Federal Grand Jury Indictments

Contact Person: Beth Drake (803) 929-3000

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

Laurens Resident Indicted on Embezzling VA Funds
Alison Moore, age 55, of Laurens, South Carolina, was charged in a 1-count indictment.  Alison Moore was charged with Embezzlement, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.  The maximum penalty Moore could receive is 10 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.  The case was investigated by agents of the Department of Veterans Affairs and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney William J. Watkins, Jr., of the Greenville office for prosecution.

Spartanburg Resident Indicted on Embezzling VA Funds
Pearline Sims, a/k/a “Pauline Sims”, age 62, of Spartanburg, South Carolina, was charged in a 1-count indictment.  Pearline Sims was charged with Embezzlement, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641.  The maximum penalty Sims could receive is 10 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.  The case was investigated by agents of the Department of Veterans Affairs and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney William J. Watkins, Jr., of the Greenville office for prosecution.

Husband and Wife Indicted on Conspiring to Steal Mail
Cary L. Wright, age 37, and Tanya A. Wright, age 28, both of Greenville, South Carolina, were charged in a 1-count indictment.  Both defendants were charged with Conspiracy, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371.  The maximum penalty both defendants could receive is 5 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $250,000.  The case was investigated by agents of the United States Postal Inspection Service and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Williams J. Watkins, Jr., of the Greenville office for prosecution.

Welch Group Environmental and its Owner Indicted on Storing Hazardous Waste and Releasing Hazardous Air Pollutants
Glenn Welch, age 52, of Belton, South Carolina, and Welch Group Environmental, of Belton, South Carolina, were charged in a 5-count indictment.  Both defendants were charged with Storage and Disposal of Hazardous Waste without a permit, a violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 6928(d)(2)(A) which carries a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of $50,000, and Release of Hazardous Air Pollutants, a violation of Title 42, United States Code, Section 7413(c)(5)(A), which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment  and a maximum fine of $250,000 for Glenn Welch and a maximum fine of $500,000 for Welch Group Environmental.  The case was investigated by agents of the Environmental Protection Agency and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney William J. Watkins, Jr., of the Greenville office for prosecution.

Four Men Indicted for Drug Violations
Jose Huber Bustamante, age 34, Jaime Roman Bustamante, age 33, Jorge Texco-Dorantes, age 32, and Samuel Olivares, age 22, were charged in a two count indictment.  The indictment alleges that these four men, beginning at least in 2016, conspired to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine in South Carolina and elsewhere.  It also alleges that they possessed with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine on June 15, 2016, in South Carolina and did aid and abet each other in the commission of the offense.  If convicted on the charges in the indictment, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum of life imprisonment.  This case was investigated by agents of the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Andy Moorman of the Greenville office for prosecution.

The Acting 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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