South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that 27 people have been indicted as a result of a State Grand Jury investigation into a statewide heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana trafficking organization that was largely operating in the Midlands of South Carolina, primarily Lexington and Richland counties.  

Covering a conspiracy that began in May of 2015, the State Grand Jury returned 21 indictments alleging multiple but connected charges and conspiracies, each related to trafficking 28 grams or more of heroin, 400 grams or more of methamphetamine, trafficking heroin, trafficking methamphetamine, trafficking cocaine, firearms-related charges, charges concerning unlawful conduct toward children, and other crimes.

This State Grand Jury Investigation has primarily focused upon a heroin and methamphetamine trafficking organization led by residents of the Midlands to traffic large quantities of narcotics from out-of-state sources.  These traffickers directed drug deliveries, sales, payments, and other trafficking-related activities of co-conspirators who were operating under their direction.

The individuals charged in the case and brought into custody are:
·         Lonnie Davaughn Fears
·         Xavier James Thomas, a/k/a “X”
·         Nolan Louis Stukes, a/k/a “King”
·         Keith Hazel, Jr., a/k/a “Beefy”
·         Taylor Nichole Williams,
·         Thomas Min, a/k/a “Tommy”
·         Gerald Anderson, a/k/a “K.G.”
·         Christopher Rogers, a/k/a “Rich Chris”
·         Christopher Scott
·         Querida Dinkins, a/k/a “Trump”
·         Brandon Fry
·         Britney McPherson
·         Jahquan Peterson
·         Delaquan Tryee Williams
·         Shawn Pope
·         Santawn Moultrie
·         George Wellington Hazel, a/k/a “Ucca”
·         Jahmia Gardner
·         Jasmine Richardson
·         Jazmine Palladino
·         Christopher Bethea
·         Sofia El Kouri
·         Robert Johnathan Benton
·         Tatyana Maddox
·         Shriviena Smiley
·         Wendy Walker
·         Quincy Satterwhite
 The investigation is still ongoing and is being conducted by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) with assistance and cooperation from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Lexington County Sheriff’s Office, Irmo Police Department, Columbia Police Department, and the United States Postal Service.
 The case will be prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General David A. Fernandez, Senior Assistant Deputy Attorney General S. Creighton Waters, and Assistant Attorney General Joshua R.  
The investigation remains ongoing.  Any citizens with information on these individuals or their associates should contact the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
The Attorney General stressed that all defendants are innocent until they plead or are proven guilty in court.
You can see the indictments at http://www.scag.gov/
Some of these defendants have had bond hearings, but as law enforcement is working to arrest all of the individuals indicted, anyone who comes into contact with any of them should call law enforcement immediately. There will be additional bond hearings Wednesday, August 8, at 2 p.m. at the Richland County Courthouse.