Federal Grand Jury Indictments

Contact Person: Lance Crick (864) 282-2100

United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that on February 28, 2017, a Federal Grand Jury in Florence, South Carolina, returned Indictments against the following:

Conway Man Indicted on Federal Gun Charge.  Benjamin Thomas Samuel McDowell, age 30, of Conway, South Carolina, was charged in a one-count indictment with possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).  The maximum possible penalty McDowell could receive is a maximum fine of $250,000.00 and/or imprisonment of 10 years.  The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Myrtle Beach Police Department and Horry County Police Department.  The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Brad Parham of the Florence office for prosecution.

Illegal Alien Charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine.  William Rodriguez-Alarcon, age 39, of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was charged in a four-count indictment with possession with intent to distribute and distributing cocaine, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(A)(1).  The maximum penalty Rodriguez-Alarcon could receive for each count is a maximum fine of $250,000.00 and/or imprisonment of 40 years.  The case was investigated by agents of the ICE - Homeland Security Investigations and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Alfred W. Bethea, Jr. of the Florence 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.

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