Federal Grand Jury Indictments

Contact Person: Lance Crick (864) 282-2105

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

Longs Man Indicted for Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine, and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking Crime.  Lecephrus Pierce, age 24, of Longs, South Carolina, was charged in a three-count indictment with felon in possession of a firearm, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1); possession with intent to distribute and distribution of crack cocaine, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1); and, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A).

Pierce faces a statutory, mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years with a maximum sentence of life in prison.  The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), ATF Horry County Task Force, and Myrtle Beach Police.  The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Alfred W. Bethea, Jr., of the Florence office for prosecution.

North Carolina Man Indicted for Possessing a Gun After Being Convicted of a Felony.  James Franklin Badgett, age 56, of Pilot Mountain, North Carolina, was charged in a one-count indictment with felon in possession of a firearm.  Possession of a Firearm, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1).  The maximum possible penalty Badgett could receive is a statutory, mandatory minimum of 15 years with a maximum sentence of life in prison.  The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), ATF Horry County Task Force, and Myrtle Beach Police.  The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Alfred W. Bethea, Jr., of the Florence office for prosecution.

Kingstree Man Indicted for Felon in Possession of a Firearm.  Jamon Gerald Canty, age 33, of Kingstree, South Carolina, was 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 Canty could receive is a statutory, mandatory minimum of 15 years with a maximum sentence of life in prison. The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), ATF Horry County Task Force, and Myrtle Beach Police.  The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Alfred W. Bethea, Jr., of the Florence office for prosecution.

Timmonsville Man Indicted for Possessing a Gun After Being Convicted of a Felony.  Jabari Durvall Sellers, age 36, of Timmonsville, South Carolina, was 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 Sellers could receive is a statutory, mandatory minimum of 15 years with a maximum sentence of life in prison. The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Florence County Sheriff’s Office, and the Timmonsville Police Department.  The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney Alfred W. Bethea, Jr., of the Florence office for prosecution.

Myrtle Beach Man Indicted for Illegal Re-entry Into the United States.  Eloy Altamirano-Diaz, age 36, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was charged in a one-count indictment with Illegal Re-entry into the U.S. after being previously deported, a violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).  The maximum possible penalty Altamirano-Diaz could receive is a maximum fine of $250,000.00 and/or imprisonment of 2 years.  The case was investigated by agents of the Immigration and Custom Enforcement – Enforcement Removal Operations.  The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office for prosecution.

Another Myrtle Beach Man Indicted for Illegal Re-entry Into the United States.  Edgar Benjamin Lopez-Morales, age 29, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was charged in a one-count indictment with Illegal Re-entry into the U.S. after being previously deported, a violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a).  The maximum possible penalty Lopez-Morales could receive is a maximum fine of $250,000.00 and/or imprisonment of 2 years.  The case was investigated by agents of the Immigration and Custom Enforcement – Enforcement Removal Operations.  The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office for prosecution.

Three Galivants Ferry Men Indicted for Immigration and Drug Charges.  Epifanio Castillo-Pacheco, age 43, Isidro Camacho-Castillo, age 29, and Samuel Zepeda-Gonzalez, age 59, all of Galivants Ferry, South Carolina, were charged in a six-count indictment with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1); Illegal Re-entry into the United States after being previously deported, a violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a);  possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(5)(A); 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 possible penalty Castillo-Pacheco and Zepeda-Gonzalez could receive is imprisonment of 20 years and a fine of $1,000,000.  The maximum possible penalty Camacho-Castillo could receive is imprisonment of up to 20 years and a fine of $1,000,000.00 and/or imprisonment of 5 years to life.  The case was investigated by agents of the ICE- Homeland Security Investigations.  The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office for prosecution.

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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