He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and seven children. SCDC Inmates Darrell Foster McCoy, Jr. a/k/a DJ and Matthew David McCoy have been involved in drug trafficking since 2011. 9 arrested after drug bust in Greenwood County, deputies say. He was an assistant United States attorney at the time. 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. I believe it was his girlfriend, Morgan Doughty, that said he used cocaine on multiple occasions during her sworn deposition. Holly Alsobrooks son Cody is one of them. I live in a small ass county not in South Carolina Our local da parades around big drug bust like this once a year. Drugs, money, torture and murder were all part of a detailed web of gang-related, organized crime that flourished in South Carolina from at least 2017 until now, according to a federal. 'In layman's terms, this is enough cocaine for . Got something youd like to say in response to one of our articles? Agents also seized about $1 million in property, including the rented home, the yacht and five vehicles. Curiously, though, police did not immediately say what type of drug Jonathan Sears allegedly possessed/ intended to distribute. 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. The upstate has become a hub," Wilson said at a press conference. Recent bookings, Arrests, Mugshots in South Carolina - Recently Booked 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. As a true crime community, we promote civil discussions surrounding the alleged crimes of Alex Murdaugh and related entanglements. They owned homes on St. Barthlemy and drank copious amounts of expensive wine. 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. If there is a drug connection to Alex, he would definitely be the big fish in the region. Rest easy, hero. It was a devastating blow to the task force. Feds indict 40 in SC organized crime case with ties to drugs, murder Investigators believe the alleged drug traffickers were responsible for moving more than 1,000 kilograms (more than one ton) of methamphetamine, 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of cocaine, and 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) of heroin in the state. Nine indicted on federal drug trafficking conspiracy in South Carolina The two men were nicknamed "the Gentlemen Smugglers" given their standards and college education. 'For the most part, these drugs were not headed for South Carolina,' he said. 'They're dealing death': York County, S.C. state leaders speak on Barry was apprehended at the LaGuardia airport wearing a full-length mink coat. Overdue book returned to Massachusetts library after 56 years. SLED agent Robert Stewart and Bart Daniel also traveled to Australia while the case was being appealed. Girl Scout cookies: Good Samaritan Detric McGowan who bought $540 of U.S Attorney E. Bart Daniel said the half-ton of uncut cocaine valued at $10 million was the largest confiscation of drugs in South Carolina history. Illegal drugs,. Obviously this news outlet will keep close tabs on this investigation as it moves forward . Got a technical question or a glitch to report? He was joined at a news conference in Columbia by S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) chief Mark Keel and other authorities. The York County sheriff provided more information Monday on a huge drug bust. 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 . Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription. 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. 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. South Carolina drug bust catches Charleston college drug ring pushing cocaine, Ecstasy and Xanax By Tobias Salinger NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Jun 24, 2016 at 8:06 pm Nine young people arrested as. 20 people arrested for using drones to deliver over 100 pounds of Sergeant Forsberg was a great father, family man, great person, great friend to those who knew him, and a great law enforcement officer, the tribute read. He was as pleasant as can be.. 'We smashed an international drug smuggling operation,' said Frederick B. Verinder, the FBI agent in charge of the investigation. NYC Asking People to Give Bikes to Illegal Aliens! 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. 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. March 3 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Britain responded to a home to rescue a horse that had fallen into its owner's swimming pool and was unable to get itself out. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. At last, the High Court ruled that Americas kingpin statute was an extraditable offense in 40 nations of the former British Empire. But, by pooling their collective expertise, they were an extraordinarily effective weapon against drug smuggling. 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. He has other friends that have died as well. 