United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that a Federal Grand Jury in Florence, South Carolina, returned an Indictment against the following:
Loris Man Indicted on Federal Gun Charges and Hobbs Act Armed Robbery. Fuquan Thompson, age 50, of Loris, South Carolina, was charged in a three-count indictment with Hobbs Act Armed Robbery, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951(a), possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g)(1), and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 924(c)(1)(A). The maximum penalty Thompson could face is imprisonment of 27 years and a fine of $250,000.00.
This case was investigated by the Horry County Sheriff’s Department, Horry County Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Explosives, and Firearms and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Alfred W. Bethea, Jr., of the Florence office.
Horry County Man Indicted for Illegal Re-entry into the United States After Deportation. Cesar Omar Torres-Santiesteban of Horry County, South Carolina, was charged in a single-count indictment with illegal re-entry into the United States after deportation, a violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a). The maximum penalty Torres-Santiesteban could receive is two years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.00.
The case was investigated by ICE-Enforcement Removal Operations. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office for prosecution.
Another Horry County Man Indicted for Illegal Re-entry into the United States After Deportation. Rafael Altamirano-Ruiz of Horry County, South Carolina, was charged in a single-count indictment with illegal re-entry into the United States after deportation, a violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a). The maximum penalty Altamirano-Ruiz could receive is two years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.00.
The case was investigated by ICE - Enforcement Removal Operations. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office for prosecution.
Florence Woman Indicted for Embezzling Money from Social Security Administration. Jacqueline Britt-Briggs of Florence, South Carolina, was charged in a single-count indictment with embezzling money from the Social Security Administration, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 641. The maximum penalty Britt-Briggs could receive is ten years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000.00.
The case was investigated by the Office of Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office for prosecution.
The United States Attorney stated that all charges in these Indictments are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. ##
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
