(Walhalla, SC)-------------------------------------A Seneca woman was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center early Monday morning on four outstanding arrest warrants related to a narcotics investigation.
28 year old Aureliana Louise Stringer, of Ponderosa Drive, remains in jail today on a combined $125,000 surety bond on charges of Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Possession of Fentanyl and Possession of a Weapon during Commission of a Violent Crime. The charges were obtained due to a traffic stop in March of this year.
Stringer, who was taken into custody in Houston, TX by Agents from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection and transported back to Oconee County, was also served with an outstanding General Sessions Bench Warrant and a Magistrate Bench Warrant.
Back on March 25th of this year, the Sheriff’s Office issued a news release regarding a traffic stop that occurred on March 22nd, 2024 near the Georgia-South Carolina line on Toccoa Highway. According to a news release, a Deputy from the Pro-Active Criminal Enforcement (P.A.C.E.) team stopped a Chevrolet Equinox due to the driver committing a traffic violation.
The Deputy made contact with the driver, identified as Stringer, and a passenger, 40 year old Martin Acosta, Jr. of the Ponderosa Drive address in Seneca.
According to the news release, Stringer informed the Deputy that she did not have a driver’s license. The Deputy asked for consent to search the vehicle, which was declined. The Deputy, who is a K9 handler, deployed K-9 Officer Zeke for further investigation.
The news release stated that after Zeke indicated a positive hit on the vehicle, a search of the vehicle was conducted. A quantity of Heroin and Fentanyl was located inside of the vehicle, along with an amount of Methamphetamine that constituted a trafficking weight of the drug. A firearm was also located inside of the vehicle. Due to the ongoing investigation, the approximate amount of drugs seized was not released.
At that time, based upon evidence obtained, Acosta, Jr. was arrested and booked into the Oconee County Detention Center at around 1:22pm on Friday, March 22nd on charges of Trafficking in Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Possession of Fentanyl and Possession of a Weapon during Commission of a Violent Crime. Acosta, Jr. was also served with an outstanding arrest warrant for a charge of Shoplifting based upon an investigation at the Seneca Walmart on February 14th, 2023.
Stringer was also arrested on two outstanding arrest warrants on charges of Unlawfully Placing a Child at Risk and Assault and Battery – 3rd Degree in regards to two separate investigations. Stringer was booked into jail at around 11:15am on March 22nd.
According to the news release, Acosta, Jr. was given a combined $202,125.00 surety bond. Acosta, Jr’s bond amount was reduced to $50,000, according to his inmate summary. Acosta, Jr. was released from jail on March 30th after posting bond.
The news release also stated that Stringer received a combined $11,087.50 personal recognizance bond on her two outstanding arrest warrants. According to her inmate summary, Stringer was released from jail on March 30th after a drug patch was placed upon her as a condition of bond.
The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is currently seeking information on the whereabouts of Acosta, Jr. as he is currently wanted on four outstanding General Session Bench Warrants and one Magistrate Bench Warrant. Acosta, Jr. also has an outstanding arrest warrant from the Sheriff’s Office on a charge of Trafficking in Methamphetamine.
Acosta, Jr. was featured on a Wanted Wednesday segment on the Crimestoppers of Oconee County, Inc. Facebook page on September 4th. If you have any information on the whereabouts of 40 year old Martin Acosta, Jr. of Seneca, submit a tip to Crimestoppers online at www.71crime.com, or by calling 1-844-71-CRIME or by downloading the free P3 app on your mobile device.
You don’t have to give your name when you contact Crimestoppers, and all tips provided are confidential. If your tip leads to an arrest, you could be eligible for a cash reward.