State Grand Jury Indicts 27 People After Investigation of Heroin, Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Marijuana Trafficking Organization Operating in the Midlands

(COLUMBIA, S.C.) -  August 7 - 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. Underwood.

The indicted charges and possible penalties are listed below.

LONNIE DAVAUGHN FEARS:

1. TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 28 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-40 YEARS AND $200,000
2. TRAFFICKING METHAMPHETAMINE, 400 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-30 YEARS AND $200,000
3. TRAFFICKING METHAMPHETAMINE, 100-200 GRAMS – 25 YEARS AND $50,000
4. THREE COUNTS TRAFFICKING METHAMPHETAMINE, 28-100 GRAMS – 7-25 YEARS AND $50,000
5. TRAFFICKING METHAMPHETAMINE, 10-28 GRAMS – 3-10 YEARS AND $25,000
6. TWO COUNTS DISTRIBUTION OF HEROIN – UP TO 15 YEARS AND $25,000
7. POSSESSION OF A SCHEDULE II CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE – UP TO 15 YEARS AND $25,000
8. UNLAWFUL SALE OR DELIVERY OF HANDGUN – UP TO 5 YEARS AND $2,000
9. POSSESSION OF A FIREARM DURING THE COMMISSION OR ATTEMPT TO COMMIT A VIOLENT CRIME – 5 YEARS IN ADDITION TO SENTENCE FOR UNDERLYING CRIME

XAVIER JAMES THOMAS (A/K/A “X”):

1. TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 28 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-40 YEARS AND $200,000
2. TRAFFICKING METHAMPHETAMINE, 400 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-30 YEARS AND $200,000
3. TWO COUNTS TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 14-28 GRAMS – 25 YEARS AND $200,000
4. TWO COUNTS TRAFFICKING METHAMPHETAMINE, 28-100 GRAMS – 7-25 YEARS AND $50,000
5. TRAFFICKING METHAMPHETAMINE, 10-28 GRAMS – 3-10 YEARS AND $25,000
6. FIVE COUNTS DISTRIBUTION OF HEROIN – UP TO 15 YEARS AND $25,000
7. POSSESSION OF A STOLEN HANDGUN – UP TO 5 YEARS AND $2,000

KEITH HAZEL, JR. (A/K/A “BEEFY”):

1. TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 28 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-40 YEARS AND $200,000
2. TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 28 GRAMS OR MORE – 25-40 YEARS AND $200,000
3. TWO COUNTS TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 14-28 GRAMS – 25 YEARS AND $200,000
4. THREE COUNTS POSSESSION OF A FIREARM DURING THE COMMISSION OR ATTEMPT TO COMMIT A VIOLENT CRIME – 5 YEARS IN ADDITION TO SENTENCE FOR UNDERLYING CRIME
5. UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A HANDGUN (OBLITERATED SERIAL NUMBER) – UP TO 5 YEARS AND $2,000
6. UNLAWFUL CONDUCT TOWARD A CHILD – UP TO 10 YEARS AND FINE IN THE DISCRETION OF THE COURT

NOLAN LOUIS STUKES (A/K/A “KING”):

1. TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 28 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-40 YEARS AND $200,000
2. TWO COUNTS TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 14-28 GRAMS – 25 YEARS AND $200,000
3. TWO COUNTS DISTRIBUTION OF HEROIN – UP TO 15 YEARS AND $25,000

TAYLOR NICHOLE WILLIAMS:

1. TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 28 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-40 YEARS AND $200,000
2. TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 28 GRAMS OR MORE – 25-40 YEARS AND $200,000
3. TWO COUNTS POSSESSION OF A FIREARM DURING THE COMMISSION OR ATTEMPT TO COMMIT A VIOLENT CRIME – 5 YEARS IN ADDITION TO SENTENCE FOR UNDERLYING CRIME
4. UNLAWFUL CONDUCT TOWARD A CHILD – UP TO 10 YEARS AND FINE IN THE DISCRETION OF THE COURT

THOMAS MIN (A/K/A “TOMMY”):

1. TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 28 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-40 YEARS AND $200,000
2. THREE COUNTS DISTRIBUTION OF HEROIN – UP TO 15 YEARS AND $25,000

