COLUMBIA, S.C. — Deputies say 17 individuals face charges for their roles in a drug trafficking ring and breaking gun laws in South Carolina after a two-year long investigation.
U.S. Attorney Peter McCoy Jr. says federal, state, and local law enforcement officers charged 16 individuals for drug trafficking and one individual for violating federal firearm laws.
Officials say these individuals distributed, and possessed with intent to distribute, fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine, and some individuals violated federal firearms laws by using guns to further drug trafficking crimes.
Investigators say the following individuals have been charged for their involvement in the drug trafficking organization:
- Clarence Kirk, 38, of Rock Hill
- William Belk, 29, of Lancaster
- Celeste Pardue, 47, of Lancaster
- Rachell House, 32, of Lancaster
- Berry McIlwain Jr., 30, of Lancaster
- Richard Hopkins, 30, of Lancaster
- Christopher Love, 44, of Lancaster
- Scott Catledge Jr., 27, of Lancaster
- Dustin Barton, 33, of Lancaster
- Ezekiel Williams, 23, of Lancaster
- Larry Craig, 50, of Lancaster
Police say Dennis Lee Williams, 29, of Lancaster, was charged with violating federal firearms laws in a related case.
A federal Grand Jury returned an indictment charging the following individuals for 47 counts of alleging violations of federal narcotics, firearm, and counterfeit laws for conduct spanning from February 2017 to present, officials say.
Officers say they made eight arrests in the case on December 4th, four defendants are in custody, and they are still searching for five defendants.
Detectives say police seized various quantities of fentanyl, heroin, and methamphetamine, 16 firearms, and ammunition during their investigation.
“Operations like these leave our communities safer and more stable than they were before; the people of South Carolina deserve nothing less,” said U.S. Attorney McCoy. “We will continue to work tirelessly with our federal, state, and local partners to dismantle large-scale, organized drug-dealing organizations, which cause untold levels of harm to end users, their families, and their communities.”
ATF, the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), South Carolina Law Enforcement (SLED), the Lancaster Police Department, and the Sixth Circuit Solicitor’s Office worked together in this long-term investigation.
“This focused and collaborative effort was designed to make a long-lasting impact on the level of gun violence and criminal activity in Lancaster County,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Vince Pallozzi. “Along with our law enforcement partners, we have taken a number of violent individuals out of the community throughout this investigation and made significant progress in on-going efforts to decrease gun violence.”
The case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) in order to reduce violent crimes in the community.
“Today was a good day in Lancaster County,” said Sheriff Barry S. Faile. “Our Drug Task Force agents, along with agents from several of our state and federal partners, have been working for many months on investigating this alleged wide-ranging conspiracy. I appreciate the help we got from all quarters in bringing this operation to a close.”
Defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty by a court of law, official say.
