International Cocaine Trafficking Network Impacting the Low Country and Midlands Charge in Charleston, SC

Contact Person: Beth Drake (803) 929-3000

Charleston, South Carolina ----- William N. Nettles, the United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina; Harry S. Sommers, the Special Agent in Charge of the Atlanta Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”); Brock Nicholson, the Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) in Atlanta; Mark Keel, the Chief of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (“SLED”); and L. C. Knight, the Sheriff of Dorchester County, announce the arrests of defendants in a drug distribution conspiracy indictment involving a cocaine trafficking network operating between Mexico and South Carolina.

According to the federal indictment unsealed in Charleston, SC today, Jose Alfredo Sierra-Reynoso of Saint Matthews, SC, Michael Clark, a/k/a “Bizzy B” of Holly Hill, SC, Lonnell McFadden, a/k/a “June” of Holly Hill, SC, Marion Jerome Mack, a/k/a “Jigga” of Holly Hill, SC, Adryenne R. Johnson of Lexington, SC, Allen Washington, a/k/a “Dirty” of Holly Hill, SC, and Harold Robinson of Holly Hill, SC were charged by a grand jury with conspiring to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine in South Carolina.  The indictment alleges the conspiracy began in or around July 2011.

The indictment is the culmination of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force investigation conducted by DEA Charleston Task Force, the Dorchester/Summerville Metro Narcotics Unit, HSI Border Enforcement Security Team, and SLED.

In today’s enforcement operation, over 75 law enforcement officers executed arrest warrants and served search warrants in several South Carolina counties.  Law enforcement agencies conducting the takedown operation include DEA, Dorchester/Summerville Metro Narcotics Unit, HSI, SLED, United States Marshals Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), South Carolina Highway Patrol, Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (ATF), Lexington County Sheriff’s Office, Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, and Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office.

“Today’s operation is a testament to the effectiveness of the OCDETF program in dismantling drug trafficking organizations, from their South Carolina base up to their sources of supply,” said United States Attorney Bill Nettles of the District of South Carolina.

"International and interstate drug dealers should take heed that federal, state, and local law enforcement in South Carolina is well organized, cooperative and effective," said Special Agent in Charge Harry Sommers of the DEA Atlanta Field Division. “This investigation is an excellent example of how South Carolina’s law enforcement community bands together to dismantle criminal networks.” 

“Dismantling sophisticated transnational criminal organizations takes a lot of teamwork and a lot of effort,” said Special Agent in Charge Brock D. Nicholson, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Atlanta. “HSI is a strong supporter of the DEA’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and we are proud to have played a role in this investigation.”

“Criminals think they can avoid the law by running across county or state lines and even national borders. This collaborative effort among law enforcement agencies from every branch of government shows clearly there’s no place to hide for those who would do harm to our citizens.” said Chief Mark Keel of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

“Cooperation and collaboration is the key to good, quality law enforcement and this case is prime example of how many agencies working toward a common goal can have far reaching success.  The streets and citizens of Dorchester County are safer as a result of this partnership.” said Sheriff L. C. Knight of the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office.

The DEA Charleston Task Force is comprised of Special Agents and Task Force Officers from DEA, Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office, Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, Charleston Police Department, Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, Hampton County Sheriff’s Office, North Charleston Police Department, Mount Pleasant Police Department, South Carolina Highway Patrol, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and Summerville Police Department.

Prosecution of the investigation is led by Assistant United States Attorney Nick Bianchi of the United States Attorney’s Office in Charleston, SC. 

The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.