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Press Release
Contact Person: JD Rowell (803) 929-3000
United States Attorney Bill Nettles advised today that the Columbia Violent Gang Task Force (CVGTF), of which the City of Sumter is a member, arrested several defendants who are charged in 3 separate indictments charging a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine in the midlands of South Carolina. All defendants who were arrested today in connection with the unsealing of these indictments will make their initial appearances at the Mathew J. Perry Federal Courthouse in Columbia, South Carolina, tomorrow at 10:00 am before the Honorable Paige J. Gossett, United States Magistrate Judge.
The arrests today mark the next step in the CVGTFs efforts to combat violent crime linked to drug trafficking in the Sumter and Columbia areas of South Carolina.
This investigation began over a year ago when FBI, DEA and City of Sumter Task Force Officers targeted the cocaine sources of supply who were selling cocaine to the defendants referenced above. Agents and Task Force Officers previously conducted arrest operations on June 16, 2015, and October 20, 2015. As of the date of today’s takedown, this investigation has resulted in the seizure of over 9 kilograms of powder cocaine, the seizure of almost $900,000.00, the seizure of 8 firearms that were used in furtherance of drug trafficking, and convictions/guilty pleas of 14 defendants who were previously arrested and prosecuted in connection with this investigation. Agents have learned that this group was directly responsible for the distribution of well over 150 kilograms (wholesale value of $6,000,000.00) of cocaine in Sumter and Richland Counties during the time frame of the conspiracy.
To date, the following defendants have entered guilty pleas to drug trafficking conspiracy charges and/or money laundering offenses:
JUAN PABLO CONTRERAS a/k/a Juan David Montoya EDUARDO ESAID CONTRERAS-REYES MARCO ANTONIO CASTRO a/k/a “Chino” JAVIER TOSCANO-SERRANO PATAR ONEAL MONTGOMERY a/k/a Patrick Montgomery a/k/a “Dink” a/k/a “Dinky” ANDRE LEWAYNE BROOKS JIMMY TONY MCDOWELL a/k/a “Jimmy Fingers” JERMAINE TERRELL HILTON a/k/a “Fifty” MICHAEL ANTONIO FLOYD a/k/a “Tony” a/k/a “Tone” a/k/a “Fat Tony” RAYSHON JAMAAL FOSTER a/k/a “Shon” a/k/a “Terry Brown DONALD ANTWON DINGLE a/k/a “Red” a/k/a “Flash” COREY EMANUEL WHITE a/k/a “Chopper” a/k/a “Choppa” a/k/a “El Chop” HAROLD MATTHEW MCFADDEN BRYANT CHRISTOPHER FORD |
This case is yet another example of the fine work being done by Federal, State and local law enforcement agencies working together in South Carolina.
The CVGTF is consists of the following agencies:
Federal Bureau of Investigation, SAC David A. Thomas, david.thomas@ic.fbi.gov
South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Chief Mark Keel, mkeel@sled.sc.gov
Columbia Police Department, Chief Skip Holbrook whholbrook@columbiasc.net
Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Sheriff Leon Lott Sheriff@RCSD.NET
Sumter Police Department, Chief Russell Roark rroark@sumter-sc.com
South Carolina Army National Guard Counterdrug Unit, LTC Walter Ginn, walter.e.ginn.mil@mail.mil
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.
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