The Crime Report

*Florence County Sheriff’s Office Responded to a Discovery of a Body*

At approximately 7:00 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2023, Deputies with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call regarding the discovery of a body near Leigh Lane in Florence, SC. The incident is being investigated by FCSO and the Florence County Coroner’s Office as a homicide. The identity of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of the next of kin by the Florence County Coroner.
Anyone with knowledge or information regarding this incident is asked to contact FCSO Investigators at (843) 665-2121, ext. 421 or “Submit-A-Tip” on the FCSO free app for I-phone or Android devices. You do not need to leave you identify yourself to leave information. You can also leave information anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers of the Pee Dee at 1-888-CRIME-SC. You may also be entitled to a cash reward from Crime Stoppers for information leading to the arrest of individuals involved in a crime.

*City of Florence Police Department Asking for Assistance*

The City of Florence Police Department is asking for assistance in identifying the subjects in this photo. These subjects are wanted for questioning regarding a shoplifting incident that occurred at Academy Sports located at 120 Woody Jones Blvd on February 9, 2023. The subjects were seen leaving in white SUV.

Contact Sgt. Blackmon of the Florence Police Department with information at 843-665-3191 or at wblackmon@cityofflorence.com

*International Law Enforcement Agencies Issue Joint Warning about Global Financial Sextortion Crisis

The FBI and our international law enforcement partners are issuing a joint warning about a global financial sextortion crisis. Our agencies have seen an explosion in incidents of minor boys around the world being coerced into sending explicit images online and extorted for money—a crime called financial sextortion.

In 2022, the FBI received thousands of reports related to the financial sextortion of minors, primarily boys, representing an exponential increase from previous years. Unfortunately, the FBI is also aware of more than a dozen suicides following these incidents. Today, on Safer Internet Day, we are urging children and caregivers to educate themselves about this crime and help us protect others from being victimized.

"Financial sextortion has a far wider impact than just our country and our kids—it is a global crisis that demands everyone’s attention," said FBI Director Christopher Wray. "The FBI is working hand-in-hand with our international partners to prevent children from becoming victims of this tragic crime. We all have a duty to support and empower victims to come forward and show them that there is life after images."

Financial sextortion can happen anywhere, although it mainly occurs on the digital platforms where children are already spending their screen time, like social media and gaming websites, or video chat applications. On these platforms, predators often pose as girls of a similar age and use fake accounts to target young boys, deceiving them into sending explicit photos or videos. The predator then threatens to release the compromising materials unless the victim sends payment, however, in many cases, the predator will release the images anyway.

Even though financial sextortion is committed virtually, it can have serious impacts offline. After the threats and aggression, victims may feel alone, ashamed, scared, and these feelings can lead to children resorting to self-harm. Law enforcement around the world wants victims to know they are not in trouble, they are not alone, and there is life after pictures.

What to do if you are being financially sextorted:
▪ Remember, the predator is to blame, not your child or you.
▪ Report the predator’s account via the platform’s safety feature.
▪ Block the predator and do not delete the profile or messages because that can be helpful to law enforcement in identifying and stopping them.
▪ Ask for help from a trusted adult or law enforcement before sending money or more images. Cooperating rarely stops the blackmail and harassment, but law enforcement can.
▪ Trust that there is life after images.

If young people are being exploited, they are victims of a crime and should report it. We encourage you to contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at tips.fbi.gov.

*SLED Investigating Officer Involved Shooting in Dillon County*

Agents from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) are investigating an officer involved shooting on Monday, February 20, 2023 in Dillon County.

A South Carolina Highway Patrol Trooper attempted to stop a driver later identified as Tyquan Raheem Bellamy, 29, for speeding on Hwy. 76 in Marion County. Following a vehicle pursuit into Dillon County there was an exchange of gunfire. Neither Bellamy nor the Trooper were struck. Bellamy fled the scene.

