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. Operation Jackpot used what was then a new approach: Focusing on the identification and seizure of illicit wealth, then tracing it back to the smugglers bringing tons of marijuana and Lebanese. He spent his free time between classes his senior year burning up the road between Columbia and Key West, Florida, where he worked as a doorman. The surviving Gentlemen Smugglers still gather occasionally at an event they call The Felons Ball., In the fall of 1986, in a speech in Columbia, President Reagan said, Operation Jackpot was our first major breakthrough in our war on drugs.. McGowan is accused. McClellanvilles creeks were popular, too. As a member of the BSO Homicide Unit, Sgt. In January 1981, Ronald Reagan became president and promoted a stiff policy on drugs. 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. The Canal Street home was raided last Thursday by CPD narcotics agents prior to the Sears arrests. When I saw the address come up we knew people that used to live on that road. 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. 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. 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. When all the Operation Jackpot trials were over, more than 100 smugglers went to jail. 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. Deputies say that the drug bust happened on Tuesday on Southers. The property had a deep water dock. Specifically, date rape druggings which are alleged to have occurred at Sears establishments. 'These definitely are major players.'. At last, the High Court ruled that Americas kingpin statute was an extraditable offense in 40 nations of the former British Empire. South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh was sentenced to life in prison without parole Friday, a day after he was convicted of murder in the shooting deaths of his wife and son. 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. Barry Foy followed his prison time with a career in real estate and construction. Thousands of kilos of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine were pumping into Greenville County.. In this article we take a look at the 18 biggest drug busts in US history. Wild as it seems, the story is true. For those who want the full story of this local legend, Jackpot is a something-for-everyone kind of tale. , 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/. 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. Alleged drug traffickers in South Carolina used taco trucks to transport pounds of meth, cocaine and heroin, state prosecutors said Wednesday. Wilder still, the two main characters hail from Columbia, South Carolina. 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. Those murders look very much like a drug hit and probably not a hit by some low down on the food chain drug users. On Wednesday, a Durham man was arrested after a chase hitting 120 mph and the "Gray Death" drug was found, deputies say. South Carolina prosecutors have announced its biggest drug bust in state history, with 100 defendants facing nearly 500 charges. Hero Down: Broward Sheriffs Office Sergeant Kevin Forsberg Dies Unexpectedly. 'In layman's terms, this is enough cocaine for . 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. 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. This content is made available by use of the public RSS feed offered by the host site and is used for educational purposes only. Wilson announced. Similarly, this is why they chose not to traffic cocaine. The investigation, asset seizures, defendant arrests, and trials were full of extraordinary tales and consumed the lives of task force members for four years. March 3 (UPI) -- A Massachusetts library said a book was recently returned with a note apologizing for the tome being 56 years overdue. All Rights Reserved. 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. His loved ones and his BSO family will forever carry on his legacy.. Author: Holly Matkin. Also important were the right boats: some were made for blue water (long term, open sea) sailing; some were not. British bus driver stops to give loose sheep a lift. Bob Byers got a 25-year sentence plus eight years for his escape. Large drug bust in Hampton County (for those of you who believe drugs played a role in the murders). But these moms believe getting some of the big fish off the street could save the lives of many. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. according to the press release from the South Carolina attorney general. Arrests resulted in insignificant charges, if any, so the two did not feel they were doing anything really criminal. Bookings are updated several times a day so check back often! Got a technical question or a glitch to report? Thanks to a corrupt jailer, Bob later escaped from a Charleston County jail and disappeared. However, it looks like a lot to us. ', Suspected burglar inside New Brunswick home was a panicked deer. 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. 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. Soldiers would sometimes even help load drugs onto the boats and then, once they were clear of land, fighting resumed. News of these arrests was first sent to our tip line early Friday morning and FITSNews sent a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the city seeking information related to the arrests over the weekend. Sergeant Forsberg gave and dedicated everything he had to his family, friends, coworkers, and the community.. According to a news. All Rights Reserved. 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. March 3 (UPI) -- A sheep spotted wandering loose on a British highway was given a lift back to its owner by a concerned bus driver on her first day on the job. The third island resident was identified as Kathy G. Gerald, 39. The return trip home was worse, especially when they were fired upon when straying too close to Cuba. Its incredible all the corruption and criminal activity that shes uncovered in the three years that shes been investigating the Murdaughs. The case is referred to as "Prison Empire," one of the state's largest narcotics conspiracy investigations ever indicted. Coast Guard Cmdr. 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? York County, SC. COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO)- Officials with the FBI Columbia field office and Columbia Violent Gang Task Force say nine individuals face drug trafficking charges. These losers may have been the only people left in the county who would hang out with Paul. 