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. A fundraising campaign established to help Sgt. Also Hampton county had 388 overdoses and 15 deaths in one year that seems really high for a county of 19,000 people. Attorney general Alan Wilson announced the indictments on Thursday. King World Productions Inc. 2023 Inside Edition Inc. and CBS interactive Inc., Paramount companies. News 19 reports that much of the operation was in the Upstate counties. COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO)- Officials with the FBI Columbia field office and Columbia Violent Gang Task Force say nine individuals face drug trafficking charges. Mark Powellisanaward-winning former TV journalist, government communications veteran, and a political consultant. As with all cases, all the defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty by the criminal justice system, or until such times as each may wish to enter some form of allocution in connection with a plea agreement with prosecutors related to any of the charges that may be filed against them. UNC drug bust lands 21 in jail connected to fraternities | wcnc.com At Henry and Brians suggestion, the two began following the money. And what about all the rumors you preach as gospel. 'These are all upper-level or. Deputies say that the drug bust happened on Tuesday on Southers. . 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. Tolson said the amount of fentanyl recovered in the bust was enough to kill every person in York County. It was a winning decision not just for the Operation Jackpot prosecutors but also for the global war on drugs because it would discourage future American drug kingpins from fleeing to those countries to avoid prosecution. 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. Its incredible all the corruption and criminal activity that shes uncovered in the three years that shes been investigating the Murdaughs. 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. South Carolina. 100 Charged In Largest Drug Bust In South Carolina History Alleged drug traffickers in South Carolina used taco trucks to transport pounds of meth, cocaine and heroin, state prosecutors said Wednesday. Or an issue youd like to address proactively? Click this link for the original source of this article. Man who sent videos of adults sexually abusing infants to FBI agent sentenced to 19 years, Questions mount about how John Fetterman was allegedly able to pen letter with fellow Democrats while under supervision for depression in hospital, Thug breaks through child's bedroom window in middle of night but Dad gets whole family out of home, grabs machete, and takes hack at crook, Newly released footage shows horrific moment a suspect fleeing police in stolen vehicle smashed into a sedan, bringing down a building. SC grand jury indicts 34 accused in 2-state drug ring - Live 5 News After brief attempts at college, first at Newberry College and then at USC, Barry began selling marijuana in Five Points. SLED agents began arresting suspects in the case on January 3, 2023 assisted by local law enforcement agencies. South Carolina authorities seize enough fentanyl to kill 15 million Got a tip or a story idea for Mark? A trusted neighbor is on top of a 20-foot ladder in . Civil wars and ocean chases pound the heart of the thrill-seeker. The two men were nicknamed the Gentlemen Smugglers given their standards and college education. That is certainly what it would seem like. Operation Jackpot (drug investigation) - Wikipedia 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. He described Hilton Head Island as a 'transhipment point' in the operation, noting that the island is well-suited for smuggling because of its access to deep water. 63 people face drug charges after South Carolina investigation In this article we take a look at the 18 biggest drug busts in US history. Consider it one of the more comic scenes in an $850 million drug-smuggling saga that rocked the South Carolina Lowcountry in the early 1980s. Just after the first trial, a man did just that. Officials with the Lexington County Sheriff's Department said Javier Ayala has been charged . 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. The Delhi Police on Wednesday destroyed over 2,800 kgs of . Lt. Robert Stewart became Chief of SLED, and Cam Currie became a U.S. District Court judge. Just like him being a CI . With that, Barrys career as a drug smuggler launched, and he enjoyed legendary status among Columbias marijuana enthusiasts. In January 1981, Ronald Reagan became president and promoted a stiff policy on drugs. McGowan is accused. 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. Arrests resulted in insignificant charges, if any, so the two did not feel they were doing anything really criminal. [1] Known as the 'gentlemen smugglers' because of their college educations and aversion to violence, Foy, Riley and their associates regularly sailed drug-laden boats from Jamaica, Colombia and Lebanon through the marshes of the Eastern Seaboard. They stored it in monetary safe havens around the world but also spent it on homes, cars, and nice vacations. Click to skip ahead and jump to the 10 biggest drug busts in U.S. history. 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. We are forever indebted to his brave service and pray that he will Rest In Peace. 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. This content is made available by use of the public RSS feed offered by the host site and is used for educational purposes only. These are low level dealers. 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. They reportedly were part of a drug trafficking organization that operating in Pickens, Greenville, Laurens, Anderson, and Oconee Counties. Press J to jump to the feed. Les and Barry considered marijuana a nearly legal product. Cape Fear Bust: 20 arrests, 50 weapons, 10,000 grams of narcotics 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. 