Bellamy was apprehended at a home in Marion County and was transported to the Dillon County Detention Center. Bellamy was served arrest warrants for Attempted Murder, Possession of a Firearm by Person Convicted of a Violent Felony, Pointing and Presenting a Firearm, and Possession of a Weapon during the Commission of a Violent Crime. The case will be prosecuted by the 4th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

This is an ongoing investigation. As such, no other information about the case will be disclosed by SLED at this time. The incident in Dillon County was the 5th officer involved shooting in South Carolina in 2023. This is the first officer involved shooting for the South Carolina Highway Patrol this year.

In 2022, there were 32 officer involved shootings in South Carolina. The South Carolina Highway Patrol had 1 officer involved shooting last year.

*SLED Charges Former Darlington Police Officer with Misconduct In Office, Possession With Intent To Distribute Heroin*

Agents with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) charged Thomas ‘Trey’ Franklin James III, 31, of Darlington, SC, on Friday, February 17, 2023, with Misconduct in Office and Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin.

James was booked at the Glenn Campbell Detention Center. The case will be prosecuted by the 4th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

*SLED Charges One Chesterfield County Man With Ill Treatment Of Animals And Animal Fighting And His Son With Obstructing Justice*

In a joint operation on February 6, 2023, deputies with the Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office and agents with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) partnered in one of the latest efforts to combat dog fighting in South Carolina.

SLED agents charged Derwayne Terry Miller, Sr., 43, with:

• 22 misdemeanor counts of ill treatment of animals

• 3 felony counts of ill treatment of animals

• 23 counts of animal fighting

Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Office deputies charged Miller, Sr., with:

• Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana & Schedule I-II pills

• Possession of schedule IV drug

• Unlawful Possession of a Weapon

SLED agents also charged Derwayne Terry Miller, Jr., 23, with Obstructing Justice.

Miller Sr. and Miller Jr. were booked at the Chesterfield County Detention Center. The case will be prosecuted by the 4th Circuit Solicitor’s Office.

*Horry County Council Chairman Named in Lawsuit of Over $1.2M Stolen from Estate*

A lawsuit filed in Horry County accuses a former employee of county council Chairman Johnny Gardner and others of depriving a man’s heirs of more than $1.2 million in assets.

The lawsuit, filed on Jan. 27, names Gardner, his law firm, Anderson Brothers Bank and Luke Barefoot as defendants. Barefoot is accused of diverting “funds from the Estate of Benjamin Creel to various entities to benefit Defendants Barefoot, Gardner and Defendant Gardner Law Firm, in which [they] had financial interest.”

Creel died in a car crash in November 2016. Barefoot “assumed control of the Estate…as personal representative and left a valid will naming Plaintiffs as his heirs at law” in November 1997, according to the lawsuit.

According to the lawsuit Barefoot was an employee at the Gardner Law Firm, where the estate file was maintained. Barefoot and the law firm allegedly collected fees “in connection with the administration of the Estate of the late Benjamin Creel.”

The heirs allegedly received none of the personal items designated to them and were deprived of more than $1.2 million “without justification and excuse,” according to the lawsuit, which claims that all the funds were channeled to businesses to benefit Barefoot and Gardner, and in some cases help reduce business loans to the bank.

The lawsuit accuses Gardner of knowing about Barefoot’s conduct and says Gardner “had a responsibility to monitor the activities of any and all of his employees or agents using his office.”

Gardner is accused of breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, and gross negligence. He is not accused of fraud, conversion, or conspiracy.

The lawsuit accuses the bank of aiding and abetting “in the fraudulent and grossly negligent transfer of these funds from the true beneficiaries, the heirs at law, to various business and business interests of [Barefoot] and [Gardner].”

The bank had plenty of opportunities to observe the alleged fraud and took no action to prevent it, according to the lawsuit. The bank is also accused of not obtaining a copy of Creel’s will or ignoring the terms.

“Barefoot has admitted the essential allegations of this complaint in statements made to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and to representatives of Brittain Law Firm.” Brittain Law Firm is representing the heirs in the lawsuit.

SLED charged Barefoot with two counts of breach of trust with fraudulent intent in July 2022. According to online records, those charges are still pending in court. The heirs are seeking an unspecified amount of actual and punitive damages. A jury trial is demanded.