(Walhalla, SC)---------------------------------The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is announcing today an additional arrest in the first drug round-up of 2024.
The Sheriff’s Office began the operation with a meeting and briefing at 8:30am on Wednesday morning, February 20th, at the Law Enforcement Center in Walhalla.
The Sheriff’s Office obtained 41 arrest warrants on 27 subjects. The arrest warrants were obtained based on controlled purchases of narcotics by undercover operatives working at the direction of the Sheriff’s Office. One subject was charged with having possession of narcotics while incarcerated inside of the Oconee County Detention Center in 2023 with warrants being obtained after the narcotics were tested. Among the narcotics purchased during the controlled buys were Fentanyl, Heroin, Methamphetamine, Marijuana and Prescription Medication.
As of today 8am today, 20 subjects had been arrested so far and/or were already in jail and will or have been served their arrest warrants. The name of the additional arrest is below:
· Deanna Michelle Smith (Addis)
43 years old
Rock Crusher Road
Walhalla, SC
Distribution of Methamphetamine – 1 count
Smith was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center at around 1:18pm on Monday, March 4th, 2024. Smith was released from jail yesterday on a $25,000 personal recognizance bond.
The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating the remainder of those who are wanted in our ongoing round-up. Anyone with any information can leave a tip with Crimestoppers online at www.oconeesccrimestoppers.com. You don’t have to give your name when you contact Crimestoppers and all information provided is confidential. If your tip leads to an arrest, you could be eligible for a cash reward. The names of the remaining suspects are as follows:
· Benjamin Daniel Lusk
49 years old
Rock Crusher Road
Walhalla, SC
Distribution in Methamphetamine – 1 count
· Carla Denise Bennefield
46 years old
Durham Brown Road
Seneca, SC
Distribution of Methamphetamine – 1 count
· Marshall Phillip Sims
57 years old
Avalon Drive
Walhalla, SC
Distribution of Methamphetamine – 1 count
· Antonio Aminika Hunter
47 years old
Nebo Church Road
Seneca, SC
Distribution of Prescription Medication – 1 count
Distribution of Heroin – 1 count
Distribution of Methamphetamine – 2 counts
· Joshua Eugene Reece
38 years old
East Main Street
Walhalla, SC
Distribution of Methamphetamine – 1 count
· Randall Dain Wooten
41 years old
Wade Taylor Road
West Union, SC
Distribution of Methamphetamine – 2 counts
· James Christopher Brown
40 years old
Corinth Drive
Seneca, SC
Trafficking in Fentanyl – 1 count