14 face federal narcotics, firearms charges

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CHARLESTON — Fourteen people have been charged after federal, South Carolina and local agencies as part of a monthslong campaign against violent crime in Walterboro and the surrounding area, a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Carolina says.

The FBI assisted local and state law enforcement agencies in the campaign against illegal possession and distribution of narcotics and illegal possession and use of firearms. Law officers seized multiple firearms, ammunition and dangerous drugs such as fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine.

According to court documents, those charged and their ages, hometowns and the federal counts they face are:

• Jamie Brown, 50, of Yemassee; conspiring to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, a quantity of cocaine base and a quantity of fentanyl. Additionally, Brown is charged with possessing with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine, cocaine base and fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of firearms by a prohibited person.
• Rashawn Lymel Brown, 29, of Summerville; conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of cocaine. Additionally, Brown was charged with two counts of distribution of cocaine; two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; one count of possessing with intent to distribute marijuana; and one count of possession of a short-barreled rifle.
• Richard Vernon Deas, 25, of Charleston; conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Deas is currently serving a sentence for murder in the South Carolina Department of Corrections.
• Trevor Courtney Fishburne, Jr., 34 of Walterboro; conspiring to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 400 grams or more of fentanyl and a quantity of MDMA. Fishburne is currently serving a sentence for armed robbery, assault and battery with intent to kill and weapons offense in the South Carolina Department of Corrections.
• Wanda Catrece Fishburne, 50, of Yemassee; conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine and quantities of fentanyl and cocaine base. Additionally, Fishburne was charged with possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl, cocaine base and cocaine; possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and possession of firearms by a prohibited person.
• Oshalum Grant, 27, of Walterboro; conspiring to distribute a quantity of cocaine. Additionally, Grant was charged with one count of possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.
• Zaquann Ernest Hampton, 30, of Walterboro; conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 500 grams or more of cocaine, 500 grams or more of cocaine base, 40 grams or more of fentanyl, a quantity of heroin and a quantity of MDMA. Additionally, Hampton is charged with multiple counts of distribution of methamphetamine; one count of possession with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine, cocaine base, and fentanyl; two counts of possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and one count of possession of firearms by a prohibited person.
• Stephanie Hawkins, 37, of Summerville; conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Additionally, Hawkins was charged with one count of possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
• Matthew Rashaun Jones, 30, of Walterboro; conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and quantities of cocaine, cocaine base, MDMA and fentanyl. Additionally, Jones was charged with possessing with intent to distribute quantities of cocaine, cocaine base and fentanyl; possession of firearms by a prohibited person; and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
• Brianna Alnisa Lawrence, 28, of Walterboro; conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and a quantity of cocaine. Additionally, Lawrence was charged with distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and transfer of ammunition to a prohibited person.
• Jaziah Samone Dresha Lewis, 27, of St. George; conspiring to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, 500 grams or more of cocaine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl. Additionally, Lewis was charged with one count of possessing with intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl and 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and a separate additional count of possessing with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture containing methamphetamine.
• Brittaney Smith, 28, of Walterboro; conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
• Jaden Tyrone Smith, 23, of Walterboro; conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
• James Joseph Young, III, 30, of Summerville; conspiring to distribute 5 kilograms or more of cocaine and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Additionally, Young was charged with three counts of distribution of cocaine.

In addition to the FBI, the agencies involved in the case were the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Secret Service; South Carolina Law Enforcement Division; South Carolina Department of Corrections; South Carolina Highway Patrol; 14th Circuit Solicitor’s Office; Colleton County, Dorchester County, Charleston County, Florence County and Marion County sheriff’s offices; and Charleston, North Charleston, Mount Pleasant and Summerville police departments.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carra Henderson and Nick Bianchi are prosecuting the case.