Dozens of people in South Carolina are facing more than 300 charges as part of a narcotics trafficking investigation known as “Devil in Disguise,” South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced Wednesday.
Wilson announced that five indictments have been issued in three Upstate counties against 64 defendants on 327 narcotics and related charges. He said this investigation has primarily focused on fentanyl trafficking and associated overdoses. Wilson said of particular interest is that the State Grand Jury has indicted alleged fentanyl dealers for murder, accessory before the fact to murder, and conspiracy to commit murder for their alleged role in distributing fentanyl to victims who died from resulting overdoses. Other charges brought to date from this investigation include trafficking in fentanyl, trafficking in methamphetamine, trafficking heroin, trafficking cocaine, money laundering, and illegal possession of a weapon, as well as possession, possession with intent to distribute, and distribution charges for the various narcotics involved.
“Unfortunately, we all know the very real, life-altering effects of the opiate and opioid crisis because it impacts every community across the state,” Attorney General Alan Wilson said. “But when dangerous drug dealers wreak havoc by bringing in fentanyl and more, we’ve got an army coming for them. We will use every tool at our disposal to hold these criminals accountable, and that includes murder charges for overdoses against the dealers.”
According to the Greenville County Coroner’s Office, Greenville County had 278 drug-related overdose deaths in 2022, most of which they say were related to fentanyl trafficking. In response to the growing number of overdose deaths, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the Greenville County Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU), the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Department of Homeland Security combined resources to investigate these deaths and attempt to identify the parties involved.
Through this investigation, at least six fentanyl overdose deaths have been allegedly tied to this trafficking and distribution conspiracy, with eight other overdoses still being investigated, Wilson said in the announcement.
Law enforcement said it has also learned that fentanyl is being used to adulterate heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other illegal drugs. To date, the investigation through controlled purchases and seizures has recovered over 1 kilogram of fentanyl and 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine, among other drugs. The investigation revealed the conspiracy has historically moved more than 500 kilograms (about 1102.31 lb.) of fentanyl since January 2020, along with similar amounts of methamphetamine and cocaine.
Bond hearings for some of the defendants occurred on Jan. 4 and 5 before the Honorable Robert E. Hood at the Greenville County Courthouse.
