SOUTH CAROLINA— A narcotics raid on a Winterwood Road residence on Wednesday resulted in four arrests and the seizure of considerable amounts of drugs, according to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office.
The operation followed a controlled buy of suspected fentanyl earlier in September by 46-year-old Billy Lee Sanders, who escaped into adjacent woods when investigators arrived and is still missing.
Christopher Merrell Whited, 39, of Kershaw, Holly Marie Faile, 39, of Lancaster, Christa Ann McNeil, 32, of Pageland, and Kantara Charmine Sowell, 30, of Kershaw, were all arrested.
During the search, deputies discovered 8.2 grams of suspected fentanyl, 30.7 grams of suspected methamphetamine, 0.4 grams of suspected crack cocaine, 3.3 grams of suspected marijuana, and medications labeled alprazolam, clonazepam, and gabapentin. Digital scales and a smoking pipe were also found.
Faile is accused of trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine, as well as possessing controlled narcotics with the intent to distribute. Bond was denied. McNeil and Sowell each face six warrants for possession with intent to distribute several narcotics. McNeil’s bond was set at $11,500, while Sowell posted $10,000 and was released Thursday. Whited faces trafficking and possession charges, and his bond was denied.
Sheriff Barry Faile stated, “We began receiving complaints about this address and the people entering and exiting the property a while ago. We opened a case, did a lot of research, and were able to purchase from Sanders and obtain a search warrant.”
Sanders is still wanted on various narcotics counts related to the fentanyl transaction and the drugs discovered during the investigation.
