SUMTER, S.C. - Fourteen people have been arrested and five others are being sought after a year-long heroin investigation.
The joint investigation between the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Sumter County Sheriff's Office, was initiated by city investigators between April and May 2013 after receiving a growing number of complaints related to heroin use. Officers with the Orangeburg Police Department, state Probation, Parole and Pardon Services and Immigration Services and federal Homeland Security were also involved.
Instances of heroin use locally and nationally have been on the rise, according to the city's Organized Crime and Vice Control Unit.
All of the suspects are of Sumter County and are being held in the Sumter-Lee Regional Detention Center pending bond.
Arrested were:
* Lyndon Obrian Allen, (DOB: 3/8/83), of 16 Lynam Road, Sumter, charged with two counts of Distribution of Heroin, Possession With Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine, Trafficking in Cocaine, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of a Schedule III Controlled Substance, Possession With Intent to Distribute Heroin, Manufacturing of Crack Cocaine, Violation of S.C. Gun Law and Felon in Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime. Officers confiscated $3,877 during Allen's arrest.
* Bernard Leon Witherspoon, (DOB: 5/9/92), of 5755 Cane Savannah Road, Wedgefield is charged with Distribution of Heroin, Trafficking Heroin, and two counts of Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin. U.S. currency in the amount of $6,020 and rounds of ammunition were found during Witherspoon's arrest.
* Jennifer Teresa McCauley, (DOB: 2/10/85), of 2691 Truefield Road, Sumter is charged with Distribution of Heroin and Violation of S.C. Gun Law.
* Latonya Benjamin, (DOB: 4/21/83) of 4810 Chanson Lane, Sumter is charged with Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin, Possession of Cocaine, Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine.
* Frederick Benjamin, (DOB: 7/11/79), of 4810 Chanson Lane, Sumter, is charged with two counts of Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin, Distribution of Heroin, Possession With Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine and Possession of Cocaine.
* Bennie Haynesworth, (DOB: 12/2/80), of 130 Curtiswood St., is charged with Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Possession of Marijuana-2nd offense.
Three others face charges related to bench warrants and other offenses unrelated to the drug investigation.
Arrested between October and November 2013 as part of the investigation were:
* Quinton Hardy, (DOB: 4/28/82), of 305 High St.,Sumter,two counts Distribution of Heroin.
* Keishawn Brown, (DOB: 11/12/79), of 994 Huddersfield Drive, Sumter, two counts Trafficking Heroin and four counts Distribution of Heroin.
* Maurice Lowery, (DOB: 5/10/73), of 35 Highland Ave., Sumter, two counts Distribution of Heroin, Possession of Heroin and Trafficking Heroin.
* Julia Garrison, (DOB: 2/9/86), of 1090 N. Guignard Drive, Apt. 2, Sumter, Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin.
* Joseph Vipperman, (DOB: 12/29/84) of 2290 Waterwheel Drive, Sumter, Possession of Heroin.
Authorities continue looking for five suspects who face various drug charges:
* Jeffery Dewayne Sanders, (DOB:6/27/85), is described as a 6 foot 1 inch black male, weighing 220 pounds with brown eyes and black hair.
* Sherman Desmond Coleman, (DOB: 4/22/81), is described as a 6 foot black male, weighing 135 pounds with brown eyes and black hair.
* Travies Auntwan Isaac Gray, (DOB: 8/8/90), is described as a 5 feet 10 inch black male, weighing 150 pounds with brown eyes and black hair.
* Tony Bell, (DOB: 2/15/84) is described as a 5 foot 9 inch black male, weighing 165 pounds with brown eyes and black hair.
* Stanley Jerome Pinckney, (DOB: 6/30/89), is described as a 5 foot 7 inch black male, weighing 160 pounds with brown eyes and black hair.
The DEA encourages parents, along with their children, to educate themselves about the dangers of legal and illegal drugs by visiting DEA's interactive websites at www.justthinktwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.dea.gov.
