Attorney General Alan Wilson announces drug and gang indictments against 15 people

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) - March 21, 2018 - South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced today State Grand Jury drug trafficking and criminal gang-related indictments of three people in Richland County on drug, gun, and money laundering offenses, and the indictments of 15 people in Lexington County on drug trafficking charges. Three of those 15 are the ones indicted in Richland County. The indictments allege that a criminal gang known as the “Paid Family” is responsible for the crimes.

“The allegations in these indictments describe an armed gang that carried out a long-running conspiracy which brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars,” Attorney General Wilson said. “Thanks to the great work of the State Grand Jury and state and local law enforcement, we’ve shut it down.”

The indictments were handed down by the State Grand Jury after work by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, 5^th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, State Law Enforcement Division, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, 11^th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, DEA Task Force, the Attorney General’s Office and the South Carolina State Grand Jury.

The State Grand Jury investigation into Paid Family’s alleged criminal activities began following a March 2017 shooting death at a Two Notch nightclub.  Barry Donnell Reed, Jr., the first alleged Paid Family member charged in both of the new State Grand Jury indictments, had been charged with Richland County indictments for that murder.  Since the issuance of these State Grand Jury indictments, his bond on the murder has been revoked and he was given a $2 million bond on the new State Grand Jury charges.  In the State Grand Jury indictments, Reed is charged with drug trafficking, conspiracy to commit money laundering, 3 counts of money laundering, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

Alleged Paid Family member Anthony Alvino Brevard also had been charged with Richland County indictments for the March 2017 murder on Two Notch Road.  Brevard had been out on a $100,000 bond for the Richland County murder, but he is currently being held in jail on a $750,000 bond following issuance of these new State Grand Jury indictments.  In the State Grand Jury indictment, he is charged with trafficking marijuana, as well as possession with intent to distribute marijuana and three counts of possession of a firearm during commission of a violent crime (a .45 caliber pistol, a .357 caliber pistol, and a 9mm pistol).

Alleged Paid Family members and associates Calvin William Rockmore and Corey Kimani Sanders, who had also received Richland County indictments related to the March 2017 murder on Two Notch Road, were indicted in the new State Grand Jury indictments for drug trafficking of marijuana.

Alleged Paid Family member Roscoe Holmes, III, had been charged with a Lexington County indictment for the murder in August of 2016 of a cab driver.  Bond had been denied on his Lexington County murder charge, and bond was denied for his new State Grand Jury indictment for drug trafficking of marijuana.

Reed’s mother, Sharon Lavonne Telford, is indicted in Lexington for drug trafficking and in Richland for conspiracy to commit money laundering and 2 counts of money laundering.

The following are also indicted with them for one count of Trafficking Marijuana, 100 pounds or more (by conspiracy) in Lexington County:

Van Buren Fore, IV; Corey Kimani Sanders; Jason Tramaine Spann; Calvin William Rockmore; Roscoe Holmes, III; Derek Joseph Benders; Cedric Montrell Ward; Xavier Daryl Coad; Jessica Victoria Walker; Labrenzo Antwan Rish; Derrick Devontay Randolph; and Marquis Jauan Watkins, Jr.

The Lexington indictment alleges that, from May 2014 through March 2017, the 15 defendants brought more than 100 pounds of marijuana into Lexington County, primarily through the Columbia Airport. The alleged main source of the marijuana was Cedrick Montrell Ward, an active duty military serviceman stationed at Ft. Lewis in Washington State.

The Richland indictments allege that Reed and Telford laundered money from their drug sales through a business known as “Family Trucking LLC.” Brevard is charged in that indictment with selling drugs and having a .45 caliber pistol, a .357 caliber pistol, and a 9mm pistol when he did.

All defendants are facing a charge of Trafficking marijuana 100 pounds or more, which carries a mandatory sentence of 25 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.

Barry Reed is facing the following additional possible sentences:

1. Conspiracy to commit money laundering--5 years or $5,000
2. Three counts of money laundering—up to 20 years, $500,000 fine or both
3. Possession with intent to distribute—up to 5 years or fine up to $5,000

Sharon Telford, his mother, is facing the following additional sentences:

1. Conspiracy to commit money laundering—5 years or $5,000
2. Two counts of money laundering—up to 20 years, $500,000 fine or both

Anthony Brevard is facing the following additional sentences:

1. Possession with intent to distribute—up to 5 years or fine up to $5,000
2. Possession of a firearm during the commission of a violent crime—up to 5 years each on three counts

The following arrest warrants have also been issued in the case:

1. Barry Reed

   1. TRAFFICKING MARIJUANA (Richland) 10 POUNDS OR MORE, 1-10 yrs. AND $10,000

2. Cedrick Ward (active duty service member stationed at Ft. Lewis)

   1. TRAFFICKING MARIJUANA (Richland) 10 POUNDS OR MORE, 1-10 yrs. AND $10,000
   2. Possession of a firearm during the commission of violent crime, 5 yrs.

3. Eddie Bostic (active duty service member stationed at Ft. Bragg)

   1. TRAFFICKING MARIJUANA (Richland) 10 POUNDS OR MORE, 1-10 AND $10,000
   2. Possession of a firearm during the commission of violent crime, 5 yrs.

The investigation remains ongoing.  Individuals associated with this group are considered armed and dangerous and any citizens with information on the Paid Family and its associates should contact Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

The Attorney General stressed that all defendants are innocent until they plead or are proven guilty in court.

You can see the indictments here and here.