But, by pooling their collective expertise, they were an extraordinarily effective weapon against drug smuggling. 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. The investigation was dubbed Las Seoritas because several women among the main targets allegedly fled to Mexico to escape prosecution in the United States. Here is the full video of the press conference . 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. Banned items included crack cocaine, knives, tobacco, guns, phones, and even candy. 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. 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. Music, radio and podcasts, all free. 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. '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. While it was a more lucrative product, cocaine smugglers invariably toted automatic weapons. 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. Ten other defendants are currently in prison. Id want to see the actual lab result before I believed it. The five Colombians in custody are Jorge Samuel Cruz, Luis F. Taboada-Garcia, Felipe Janer and Juan Carlos Perez. 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. 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. Officials with the Lexington County Sheriff's Department said Javier Ayala has been charged . The couple is also known as Rob and Lynn Greene. David and Chuck fed questions to her for the kingpin and used the information to set a trap. 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 . Others, including Barry and Les, were harder to bring in. Recent bookings, Arrests, Mugshots in South Carolina Bookings, Arrests and Mugshots in South Carolina To search and filter the Mugshots for South Carolina simply click on the at the top of the page. Cape Fear Bust: 20 arrests, 50 weapons, 10,000 grams of narcotics. CLICK HERE. All rights reserved. A trusted neighbor is on top of a 20-foot ladder in . We have an open microphone policy here at FITSNews! Kingpin Les Riley, who grew up in Columbia and attended USC, had a Southern upbringing that included hunting, fishing, and escorting the occasional debutante. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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. <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> We need to bring awareness to this issue, that drug dealers are not dealing drugs anymore. Folks, if this was a bag full of terrorists, if this was anthrax, our response would be overwhelming. 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. A fundraising campaign established to help Sgt. Politics. Daniel said the cocaine could have been sold for about $100 million if processed into crack. NYC Asking People to Give Bikes to Illegal Aliens! Barry Toombs and at least five other fugitives holed up in Costa Rica were eventually extradited in February 1983. Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. Im thinking serious cartel and/ or gang bosses who are higher up. U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District N.C. Michael Easley announces at the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office the arrest of 20 . Civil wars and ocean chases pound the heart of the thrill-seeker. Deputies seize more than 90 pounds of marijuana during drug bust at South Carolina home. Henry immediately sought to attack drug smuggling at the highest levels of the trade. Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor Walt Wilkins said in thestatement, This was a very large scale organized drug operation that allegedly was trafficking kilograms of drugs every week into Greenville County,, The hard work and dedication of the Greenville Drug Enforcement Unit, SLED, and the South Carolina State Grand Jury has significantly decreased the availability of drugs in the Greenville Community and arrested some of its worst drug dealers., Aristocrat Constance Marten and Sex-Offender Mark Gordon's Missing Baby Found Dead in Countryside, Cops Say, GOP Legislator Introduces Bill That Would Eliminate Florida's Democratic Party, Florida Student, 17, Who Attacked Teacher to Be Tried as Adult, Woman Convicted in Connection to Lady Gaga Dognapping Sues Singer for $500,000 Reward Money, 5 Ballet Dancers Seriously Injured in California Hit-and-Run Car Crash Strive to Heal to Return to the Stage, 17-Year-Old Michigan Boy Slain by 13-Year-Old and 14-Year-Old Who He Offered Ride Home on Cold Night: Police. Press J to jump to the feed. All rights reserved. Thousands of grams of cocaine, and hundreds of grams of meth and marijuana were also found, along with four firearms. The third island resident was identified as Kathy G. Gerald, 39. The full list of defendants and the charges they each face can be found here. Hero Down: Broward Sheriffs Office Sergeant Kevin Forsberg Dies Unexpectedly. , Four more suspects in operation pentagon https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/news/local/hampton-county-guardian/2021/07/27/two-more-suspects-custody-operation-pentagon-arrest-tally-now-20/5385106001/. 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. One of the defendants, a paralegal, is accused of sending drugs and phones into prison through hollowed out court transcripts, ABC News 4 reports. In January of this year, reporter Kailey Cota of The Daily Gamecock the student newspaper for The University of South Carolina reported that multiple students and other Five Points patrons reported being illegally drugged at Cotton Gin, Pavlovs Bar and Jakesduring the fall 2020 semester., At least three victims submitted incident reports in connection with these alleged druggings describing how they felt nauseous, dizzy and then vomited and blacked out., By the time we had driven from Cotton Gin [I was] completely limp, one victim recalled. 