5, 2022 at 7:26 PM EDT . Hero Down: Broward Sheriffs Office Sergeant Kevin Forsberg Dies Unexpectedly. Many of the drugs were allegedly trafficked out of the restaurant, and also out of taco trucks owned by the restaurant, officials said. U. S. Attorney Ron Parsons announced on Wednesday that 37 people have been federally-indicted as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces' Operation Say Uncle. 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. 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. Barry Foy and Les were making so much money it was hard to figure out what to do with it all. 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. This month the DEA made the biggest. 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. 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. Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. State Attorney General Alan Wilson announced grand jury indictments Wednesday against the owners of the Los Primos restaurant in Greenville, S.C. Georgia. Daniel said the cocaine could have been sold for about $100 million if processed into crack. Could a rash of recent date rapes in this college town be the focus of city polices ongoing investigation?. Wilder still, the two main characters hail from Columbia, South Carolina. For those who want the full story of this local legend, Jackpot is a something-for-everyone kind of tale. He is also an author and an avid Civil War enthusiast. McClellanvilles creeks were popular, too. 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. Now Canadian cops have charged pastor with hate crime. March 3 (UPI) -- A 7-year-old Louisiana boy with a firm grasp of baseball rules is seeking a Guinness World Record as the world's youngest umpire. After a drug bust in South Carolina,. CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Nine people are facing federal charges after a major drug bust in the Hollywood area of southern Charleston County. The couple is also known as Rob and Lynn Greene. All rights reserved. Thank you for your service. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? Officials say they tracked down . The case is referred to as "Prison Empire," one of the state's largest narcotics conspiracy investigations ever indicted. What is the talk on the street? Surrey couple plans to pay off mortgage after winning $500,000. Their synergy was really something.. '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. The Canal Street home was raided last Thursday by CPD narcotics agents prior to the Sears arrests. About 80 law enforcement officers descended on the home and made the arrests Wednesday without firing a shot, Verinder said. Major drug bust in South Carolina linked to 'violent - TheBlaze It was just talked on Wednesday, see you later and there was no later, she said. 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. 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. Her son, Adam, fell victim to the drug. We decided to figure out who they were and catch them at home. With this new approach, the task force leveled the playing field. York County, SC. 'These definitely are major players.'. Well hold the line from here. CLICK HERE. But these moms believe getting some of the big fish off the street could save the lives of many. 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. The return trip home was worse, especially when they were fired upon when straying too close to Cuba. Attorney General Alan Wilson said a joint investigation in the Upstate called "Los Banditos" alleges much of the drug trafficking was run and . 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. Barry Foy followed his prison time with a career in real estate and construction. CLICK HERE. One of the defendants, a paralegal, is accused of sending drugs and phones into prison through hollowed out court transcripts, ABC News 4 reports. This major drug trafficking ring was anything but unbelievable, said Solicitor Walt Wilkins. Ten other defendants are currently in prison. 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 . South Carolina's Operation Jackpot broke new ground for civil asset They were executed with premeditation. 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. Has anyone heard anything? J. YORK COUNTY, S.C. (WBTV) - The York County sheriff provided more information Monday on a huge drug bust. His loved ones and his BSO family will forever carry on his legacy.. The property had a deep water dock. Now it's closing after donors sent school a big message. Large drug bust in Hampton County (for those of you who believe drugs played a role in the murders). Another tip came through phone numbers salvaged from a suspected drug boat scuttled in the Edisto River. 37 people indicted in large-scale meth trafficking network Deputies seize more than 90 pounds of marijuana during drug bust at South Carolina home. All Rights Reserved. The task force, in concert with the U.S. Attorneys Office, worked to bring the Gentlemen Smugglers and their associates to justice. Tom Rhoad received a 15-year sentence, Barry Foy got 18 years, and Les Riley was sentenced to 21 years. The McCoys were served with notice of the states intention to seek life without the possibility of parole at their bond hearings last week.