United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today a Federal Grand Jury in Columbia, South Carolina, returned a multiple-count indictment in connection with a drug-related murder in Aiken:
Antonio Miller, age 38, of Columbia, South Carolina was charged in a three-count indictment with use of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence and drug trafficking causing death (a violation of 18 U. S. C. §924(j)); kidnapping resulting in death (a violation of 18 U. S. C. §1201); and drug conspiracy resulting in death (a violation of 21 U. S. C. §846). Miller could receive life without the possibility of parole on each of these charges.
The indictment alleges that on Sept. 15, 2008, Miller kidnapped and restrained the victim Fred Tucker, binding his hands and feet and torturing him with a hot screwdriver. After so torturing Tucker, Miller maliciously killed Tucker by shooting him in the chest. The indictment also alleges that Miller and others conspired to distribute crack cocaine and, while engaged in this conspiracy, Miller intentionally killed Tucker.
Miller will be arraigned on the indictment by the Honorable Shiva V. Hodges, United States Magistrate Judge on Thursday, Aug. 17, 2017 at 2:30 pm at the Mathew J. Perry Federal Courthouse located at 901 Richland Street, Columbia, South Carolina.
The case was investigated by the Aiken County Sheriff’s Office, the Richland County Sheriff's Office, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Aiken Department of Public Safety, North Augusta Department of Public Safety, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys JD Rowell and Jay N. Richardson of the Columbia office are prosecuting the case.
The United States Attorney stated that all charges in Indictments are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. ##
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
