Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Bradley Lewis Felder, 27, and Everette “Rhett" Carter Berry, 28, have entered guilty pleas in federal court in Columbia, admitting to their involvement in a Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute a Quantity of 3,4-Methylenedioxyethylcathinone Hydrochloride (commonly known as "Molly") and 50 kilograms of more of Marijuana, a violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(C) and 846. United States District Judge Terry L. Wooten of Columbia accepted the guilty pleas and will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that, in the summer of 2013, agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating Bradley FELDER, Rhett BERRY, and others, who were involved in the importation and distribution of both high-grade marijuana and “molly" in and around Richland and Lexington Counties. As the investigation progressed, agents learned that FELDER was importing high-grade marijuana from northern California, and “molly" from an unknown source of supply in China. Agents discovered that FELDER rented various houses and apartments in and around Richland and Lexington Counties for the primary purpose of using the addresses to receive shipments of “molly." FELDER paid friends, including BERRY, to accept the delivery of the drug packages; sometimes he paid in cash, other times he paid with marijuana.
During the investigation that led to the arrests, agents intercepted approximately 9 packages of molly, each containing kilogram quantities, being shipped to South Carolina from China. Additionally, prior to the arrests, agents seized approximately $150,000 in cash from FELDER. FELDER was arrested on Aug. 31, 2015, in the parking garage of the Gates of Williams Brice apartments. Following FELDER’S arrest, agents seized an additional $1,481.90 cash, a loaded.45 caliber pistol, and two watches valued at approximately $64,000.00 and $46,356.00. Agents also seized several cell phones from FELDER; one of those phones held photographs of huge amounts of money. One picture, taken in FELDER’s apartment a month prior to his arrest, showed money stacked on the kitchen counter. The money had been heat-sealed in plastic, and stacked in large bundles. Another photograph showed a small closet and on the shelves of the closet were large Tupperware-like containers full of cash.
Agents confronted FELDER about the money that was pictured on his phone. On Feb. 2, 2016, FELDER led agents to a location where he had buried a large bag of money on his family’s farm in Bowman, SC. Agents seized the bag which contained $1,768,031 dollars.
Mr. Nettles stated that the maximum penalty these defendants face is imprisonment for 20 years and/or a fine of $1,000,000.
The case was investigated by agents of the Midlands HIDTA Task Force, comprised of agents from South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office, the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office, Orangeburg Public Safety, the Columbia Police Department, the 5th Circuit Solicitor’s Office, the Richland County Sheriff’s Office and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office, and with assistance from the United States Postal Service and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant United States Attorney Jane B. Taylor of the Columbia office is prosecuting the case. ##
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
