Georgetown Man Convicted of Federal Narcotics and Firearms Offenses

Charleston, South Carolina ---- Tywone Eli Reed, age 38, of Georgetown, South Carolina, was convicted in federal court, in Charleston, of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, as well as a quantity of cocaine and crack cocaine; possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon; possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number; and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.  Senior United States District Judge P. Michael Duffy, of Charleston, presided over the trial and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

Evidence presented at the trial established that on September 2, 2016, the 15^th Circuit Drug Enforcement Unit, comprised of narcotics investigators from local law enforcement agencies in Georgetown and Horry counties, executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence. In the defendant’s kitchen, agents found over 200 grams of heroin, almost 225 grams of cocaine and approximately twenty grams of crack cocaine, along with paraphernalia used to manufacture crack cocaine and package narcotics for distribution. In the defendant’s bedroom, agents recovered two loaded handguns on the nightstand, a loaded .556 caliber rifle leaning against the wall and a .22 caliber handgun in a drawer. They also recovered approximately $3,800 from the defendant’s bedroom. Agents recovered a total of 439 rounds of various caliber ammunition from the defendant’s kitchen and bedroom.  Evidence also showed that a six year old child was in the defendant’s residence at the time the search warrant was executed, despite agents waiting until school was in session to execute the search warrant.

Bill Knowles, Commander of the 15^th Circuit Drug Enforcement Unit, stated, “We appreciate the working relationship that the DEU has with the United States Attorney’s Office and we are pleased with the jury’s decision to hold the defendant responsible for choosing to deal dangerous narcotics while heavily armed in our community.”  United States Attorney Drake added, “In the U.S. Attorney’s Office, we do our best work when we work closely with our state and local law enforcement. Many thanks to the 15th Circuit Drug Enforcement Unit and the DEA for the investigation that lead to getting this heavily armed heroin dealer off the street.”

Ms. Drake stated that Reed faces a mandatory minimum of ten years’ imprisonment and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

The case was investigated by agents of the 15^th Circuit Drug Enforcement Unit, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office, City of Georgetown Police Department and the 15^th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.  Assistant United States Attorneys Nick Bianchi and Chris Schoen of the Charleston office tried the case.

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