The thought immediately went through my mind that I wonder if they were responsible for his death, said Roberts. As a true crime community, we promote civil discussions surrounding the alleged crimes of Alex Murdaugh and related entanglements. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Listen online or download the iHeart App. Wilder still, the two main characters hail from Columbia, South Carolina. 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. The co-conspirators also face multiple charges related to their role in the drug trafficking operation. Tolson said the amount of fentanyl recovered in the bust was enough to kill every person in York County. The Canal Street home was raided last Thursday by CPD narcotics agents prior to the Sears arrests. After brief attempts at college, first at Newberry College and then at USC, Barry began selling marijuana in Five Points. We are forever indebted to his brave service and pray that he will Rest In Peace. Published: Dec. 10, 2021 at 4:07 PM PST. WTF? What is the talk on the street? 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. Possession of drug paraphernalia charge; $95,000 secure bond; . U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District N.C. Michael Easley announces at the Brunswick County Sheriff's Office the arrest of 20 . North Carolina. I believe the drug smuggling is discussed in Podcast Episodes 31 and 32. Wild as it seems, the story is true. Defendant Kelli Edwards allegedly fled in October 2022. 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. March 2 (UPI) -- A Maryland woman scored a $100,000 prize from a scratch-off lottery ticket less than 12 hours after she scored an $11,000 jackpot at a casino. Email him at mark@fitsnews.com. The McCoys were served with notice of the states intention to seek life without the possibility of parole at their bond hearings last week. Plantation, FL Broward Sheriffs Office (BSO) Sergeant Kevin Forsberg died unexpectedly on Jan. 27. 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. 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). 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. This month the DEA made the biggest. The agents deserve all the credit, says Bart Daniel of the task force. We need to bring awareness to this issue, that drug dealers are not dealing drugs anymore. YORK COUNTY, S.C. (WBTV) - The York County sheriff provided more information Monday on a huge drug bust. Barry Foy followed his prison time with a career in real estate and construction. Got something youd like to say in response to one of our articles? McGowan is accused. Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. With each trip, Barry and Les learned more about the smuggling business. He eagerly implemented it in South Carolina. Banned items included crack cocaine, knives, tobacco, guns, phones, and even candy. Im thinking serious cartel and/ or gang bosses who are higher up. The cocaine was found in secret compartments aboard a twin-masted, 47-foot sailing yacht named the 'Arc.'. . The investigation was dubbed Las Seoritas because several women among the main targets allegedly fled to Mexico to escape prosecution in the United States. Typical agency turf wars were not allowed; anyone who refused to play nice was excused from the team. 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. 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 . The two men were nicknamed "the Gentlemen Smugglers" given their standards and college education. King World Productions Inc. 2023 Inside Edition Inc. and CBS interactive Inc., Paramount companies. It is a drop in the bucket. 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. You didnt have any last words. I could barely move my arms and legs without help.. Barry Toombs and at least five other fugitives holed up in Costa Rica were eventually extradited in February 1983. Still, it was more than they could spend. Or an issue youd like to address proactively? 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. A drop in the bucket compared to whats out there, she said. The theory would hold more weight if there were rumors or gossip of drug use coming out of the woodwork, but I dont think any have come to light. They dont want you to see this Big Tech does its best to limit what news you see. Mandy does an amazing job with her investigative journalism. Both brothers have been incarcerated at SCDC since 2015 and have allegedly continued trafficking methamphetamine from prison using contraband cell phones. Both suspects were released from the Florence County Detention Center on April 2, 2022, on a $50,000 surety bond each. Will Folksis the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. 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. Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. Yet our response to the opioid and fentanyl crisis is underwhelming, Tolson said. [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. According to investigators, the large drug operation trafficked in more than 1,000 kilograms of methamphetamine, or more than 2,200 pounds. He was really fun to be with. And yes, he has LOTS of hats (including the above-pictured Washington Senators lid). Copyright 2022 WBTV. 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. Piece by piece, the task force identified a web of drug smugglers, half of whom were South Carolina natives. Law enforcement says the people arrested for this crime will face 15 years in prison. 'These are all upper-level or. A wall in the back of the room filled with pictures of young people in the same situation. 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.. 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. according to the press release from the South Carolina attorney general. 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. Got a tip or a story idea for Mark? When all the Operation Jackpot trials were over, more than 100 smugglers went to jail. 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. 