Federal Grand Jury Indictments

Contact Person: Lance Crick (864) 282-2105

United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that a Federal Grand Jury in Greenville, South Carolina, returned Indictments against the following:

North Carolina Resident Indicted on VA Theft.  Nikki M. Williamson, age 44, of Gastonia, North Carolina, was charged in a one-count indictment with theft of government funds, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.  The maximum penalty Williamson could receive is a fine of $250,000 and/or imprisonment of 10 years.  This case was investigated by agents of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Inspector General, and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney William J. Watkins, Jr., of the Greenville office for prosecution.

Illegal Alien Indicted on Federal Gun Charge.  Mario Josue Hernandez-Padilla, age 24, of Honduras, was charged in a one-count indictment with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(5).  The maximum penalty Hernandez-Padilla could receive is a fine of $250,000.00 and/or imprisonment of 10 years.  This case was investigated by agents of ICE-Homeland Security Investigations and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney David C. Stephens of the Greenville office for prosecution.

Spartanburg Man Indicted on Federal Gun and Drug Charges. Jamarr Shavarya Brown, age 26, of Spartanburg, South Carolina, was charged in a three-count indictment with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1); possession with the intent to distribute cocaine base (crack), a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1); and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A).  The maximum penalty Brown could face is a fine of $1,500,000.00 and/or imprisonment of 35 years.  This case was investigated by the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Wells of the Greenville office.

Boiling Springs Man Indicted on Federal Gun Charge. Shantrese Demarkeds Young, age 25, of Boiling Springs, South Carolina, was charged in a one-count indictment with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). The maximum penalty Young could face is a fine of $250,000.00 and/or imprisonment of 10 years. This case was investigated by the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Wells of the Greenville office.

Cowpens Man Indicted on Federal Gun Charge. Adam Noel Cobb, age 37, of Cowpens, South Carolina, was charged in a one-count indictment with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(9). The maximum penalty Cobb could face is a fine of $250,000.00 and/or imprisonment of 10 years. This case was investigated by the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Wells of the Greenville office.

Greer Man Indicted on Federal Gun and Drug Charges. Tyrone Chadrick Grady, age 32, of Greer, South Carolina, was charged in a two-count indictment with possession of firearms and ammunition by a prohibited person, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1); and possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1).  The maximum penalty Grady could face is a fine of $1,000,000.00 and/or imprisonment of 20 years.  The case was investigated by the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joe Brewer of the Greenville office.

Greenville Man Indicted on Federal Gun Charge. Travis Lee Nixon, age 26, of Greenville, South Carolina, was charged in a one-count indictment with possession of a firearm by a person after being convicted of a federal offense, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1). The maximum penalty Nixon could face is a fine of $250,000.00 and/or imprisonment of 10 years. This case was investigated by the Greenville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joe Brewer of the Greenville office.

Greenville Man Indicted on Federal Gun and Drug Charges.  Cleveland Harris Watkins, II, age 34, of Greenville, South Carolina, was charged in a five-count indictment with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1); possession with the intent to distribute heroin, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1); and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A).  The maximum penalty Watkins could face is a fine of $1,000,000.00 and/or a minimum term of imprisonment of 5 years up to a maximum term of life.  This case was investigated by the Greenville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joe Brewer of the Greenville office.

Anderson Group Indicted on Federal Gun and Drug Charges.  Shemika Alfrida Parson Williams, age 35, Kevin Lynn Hargraves, age 32, and Johnny Lee Smith, age 26, all of Anderson, South Carolina, were charged in a four-count indictment with possession of firearms by prohibited persons, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1); conspiracy possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a)(1) and 846; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A).  The maximum penalty they could face is a fine of $10,000,000.00 and/or a minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and a maximum term of life. This case was investigated by the Anderson Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joe Brewer of the Greenville office.

Walhalla Man Indicted on Federal Gun and Drug Charges.  Matthew Vinson Leopard, age 38, of Walhalla, South Carolina, was charged in a four-count indictment with possession of firearms by a prohibited person, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1); possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1); and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A).  The maximum penalty Leopard could face is a fine of $5,000,000.00 00 and/or a minimum term of imprisonment of 5 years up to a maximum term of life.  This case was investigated by the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joe Brewer of the Greenville office.

