(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that 14 defendants in the “Las Señoritas” investigation have pleaded guilty to State Grand Jury charges in connection to a drug trafficking organization in the Upstate of South Carolina.
The drug trafficking organization was run by inmates in the South Carolina Department of Corrections as well as by female defendants who fled to Mexico to escape prosecution in South Carolina. These female defendants, called the “Señoritas,” and the inmates coordinated the delivery of methamphetamine from Mexico and then its distribution in the Upstate. The investigation revealed that many of the drug dealers receiving methamphetamine from the “Señoritas” organization were selling as much as 10 kilograms a week. In just one example, Angela Nicole Welbourn and later her accomplice Taylor Suzanne Oates were renting AirBnB residences throughout Greenville from which they dealt methamphetamine. Law enforcement seized nearly five kilograms of methamphetamine from an AirBnB the two women had rented in order to sell drugs.
“Methamphetamine is poison – period – and people who bring it to and sell it in South Carolina will be held accountable," said Attorney General Alan Wilson. "If you're a Mexican drug cartel or a local dealer and you're spreading this poison or other drugs in our communities, then we're coming for you."
Between February 1, 2021 and September 6, 2023, law enforcement seized over 27 kilograms of methamphetamine (street value of approximately $800,000.00) and 39 guns as part of this investigation.
The following are the results of the guilty pleas so far:
Harlie Danielle Willford:Pled on 11-30-23; Sentenced to 20 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams (Conspiracy)
- Count 2-Financial Transaction Involving Property Derived From Unlawful Drug Activity (Money Laundering)
Greenville 2022-GS-47-19
- Count 32–Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 33-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 34- Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime
Oconee 2022-GS-47-17
- Count 1-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 2-Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime
Melissa Hope Finley: Pled on 11-30-23; Sentenced to 17 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1- Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams (Conspiracy)
- Count 2-Financial Transaction Involving Property Derived From Unlawful Drug Activity (Money Laundering)
Greenville 2022-GS-47-19
- Count 19–Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 23–Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Value $10K or More
- Count 24–Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 25-Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime
Angela Nicole Welborn: Pled on 11-30-2023; Sentenced to 17 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1- Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams (Conspiracy)
- Count 2-Financial Transaction Involving Property Derived From Unlawful Drug Activity (Money Laundering)
Greenville 2022-GS-47-19
- Count 17-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
Taylor Suzanne Oates: Pled on 11-30-2023; Sentenced to 16 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1- Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams (Conspiracy)
- Count 2-Financial Transaction Involving Property Derived From Unlawful Drug Activity (Money Laundering)
Greenville 2022-GS-47-19
- Count 17-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 18-Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime
Heather Marie Griffin: Pled on 02-01-24; Sentenced to 12 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1- Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams (Conspiracy)
Greenville 2022-GS-47-19
- Count 16-Trafficking Methamphetamine 28-100 Grams
Arther Shane Mashburn: Pled on 02-01-24; Sentenced to 18 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1- Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams (Conspiracy)
- Count 2-Financial Transaction Involving Property Derived From Unlawful Drug Activity (Money Laundering)
Greenville 2022-GS-47-19
- Count 35-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 37-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28-100 Grams
- Counts 38-39-Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime
Anderson 2022-GS-47-20
- Count 16-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 17-Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime
Travis Matthew Bentley:Pled on 02-02-24; Sentenced to 20 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams (Conspiracy)
- Count 2-Financial Transaction Involving Property Derived From Unlawful Drug Activity (Money Laundering)
Anderson 2022-GS-47-20
- Count 1-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 3-Possession with Intent to Distribute Narcotic Drugs in Schedule II (Fentanyl)
Monica Denise Bearden: Pled on 02-01-24; Sentenced to 17 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1- Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams (Conspiracy)
- Count 2-Financial Transaction Involving Property Derived From Unlawful Drug Activity (Money Laundering)
Greenville 2022-GS-47-19
- Count 1–Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
Malary Lynn Bates:Pled on 02-02-24; Sentenced to 18 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1- Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams (Conspiracy)
- Count 2-Financial Transaction Involving Property Derived From Unlawful Drug Activity (Money Laundering)
- Count 5-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 6-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 7-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Counts 10-Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime
Stacy Lynn Brooks:Pled on 02-02-24; Sentenced to 20 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1- Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams (Conspiracy)
Greenville 2022-GS-47-19
- Count 2 –Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 3–Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime
- Count 4–Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Counts 5-8– Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime
- Count 42-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, but Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 43-Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime
Heather Michelle Hamilton: Pled on 02-01-24; Sentenced to 25 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1- Trafficking Methamphetamine, 400 Grams or More (Conspiracy)
Greenville 2022-GS-47-19
- Count 14-Trafficking Methamphetamine 28-100 Grams
Wade Douglas Watkins: Pled on 05-16-24; Sentenced to 19 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams (Conspiracy)
- Count 2-Financial Transaction Involving Property Derived From Unlawful Drug Activity (Money Laundering)
Randall Jason Simmons: Pled on 05-16-2024; Sentenced to 19 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams (Conspiracy)
- Count 2-Financial Transaction Involving Property Derived From Unlawful Drug Activity (Money Laundering)
- Count 34-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 35-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 36-Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime
- Count 37-Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime
Greenville 2022-GS-47-19
- Failure to Stop for Blue Light, 2nd or Subsequent Offense
Kasey Leigh Rasberry: Pled on 05-16-2024; Sentenced to 20 Years
Pickens 2022-GS-47-16
- Count 1-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams (Conspiracy)
- Count 2-Financial Transaction Involving Property Derived From Unlawful Drug Activity (Money Laundering)
- Count 24-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 26-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More, But Less Than 100 Grams
- Count 27-Trafficking Methamphetamine, 28 Grams or More But Less Than 100 Grams
The case was investigated by the South Carolina State Grand Jury and prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Savanna Goude. The State Grand Jury was assisted in this case by a partnership of the Attorney General’s State Grand Jury Division, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor’s office, the South Carolina Department of Corrections’ Office of the Inspector General, the Greenville County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit, Abbeville County Sheriff’s Office, Anderson County Sheriff’s Office, Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, Laurens County Sheriff’s Department, Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, Pickens County Sheriff’s Office, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, Clemson Police Department, Easley Police Department, and Traveler’s Rest Police Department. State Grand Jury Chief Attorney S. Creighton Waters thanked all the agencies for their hard work in the case.
The case is still ongoing.
Attorney General Wilson stressed that all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until they are proven guilty in a court of law.