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. Similarly, this is why they chose not to traffic cocaine. 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. Bob Duncan said, 'It will be studied in law enforcement academies for many semesters on how this went so smoothly. Drugs Worth Rs 1,500 Crore Destroyed In Delhi Over 8 Years, 154 Arrested. 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. 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. His upbringing was typical of the South, with plenty of time spent hunting, fishing, and escorting the occasional debutante. SEE IT: Bidens message to Zelenskyy written in Ukraine Royal Palace guest book, Twitter 2023 USSA News, The Tea Party's Front Page. Last week, deputies seized over 30,000 grams of the drug fentanyl from a home on Golden Pond Drive in Clover. The task force, in concert with the U.S. Attorneys Office, worked to bring the Gentlemen Smugglers and their associates to justice. Judge Hawkins died in 2005, Dewey Greager in 2017, and Cam Littlejohn in 2018. The post Hero Down: Broward Sheriffs Office Sergeant Kevin Forsberg Dies Unexpectedly appeared first on The Police Tribune. An abandoned van full of sacks of Lebanese hashish was found following a raid on Edisto Island in November 1981. Charlestons famous restaurant, 82 Queen, was seized as well. I could barely move my arms and legs without help.. 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 . Mark Powellisanaward-winning former TV journalist, government communications veteran, and a political consultant. '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. Click to skip ahead and jump to the 10 biggest drug busts in U.S. history. Reflecting back, Governor McMaster says, It was virtually impossible to catch them in the act. 2022 Blaze Media LLC. 'These definitely are major players.'. 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 . Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. On Monday (March 8) South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson said that, so far, 100 people are facing 297 counts and 487 charges total, News 19 reports. CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Nine people are facing federal charges after a major drug bust in the Hollywood area of southern Charleston County. Published: May. 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. 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. 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. 'In layman's terms, this is enough cocaine for . Those murders look very much like a drug hit and probably not a hit by some low down on the food chain drug users. I believe it was his girlfriend, Morgan Doughty, that said he used cocaine on multiple occasions during her sworn deposition. Barry and Les met in Key West where, in 1973, Barry persuaded Les that smuggling grass was much more lucrative than cutting it. In this article we take a look at the 18 biggest drug busts in US history. Got something youd like to say in response to one of our articles? Copyright 2022 WBTV. 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. 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. Arrests resulted in insignificant charges, if any, so the two did not feel they were doing anything really criminal. Or an issue youd like to address proactively? March 3 (UPI) -- A Massachusetts library said a book was recently returned with a note apologizing for the tome being 56 years overdue. Christian K-8 school last year declared that 'we stand with the LGBTQIA+ community and believe in their holiness.' 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. Thousands of kilos of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine were pumping into Greenville County.. 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. 2023 Blaze Media LLC. Got a tip for a story? Mandy does an amazing job with her investigative journalism. "A well-known, very violent cartel thats operated for many years in Mexico.. 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. Charges range from drug trafficking and weapons to burglary and kidnapping. A drop in the bucket compared to whats out there, she said. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. Possession of drug paraphernalia charge; $95,000 secure bond; . Wild as it seems, the story is true. In the 1970s, the drug was widely used, and the publics attitude was apathetic. Defendant Michael Pardi allegedly fled last month. 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. Given their standards and their college educations, the two men were nicknamed the Gentlemen Smugglers.. According to a news. The agents deserve all the credit, says Bart Daniel of the task force. 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. Will Folksis the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Plantation, FL Broward Sheriffs Office (BSO) Sergeant Kevin Forsberg died unexpectedly on Jan. 27. It was a devastating blow to the task force. British bus driver stops to give loose sheep a lift. As a member of the BSO Homicide Unit, Sgt. The Lowcountry paper only got part of the story, though . 'We smashed an international drug smuggling operation,' said Frederick B. Verinder, the FBI agent in charge of the investigation. Also important were the right boats: some were made for blue water (long term, open sea) sailing; some were not. One of South Carolina's largest drug smuggling bust News, news, seriousness, tension(1077866) - Lyrebirds music. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. 