14 people face prison for drug and gun trafficking in South Carolina

COLUMBIA, SC — 14 people face federal prison time after pleading guilty to charges related to a drug trafficking organization in upstate South Carolina.

Between February 1, 2021 and September 6, 2023, law enforcement seized 39 firearms and more than 27 kilograms of methamphetamine (street value $800,000) during the “Las Senoritas” investigation into a Inmate-run drug trafficking organization. South Carolina Department of Corrections inmates and defendants coordinated the delivery of methamphetamine from Mexico to distribution of the drug in South Carolina. The women, called “Senoritas,” sold up to 10 kilos of methamphetamine a week to area drug dealers.

In one case, law enforcement seized nearly five kilograms of methamphetamine from an AirBnB that the women — Angela Nicole Welbourn and Taylor Suzanne Oates — had rented in Greenville and where they sold drugs.

The defendants in this case include:

Harlie Danielle Willford: Pleaded on 11/30/24; Sentenced to 20 years

• Count 1 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams (conspiracy)
• Count 2 – Financial transaction involving property derived from illegal drug-related activities (money laundering)

• Count 32 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams
• Count 33 – Trafficking in Methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams
• Count 34 – Possession of a weapon during a violent crime

• Count 1 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams
• Count 2 – Possession of a weapon during a violent crime

Melissa Hope Finley: Pleaded on 11/30/24; Sentenced to 17 years

• Count 1 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams (conspiracy)
• Count 2 – Financial transaction involving goods derived from illegal drug-related activities (money laundering)

• Count 19 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams
• Count 23 – Possession of a stolen vehicle, value of $10,000 or more
• Count 24 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams
• Count 25 – Possession of a weapon during a violent crime

Angèle Nicole Welborn: Pleaded on 11/30/2023; Sentenced to 17 years

• Count 1 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams (conspiracy)
• Count 2 – Financial transaction involving property derived from illegal drug-related activities (money laundering)

• Count 17 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams

Taylor Suzanne Oates: Pleaded on 11/30/2023; Sentenced to 16 years

• Count 1 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams (conspiracy)
• Count 2 – Financial transaction involving property derived from illegal drug-related activities (money laundering)

• Count 17 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams
• Count 18 – Possession of a weapon during a violent crime

Heather Marie Griffin: Pleaded on 01/02/24; Sentenced to 12 years

• Count 1 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams (conspiracy)

• Count 16 – Trafficking in methamphetamine of 28 to 100 grams

Arthur Shane Mashburn: Pleaded on 01/02/24; Sentenced to 18 years

• Count 1 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams (conspiracy)
• Count 2 – Financial transaction involving property derived from illegal drug-related activities (money laundering)

• Count 35 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams
• Count 37 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 to 100 grams
• Counts 38 and 39 – Possession of a weapon during a violent crime

• Count 16 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams
• Count 17 – Possession of a weapon during a violent crime

Travis Matthew Bentley: Pleaded on 02/24/02; Sentenced to 20 years

• Count 1 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams (conspiracy)
• Count 2 – Financial transaction involving goods derived from illegal drug-related activities (money laundering)

• Count 1 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams
• Count 3 – Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule II Narcotics (Fentanyl)

Monica Denise Bearden: Pleaded on 01/02/24; Sentenced to 17 years

• Count 1 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams (conspiracy)
• Count 2 – Financial transaction involving property derived from illegal drug-related activities (money laundering)

• Count 1 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams

Malary Lynn Bates: Pleaded on 02/24/02; Sentenced to 18 years

• Count 1 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams (conspiracy)
• Count 2 – Financial transaction involving property derived from illegal drug-related activities (money laundering)
• Count 5 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams
• Count 6 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams
• Count 7 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams
• Count 10: Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime

Stacy Lynn Brooks: Pleaded on 02/24/02; Sentenced to 20 years

• Count 1 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams (conspiracy)

• Count 2 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams
• Count 3 – Possession of a weapon during a violent crime
• Count 4 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams
• Counts 5 to 8 – Possession of a Weapon During a Violent Crime
• Count 42 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams
• Count 43-Possession of a weapon during a violent crime

Heather Michelle Hamilton: Pleaded on 01/02/24; Sentenced to 25 years

• Count 1 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 400 grams or more (conspiracy)

• Count 14 – Trafficking in methamphetamine of 28 to 100 grams

Wade Douglas Watkins: Pleaded on 05/16/24; Sentenced to 19 years

• Count 1 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams (conspiracy)
• Count 2 – Financial transaction involving property derived from illegal drug-related activities (money laundering)

Randall Jason Simmons: Pleaded on 05/16/2024; Sentenced to 19 years

• Count 1 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams (conspiracy)
• Count 2 – Financial transaction involving property derived from illegal drug-related activities (money laundering)
• Count 34 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams
• Count 35 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams
• Count 36 – Possession of a weapon during a violent crime
• Count 37 – Possession of a weapon during a violent crime

• Failure to stop for blue light, 2nd or subsequent offense

Kasey Leigh Raspberry: Pleaded on 05/16/2024; Sentenced to 20 years

• Count 1 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams (conspiracy)
• Count 2 – Financial transaction involving property derived from illegal drug-related activities (money laundering)
• Count 24 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams
• Count 26 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, but less than 100 grams
• Count 27 – Trafficking in methamphetamine, 28 grams or more but less than 100 grams

The case is still ongoing.

The following law enforcement agencies are part of the investigation: the South Carolina State Grand Jury and prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Savanna Goude. The state grand jury was assisted in this case by a partnership consisting of the Attorney General's State Grand Jury Division, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, the U.S. Attorney's Office Thirteenth Circuit, South Carolina Department of Corrections Office of Inspector General, Greenville County. Multijurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit, Abbeville County Sheriff's Office, Anderson County Sheriff's Office, Greenville County Sheriff's Office, Laurens County Sheriff's Department, Oconee County Sheriff's Office , Pickens County Sheriff's Office, Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office, Clemson Police Department, Easley Police Department, and the Traveler's Rest Police Department.