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 . Wilder still, the two main characters hail from Columbia, South Carolina. Last week, deputies seized over 30,000 grams of the drug fentanyl from a home on Golden Pond Drive in Clover. This month the DEA made the biggest. He has friends that have died. According to investigators, the large drug operation trafficked in more than 1,000 kilograms of methamphetamine, or more than 2,200 pounds. Thousands of grams of cocaine, and hundreds of grams of meth and marijuana were also found, along with four firearms. 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. 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 . And hes just missed beyond words, she said. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and seven children. 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. Wild as it seems, the story is true. 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. The sheriff added that 87 people have lost their lives to fentanyl so far in 2022. 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. While both men delegated sailing and offloading to others early on, they enjoyed the thrill of smuggling and the lifestyle it afforded them, and they were always in search of a bigger adventure. Minnesota officer removes jar from raccoon's head. They owned homes on St. Barthlemy and drank copious amounts of expensive wine. All rights reserved. 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. It was a devastating blow to the task force. Got a tip for a story? News 19 reports that much of the operation was in the Upstate counties. Later, he moved into a Hollywood, Florida, beachside hotel frequented by men who participated in, among other activities, drug dealing. 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. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Click this link for the original source of this article. Yet our response to the opioid and fentanyl crisis is underwhelming, Tolson said. So far, law enforcement has only publicly said that a large amount of marijuana was discovered at a residence on Canal Street drive in Columbia, S.C. along with cash and a firearm. Tolson said the amount of fentanyl recovered in the bust was enough to kill every person in York County. That is certainly what it would seem like. Or an issue youd like to address proactively? 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. 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.. "Theres much more volume flowing into our communities. In 1971, they asked Barry and another hotel guest to sail to Jamaica to bring back 400 pounds of marijuana. Now, 13 years after the last Gentleman Smuggler was sentenced, they are all out of prison. Officials refused to identify the fifth Colombian arrested. This is absolutely the pill of death, said Patty Roberts, a mother who lost her son to a fentanyl death. Politics. Still, it was more than they could spend. Copyright 2022 WBTV. Barry was apprehended at the LaGuardia airport wearing a full-length mink coat. King World Productions Inc. 2023 Inside Edition Inc. and CBS interactive Inc., Paramount companies. It wouldnt be the best idea but who knows? North Carolina. Unfortunately, Columbia police did not immediately respond to these inquiries and news of the arrests broke Sunday afternoon in The (Charleston, S.C.) Post and Courier. 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. If its similar in Hampton county none of the people were major players instead addict selling to other addicts but who knows. 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. 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. Bob Byers died in 2004. Rest easy, hero. The five Colombians in custody are Jorge Samuel Cruz, Luis F. Taboada-Garcia, Felipe Janer and Juan Carlos Perez. With that, Barrys career as a drug smuggler launched, and he enjoyed legendary status among Columbias marijuana enthusiasts. All these kids have had other friends that have died, said Alsobrooks. His upbringing was typical of the South, with plenty of time spent hunting, fishing, and escorting the occasional debutante. 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. "When you look at the I-85 corridor from Charlotte to Atlanta, obviously its an artery for this type of illicit activity.. The Hilton Head Island residents were identified as David A. Childs Jr., 38, and Lynn G. Paul, 40. CLICK HERE. Thank you for your service. Got a tip for a story? Our hearts go out to Sergeant Kevin Forsbergs family, friends and colleagues at Broward Sheriffs Office where he served in the BSOs Homicide Unit. ago The Coast Guard monitored the vessel's trip from Colombia to the dock at the rented home in the exclusive Sea Pines Plantation development, but authorities waited for six days until the distributors, known as 'Mr. We decided to figure out who they were and catch them at home. With this new approach, the task force leveled the playing field. A fundraising campaign established to help Sgt. No way drug dealers did this imo . It was just talked on Wednesday, see you later and there was no later, she said. 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. In a statement released jointly by the National Sheriff's Association, Major County Sheriffs of America, Western States Sheriffs' Association, Southwestern Border Sheriffs' Coalition, and Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition, the groups asserted "that the two main drivers of illicit drugs leading to overdoses and violence into the U.S. are Sinaloa I could barely move my arms and legs without help.. They felt guns were unnecessary and, in fact, invited violence. [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. Barry flew to Jamaica to meet with suppliers, while Les and three others struggled to sail there in storms, high seas, and high winds. 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. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family Broward Sheriffs Office Sergeant Kevin Forsberg, both blood and blue. Last week, deputies seized more than 30,000 grams of the drug fentanyl from a home on Golden Pond Drive in Clover. 63 people face drug charges after South Carolina investigation Posted: Mar 31, 2021 / 03:00 PM EDT Updated: Mar 31, 2021 / 03:08 PM EDT SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA) - Sixty-three people are facing. Pastor shoved out door, knocked flat on his back after protesting library's drag queen event for children. Judge Hawkins died in 2005, Dewey Greager in 2017, and Cam Littlejohn in 2018. David and Chuck fed questions to her for the kingpin and used the information to set a trap. Military Digest Charleston man saved. Bone-Breakers, crossbow .