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. 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. All theories are just as valid for the time being. All rights reserved. |, 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. Tom Rhoad died in March 2005 after suffering an aneurysm. Among those arrested on drug-trafficking and conspiracy charges were three Hilton Head Island residents and five Colombians. 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. 'They were headed for New York City and Miami.'. 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. 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. All these kids have had other friends that have died, said Alsobrooks. These are just the highlights of this incredible, true tale. 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. In college at the University of South Carolina, Les was known to take his dates to the roof of. NYC Asking People to Give Bikes to Illegal Aliens! The trucks run by Mexican restaurant Los Primos. Here is the full video of the press conference . 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. The numbers led back to Les. At last, the High Court ruled that Americas kingpin statute was an extraditable offense in 40 nations of the former British Empire. A normal hashish load had a street value of $90 million. Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. McClellanvilles creeks were popular, too. The smugglers also borrowed plantations along the coast owned by rich Northerners who rarely visited. 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? 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. As a member of the BSO Homicide Unit, Sgt. They were executed with premeditation. Houses, land, boats, and prized cars all disappeared into government coffers, much to the consternation of the Gentlemen Smugglers and their associates. Chelsie Marie Anderson, Jennifer Nicole Burns, and Amy Deanna Cobb a/k/a Emma allegedly fled to Mexico in late 2018-2020. The York County. Paul and drugs are rumors . Law enforcement says the people arrested for this crime will face 15 years in prison. 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. Mandy does an amazing job with her investigative journalism. Arrests resulted in insignificant charges, if any, so the two did not feel they were doing anything really criminal. And hes just missed beyond words, she said. So when she sees the huge spread of the same drug that killed her child on a sheriffs office table instead of someones system, she is hopeful but cautious. Click to skip ahead and jump to the 10 biggest drug busts in U.S. history. Barry Foy and Les were making so much money it was hard to figure out what to do with it all. Another tip came through phone numbers salvaged from a suspected drug boat scuttled in the Edisto River. What is the talk on the street? Theyre dealing death: York County, S.C. state leaders speak on fentanyl bust. Christian K-8 school last year declared that 'we stand with the LGBTQIA+ community and believe in their holiness.' Ultimately, Operation Jackpot would indict four smuggling rings operating in South Carolina. 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. Listen online or download the iHeart App. The thought immediately went through my mind that I wonder if they were responsible for his death, said Roberts. 'These definitely are major players.'. Wilder still, the two main characters hail from Columbia, South Carolina. The Lowcountry paper only got part of the story, though . That was a good feeling seeing all those pills were off the street. With that, Barrys career as a drug smuggler launched, and he enjoyed legendary status among Columbias marijuana enthusiasts. CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Nine people are facing federal charges after a major drug bust in the Hollywood area of southern Charleston County. Obviously this news outlet will keep close tabs on this investigation as it moves forward . Just after the first trial, a man did just that. The investigation and prosecution is known as Operation Jackpot, which was chronicled in a book called, Les Riley grew up just a few miles from downtown Columbia. Updated October 21, 2022 8:37 AM. He counted playwright Tennessee Williams as a client and musician Jimmy Buffett as a friend. 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. 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. 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. According to authorities, six of the . [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. By working with our partners at SLED and local agencies, were able to investigate and prosecute complex trafficking conspiracies like this one and defend the rule of law.. David and Chuck fed questions to her for the kingpin and used the information to set a trap. All Rights Reserved. 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. I highly suggest you watch Mandy Matneys Murdaugh Murders Podcast - especially those about Alexs possible connection to drugs smuggling along the east coast. After a drug bust 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. Make sure you see our stories daily directly to your inbox. Thousands of kilos of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine were pumping into Greenville County.. Plantation, FL Broward Sheriffs Office (BSO) Sergeant Kevin Forsberg died unexpectedly on Jan. 27. But where are the principals in this drama now? I believe the drug smuggling is discussed in Podcast Episodes 31 and 32. 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. Mark Powellisanaward-winning former TV journalist, government communications veteran, and a political consultant. 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. 'These are all upper-level or. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. He said the street value of the more than 1,000 kilos of methamphetamine seized by law enforcement is over $75 million. According to a federal indictment, the defendants have been identified as Glenn Talley Jr., Leonard Gatling, Stephanie Amber Hawkins, Joe Kent Graham, Jermaine Louis . Overdue book returned to Massachusetts library after 56 years. Purchase a new subscription and qualify for $100 of fine dining, theater tickets and MORE! . Im thinking serious cartel and/ or gang bosses who are higher up. Possession of drug paraphernalia charge; $95,000 secure bond; . This month the DEA made the biggest. Well hold the line from here. In time, the drug trade grew crowded in South Florida. Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Thats so many kids that could have died. 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. I believe it was his girlfriend, Morgan Doughty, that said he used cocaine on multiple occasions during her sworn deposition. 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. 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. 2023 Columbia Metropolitan. Thank you for your service. So they are applauding the work, knowing much more work needs done. 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 upstate has become a hub," Wilson said at a press conference. 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. 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. ago Greenville, South Carolina--- Acting United States Attorney M. Rhett Dehart announced today that, on Thursday, August 12, 2021, a joint team of 130 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers simultaneously executed 20 federal search warrants and arrested 12 individuals charged in a 34-count federal indictment for their roles in a drug trafficking organization that operated primarily . The third island resident was identified as Kathy G. Gerald, 39. He was joined at a news conference in Columbia by S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) chief Mark Keel and other authorities. One of the defendants, a paralegal, is accused of sending drugs and phones into prison through hollowed out court transcripts, ABC News 4 reports. The task force, in concert with the U.S. Attorneys Office, worked to bring the Gentlemen Smugglers and their associates to justice. Florida woman runs ultra-marathon distances for 23 consecutive days. WTF? S.C. circuit court judge DeAndrea Benjamin denied bond for 23 of the 32 defendants. Minnesota officer removes jar from raccoon's head. They stored it in monetary safe havens around the world but also spent it on homes, cars, and nice vacations. . 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. North Carolina. Alleged drug traffickers in South Carolina used taco trucks to transport pounds of meth, cocaine and heroin, state prosecutors said Wednesday. The case is referred to as "Prison Empire," one of the state's largest narcotics conspiracy investigations ever indicted. 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. In the 1970s, the drug was widely used, and the publics attitude was apathetic. This is the second drug bust along I-95 in Nash County this week. The attorney general's office said the restaurant served as a regional hub through which drugs were trafficked to other states, with some drugs allegedly trafficked out of taco trucks owned by the restaurant owners. The investigation, asset seizures, defendant arrests, and trials were full of extraordinary tales and consumed the lives of task force members for four years. 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 . Author: Holly Matkin. SEE IT: Bidens message to Zelenskyy written in Ukraine Royal Palace guest book, Twitter 2023 USSA News, The Tea Party's Front Page. Folks, if this was a bag full of terrorists, if this was anthrax, our response would be overwhelming. National. The Canal Street home was raided last Thursday by CPD narcotics agents prior to the Sears arrests. 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. Operation Jackpot defendants were tried in three large batches and represented by well-known South Carolina defense attorneys such as Gedney Howe, Arthur Howe, Ed Bell, and Sol Blatt. 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). 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. 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. 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. 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. Drug traffickers used a Mexican eatery and taco trucks to transport drugs around South Carolina, state prosecutors said Wednesday. South Carolina. 7-year-old baseball umpire seeks Guinness World Record. Similarly, this is why they chose not to traffic cocaine. 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. What if someone not affiliated with drugs at all wanted Paul taken out and hired somebody local on the fringes of society? The case, dubbed "Los Banditos" by investigators, has to date resulted in the seizure of nearly 11 kilograms (24 pounds) of methamphetamine, 584 grams (1.3 pounds) of cocaine, approximately $63,000 in cash, and over 20 firearms in South Carolina, according to the attorney general. 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. Related: Search warrant leads to seizure of more than 30 kilograms of fentanyl in York County. Carolina Panthers founder, former owner Jerry Richardson dies at . 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. The co-conspirators would then drive to Atlanta and other locations to pick up kilograms of methamphetamine, bring it to South Carolina, and then distribute it in the Upstate, according to police and prosecutors. A fundraising campaign established to help Sgt. Thousands of grams of cocaine, and hundreds of grams of meth and marijuana were also found, along with four firearms. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? Typical agency turf wars were not allowed; anyone who refused to play nice was excused from the team. Published: Dec. 10, 2021 at 4:07 PM PST. Smugglers Barry Foy, Les Riley, and Wally Butler celebrate a days catch in Hilton Head at a king mackerel tournament, where they blended into society while leading secret lives. Methinks a killer(s) may be among those photos?! Could a rash of recent date rapes in this college town be the focus of city polices ongoing investigation?. Drugs Worth Rs 1,500 Crore Destroyed In Delhi Over 8 Years, 154 Arrested. Patty Roberts is not mincing her words when speaking on fentanyl. 2022 Blaze Media LLC. 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. Reflecting back, Governor McMaster says, It was virtually impossible to catch them in the act. 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. https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/local/hampton-county-guardian/2021/07/23/county-wide-operation-pentagon-nets-least-18-arrests-h-c/8075562002/. Theres no way theyd have the gumption to kill Maggie and Paul. We need to bring awareness to this issue, that drug dealers are not dealing drugs anymore. