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COLUMBIA, S.C. (BFMG) — Thirty-one people have been indicted on nearly 60 charges following a multiagency drug trafficking investigation that South Carolina authorities say uncovered connections to Mexican cartels and street gangs operating across several states.
South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the indictments Monday as part of an investigation dubbed Operation Last Stand, which authorities said grew out of an investigation into unsanctioned nightclubs in the Charleston area.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, investigators identified the clubs as gathering places for suspected gang members and others involved in criminal activity. Authorities allege some of the establishments also became hubs for drug trafficking.
The investigation intensified after federal, state and local law enforcement officers executed warrants at a North Charleston nightclub in February. Homeland Security Investigations, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office were among the agencies involved.
Authorities said 86 people were arrested during the February operation. According to the Attorney General’s Office, 79 were taken into custody on immigration-related administrative arrests and seven others were arrested on criminal charges.
Investigators also identified four suspected trafficking victims, including a minor who was released to relatives, authorities said.
Law enforcement officers seized firearms along with cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine and marijuana during the raid.
Officials said evidence gathered during the February operation led investigators to what they described as an interstate narcotics trafficking network with ties to international cartels and street gangs.
Authorities said people identified during the investigation had alleged associations with organizations including the Piru Bloods, 18th Street gang, Tren de Aragua and the Rolling 20s Crips.
Investigators also alleged connections to two Mexican drug trafficking organizations designated by the federal government as foreign terrorist organizations: the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, commonly known as CJNG, and Los Zetas/Cartel del Noreste.
The investigation expanded into South Carolina, Texas, Georgia and Florida and involved multiple state, local and federal agencies.
Additional enforcement operations conducted in the days leading up to Monday’s announcement resulted in the seizure of more drugs and more than 30 firearms, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
Five indictments containing nearly 60 charges were returned against 31 defendants. The allegations include trafficking cocaine and fentanyl, distributing methamphetamine, weapons offenses, drug possession and other charges.
A significant portion of the defendants are accused of participating in a conspiracy to traffic 400 grams or more of cocaine.
Among those charged is:
- Christopher Patrick Best (a/k/a “Best”): Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy); Pointing Firearm at Another Person; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; Possession of Marijuana
- Richard Quay Pham (a/k/a “Chow”): Trafficking Fentanyl, 4–14 Grams; Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy); Trafficking Cocaine, 10–28 Grams, Second Offense; Distribution of Methamphetamine, Second Offense x2; Trafficking Cocaine, 28–100 Grams, Second Offense x2; Possession with Intent to Distribute Fentanyl
- Demaro Devon Rollison: Trafficking Cocaine Base (Crack), 10–28 Grams; Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine; Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana; Possession of a Firearm During Commission of or Attempt to Commit a Violent Crime
- Abraham Deontre Doctor, IV (a/k/a “DJ Tre”): Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy); Trafficking Cocaine, 28–100 Grams
- Timothy Christian Brown: Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy)
- Evan Anthony Cole: Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy); Trafficking Cocaine, 28–100 Grams; Possession of Contraband in County Jail
- Jed Hakeem Coleman: Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More; Possession of Methamphetamine, Third Offense; Failure to Stop for Blue Lights; Resisting Arrest; Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy)
- Rickey Omar Swinton (a/k/a “6”): Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy); Trafficking Cocaine, 200–400 Grams; Trafficking Cocaine Base (Crack), 10–28 Grams; Possession of a Schedule IV Controlled Substance (MDMA); Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Violent Crime x6
- Pedro Moreno: Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy)
- Juan Balderas-Cerritos: Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy)
- Antonio Jermaine Levy (a/k/a “El Tony,” “Tony”): Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy)
- Eric Deangelo McKenzie (a/k/a “Dub”): Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy)
- David Slavi Ivanov: Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy)
- Branden Ronnard Antwan Ferrell (a/k/a “Lil B,” “Little B”): Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy)
- Zakaria Ahmad Quzah (a/k/a “Zack”): Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy)
- Juan Diego Bohorquez Quast (a/k/a “JB”): Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy)
- Juan Carlos Velazquez Morales (a/k/a “JC,” “CJ”): Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy)
- Angel Felix Castillo Menendez (a/k/a “Feliz,” “Felix”): Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy)
- Lorenzo Lavar Johnson: Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy)
- Manuel Arthuro Gutierrez (a/k/a “Manny”): Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy); Possession of a Stolen Handgun
- Ramon William Green (a/k/a “G”): Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy)
- Ramon Gamble (a/k/a “Mone”): Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy)
- Oscar Orlando Sierra, Jr. (a/k/a “OJ”): Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy)
- Jose Francisco Carreno Rodriguez: Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy)
- Jose Alberto Rodriguez Campos (a/k/a “Beto”): Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy)
- Ahmed Adel Maher Elsayed Elallawy (a/k/a “Bebito,” “Papito”): Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy)
- Nykeil Tytravias Miller: Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy)
- Arelis Del Carmen Santos Gomez: Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy); Drug/Violation Drug Distribution Laws, Prohibited Acts B x2; Prostitution/Operating a Brothel x2; Prostitution/Further Unlawful Acts x2
- Mark Christopher Casey: Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy); Possession of Cocaine, Second Offense
- Rami Abuhani: Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy)
- Reynaldo Lopez: Trafficking Cocaine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy)
The charges are accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing.