GERALD ANDERSON (A/K/A “K.G.”):

1. TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 28 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-40 YEARS AND $200,000
2. THREE COUNTS DISTRIBUTION OF HEROIN – UP TO 15 YEARS AND $25,000
3. UNLAWFUL CONDUCT TOWARD A CHILD – UP TO 10 YEARS AND FINE IN THE DISCRETION OF THE COURT

CHRISTOPHER ROGERS (A/K/A “RICH CHRIS”):

1. TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 28 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-40 YEARS AND $200,000
2. THREE COUNTS DISTRIBUTION OF HEROIN – UP TO 15 YEARS AND $25,000
3. TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 4-14 GRAMS – 7-25 YEARS AND $50,000
4. TRAFFICKING COCAINE, 28-100 GRAMS – 7-25 YEARS AND $50,000
5. TWO COUNTS DISTRIBUTION OF HEROIN – UP TO 15 YEARS AND $25,000

CHRISTOPHER SCOTT:

1. TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 28 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-40 YEARS AND $200,000
2. TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 4-14 GRAMS – 7-25 YEARS AND $50,000
3. TRAFFICKING COCAINE, 28-100 GRAMS – 7-25 YEARS AND $50,000

QUERIDA DINKINS (A/K/A “TRUMP”):

1. TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 28 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-40 YEARS AND $200,000
2. DISTRIBUTION OF HEROIN – UP TO 15 YEARS AND $25,000
3. THREE COUNTS DISTRIBUTION OF MARIJUANA – UP TO 5 YEARS AND $5,000

BRANDON FRY:

1. TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 28 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-40 YEARS AND $200,000
2. DISTRIBUTION OF HEROIN – UP TO 15 YEARS AND $25,000

BRITNEY MCPHERSON:

1. TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 28 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-40 YEARS AND $200,000
2. DISTRIBUTION OF HEROIN – UP TO 15 YEARS AND $25,000

JAHQUAN PETERSON:

1. TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 28 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-40 YEARS AND $200,000

DELAQUAN TRYEE WILLIAMS:

1. TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 28 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-40 YEARS AND $200,000
2. TRAFFICKING METHAMPHETAMINE, 400 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-30 YEARS AND $200,000

SHAWN POPE:

1. TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 28 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-40 YEARS AND $200,000

SANTAWN MOULTRIE:

1. TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 28 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-40 YEARS AND $200,000

GEORGE WELLINGTON HAZEL (A/K/A “UCCA”):

1. TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 28 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-40 YEARS AND $200,000

JAHMIA GARDNER:

1. TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 28 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-40 YEARS AND $200,000

JASMINE RICHARDSON:

1. TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 28 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-40 YEARS AND $200,000
2. TRAFFICKING METHAMPHETAMINE, 400 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-30 YEARS AND $200,000

JAZMINE PALLADINO:

1. TRAFFICKING METHAMPHETAMINE, 400 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-30 YEARS AND $200,000

CHRISTOPHER BETHEA:

1. TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 28 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-40 YEARS AND $200,000
2. TRAFFICKING METHAMPHETAMINE, 400 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-30 YEARS AND $200,000

SOFIA EL KOURI:

1. TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 28 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-40 YEARS AND $200,000

ROBERT JOHNATHAN BENTON:

1. TRAFFICKING HEROIN, 28 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-40 YEARS AND $200,000

TATYANA MADDOX:

1. TRAFFICKING METHAMPHETAMINE, 400 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-30 YEARS AND $200,000
2. UNLAWFUL CONDUCT TOWARD A CHILD – UP TO 10 YEARS AND FINE IN THE DISCRETION OF THE COURT

SHRIVIENA SMILEY:

1. TRAFFICKING METHAMPHETAMINE, 400 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-30 YEARS AND $200,000

WENDY WALKER:

1. TRAFFICKING METHAMPHETAMINE, 400 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-30 YEARS AND $200,000

QUINCY SATTERWHITE:

1. TRAFFICKING METHAMPHETAMINE, 400 GRAMS OR MORE (CONSPIRACY) – 25-30 YEARS AND $200,000

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 here.

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.