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family Broward Sheriffs Office Sergeant Kevin Forsberg, both blood and blue. Les bought a home on Hilton Head, as well as other property, and used it for offloading his merchandise. He has other friends that have died as well. Attorney General Wilson said that drugs in the southeast are typically trafficked across the southern border and sent to Atlanta, where they are then distributed to neighboring states. In 1971, they asked Barry and another hotel guest to sail to Jamaica to bring back 400 pounds of marijuana. A man has been arrested for a major drug bust in Rutherford County, according to the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office. "A well-known, very violent cartel thats operated for many years in Mexico.. 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. 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. Also Hampton county had 388 overdoses and 15 deaths in one year that seems really high for a county of 19,000 people. Given their standards and their college educations, the two men were nicknamed the Gentlemen Smugglers.. 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. Theyre dealing death, Tolson said. The co-conspirators also face multiple charges related to their role in the drug trafficking operation. Got a tip or a story idea for Mark? Bob Byers got a 25-year sentence plus eight years for his escape. The full list of defendants and the charges they each face can be found here. Now Canadian cops have charged pastor with hate crime. The first of three trials began in Charleston before U.S. District Court Judge Falcon B. Hawkins, Jr., even while asset seizures, indictments, and arrest efforts continued with the other smugglers. Officials say they tracked down . 9 arrested after drug bust in Greenwood County, deputies say. 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. The return trip home was worse, especially when they were fired upon when straying too close to Cuba. Both brothers have been incarcerated at SCDC since 2015 and have allegedly continued trafficking methamphetamine from prison using contraband cell phones. 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. Charges range from drug trafficking and weapons to burglary and kidnapping. Piece by piece, the task force identified a web of drug smugglers, half of whom were South Carolina natives. Investigators have also seized 20 kilograms of meth, 5 kilos of heroin, 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, and 82 firearms. 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. Sergeant Forsberg served 21 years with the Broward Sheriffs Office and was a great asset to the BSOs Homicide Unit. Thanks to a corrupt jailer, Bob later escaped from a Charleston County jail and disappeared. Lt. Robert Stewart became Chief of SLED, and Cam Currie became a U.S. District Court judge. Charlestons famous restaurant, 82 Queen, was seized as well. 'For the most part, these drugs were not headed for South Carolina,' he said. We are forever indebted to his brave service and pray that he will Rest In Peace. Cartels dont play games. RAPID CITY, S.D. If its similar in Hampton county none of the people were major players instead addict selling to other addicts but who knows. 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. Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. Also important were the right boats: some were made for blue water (long term, open sea) sailing; some were not. 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. 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 today's dollars. Ten other defendants are currently in prison. Wilder still, the two main characters hail from Columbia, South Carolina. 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. According to investigators, the large drug operation trafficked in more than 1,000 kilograms of methamphetamine, or more than 2,200 pounds. He is also an author and an avid Civil War enthusiast. Bob Byers died in 2004. SCDC Inmates Darrell Foster McCoy, Jr. a/k/a DJ and Matthew David McCoy have been involved in drug trafficking since 2011. This content is made available by use of the public RSS feed offered by the host site and is used for educational purposes only. 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. Investigators say six defendants in Mexico are now living among Jalisco New Generation Cartel members and are sourcing drugs directly from the cartel. Rounding up these folks could well get them talking about the big drug bosses. Others, including Barry and Les, were harder to bring in. Large drug bust in Hampton County (for those of you who believe drugs played a role in the murders). Officials refused to identify the fifth Colombian arrested. Organized by U.S. Attorney Henry McMaster, Operation Jackpot was one of the first federal drug task forces to use newly enacted federal civil forfeiture laws to combat drug smugglers by seizing the gentlemen smugglers' assets, including homes, cars, money and boats. While Columbia police referenced an ongoing investigation in the statement they provided to the Post and Courier, the paper declined to provide its readers with any additional information as to what that inquiry might entail. The post Hero Down: Broward Sheriffs Office Sergeant Kevin Forsberg Dies Unexpectedly appeared first on The Police Tribune. The product was better and fetched a higher price. Police in Costa Rica Seize 4.3 Tons of Cocaine, 2nd-Largest Drug Bust in Country's History, Month-Long Operation Ends in Huge California Drug Bust as $1.19 Billion in Marijuana Is Seized, Argentine Cops Bust Drug Ring Allegedly Using Fake World Cup Trophies to Smuggle Drugs, 26 Tons Of Cocaine Seized Offshore In Historic U.S. Drug Smuggling Bust. According to my law enforcement sources, this ongoing investigation has less to do with marijuana a drug which most people in the Palmetto State (including me) believe should be legalized and more to do with a rash of recent date rape druggings that allegedly occurred in the Five Points region of Columbia. Georgia. ', Suspected burglar inside New Brunswick home was a panicked deer. This major drug trafficking ring was anything but unbelievable, said Solicitor Walt Wilkins. Police from the Lee County sheriff's office, in coordination with South Carolina correctional authorities, made the busts following an eight-month investigation into the rings, which used drones to make late-night deliveries of contraband to the prison. Bookings are updated several times a day so check back often!
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