COLUMBIA, S.C. — Federal prosecutors have indicted seven South Carolina officers, all who work in Orangeburg County, with taking bribes in exchange for looking the other way on criminal activity, including some involving drugs and immigration visas.
U.S. Attorney Sherri Lydon announced the findings of their investigation during a Friday news conference in front of the federal courthouse in downtown Columbia. She was joined by Homeland Security and FBI agents, as well as State Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel.
The 13-count indictment involves two different crimes--one involving federal immigration Visa fraud, and the other involving narcotics. Not all of the officers are charged in both conspiracies.
Four of those indicted are Orangeburg County deputies, another works as a police officer with the Springfield police department, and the seventh is Springfield Police Chief La'cra Jenkins.
The seventh person listed in the indictment was said to be a reserve Orangeburg deputy, but Ravenell said the man has never worked for his agency.
In the first scheme, Lydon says certain officers took bribes in exchange for helping aliens enter or remain in the United States. The effort involved what are known as U-visas, which are given to aliens in the country who are the victims of crimes and are willing to help law enforcement prosecute cases against the people who harmed them.
But Lydon says the officers charged would make fraudulent certifications and create fake incident reports saying the aliens were victims of crimes to help them get the Visas, even though they weren't.
The other conspiracy involved some officers taking bribes to protect methamphetamine and cocaine, and the proceeds of drug trafficking. Lydon says the officers actually protected tractor trailers they believe had the proceeds of drug trafficking, and were using guns in that protection effort.
Here's a breakdown of who is charged with what in the schemes:
Visas:
Carolyn Colter Franklin - Conspiracy, Visa Fraud, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
Allan Hunter - Conspiracy, Visa Fraud, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
Willie Paul David Rogers - Conspiracy and Visa Fraud
Lacra Jenkins - Conspiracy, Visa Fraud, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
Tarang Patel - of Newport, Kentucky: Conspiracy and Visa Fraud
Saurabhkumar "Sonny" Patel - Conspiracy
Drugs:
Carolyn Colter Franklin - Conspiracy, Visa Fraud, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
Allan Hunter - Conspiracy, Visa Fraud, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
La'cra Jenkins - Conspiracy, Visa Fraud, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
Nathaniel Miller Shazier III - Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
James Albert Tucker - Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
Stanley Lavalle Timmons - Conspiracy, Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Controlled Substances, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime
Officers believe Franklin and Jenkins were involved in both schemes.
Franklin, Shazier, Timmons, and Rogers were the Orangeburg deputies. Hunter was a deputy from 2005 to 2018, but joined the Springfield Police Department in November of 2018. Tucker was listed as a reserve deputy in the indictment, but again, Ravenell said he did not work for his agency.
Meanwhile, Ravenell fired all four of his deputies who were indicted.
"[I'm] Mad as hell," Ravenell said at a news conference Friday afternoon. "Extremely disappointed in the alleged actions of these individuals."
During a Friday hearing, Franklin, Timmons and Tucker were given a $150,000 bond. They are able to file a motion to reduce once they receive an appointed lawyer. Shazier, a former captain in the U.S. Army and USC graduate, was given a $50,000 secured bond. Hunter and Jenkins will both have a second hearing Tuesday after it was motioned that bond be denied. Roger, who also has a military background, was the only suspect released on an unsecured bond.
Tarang Patel and Saurabhkumar "Sonny" Patel did not appear in court Friday.
The case came to light after two SLED officers became suspicious of what was going on. They alerted their superiors, who in turn, got the help of federal officials.
Lydon says if these allegations prove true, these officers don't deserve to wear the badge.
"We will not tolerate the hypocrisy of those who pretend to enforce the law while violating it themselves while lining their pockets," Lydon said.