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. Her son, Adam, fell victim to the drug. Simpson Says Hes Not Qualified To Say If Alex Murdaugh Did It. These are low level dealers. Holly Alsobrooks son Cody is one of them. 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. Soldiers would sometimes even help load drugs onto the boats and then, once they were clear of land, fighting resumed. 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. |, 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. 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. 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. We have an open microphone policy here at FITSNews! Especially, when it is quite literally close to home. 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. The Hilton Head Island residents were identified as David A. Childs Jr., 38, and Lynn G. Paul, 40. After serving as U.S. attorney, attorney general, and lieutenant governor, Henry McMaster ascended to South Carolinas governorship in 2017 and was elected to his first full term in November 2018. Given their standards and their college educations, the two men were nicknamed the Gentlemen Smugglers.. The task force used a 1978 amendment to the United States civil forfeiture provisions allowing the seizure of drug-related offenders property before conviction or without any conviction at all. He said, Hi Bart, my names Christy Campbell, and Im here to turn myself in, says Bart. Pinch the little fish to get info on the big fish. Dubbed "Operation Pentagon," the investigation targeted the distribution of heroin, fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and crack cocaine that has "plagued" the county, Smalls said. Thank you for your service. Les bought a home on Hilton Head, as well as other property, and used it for offloading his merchandise. A drug hit would not be carried out by the local crew, local boys are just the corner guys, there would be 10 more levels up if not more before you get to the head of the Snake. The numbers led back to Les. State Attorney General Alan Wilson announced grand jury indictments Wednesday against the owners of the Los Primos restaurant in Greenville, S.C. Within a short time, the men identified Barry as someone who recently used cash for a large land purchase. Methinks a killer(s) may be among those photos?! Many of the drugs were allegedly trafficked out of the restaurant, and also out of taco trucks owned by the restaurant, officials said. 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. About 80 law enforcement officers descended on the home and made the arrests Wednesday without firing a shot, Verinder said. Make sure you see our stories daily directly to your inbox. Investigators have also seized 20 kilograms of meth, 5 kilos of heroin, 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, and 82 firearms. This is the second drug bust along I-95 in Nash County this week. Similarly, this is why they chose not to traffic cocaine. 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. Tom Rhoad died in March 2005 after suffering an aneurysm. Reflecting back, Governor McMaster says, It was virtually impossible to catch them in the act. South Carolina partnered with Georgia and federal authorities to make the drug bust. 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. Forsbergs death in a Facebook post several days later. J. 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. Its incredible all the corruption and criminal activity that shes uncovered in the three years that shes been investigating the Murdaughs. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and seven children. Barry and Les decided to look for a quieter entry point for their product. 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. 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. CLICK HERE. Wild as it seems, the story is true. It wouldnt be the best idea but who knows? Copyright 2023 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 'They were headed for New York City and Miami.'. That was a good feeling seeing all those pills were off the street. Patty Roberts is not mincing her words when speaking on fentanyl. They would of been BUSTED. With that, Barrys career as a drug smuggler launched, and he enjoyed legendary status among Columbias marijuana enthusiasts. The post Hero Down: Broward Sheriffs Office Sergeant Kevin Forsberg Dies Unexpectedly appeared first on The Police Tribune. According to a news. Just after the first trial, a man did just that. 2023 Blaze Media LLC. Now Canadian cops have charged pastor with hate crime. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Defendant Michael Pardi allegedly fled last month. Coast Guard Cmdr. Georgia. The Florida Police Benevolent Association (FPBA) also released a statement in the wake of the longtime sergeants death. Barry flew to Jamaica to meet with suppliers, while Les and three others struggled to sail there in storms, high seas, and high winds. Carolina Panthers founder, former owner Jerry Richardson dies at . 'We did not make any arrests of users or first-level distributors,' said Verinder. The five Colombians in custody are Jorge Samuel Cruz, Luis F. Taboada-Garcia, Felipe Janer and Juan Carlos Perez. NYC Asking People to Give Bikes to Illegal Aliens! This content is courtesy of, and owned and copyrighted by, https://bluelivesmatter.blue and its author. After a drug bust in South Carolina,. 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. 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 . They learned they could make more money if they obtained their product from Colombia rather than Jamaica. Wilder still, the two main characters hail from Columbia, South Carolina. 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. SCDC Inmates Darrell Foster McCoy, Jr. a/k/a DJ and Matthew David McCoy have been involved in drug trafficking since 2011. This major drug trafficking ring was anything but unbelievable, said Solicitor Walt Wilkins. The upstate has become a hub," Wilson said at a press conference. The next big adventure came through importing hashish from faraway locales like Lebanon and Singapore. They felt guns were unnecessary and, in fact, invited violence.