Officers Arrest Four People on Drug Charges After Finding Marijuana Growing Operation
Four people were arrested in the evening on Monday, August 5th, after officers raided their home near Gilbert, SC on reports of a marijuana growing operation.
Officers arrested Kenneth Brandon Adams, 28; Jessie Ray Watts, 17; Billy Joe Blackstone, 31; and An’Drea La’Von Black, 18. They were charged with manufacturing and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. The four are currently being held at the Lexington County Detention Center on bonds totaling $340,000.
The property includes an outdoor area where the marijuana growing operation was located, as well as a house, where Adams, Watts, and Blackstone reside.
Official reports state that around 3:30 PM on Monday, August 5th, NET officers went to the property and found an outdoor marijuana growing operation in plain sight. A search warrant executed on the property yielded an indoor marijuana growing operation as well, loose marijuana throughout the house, and three firearms.
Additional criminal charges can be added to drug charges when firearms are involved.
Anyone with information about illegal drug activity in Lexington County to call the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department at (803) 785-8230 or CrimeStoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC. Citizens also can provide information anonymously by accessing the Crime Tip link on the Sheriff’s Department web site (www.lexingtonsheriff.com).
Marijuana Trafficking and Firearms Charges in South Carolina
Marijuana trafficking penalties can also be impacted based on where the sale took place and to whom the drugs were sold to. Trafficking charges are based upon the weight of the drug you are in possession of:
- Ten grams of cocaine
- Four grams of heroin
- Ten pounds of marijuana
In South Carolina, possession of drugs at this weight or greater is considered trafficking.
Trafficking Marijuana: more than ten pounds, but less than one hundred pounds:
• First offense: One to 10 years in prison and $10,000 in fines;
• Five to 20 years in prison and $15,000 in fines for a second offense trafficking charge;
• 25 years in prison and $20,000 in fines for a third or subsequent offense.
If you are charged with trafficking over one hundred pounds of marijuana your possible conviction can result in up to 30 years in prison and $200,000 in fines.
Under Federal Law, anyone who uses, possesses, or carries a firearm during or in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime is subject to a five year mandatory consecutive term of imprisonment. If you are convicted of carrying a firearm, five years will be added to your sentence and it may not be served consecutively with any other count.
The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Drug Charges for Marijuana and Firearms
The marijuana trafficking and possession lawyers at the Strom Law Firm, LLC are dedicated to protecting the rights of our clients, providing aggressive representation grounded in our years of experience building and interpreting the laws of South Carolina. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss the facts of your case. 803.252.4800
