Florence Grand Jury returns several indictments - WMBFNews.com, Myrtle Beach/Florence SC, Weather

Florence Grand Jury returns several indictments

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From the US States Attorney's Office: 

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that the Florence Division of the United States Attorney's office returned the following indictments on February 28, 2012

Wyvette Thompson Douglas, age 43, of Bennettsville, SC, was charged in a 2-count Indictment with conspiracy to possess controlled substances, a violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846, and health care fraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1347.  The maximum penalty Wyvette Thompson Douglas could receive is 20 years imprisonment.  The case was investigated by agents of the DEA Diversion and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II, of the Florence office for prosecution.

Octavio Huicho Flores, age 26, of Horry County, SC, was charged in a 1-count Indictment with illegal reentry into the United States after having been deported following a conviction for an aggravated felony, a violation of Title 8, United States Code, Section 1326(a)(2) and (b)(2).  The maximum penalty Octavio Huicho Flores could receive is 20 years imprisonment.  The case was investigated by agents of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) agents and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II, of the Florence office for prosecution.

Amanda Burroughs Nobles, age 28, of Mullins, SC, was charged in a 1-count Indictment with embezzlement by a bank employee, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 656.  The maximum penalty Amanda Burroughs Nobles could receive is 30 years imprisonment. The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II, of the Florence office for prosecution.

Justin Nicholas Guerra, age 26, of Myrtle Beach, SC, was charged in a 2-count Indictment with transportation and possession of child pornography, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2252A(a)(1) and 2252A(a)(5)(B).  The maximum penalty Justin Nicholas Guerra could receive is 20 years imprisonment.  The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney William E. Day, II, of the Florence office for prosecution.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Victor Benitez, age 41, of Florence, South Carolina, was charged in a two-count Indictment with accepting money from an inmate at the Williamsburg Federal Correctional Institution in return for failing to enforce rules and regulations, providing and attempting to provide marijuana and cigarettes to an inmate, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 201(b)(2)(C) and 1791(a)(1).  The maximum penalty Benitez could receive is 15 years imprisonment.  The case was investigated by agents of the FBI and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office for prosecution.

James Bryant, age 36, was charged in a one-count Indictment with assaulting a federal correctional officer while an inmate at a correctional facility, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 18:111.  The maximum penalty Bryant could receive is 8 years imprisonment.  The case was investigated by agents of Department of Justice/Office of Inspector General, and is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney A. Bradley Parham of the Florence office for prosecution.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in these Indictments are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.