Last of "Operation Gunsmoke" Defendants Plead Guilty to Federal Drug and Gun Crimes

Columbia, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon announced today that the last of 15 South Carolina defendants with pending charges from the Aiken County investigation dubbed “Operation Gunsmoke” have pleaded guilty in federal court to offenses involving narcotics and firearms.

“Because of the excellent work of the ATF RAGE Unit in this case, over 150 guns have been taken away from criminals and off the streets of Aiken County,” said U.S. Attorney Lydon.  “Federal, state, and local law enforcement are working in lockstep to make our neighborhoods safer.  I am proud to stand with our partners in South Carolina and Georgia as we fight to take back our communities from dangerous individuals who mix violence and illegal drug distribution.”

The specific guilty pleas before United States District Judge J. Michelle Childs were as follows:

• Christopher Johnson pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine base and being a felon in possession of a firearm.  He faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in federal prison.
• Quinton White pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and illegally dealing in firearms. White faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in federal prison.
• Kevin Sheppard pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and two counts of carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.  Sheppard faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison. 
• Keith Williams pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and   carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.  Williams faces a minimum mandatory penalty of 10 years and a maximum of life in prison. 
• Larry Thomas pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and   carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.  Thomas faces a minimum mandatory penalty of five years and a maximum of life in prison. 
• Jerome Simmons pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a firearm and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking offense.  Simmons faces a minimum mandatory term of five years imprisonment and a maximum of life.
• Reihn Jennings pleaded guilty to distribution of cocaine base and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking offense.  Jennings faces a minimum mandatory term of five years imprisonment and a maximum of life.
• Ronnie Gartrell pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine base and being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Gartrell faces a minimum mandatory term of five years imprisonment and a maximum of 50 years.
• Heather Collins pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, cocaine, and methamphetamine.  Collins faces a minimum mandatory term of five years imprisonment and a maximum of 40 years.
• Charlie Carter pleaded guilty to distribution of methamphetamine and felon in possession of a firearm.  Carter faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 30 years. 
• Cornelius McKie pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine base, cocaine, and methamphetamine.  McKie faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years.
• Rashad Lundy, Xavier Mathaney, Ray Baughman, and Benjamin Roper all pleaded guilty to felon in possession of firearms charges, and each faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years.

These guilty pleas are the result of the work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Regional Anti-Gang Enforcement (RAGE) Unit, a joint gang/violent crime task force with the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, North Augusta Department of Public Safety, Aiken Department of Public Safety, Richmond County, Georgia Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, and ATF.  Assistance was also provided by the United States Marshals Service, the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services, and the Wheeling, West Virginia Police Department. 

Court testimony revealed that the case first started as a result of increasing violence in Aiken County. During the course of the investigation, over 150 guns were seized – most from the hands of felons.  Methamphetamine, cocaine, and crack cocaine were also seized during the case, including over 4 pounds of methamphetamine in one seizure. 

ATF Assistant Special in Charge Brian Mein stated, “The ATF Regional Anti-Gang Enforcement Unit (RAGE), was an idea that became a reality because law enforcement agencies realized we could better serve and protect our communities from violent criminals, firearm traffickers and drug traffickers by working together.  The guilty pleas and convictions of individuals associated with the investigation are a great testament to our collaborative efforts.  ATF will continue to support the RAGE Unit and offer any and all resources to ensure our communities stay safe.   I want to thank the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, North Augusta Department of Public Safety, Aiken Department of Public Safety, Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and our ATF Agents for dedication and their outstanding work in this investigation.”

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts.  PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.

Assistant United States Attorneys Charlie Bourne of the Charleston office and Brook Andrews of the Columbia office are prosecuting the cases.

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