Federal Grand Jury Indictments

COLUMBIA, SC—United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that a Federal Grand Jury in Greenville, South Carolina, returned indictment(s) against the following:

Anderson Man Indicted for Possessing and Distributing Child Pornography

Joey Thomas Carter, age 47, of Anderson, South Carolina, was charged in a two-count indictment with possessing and distributing child pornography, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 2252A(a)(5)(B) and 2252(a)(2). The maximum penalty Joey Thomas Carter could receive is 10 years’ imprisonment for violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(5)(B). The penalty for violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252(a)(2) is imprisonment for a minimum of five years and a maximum of 20 years. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney William J. Watkins, Jr. of the Greenville office for prosecution. This case is being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys Offices, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

Boiling Springs Resident Charged with Theft of Mail by Employee

Lara S. Whitt, age 37, of Boiling Springs, South Carolina, was charged in a single-count indictment with theft of mail by employee, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1709. The maximum penalty for violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 1709 is five years’ imprisonment. This case was investigated by United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General special agents and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney David C. Stephens of the Greenville office for prosecution.

Woodruff Resident Charged with Tampering with the Mail

Evan E. Scott, age 53, of Woodruff, South Carolina, was charged in a single-count indictment with tampering with the mail, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1703. The maximum penalty for violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 1703 is five years’ imprisonment. This case was investigated by United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General special agents and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney David C. Stephens of the Greenville office for prosecution.

Inmate at Edgefield FCI Charged with Assaulting a Federal Officer

Dontay Markeith Wells, age 32, formerly an inmate at FCI Edgefield, was charged in a one-count superseding indictment with assaulting a federal officer with physical contact while the officer was performing official duties, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 111(a). The maximum penalty Dontay Markeith Wells could receive is eight years’ imprisonment. The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Prisons and FBI and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Jeanne Howard of the Greenville office for prosecution.

Inmate at Edgefield FCI Charged with Assaulting a Federal Officer

Fernando Aguilar-Guerrero, age 34, an inmate of FCI Edgefield, was charged in a two-count Indictment with assaulting a federal officer with physical contact while the officer was performing official duties, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 111(a). The maximum penalty Fernando Aguilar-Guerrero could receive is eight years’ imprisonment. The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Prisons and FBI and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Jeanne Howard of the Greenville office for prosecution.

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.