Conway, South Carolina --- United States Attorney Peter M. McCoy, Jr. announced today that a joint team of more than 200 federal, state, and local law enforcement officers arrested 23 individuals who have all been charged in federal court for their roles in a drug trafficking organization that operated out of the Cedar Branch area of Horry County, South Carolina. Three additional defendants remain at large.
The arrests mark the first in Operation Broken Branch, the latest iteration in a series of joint federal, state, and local investigations targeting violent crime in Myrtle Beach and throughout Horry County.
According to court records, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), through its Pee Dee Safe Streets Gang Task Force, began this multi-year investigation in conjunction with the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) and Horry County Sheriff’s Office. The operation specifically targeted alleged members of the drug trafficking organization based on the organization’s distribution of dangerous drugs, such as heroin and fentanyl, and its members’ use of firearms in furtherance of the drug trafficking crimes.
“Pandemic or not, there is no safe harbor for criminals in South Carolina,” said U.S. Attorney McCoy. “I want to commend the exceptional efforts of the law enforcement officers who put themselves in harm’s way for this morning’s operation. With today’s arrests, in the last six weeks alone this office has charged more than 50 individuals for major drug trafficking crimes or serious firearms offenses. We can only do this work through close relationships with our federal, state, and local partners. Arrests like these help take down entire criminal organizations, allowing us to protect the people of South Carolina and help ensure they have safe neighborhoods to call home.”
“These complaints and arrests demonstrate drug trafficking organizations will be investigated and dismantled, no matter what corner of South Carolina they are found,” said Jody Norris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI. “All our law enforcement partners, especially the FBI’s Pee Dee Safe Streets Gang Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Unit of the Fifteenth Circuit, and the Horry County Sheriff’s Office, should be commended for their tremendous work in eliminating an organization that is alleged to have peddled dangerous drugs and violence in multiple states.”
The following defendants have been arrested on criminal complaints under various charges related to their alleged roles in the drug trafficking organization:
DARRELL LAMONT JACKSON, 46, of Myrtle Beach, is charged in the conspiracy with five kilograms or more of cocaine. This charge carries a potential penalty of 10 years to Life imprisonment.
MARK TYREISE JACKSON, a/k/a “Ty,” 24, of Loris, is charged in the conspiracy with 500 grams or more of cocaine. This charge carries a potential penalty of five to 40 years imprisonment.
TERAINE LAVANCE GREEN, a/k/a “Juice,” 28, of Loris, is charged in the conspiracy with a quantity of cocaine base and a quantity of cocaine. This charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment.
WINFERD JUNIOR SHERMAN, a/k/a “Dunk,” 22, of Loris, is charged in the conspiracy with a quantity of cocaine base and a quantity of heroin. This charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment.
TREMAYNE TYRONE GREEN, a/k/a “Plies,” a/k/a “P,” 24, of Loris, is charged in the conspiracy with a quantity of heroin and a quantity of fentanyl. This charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment.
PHILLIP JAMAL JOHNSON, a/k/a “Foo,” 28, of Loris, is charged in the conspiracy with a quantity of heroin, a quantity of cocaine base, and a quantity of cocaine. This charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment. He is also charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a potential penalty of at least five years consecutive to any other penalty imposed.
ANTRA TRUMAINE GORE, a/k/a “Priest,” 37, of Loris, is charged in the conspiracy with a quantity of heroin, a quantity of cocaine base, and a quantity of cocaine. This charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment. He is also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a prohibited individual, which carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment.
ANGELO TARAY JACKSON, a/k/a “Che Che,” 23, of Loris, is charged in the conspiracy with a quantity of heroin, a quantity of cocaine base, and a quantity of cocaine. This charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment.
ANTHONY LAMONT NEALEY, a/k/a “Esse,” 40, of Longs, is charged in the conspiracy with 28 grams or more of cocaine base and a quantity of cocaine. This charge carries a potential penalty of five to 40 years imprisonment.
JAMES GOMILOUS RIGGINS, a/k/a “Scooby,” 43, of Tabor City, North Carolina, is charged in the conspiracy with 500 grams or more of cocaine. This charge carries a potential penalty of five to 40 years imprisonment.
LATEICE LANEICE GRIFFIN, a/k/a “Teice,” a/k/a “Thugbunny1120,” 28, of Longwood, North Carolina, is charged in the conspiracy with a quantity of cocaine base and a quantity of cocaine. This charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment.
LEON DALE GREEN, a/k/a “Young,” 31, of Loris, is charged in the conspiracy with 500 grams or more of cocaine and a quantity of heroin. This charge carries a potential penalty of five to 40 years imprisonment.
