State Grand Jury Indicts 9 People Following Investigation of an Alleged Cocaine Trafficking Organization Operating in the Upstate

(COLUMBIA, SC) - Aug. 2, 2019 - South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced today that the South Carolina State Grand Jury has issued indictments of nine people for their alleged participation in an Upstate drug trafficking conspiracy primarily involving cocaine but also other illegal narcotics. These indictments followed a multi-jurisdictional cooperative effort among a number of agencies in the area.

Covering a conspiracy that began in January of 2017, the State Grand Jury returned 3 indictments alleging multiple but connected charges and conspiracies relating to trafficking 400 grams or more of cocaine. The investigation revealed that this organization allegedly trafficked large quantities of cocaine and other illegal narcotics, including but not limited to crack, methamphetamine, and marijuana, into the Upstate during the course of its operation.

Attorney General Wilson thanked all the investigative agencies involved for their hard work and cited this case as yet another example of cooperation among various agencies through the mechanism of the State Grand Jury.

Unsealed were three indictments that total the following charges against the named individuals:

(1) Eugene Malik Boyd (a/k/a "Kojak")

a. 2019-GS-47-26 (Pickens County)

i.  Trafficking Cocaine (Conspiracy), 400 grams or more: 25-30 years and $200,000

ii.  Trafficking Cocaine, 400 grams or more (2 counts): 25-30 years and $200,000

(2) Quantavious Hivar Keels (a/k/a "Prince," "Keels," "Buddha")

a. 2019-GS-47-26 (Pickens County)

i.  Trafficking Cocaine (Conspiracy), 400 grams or more: 25-30 years and $200,000

ii.  Trafficking Cocaine, 10-28 grams: 3-10 years and $25,000

b. 2019-GS-47-27 (Oconee County)

i.  Trafficking Cocaine, 10-28 grams (3 counts): 3-10 years and $25,000

ii.  Distribution of Marijuana: 0-5 years and up to $5,000

(3) Trenton Michael Thomas (a/k/a "Boosie")

a. 2019-GS-47-26 (Pickens County)

i.  Trafficking Cocaine (Conspiracy), 400 grams or more: 25-30 years and $200,000

b. 2019-GS-47-27 (Oconee County)

i.  Distribution of Cocaine Base (Crack) (5 counts): 0-15 years and $25,000

ii.  Distribution of Marijuana: 0-5 years and up to $5,000

(4) Undre Bias Randolph (a/k/a "Bias")

a. 2019-GS-47-26 (Pickens County)

i.  Trafficking Cocaine (Conspiracy), 400 grams or more: 25-30 years and $200,000

b. 2019-GS-47-27 (Oconee County)

i.  Distribution of Cocaine Base (Crack) (3 counts): 0-15 years and $25,000

(5) Justin Dimon Alexander (a/k/a "Guss")

a. 2019-GS-47-26 (Pickens County)

i.  Trafficking Cocaine (Conspiracy), 400 grams or more: 25-30 years and $200,000

b. 2019-GS-47-27 (Oconee County)

i.  Distribution of Cocaine Base (Crack) (5 counts): 0-15 years and $25,000

c. 2019-GS-47-31 (Oconee County)

i.  Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine: 0-15 years and $25,000

ii. Possession of Cocaine Base (Crack): 0-3 years and $5,000

iii. Unlawful Carrying of a Handgun

(6) James Sebastian Hunter

a. 2019-GS-47-26 (Pickens County)

i.  Trafficking Cocaine (Conspiracy), 400 grams or more: 25-30 years and $200,000

b. 2019-GS-47-27 (Oconee County)

i.  Distribution of Cocaine (3 counts): 0-15 years and $25,000

(7) Jordan Thomson (a/k/a "Ace")

a. 2019-GS-47-26 (Pickens County)

i.  Trafficking Cocaine (Conspiracy), 400 grams or more: 25-30 years and $200,000

b. 2019-GS-47-27 (Oconee County)

i. Trafficking Cocaine, 10-28 grams (2 counts): 3-10 years and $25,000

ii. Trafficking Marijuana, 10-100 pounds: 1-10 years and $10,000

iii. Distribution of Cocaine (2 counts): 0-15 years and $25,000

iv. Distribution of Marijuana (2 counts): 0-5 years and up to $5,000

v. Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine: 0-15 years and $25,000

vi. Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana: 0-5 years and $5,000

vii. Possession of Cocaine: 0-3 years and $5,000

viii. Possession of a Stolen Handgun: 0-5 years and $2,000

ix. Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Violent Crime: 5 years

(8) Andrew Rafael Ruiz

a. 2019-GS-26 (Pickens County)

i.  Trafficking Cocaine (Conspiracy), 400 grams or more: 25-30 years and $200,000

b. 2019-GS-47-27 (Oconee County)

i.  Trafficking Cocaine, 10-28 grams: 3-10 years and $25,000

ii.  Distribution of Cocaine: 0-15 years and $25,000

iii.  Distribution of Marijuana: 0-5 years and up to $5,000

iv.  Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana: 0-5 years and $5,000

v.  Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance: 0-6 months and $1,000

(9) Mussie Gersuss Haile (a/k/a "Moses")

a. 2019-GS-47-26 (Pickens County)

i.  Trafficking Cocaine (Conspiracy), 400 grams or more: 25-30 years and $200,000

ii.  Trafficking Cocaine, 400 grams or more (2 counts): 25-30 years and $200,000

Bond hearings were held on July 24, 2019 before the Honorable DeAndrea Benjamin in Richland County.  Judge Benjamin denied bond for Eugene Boyd and Quantavious Keels. The other defendants received various surety and personal recognizance bonds.

Trenton Michael Thomas is still a fugitive. Anyone with information as to his whereabouts should contact the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division or Crimestoppers.

This State Grand Jury case was investigated with a partnership of the Attorney General’s State Grand Jury Division, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the Oconee County Sheriff’s Department, the Pickens County Sheriff’s Department, the Clemson Police Department, Seneca Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the 10^th Circuit Solicitor’s Office. The cases will be prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General David Fernandez and Senior Assistant Attorney General Joshua Underwood.

Attorney General Wilson stressed that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.