COLUMBIA, S.C. — Twenty people have been arrested, and numerous firearms and a number of illegal drugs have been seized as a result of a multi-faceted law enforcement operation headed up by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Columbia.
The months-long operation that began in June 2022 was a response to the rise of violent crime in the West Columbia area. ATF agents worked alongside the West Columbia Police Department, Lexington County Sheriff's Department, Richland County Sheriff's Department, and Homeland Security Investigations to target groups in the area that were responsible for the illegal use, possession, and sale of firearms and narcotics. A controlled buy location was established where ATF undercover agents and confidential informants conducted controlled purchases of firearms and narcotics from criminal targets in the area while local agencies conducted crime suppression operations.
As a result, 20 defendants are now facing federal charges, and 210 firearms -- including several machine gun conversion devices or "switches" to convert a gun to a fully automatic weapon -- and thousands of rounds of ammunition were seized. Law enforcement also retrieved through purchase or seizure approximately 12 kilograms of methamphetamine, 500 grams of powder cocaine, 500 grams of powder fentanyl, 280 grams of crack cocaine, 2,826 fentanyl pills, and over 2,100 polydrug pills.
Some defendants were charged together, but several others were charged individually. The following charges have been filed in United States District Court, according to court documents:
- Christopher Huntington, a/k/a "Crazy," 32, of Lugoff, was charged with multiple counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and unlawful possession of firearms.
- Tyrek Carroway, a/k/a "Everything," 24, of Columbia, was charged with multiple counts of distributing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
- Marcelleus Robinson, a/k/a "Drawdown," 31, of Columbia, and Howard Parker, 31, of West Columbia, were charged with unlawful possession of firearms and unlawful possession of machineguns.
- Joseph Wadsworth, a/k/a "J-Roc," 39, of Gaston, and Curtis Hill, III, 33, of Lexington, were charged with multiple counts of distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl, as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and unlawful possession of firearms.
- Sean Smith, a/k/a "D," 40, of Cayce, was charged with multiple counts of distribution of 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and unlawful possession of firearms.
- Lamark Gill, a/k/a "Lamont," 47, of Lexington, was charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and crack cocaine, as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and unlawful possession of firearms.
- Ricky Bell, Jr., 35, of Columbia, was charged with the distribution of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine and unlawful possession of firearms.
- Dequincy Marquez Jordan, 37, of Florence, was charged with two counts of distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
- Jordan Deshawn Waden, a/k/a "Yayo," 24, of Columbia, was charged with two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
- Joel Jeremiah Williams, 35, of Columbia, was charged with two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
- Angela Peterson Black, 51, of Lexington, was charged with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
- Michael Wright, 45, of Greenville, was charged with conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, as well as six counts of distributing methamphetamine and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
- Terrance Myers, a/k/a "Terrance Toomer," 47, of Orangeburg, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Kendolius Jones, a/k/a "Duke Brim," 30, of West Columbia, was charged with felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, as well as possession of an unregistered short barrel rifle.
- Reginald Pearson, 40, of Columbia, was charged with three counts of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of cocaine, as well as a felon in possession and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- Everette Wanamaker, 36, of Columbia, was charged with two counts of possession with intent to distribute a quantity of fentanyl, as well as six counts of felon in possession.
- Sean Dunagan, 44, of Marietta, Georgia, was charged with possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, with possession with intent to distribute fifty grams or more of methamphetamine as well as possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and destruction of evidence.
- Gregory Huggins, a/k/a "B-Lo," 30, of Lexington, was charged with two counts of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and two counts of possession with intent to distribute five grams or more of methamphetamine.
- Davarious Keith, 30, of West Columbia, was charged with dealing in firearms without a license, distribution of crack cocaine, as well as felon in possession and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
- David Smith, 36, of West Columbia, was charged with distribution of crack cocaine.
All charges in this indictment are accusations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty, according to United States Attorney Adair F. Boroughs.