Two Norcross, Georgia Men and A Greenville Man and Woman Indicted on Federal Gun and Drug Charges.  Diego Javier Beltran, age 35, and Savannah Rose Schwarz , age 19, both of Greenville, South Carolina, and Fermin Mata-Bustos, age 29, and Manuel De Jesus Gordillo-Escandon, age 23, both of Norcross, Georgia, were charged in a four-count indictment with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846; and possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1).  Beltran, Mata-Bustos, and Gordillo-Escandon were also charged with possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A).  The maximum penalty Beltran, Mata-Bustos, and Gordillo-Escandon could face is a fine of $5,000,000.00 00 and/or a minimum term of imprisonment of 5 years up to a maximum term of life.  The maximum penalty Schwarz could face is a fine of $1,000,000.00 and/or imprisonment of 20 years.  This case was investigated by the Union County Sheriff’s Office and ICE–Homeland Security Investigations and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joe Brewer of the Greenville office.

Kinards Man Indicted on Federal Gun Charge.  James Andrew Gardner, age 27, of Kinards, South Carolina, is charged in a one-count indictment with felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).  The maximum possible penalty Gardner could receive is a fine of $250,000.00 and/or imprisonment of 10 years.  This case was investigated by agents of the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Max Cauthen of the Greenville office.

Piedmont Man Indicted on Federal Gun Charge.  Tarrance Dieon Albert, age 42, of Piedmont, South Carolina, is charged in a one-count indictment with felon in possession of a firearm, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).  The maximum possible penalty Albert could receive is a fine of $250,000.00 and/or imprisonment of 10 years.  This case was investigated by agents of the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeanne Howard of the Greenville office.

Travelers Rest Man Indicted on Federal Gun Charge.  Billy Raymond Emery, age 48, of Travelers Rest, South Carolina, is charged in a one-count indictment with felon in possession of firearms, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).  The maximum possible penalty Emery could receive is a fine of $250,000.00 and/or imprisonment of 10 years.  This case was investigated by agents of the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeanne Howard of the Greenville office.

Westminster Man Indicted on Federal Gun Charge.  Matthew Blake Sosby, age 43, of Westminster, South Carolina, is charged in a one-count indictment with felon in possession of a firearm, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).  The maximum possible penalty Sosby could receive is a fine of $250,000.00 and/or imprisonment of 10 years.  This case was investigated by agents of the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeanne Howard of the Greenville office.

Inman Man Indicted on Bank Robbery Charge.  Justin Ashley Bott, age 45, of Inman, South Carolina, is charged in a one-count indictment with bank robbery, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2113.  The maximum possible penalty Bott could receive is a fine of $250,000.00 and/or imprisonment of 20 years.  This case was investigated by agents of the Lyman Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeanne Howard of the Greenville office.

Honea Path Man Indicted on Federal Gun Charge.  Edisto Hulon Patton, age 36, of Honea Path, South Carolina, is charged in a one-count indictment with felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).  The maximum possible penalty Patton could receive is a fine of $250,000.00 and/or imprisonment of 10 years.  This case was investigated by agents of the Anderson Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeanne Howard of the Greenville office.

Greenwood Man and Mother Indicted on Federal Drug Charges.  Demetris Antwon Goode, age 32, and his mother, Malissa Ann Goode, age 53, of Greenwood, South Carolina, were charged in a four-count indictment alleging one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846; and three counts of possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1).  Demetris Goode is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a fine of $10,000,000.00.   The maximum penalty Malissa Ann Goode could face is 20 years imprisonment and a fine of $1,000,000.00. This case was investigated by the Greenwood Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeanne Howard of the Greenville office.

Greenwood Man Indicted on Federal Gun and Drug Charges.  Winston Dennis Hill, Jr., age 32, of Greenwood, South Carolina, was charged in a six count indictment with two counts of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1); two counts of possession with the intent to distribute controlled substances including, cocaine, cocaine base (crack), and marijuana, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1); and two counts of  possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A).  Hill is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years imprisonment with a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a fine of $1,000,000.00. This case was investigated by the Greenwood Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeanne Howard of the Greenville 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.

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