Kitchens and Lanford have been officially charged with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Methamphetamine.

The Federal complaint alleges that Kitchens took narcotics directly from an evidence vault located in the Spartanburg County Courthouse and gave them to Terry Glenn Lanford, a Spartanburg businessman to resell to a drug dealer located in Florida.

Mr. Lanford purportedly sold the drugs to a confidential DEA informant posing as a drug dealer in Florida last August. The complaint further alleges that Mr. Lanford and Mr. Kitchens discussed obtaining more narcotics for additional drug deals with the Florida informant.

Mr. Lanford, who frequently travels to Florida on business, allegedly stated that Kitchens liked to distribute the narcotics in Florida because it helped him separate the narcotics from Spartanburg County.

Kitchens and Lanford were arrested yesterday morning after a meeting monitored by law enforcement. During the meeting, Mr. Lanford provided Mr. Kitchens with $3,000.00, partial payment for a prior drug deal which allegedly occurred last August.

Both men could face fines as large as two million dollars and 20 years in prison.

Solicitor Trey Gowdy says that they have no idea how much evidence may have been taken or how many cases may be impacted by this crime.

Mr. Kitchens and Mr. Lanford have been released on a $25,000.00 bond.

The criminal defense attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, L.L.C. include a former United States Attorney, a former public defender, a former Assistant Attorney General and Richland County Assistant Solicitor, as well as a tax lawyer familiar with IRS criminal investigations. The Strom Law Firm aggressively defends individuals on all criminal charges in all State and Federal Courts in South Carolina as well as the Federal Courts in Georgia. Our lawyers proudly edit the Columbia, South Carolina Injury Board as well as the Strom Law Blog as a pro bono effort to provide the public valuable information. Our lawyers are licensed in: South Carolina, New York, and Georgia.

Capt. Alvin Holston said the SPD’s Organized Crime and Vice Control unit targeted street-level drug dealers over the past six to 12 months, and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit assisted in the arrests.

Police also set up a reverse sting operation, whereby people who arrived at known crack houses to buy crack were arrested.

Police seized 30 grams of crack, some marijuana, scales, two weapons, a bullet-proof vest, a gas mask, and drug paraphernalia.

Captain Holston identified one of the problem locations as Olive and Branch streets but noted the operations occurred throughout the city.

One of the men arrested as part of Operation DEU, Major Anthony Kennedy, 51 was charged with murder along with a 41-year-old woman in connection with the late June shooting death of Caldwell Wright Jr., 55, at his home, located at 731 Branch Street.

Holston further stated, “We want to attempt to do our part to offer citizens some peace in their neighborhoods. We’ve got to help each other. It’s a two-way street.” The investigation is ongoing, he said, characterizing the first group of arrests as “phase one.”

“We want to send out a clear message that we’re working,” he said, noting that police will build upon their efforts thus far to target “the heavier individuals” that are the distributors.

Sumter Police Chief Patty Patterson said the arrests are indicative of the SPD’s proactive efforts and offered appreciation for the public’s assistance in reporting criminal activity so officers can investigate those tips.

“We’ll continue to follow through. This is just phase one,” she said. “We’ll continue to be vigilant in our task and deed.”

Charged in connection with Operation DEU were:

Frederick Billie, 24, of 702-A Miller Road: trafficking crack, trafficking crack within a half mile, possession of marijuana and interfering with police;

Tywan Burgess, 25, of 119 Carolina Avenue: possession with intent to distribute crack and possession of drug paraphernalia;

Jamal Colclough, 25, of 37 Lemmon Street: charged with possession of marijuana, fourth offense, felon in possession of a handgun, three counts of distribution of marijuana, and three counts of distribution of marijuana within a half mile of a school;

Dwayne Crawford, 25, of 10 Burgess Street.: possession of marijuana;

Quincy Isaac, 27, of 1354 Blackwell Court: distribution of crack, distribution of crack within a half mile of a school and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack;

Angelo Johnson, 27, of 1320 Mooneyham Road: distribution of crack;

Ertha Johnson, 52, of 1689 Sweat Road, Manning: charged with attempt to possess crack;

Jerry Johnson Jr., 42, of 36 Walker Street: distribution of crack and distribution of crack within a half mile of a school;

Johnny Lee Johnson, 52, of 1689 Sweat Road, Manning: charged with attempt to possess crack;

Michael Johnson, 17, of 110 Maney Street: charged with possession with intent to distribute crack;

