26 Indicted in Homeland Security Task Force Investigation into Lowcountry Gang Drug Trafficking Network

CHARLESTON, S.C. - A federal grand jury in Charleston returned a nine-count indictment, presented by the U.S. Attorney's Office, charging 14 individuals with trafficking narcotics, including cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. This indictment is part of a years-long drug trafficking investigation, spanning South Carolina and extending into Georgia and Mexico. To date, 26 people have been charged for their roles in the conspiracy, and eight of those defendants have pleaded guilty.

The following charges were unsealed this morning, according to court documents:

• Shawntez Gailliard, 33, of North Charleston
  • Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine and more than 50 grams of methamphetamine
  • Two counts of distributing cocaine
  • Distributing meth
  • If convicted, Gailliard faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years to life in prison.
• Harold Alvin Champaigne, 50, of North Charleston
  • Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine
  • Distributing more than 500 grams of cocaine
  • If convicted, Champaigne faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years to life in prison.
• Odilon Reynoso Albaran, 60, of Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine.
  • If convicted, Albaran faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison.
• Dominic Jaquan Mack, 45, of North Charleston.
  • Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine.
  • If convicted, Mack faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years to life in prison.
• Brandon Derrick Brown, 31, of North Charleston
  • Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine.
  • If convicted, Brown faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years to life in prison.
• Anthony Lee Smalls, 50, of Ravenel
  • Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine.
  • If convicted, Smalls faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison.
• Travis Richardson, 28, of North Charleston
  • Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine.
  • If convicted, Richardson faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison.
• Anthony Lorenzo Joyner, 47, of North Charleston
  • Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine.
  • If convicted, Joyner faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison.
• Damein Rashane Waterman, 45, of Charleston
  • Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine.
  • If convicted, Waterman faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years and up to life in prison.
• Scott Alexander Bolger, 40, of Summerville
  • Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine.
  • If convicted, Bolger faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison.
• Levi Levante Kajana Cohen, IV., 31, of Charleston
  • Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine.
  • If convicted, Cohen faces a mandatory minimum of five years and up to 40 years in prison.
• Scott Clayton Hollins, 56, of North Charleston
  • Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and a quantity of cocaine.
  • Possession with intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, a quantity of cocaine, and a quantity of fentanyl.
  • Possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.
  • If convicted, Hollins faces a mandatory minimum of 20 years to life in prison.
• Christopher Obrian Millhouse, 40
  • Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and a quantity of cocaine.
  • Distribution of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and a quantity of cocaine.
  • If convicted, Millhouse faces a mandatory minimum of 1o years to life in prison.
• Keno Rahmaund Sherman, 48, of Summerville
  • Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute more than a quantity of cocaine.
  • If convicted, Sherman faces up to 30 years in prison.

The indictment alleges that, beginning in 2017, the FBI and local law enforcement partners investigated street gangs operating in North Charleston including Gangster Disciples and the Fruit Town Piru, a sect of the Bloods. The investigation uncovered a layered drug-trafficking network that extended beyond South Carolina and included supply connections in Atlanta and Mexico. At the street level, gang members and others distributed cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine throughout Charleston County. Investigators then worked up the supply chain and identified the wholesale suppliers responsible for obtaining and distributing the largest quantities of drugs. Those suppliers were ultimately arrested and indicted.

During the investigation, law enforcement seized approximately 61 kilograms of cocaine, 1 kilogram of methamphetamine, 24 pounds of marijuana, 600 grams of fentanyl, 500 grams of heroin and thousands of narcotics pills, as well as 12 firearms.

Several defendants previously indicted in this case have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing including Bernard Garland Gregory, Sharon T. Carter, Mary Nelly Ayala, Quentin Rambert, Jabari Cortez Lee, Marchevis Jefferson, Meri Elizabeth Sottile, and Amanda Danielle Forth.

This case is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States.

The case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, United States Secret Service, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, City of Charleston Police Department, Charleston County Sheriff's Office, Dorchester County Sheriff's Office, North Charleston Police Department, Summerville Police Department, Mount Pleasant Police Department, Charleston Aviation Authority and Berkeley County Sheriff's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Lietzow is prosecuting the case.

All charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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