Benevolent Association (@FL_PBA) January 30, 2023. 'This has been the most aggressive, high-tech, team-oriented operation in the history of South Carolina,' Daniel said. But, by pooling their collective expertise, they were an extraordinarily effective weapon against drug smuggling. In the 1970s, the drug was widely used, and the publics attitude was apathetic. Those murders look very much like a drug hit and probably not a hit by some low down on the food chain drug users. The five Colombians in custody are Jorge Samuel Cruz, Luis F. Taboada-Garcia, Felipe Janer and Juan Carlos Perez. Make sure you see our stories daily directly to your inbox. Forsberg oversaw a unit of dedicated men and women, who all collectively work tirelessly to protect the community from some of societys most dangerous individuals, his obituary read. TikTok video from True Crime Stories (@truecrimestories215): "The 1981 South Carolina Drug Smuggling Bust In The Edisto River #truecrime #truecrimecommunity #truestory #truecrimetiktok #makingamurderer #AlexMurdaugh #trending #fyp". They owned homes on St. Barthlemy and drank copious amounts of expensive wine. Coast Guard Cmdr. He said the street value of the more than 1,000 kilos of methamphetamine seized by law enforcement is over $75 million. Pinch the little fish to get info on the big fish. He spent his free time his senior year burning up the road between Columbia and Key West, where he worked as a doorman and eventually met his partner in crime, Barry Foy, in 1973. The task force, in concert with the U.S. Attorneys Office, worked to bring the Gentlemen Smugglers and their associates to justice. The cocaine was found in secret compartments aboard a twin-masted, 47-foot sailing yacht named the 'Arc.'. According to a news. Yet our response to the opioid and fentanyl crisis is underwhelming, Tolson said. Illegal drugs,. The Lowcountry paper only got part of the story, though . Also important were the right boats: some were made for blue water (long term, open sea) sailing; some were not. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Officials say they tracked down . Obviously this news outlet will keep close tabs on this investigation as it moves forward . Got a tip for a story? Medical Marijuana bill passes NC Senate; some cannabis supporters against bill, Re-using the cheater beans from breakfast for dinner with Chef Elizabeth, Product Test: Elissia and Caroline try out bundt cake pan with removable bottom, The Best of Charlotte Bridal Show at Camp North End on March 19th, Licensed counselor Felice Hightower talks impact of Social Media Algorithms, PLAN AHEAD: Latest Weather Forecast Video. These are low level dealers. The agents deserve all the credit, says Bart Daniel of the task force. with 100 defendants facing nearly 500 charges, sending drugs and phones into prison through hollowed out court transcripts, Do not sell or share my personal information. 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. 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. They dont want you to see this Big Tech does its best to limit what news you see. 2022 Blaze Media LLC. He was really fun to be with. Deputies seize more than 90 pounds of marijuana during drug bust at South Carolina home. Published: May. According to investigators, the large drug operation trafficked in more than 1,000 kilograms of methamphetamine, or more than 2,200 pounds. Im thinking serious cartel and/ or gang bosses who are higher up. As native South Carolinians, they did not take long to settle on the lush Carolina coast, with its virtually endless waterways and, in the 1970s, undeveloped seclusion. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? State Attorney General Alan Wilson announced grand jury indictments Wednesday against the owners of the Los Primos restaurant in Greenville, S.C. 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. This major drug trafficking ring was anything but unbelievable, said Solicitor Walt Wilkins. 'We did not make any arrests of users or first-level distributors,' said Verinder.