North Charleston Gun & Drug Sweep Nets 21

Columbia, South Carolina – Twenty-one individuals are facing state and federal charges following a massive takedown in North Charleston, the result of a grueling two-year undercover operation. The collaborative effort, dubbed the North Charleston Violent Crime Community Impact Investigation, targeted drug trafficking and illegal firearms, ripping through the city’s underbelly.

The operation, launched in October 2014 by the ATF Charlotte Field Division, involved nearly 200 undercover buys. Agents and officers seized a disturbing arsenal: 58 firearms. Alongside the weapons, investigators recovered over three and a half pounds of cocaine and crack cocaine, 80 grams of methamphetamine, and 41 grams of heroin. The sheer volume of contraband underscores the depth of the criminal network operating in the area.

The bust wasn’t a solo act. ATF special agents teamed up with ICE-Homeland Security Investigations, the North Charleston Police Department, the Charleston Police Department, the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, and the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office. The Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charleston will jointly prosecute the defendants, a division of labor designed to maximize impact and target offenders appropriately.

“ATF is extremely appreciative of our partners and this collaborative effort to make North Charleston and the surrounding area a safer place,” stated Charlotte Field Division’s Special Agent in Charge C.J. Hyman. “ATF has committed our resources to help tackle firearms trafficking, illegal criminal firearm possession and other violent crimes happening in the area.” Ninth Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson added, “This multi-agency partnership charted a proactive effort to secure our community by focusing on dangerous individuals who plague our streets with gun and drug driven violence.”

U.S. Attorney Beth Drake emphasized the importance of interagency cooperation. “We work best when we work together,” she said. “This kind of community impact case…is the sort of collaboration that has real impact on the lives of the people living in the community. Community safety is what we are about.” Drake clarified that all charges are accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. This investigation serves as a stark reminder that the fight against violent crime requires a unified front.

Contact Person: A. Lance Crick (864) 282-2105. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds, providing updates on the legal proceedings and shedding light on the individuals brought down by this extensive investigation. The streets of North Charleston may be a little quieter tonight, but the battle for its safety is far from over.

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