Former Lee County Sheriff Indicted
EJ Melvin, 13 Others to Face Federal Drug Charges

COLUMBIA, SC—United States Attorney William N. Nettles stated today that former Lee County Sheriff Edgar Jerome “EJ” Melvin was one of 14 people indicted by a federal grand jury on drug conspiracy charges.

Two separate indictments were issued, with Melvin, age 47, Larry Williams, age 51, Anthony Lee Williams age 37, all from Bishopville, and Lucius Anthony Delane age 34, and Roshell Brown, age 36, both of Darlington, named in the first indictment.

The second indictment charges Eric Andre Hickmon, age 34, Brenda Lashawn Ellerby, age 26, Antonio Holloman, age 23, Gary Bernard Ervin, age 34, Sheldon Maurice Bradley, age 24, all from Bishopville, and Kari Apfelbeck age 33, Terry Gunsauley, age 39, Susan Morris, age 41, all from Camden, and Boyd Sweetenburg, age 33, of Bethune.

Both groups of defendants where charged in one -count Indictments with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of powder cocaine and 50 grams or more of crack cocaine, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846.

Mr. Nettles stated that a number of these defendants were previously arrested on a federal complaint; however, the indictments described above charged additional defendants (Brown, Apfelbeck, Gunsualey, Morris and Sweetenburg), and were sealed after they were returned by a federal grand jury last week. The indictments were sealed to allow federal and state agents to make arrests this morning.

Mr. Nettles stated that all defendants face a mandatory minimum term of at least ten years in prison and a maximum term of life imprisonment if convicted on the conspiracy charges; the defendants also face a maximum fine of $4,000,000 and supervised release term of five years.

Mr. Nettles stated that the case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED); Mr. Nettles stated that the investigation is ongoing and that other charges are expected. The cases will be prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J.D. Rowell, Mark Moore, and Debbie Barbier of the Columbia office.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in these Indictments are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.