Crime & Safety

More Sentences Handed Down in Meth Trafficking Cases

Thirteen additional Upstate defendants from Greenville, Pickens counties sentenced as part of "Operation Ice House."

From the Office of SC Attorney General Alan Wilson

SC Attorney General Alan Wilson on Thursday said 13 additional defendants in the “Operation Ice House” methamphetamine trafficking have been sentenced.

The defendants in the case were sentenced in Greenville General Sessions Court on Sept. 20, Wilson's office said.

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 In all, 27 people were convicted or pleaded guilty in connection with the operation. From early 2008 through late 2011, the defendants were involved, in varying capacities, with the importation of methamphetamine produced from other states and its sale and distribution throughout Greenville and Pickens Counties.

All the defendants were indicted by the State Grand Jury on drug charges.  They received the following sentences from Circuit Court Judge Letitia H. Verdin:

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Adrian Raul Hernandez (DOB 2/12/1985) Greenville, 17 years in prison on one count of Trafficking 28-100g by Conspiracy, 1st;

Felipe Sandoval Flores (DOB 5/1/1983) Greenville, sentenced to 17 years in prison on two counts involving Distribution of Methamphetamine and Trafficking 28-100g by Conspiracy, 1st;

Eduardo Preciado (DOB 8/30/1989) Easley, sentenced to 17 years on two counts involving Trafficking 10-28g, and Trafficking 28-100g by Conspiracy, 1st;

Malva Martinez (DOB 8/19/1977) Greer, sentenced to 12 years in prison on five counts involving Distribution of Methamphetamine, Trafficking 10-28g, and Trafficking 28-100g by Conspiracy, 1st; 

Robert Anthony Gracely (DOB 2/28/1973) Greenville, 24 years in prison on one count of Trafficking 28-100g by Conspiracy, 2nd offense (Judge G. Edward Welmaker – separate SGJ case “Vanilla Ice”) and 20 years in prison on a second count of Trafficking 28-100g by Conspiracy, 2nd offense (Judge Letitia H. Verdin – “Operation Ice House”) with both sentences running concurrently;

Warren Brent Chastain (DOB 10/31/1983) Greenville, sentenced to 11 years in prison on one count of Trafficking 28-100g by Conspiracy, 2nd;

Gary Jason Griffin (DOB 6/10/1976) Pickens, 15 years for ten counts involving Distribution of Methamphetamine, Trafficking 10-28g , Trafficking 28-100g, 2nd, Trafficking 28-100g by Conspiracy, 2nd, Possession of a Stolen Pistol, Possession of a Firearm During Commission of or Attempt to Commit a Violent Crime;

Kimberley Jean Rushton (DOB 5/17/1969) Greenville, sentenced to 12 years on two counts involving Trafficking 10-28g, 2nd, and Trafficking 28-100g by Conspiracy, 2nd;

Juan Daniel Castillo (DOB 4/22/1985) Belton, defendant deported prior to sentencing on one count of Trafficking 28-100g by Conspiracy, 2nd;

Carol Ann Lachino (DOB 5/24/1968) Greenville, sentenced to 17 years in prison on one count involving Trafficking 28-100g by Conspiracy, 1st;

Christie Elaine Blankenship (DOB 9/18/1979) Greenville, sentenced to 12 years in prison on two counts involving Trafficking 28-100g, 2nd, and Conspiring to Traffick 28-100g, 2nd;

Brian Scott Lesley (DOB unavailable) Pelzer, sentenced to 15 years in prison concurrent on six counts involving Possession With Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine 3rd, Trafficking 28-100g, 2nd, Trafficking 28-100g by Conspiracy, 2nd, Possession of a Stolen Pistol, Possession Of a Firearm During Commission of or Attempt to Commit a Violent Crime, and Intimidation of a Witness;

Donna Rai Hernandez (DOB 4/24/1963) Greenville, sentenced to 3 years in prison on one count of Trafficking 28-100g by Conspiracy, 2nd;   

Clyde Bowen Davis (DOB 8/24/1977) Greenville, sentenced to 25 years in prison after being found guilty of one count involving Trafficking 100-200g by Conspiracy, 1st; (Trial in Greenville – September 16-18, 2013)

Nicholous Cosall Dendy (DOB 10/27/1974) Greenville, sentenced to 10 years on three counts involving Distribution of Methamphetamine and Trafficking 28-100g by Conspiracy, 1st;

Amy Elizabeth Brock (DOB 8/27/1981) Greenville, sentenced to 3 years in prison on three counts involving Distribution of Methamphetamine and Trafficking 10-28g by Conspiracy and sentenced to 5 years in prison on two counts of Exposing a Child to Methamphetamine;

Michael Wayne Robinson (DOB 4/24/1968)  Greenville, sentenced to 12 years in prison on five counts involving Distribution of Methamphetamine and Trafficking 28-100g by Conspiracy, 2nd;

Brian Keith Sekerchak  (DOB 5/18/1969) Greenville, sentencing deferred on six counts involving Distribution of Methamphetamine and Trafficking 28-100g by Conspiracy, 2nd;

Joshua Ellis Byers (DOB 4/6/1982) Greenville, sentenced to 12 years in prison on three counts involving Distribution of Methamphetamine, 2nd, Conspiracy to Traffick 28-100g, and Trafficking 28-100g, 2nd;

Antonio Emerson Tate (DOB 10/22/1978) Lawrenceville, GA, sentenced to 25 years after being found guilty by a jury involving one count of Conspiracy to Traffick 400g or More, 1st; (Trial in Greenville – May 28-31, 2013)

Wendy Christine Lollis (DOB 1/4/1985) Easley, sentencing deferred on four counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine and Trafficking 28-100g by Conspiracy, 2nd;

Charles Javin Adams (DOB 10/8/1980) Easley, sentencing deferred on two counts involving Distribution of Methamphetamine and Trafficking 10-28g by Conspiracy, 1st;

Albrie Nate Bashaw (DOB 5/28/1985) Easley, sentenced to 3 years on three counts involving Distribution of Methamphetamine and Trafficking 10-28g by Conspiracy, 1st’

Chad Dewayne Moore (DOB 2/2/1977) Liberty, sentenced to 12 years involving two counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine and one count of Trafficking 28-100g by Conspiracy, 2nd;

Norman Victor Bergholm, IV (DOB  1/30/1979) Greenville, sentenced to 15 years on three counts involving Distribution of Methamphetamine and Trafficking 28-100g by Conspiracy, 2nd;

Christopher Michael Simmons (DOB 1/27/1977) Easley, sentenced to 15 years concurrent on six counts involving Distribution of Methamphetamine, 1st, Trafficking 10-28g, 1st, and Trafficking 28-100, 1st;

Rachel Elizabeth Eades (DOB 10/31/1975) Pickens, sentenced on two counts involving Trafficking 28-100g, 1st and Conspiracy to Traffick 28-100g.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Joshua R. Underwood and Assistant Deputy Attorney General Curtis A. Pauling.  It was investigated by agents from SLED, the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office and the Pickens County Sheriff Office.


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