United States Attorney Beth Drake dropped a bombshell in Columbia today, unsealing a 42-count federal indictment against nine local defendants. The charges, ranging from conspiracy to distribute cocaine to use of telephones in drug trafficking crimes, paint a grim picture of organized crime.
Christopher Donnell Brown, age 38, leads the list, along with eight others: Delvaron Mufeed Jonel Thomas, 34; Brian Lamark Gunter, 26; Frederick Raheem Gunter, 24; Meldrick Leon Owens, 27; Ernest Gerod Sims, 43; Reginald Yvon Jones, 52; Stacey Andre George, 32; and Warren Spruill, Jr., 32. All are in custody except Brian Gunter and Frederick Raheem Gunter, who remain at large.
The defendants face life imprisonment and fines totaling over $21 million for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 280 grams or more of cocaine base. They also face up to eight years in prison and $250,000 fines for using telephones to facilitate drug trafficking crimes.
Brown alone is charged with eleven counts of distributing crack cocaine, while Sims faces additional charges including being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. The maximum fine for these additional charges is $1 million.
Drake emphasized that all charges are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, ATF, SLED, Richland County Sheriff’s Office, and Columbia Police Department, with Assistant United States Attorney William K. Witherspoon handling prosecution.
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Key Facts
- State: South Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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