The Crime Report

*State Report Places Horry County in Top 5 for Human Trafficking Cases*

South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, chair of the South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force, released the 2022 annual report at the State House Monday morning.

Task Force leadership joined him for the release, including local, state and federal law enforcement. The annual report shares data that details the magnitude of human trafficking in South Carolina.

Geographically, human trafficking cases were reported the most in Greenville, Charleston, Richland, Horry and Spartanburg counties, with Greenville making its way back to the top since 2017.

"This is a metric of awareness in that community or county, not a metric of activity. That's just where the most people are recognizing it and calling it in. So this can be a positive statistic," Wilson said.

The data also shows there was a 450% increase in labor trafficking victims, with a 44% increase in victims who identified as Latinx. Overall, there was a 128% increase in the use of the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Wilson talked about how victims are recruited.

"The top five methods of recruitment: job offer or ad, false promise or fraud, intimate partner or marriage proposition, familial or posing as a benefactor. Which undercuts this view that victims are kidnapped. There's usually a relationship between the trafficking victim and the trafficker," Wilson said.

"Today marks the end of the 10-year anniversary of the South Carolina Human Trafficking Task Force. I'm incredibly proud of the work done by the Task Force," said Wilson. "Its efforts to educate and equip people in how to combat human trafficking are making South Carolina a safer place to live. The work is not finished, but our defenses against this horrendous crime are getting stronger every day, and we're committed to the fight."

Efforts to train multiple professional sectors continued throughout 2022. The emphasis was primarily focused on law enforcement, lawyers and victim service providers. These efforts focused on the ability to identify a victim of human trafficking, thoroughly investigate cases and provide trauma-informed, victim-centered care to survivors. Increasing awareness and education regarding labor trafficking continue to be a priority for the Task Force.

“Members of the State Task Force continue to bring awareness of human trafficking in communities across our state,” Kathryn Moorehead, director of the Task Force, said. “In 2023, we will be rolling out new initiatives, including increased labor trafficking awareness campaigns.”

Joining Attorney General Alan Wilson and Task Force leadership today were First Lady of South Carolina Peggy McMaster, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel, regional task force members, nonprofit leaders and other anti-human trafficking advocates.

*US Postal Workers Among People Charged With PPP Fraud*

A Florence County U.S. Postal Service worker was among three people charged in a million dollar COVID-19 aid fraud ring, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Cherry Lewis, 43, of Johnsonville, was one of the three people charged on Friday, according to the release. Keisha Lewis, 33, of Hemingway, and Tiffany McFadden, 40, of Brooklyn, were also charged. All three were U.S. Postal Service employees at the time of the alleged scheme.

Cherry Lewis was allegedly involved in a national scheme, led by McFadden, to fraudulently obtain PPP loans, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

McFadden allegedly created fake PPP loan applications by obtaining personal identifying information of PPP loan applicants. She allegedly used that information to create tax documents and paperwork for non-existent businesses, according to the news release.

McFadden also allegedly would help get the loans forgiven by the Small Business Administration, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Cherry Lewis and Keisha Lewis were both accused of assisting in the scheme and helping other people complete fraudulent PPP loan applications, according to the release. They’re both accused of also receiving at least one of the fraudulent loans.

“PPP loans were intended to help businesses survive unprecedented challenges,” Adair F. Boroughs, a United States Attorney said in a statement. “Every dollar stolen from this program was stolen from taxpayers and legitimate businesses in need of support. This office takes pandemic-related crime seriously and stands ready to prosecute such fraud in all its forms.”

All three were arraigned and released on bond, according to the release. If convicted, each person faces up to 20 years in prison, fines, and restitution.

*3rd Person Charged in Death of Man Allegedly Held in Darlington County Kennel*

A Florence man is the third person arrested and charged in the killing of a man who was allegedly held captive in a dog kennel before he was killed in October and his body dumped near Timmonsville, according to the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office.

Krystyn Domynyck Kelly-Hines remains in the W. Glenn Campbell Detention Center on murder and kidnapping charges, Sheriff James Hudson Jr’s Office said. He was arrested on Friday.

According to warrants, Kelly-Hines and an unspecified number of co-defendants allegedly locked Trey Lee Montrose, 23, of Florence, in a dog kennel at a home in the 2000 block of Candy Lane in Darlington County before he was shot to death.

Montrose’s body was later found dumped off Victor White Road in Florence County. Coroner Keith von Lutcken said his body had “multiple gunshot wounds, as well as thermal injuries to his body.”

Paislee Ann Davis and Charles William Book are also charged with murder and kidnapping in the case and remain in the detention center. Book is also facing drug charges.

Davis and Book were in jail in Darlington County before Montrose was killed. They were among six people arrested in September after authorities searched a home on Candy Lane and found fentanyl, methamphetamine and marijuana.

*FCSO Charges Florence Man in Parking Lot Incident*

Investigators with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office have charged a Florence man with multiple violations following an incident in a Walmart parking lot.

On Saturday, January 7, 2023 at approximately 2:00 PM South Carolina Highway Patrol was called to the parking lot located at 804 South Cashua Drive to investigate multiple vehicle collisions involving both pedestrians and vehicles. After an initial investigation, SCHP determined that the incident was likely intentional and contacted Florence County Sheriff’s Office.

After reviewing witness statements and video evidence, FCSO Investigators obtained arrest warrants for Justin Wade Gardner, age 33, of Francis Marion Road, Florence, SC.

Gardner was taken into custody this morning and has been charged with four counts of Assault and Battery of a High and Aggravated Nature (S.C. Code Ann. 16-03-600(B)(1)), two counts of Leaving the Scene of an Accident (occupied vehicle) (S.C. Code Ann. 56-05-1220) and four counts of Leaving the Scene of an Accident (unoccupied vehicle) (S.C. Code Ann. 56-05-1240)

According to Investigators, while operating a motor vehicle Gardner is alleged to have purposefully struck two pedestrians in the parking lot and while attempting to flee the scene also struck four occupied and four unoccupied vehicles without reporting the incidents.

Gardner will be held at the Florence County Detention Center while awaiting a bond hearing.