South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the release of a Grand Jury Report by the 34th and 35th State Grand Jurors. The report highlights ongoing organized crime operations within South Carolina prisons, often facilitated by contraband cellphones. A recent trial in Pickens County resulted in life sentences for two inmates involved in narcotics trafficking, underscoring the issue’s severity.
“Locking someone up doesn’t make us safer if they’re still running criminal empires from behind bars,” said Attorney General Wilson. He emphasized the need for Congress and the FCC to authorize states to jam illegal communications to dismantle these networks.
Joel E. Anderson, Interim Director of the S.C. Department of Corrections, highlighted the dangers posed by contraband cellphones: “Illegal contraband cellphones allow career criminals to prey on innocent victims and continue committing crimes from behind bars.”
The “Las Señoritas” trial concluded with convictions for Darrell (DJ) Foster McCoy, Matthew (Matt) David McCoy, and Randall (RJ) Gene Posey on methamphetamine trafficking charges. DJ and Matt McCoy received life sentences without parole due to their extensive criminal records. Randall Posey was sentenced to 25 years.
Attorney General Wilson commented on the McCoys’ pride in their criminal activities: “The McCoys were so proud of the fact that they were convicted of drug trafficking in the Family Tradition case that they got tattoos that say, ‘Family Tradition.’ Well, they have a new family tradition: being in prison for life without parole.”
Other defendants related to this case pleaded guilty to various charges and received significant sentences.
In another case dubbed “Clean Sweep,” Abbygale El-Dier pleaded guilty to child abuse charges, with sentencing deferred until a later date. Her alleged co-conspirator Jacob Lance faces multiple charges related to using contraband phones for abuse.
Inmate Wayne A. Hollinshead was indicted in the “Paper Route” investigation for offenses including marijuana trafficking and money laundering.
The State Grand Jury Reports call for federal permission to jam contraband cellphone signals in state prisons. They note that inmate organizations continue criminal activities both inside and outside prison walls despite efforts by officials.
State Grand Jury Chief Attorney S. Creighton Waters thanked all agencies involved in these investigations. Attorney General Wilson reminded that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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