TEONTRIC SAQIWINA JACKSON, a/k/a “T,” 28, of Loris, is charged is charged in the conspiracy with 28 grams or more of cocaine base, 100 grams or more of heroin, 500 grams or more of cocaine, a quantity of methamphetamine, and a quantity of fentanyl. This charge carries a potential penalty of five to 40 years imprisonment. He is also charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a potential penalty of at least five years consecutive to any other penalty imposed.
JAMES MYERS, III, a/k/a “Brix,” 31, of Loris, is charged in the conspiracy with a quantity of fentanyl, a quantity of cocaine, and a quantity of oxycodone. This charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment. He is also charged with unlawful possession of firearm by a prohibited individual, which carries a potential penalty of up to 10 years imprisonment; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a potential penalty of at least five years consecutive to any other penalty imposed.
DEVANTE JAQUAN SQUIRES, a/k/a “Buddy Ro,” 25, of Loris, is charged in the conspiracy with a quantity of heroin, a quantity of cocaine base, and a quantity of cocaine. This charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment.
SHAQUAN TAEREEK HEMINGWAY, a/k/a “Obe,” 22, of Loris, is charged in the conspiracy with a quantity of heroin and a quantity of cocaine. This charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment.
TYRUSS KENDREZ HEMINGWAY, a/k/a “OT,” a/k/a “Macc,” 19, of Loris, is charged in the conspiracy with a quantity of heroin and a quantity of cocaine. This charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment.
ALFREDO GORE, a/k/a “AG,” 41, of Loris, is charged in the conspiracy with 100 grams or more of heroin, a quantity of cocaine base, and a quantity of cocaine. This charge carries a potential penalty of five to 40 years imprisonment.
MONTEL LASAUL HYPPOLITE, a/k/a “Pooh,” 21, of Conway, is charged in the conspiracy with a quantity of heroin and a quantity of cocaine. This charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment.
BILLIE LEE GREEN, a/k/a “Old School,” 59, of Longs, is charged in the conspiracy with a quantity of heroin and a quantity of cocaine. This charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment.
BYRON JAMES JACKSON, a/k/a “B,” 27, of Loris, is charged in the conspiracy with 100 grams or more of heroin, 500 grams or more of cocaine, and a quantity of cocaine base. This charge carries a potential penalty of five to 40 years imprisonment.
ROBERT JERMAINE ATTAWAY, a/k/a “Ant,” 26, of Myrtle Beach, is charged in the conspiracy with a quantity of heroin. This charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment.
CARL LEE GREEN, 43, of Longs, is charged in the conspiracy with 500 grams or more of cocaine, 28 grams of cocaine base, and a quantity of heroin. This charge carries a potential penalty of five to 40 years imprisonment.
The following defendants are still at large:
TYSHON LAMONT CLIFTON, a/k/a “Rondo,” 20, of Loris, is charged in the conspiracy with a quantity of heroin. This charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment.
BRADLEY CHRISTOPHER GRIFFIN, JR., 34, of Longwood, North Carolina, is charged in the conspiracy with a quantity of cocaine. This charge carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment.
TIMOTHY MONDALE LONG, a/k/a “Black,” 38, of Loris, is charged in the conspiracy with 280 grams or more of cocaine base and 100 grams or more of heroin. This charge carries a potential penalty of 10 years to Life imprisonment. He is also charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, which carries a potential penalty of at least five years consecutive to any other penalty imposed.
Operation Broken Branch is at least the third investigation targeting violent crime in the area. In 2017, Operation Silver Sunset targeted 29 associates of the Billy Bloods street gang, a subset of the United Blood Nation. In 2018, Operation Rise and Shine targeted 34 associates of G-Shine/SMG, another subset of the Bloods. Today’s arrests mark the latest, but not the last, investigation targeting violent crime in Horry County and surrounding areas.
During the course of this investigation, agents seized substantial quantities of heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, crack cocaine, and methamphetamine. Agents also seized more than a dozen firearms, bulk ammunition, and more than $180,000 in suspected drug proceeds.
The case was investigated by the FBI, 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office DEU, Horry County Sheriff’s Office, 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), Myrtle Beach Police Department, Horry County Police Department, Coastal Carolina University Police Department, Loris Police Department, Conway Police Department, North Myrtle Beach Department of Public Safety, Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina, Columbus County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina, South Carolina Highway Patrol, and City of Georgetown Police Department.
This case is being 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 U.S. Attorney Everett McMillian is prosecuting the case, alongside Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Hixson, who also serves as Deputy Solicitor for 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney David Caraker.
The United States Attorney stated that all charges against these defendants are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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