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. You didnt have any last words. After brief attempts at college, first at Newberry College and then at USC, Barry began selling marijuana in Five Points. All these kids have had other friends that have died, said Alsobrooks. 'For the most part, these drugs were not headed for South Carolina,' he said. Georgia. In time, the drug trade grew crowded in South Florida. 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. We invite thought provoking exchanges while sharing facts from reliable sources and discussing distinguished theories and speculation while showing the utmost consideration and respect for the victims and being mindful of due process. 5, 2022 at 7:26 PM EDT . After a drug bust in South Carolina,. It wouldnt be the best idea but who knows? Officials refused to identify the fifth Colombian arrested. A 30-month long ordeal ensued as the Australian court wrestled with whether the two could be extradited on a drug kingpin charge. Two rules were sacrosanct: no guns and no smuggling cocaine. Click this link for the original source of this article. That was a good feeling seeing all those pills were off the street. Federal drug unit targets South Surrey home in bust spanning Lower Mainland. Bob Byers got a 25-year sentence plus eight years for his escape. 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? . This content is courtesy of, and owned and copyrighted by, https://bluelivesmatter.blue and its author. North Carolina. For those who want the full story of this local legend. We decided to figure out who they were and catch them at home. With this new approach. The verdict came in shortly before 7 p . Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony announced Sgt. Also, these arrests are reportedly just the beginning of a much broader investigation . We have an open microphone policy here at FITSNews! Dubbed "Operation Pentagon," the investigation targeted the distribution of heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and crack cocaine that has "plagued" the county, Smalls said. Another tip came through phone numbers salvaged from a suspected drug boat scuttled in the Edisto River. A man has been arrested for a major drug bust in Rutherford County, according to the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office. CLICK HERE. Author: Holly Matkin. With each trip, Barry and Les learned more about the smuggling business. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. [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. Les and another defendant, Wally Butler, were found living in Australia and arrested on May 5, 1983. J. U.S. Attorney Henry McMaster stands next to the Dutch Treat, a yacht owned by queenpin Carol Amend until its seizure by the U.S. government under the then-untested legal tactic of civil asset forfeiture. SPARTANBURG COUNTY, SC (WSPA) - Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright announced Thursday charges for 53 suspects during their Operation Repeat Offender drug operation. The statement on theinvestigation revealed alleged connections to Mexican drug trafficking cartels operating in South Carolina and Georgia. Specifically, date rape druggings which are alleged to have occurred at Sears establishments. 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. With that, Barrys career as a drug smuggler launched, and he enjoyed legendary status among Columbias marijuana enthusiasts. It is much more significant," he said. This is the second drug bust along I-95 in Nash County this week. HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- A yacht loaded with 1,100 pounds of cocaine was seized by federal agents on luxurious Hilton Head Island in a raid that federal officials said Thursday smashed an international drug smuggling ring. Updated October 21, 2022 8:37 AM. Florida woman runs ultra-marathon distances for 23 consecutive days. Theres no way theyd have the gumption to kill Maggie and Paul. 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. The task force, in concert with the U.S. Attorneys Office, worked to bring the Gentlemen Smugglers and their associates to justice. 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. "Theres much more volume flowing into our communities. 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. It is a drop in the bucket. Last week, deputies seized more than 30,000 grams of the drug fentanyl from a home on Golden Pond Drive in Clover. All theories are just as valid for the time being. 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. The two men were nicknamed "the Gentlemen Smugglers" given their standards and college education. I thought my God thats just a mile from my house. The last fugitive from Operation Jackpot was arrested in 2007. 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 . Ultimately, Operation Jackpot would indict four smuggling rings operating in South Carolina. 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. 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. 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. This was a year-long investigation that resulted in the arrests of six people. Investigators alleged the drug operation was linked to a Mexican drug cartel. Both brothers have been incarcerated at SCDC since 2015 and have allegedly continued trafficking methamphetamine from prison using contraband cell phones. The cartel we believe is primarily involved in this is La Familia," Homeland Security Deputy Special Agent Mike Prado said. Listen online or download the iHeart App. Alleged drug traffickers in South Carolina used taco trucks to transport pounds of meth, cocaine and heroin, state prosecutors said Wednesday.
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