Sara T. Johnson, 34, of 212 W. Bartlette Street: charged with attempt to possess crack and possession of cocaine;

Major Kennedy, 51, address unknown: charged with distribution of crack;

Nikki Lee, 37, of 112 Maney Street: charged with possession of marijuana;

Moneta McCray, 30, of 965 Miller Road Apt L-5: charged with interfering with police;

Derron McGee, 21, of 41 Carolina Avenue: charged with possession of marijuana, second offense;

Ramanda McMillan, 20, of 1353 Blackwell Court: charged with three counts of distribution of crack, fourth offense, three counts of distribution of crack within a half mile of a school and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack;

Allen Miller, 46, of 5205 Dias Road, Rembert: charged with unlawful possession of prescription drugs;

Anthony Montgomery, 20, of 32 Brand Street: charged with conspiracy;

Eligah Nelson, 52, of 108 Carver Street: charged with attempt to possess crack;

Gwendolyn Porter, 33, of 10 Burgess Street: charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia;

Susan Prioleau, age and address unknown: charged with attempting to possess crack and possession of drug paraphernalia;

Benny Reynolds, 46, of 57 Albert Spears Drive: charged with attempt to possess crack;

Justin Reynolds, age and address unknown: charged with interfering with police;

Virginia B. Reynolds, 49, of 57 Albert Spears Drive: charged with attempt to possess crack;

Rodriquez Rouse, 26, of 202 Plowden Mill Road: charged with distribution of crack and distribution of crack within a half mile of a school;

Deyontae Singletary, 18, of Harmony Court, Apt. 29: charged with possession of marijuana

Jermaine Smith, 28, of 38 Byrd Street: charged with trafficking crack, trafficking crack within a half mile of a school, possession of marijuana and interfering with police;

Thomas Stuckey, 18, of 15 G Street: charged with two counts each of distribution of crack and distribution of crack within a half mile of a school;

Joseph Sumter, 54, of 45 Brent Street: charged with attempt to possess crack and possession of drug paraphernalia;

Tanya Tattnall, 21, of 41-C Carolina Avenue: charged wtih possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia;

Keith Tomlin, 19, of 11 H Street: charged with distribution of crack, distribution of crack within a half mile of a school, possession with intent to distribute crack and possession with intent to distribute crack within a half mile of school;

Keaton D. Wheeler, 20, of 15 G Street: charged with three counts each of possession with intent to distribute crack and possession with intent to distribute crack within a half mile of a school

Frenchola Wheeler, 73, of 15 G Street: charged with conspiracy

Rico Wheeler, 17, of 15 G Street: charged with possession with intent to distribute crack, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute crack within a half mile of a school and possession with intent to distribute cocaine within a half mile of a school;

A juvenile was charged with possession of marijuana.

All of the accused are innocent until proven guilty.

Strom Law Firm is a personal injury and criminal defense law firm centrally located in Columbia, South Carolina. Our firm proudly handles personal injury, criminal defense, defective products, class actions, pharmaceutical liability, toxic torts, medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, workers compensation, social security, veteran’s benefits, qui tam, predatory lending, tax investigations, business litigation, and wills and estates. Our lawyers proudly edit the Columbia, South Carolina Injury Board as well as the Strom Law Blog as a pro bono effort to provide the public valuable information. Our lawyers are licensed in: South Carolina, New York, and Georgia.

On a more local note, on June 15, 2009, the Honorable Cameron McGowan Currie, United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina, concluded that a 1-to-1 ratio between crack cocaine and cocaine was appropriate in sentencing a defendant represented by Strom Law Firm, LLC. She continued by saying that in crack cases the Court would consider whether an upward variance was appropriate for aggravating factors related to violent conduct.

Although the support for a change in sentencing continues to grow, many lawmakers are unsure just how to change these guidelines. The Obama administration is arguing for a strict 1-to-1 ratio in sentencing. However, there is a debate as to whether to close the gap by lowering the penalty for crack cocaine while increasing the penalty for powder cocaine.

Tough penalties for crack cocaine offenses are also affecting how juries rule during trials. According to Holder, juries have acquitted black defendants because they believed the sentences the suspects faced were unfairly long.

Virginia Democratic Representative Bobby Scott agrees the current 100-to-1 sentencing ratio is racial discrimination. He says, “there is a compete consensus that the present pattern for sentencing crack and powder is absurd; there is not a complete consensus about what to do about it.”