Three Galivants Ferry Men Plead Guilty in Federal Court to Drug and Gun Charges

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Ephifanio Castillo-Pacheco, age 44, Isidro Camacho-Castillo, age 20, and Samuel Zepeda-Gonzalez, age 60, all of Galivants Ferry, SC, pled guilty in federal court in Florence, South Carolina.  Castillo-Pacheco, Camacho-Castillo and Zepeda-Gonzalez pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute a quantity of cocaine, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, §841(a)(1).  Camacho-Castillo also pled guilty to possession of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, §924(c).  United States District Judge Bryan Harwell of Florence accepted the pleas and will impose sentences after he has reviewed the presentence reports, which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.

The evidence presented at the guilty plea hearing established that on March 8, 2017, during the execution of a federal search warrant, agents seized cocaine, multiple firearms and a large amount of cash from a residence in Galivants Ferry, South Carolina.  During the search Camacho-Castillo was in one of the bedrooms along with a loaded Glock .380 caliber pistol, a loaded Kassnar Imports 9mm pistol and approximately 45 grams of cocaine.  In the bedroom belonging to Castillo-Pacheco, agents found approximately 14 grams of cocaine, and 9mm and .380 caliber ammunition.  Castillo-Pacheco and Zepeda-Gonzalez were both located in the living room where they were counting $177,989.00 in cash.  Agents learned that Zepeda-Gonzalez had been paid to transport the cash to an unknown individual in McAllen, Texas.            
 

Ms. Drake stated the maximum penalty Castillo-Pacheco and Zepeda-Gonzalez can receive is imprisonment for 20 years and a fine of $1,000,000.00  The maximum penalty Camacho-Castillo can receive is imprisonment for life and a fine of $1,000,000.00.

The case was investigated by agents of ICE-Homeland Security Investigations with the assistance of the Myrtle Beach Police Department, the Horry County Police Department, the South Carolina Highway Patrol and SLED.  Assistant United States Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office handled the case.

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