GEORGETOWN, SC (WBTW) – A Georgetown man was convicted on drug and weapon charges in federal court Thursday.
A press release from the office of United States Attorney Beth Drake says 38-year-old Tywone Eli Reed was convicted of possession with intent to distribute 100 grams or more of heroin, as well as a quantity of cocaine and crack cocaine; possession of firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon; possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number; and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Evidence presented at the trial established that on September 2, 2016, the 15th Circuit Drug Enforcement Unit, comprised of narcotics investigators from local law enforcement agencies in Georgetown and Horry counties, executed a search warrant at Reed’s home.
In the kitchen of the home, agents found over 200 grams of heroin, almost 225 grams of cocaine and approximately twenty grams of crack cocaine, along with paraphernalia used to manufacture crack cocaine and package narcotics for distribution.
In the defendant’s bedroom, agents recovered two loaded handguns on the nightstand, a loaded .556 caliber rifle leaning against the wall and a .22 caliber handgun in a drawer. They also recovered approximately $3,800 from Reed’s bedroom. Agents recovered a total of 439 rounds of various caliber ammunition from the defendant’s kitchen and bedroom. Evidence also showed that a 6-year-old child was in the home at the time the search warrant was executed, despite agents waiting until school was in session to execute the search warrant.
A judge will impose sentence after he has reviewed the presentence report which will be prepared by the U.S. Probation Office.
Reed faces a mandatory minimum of ten years imprisonment and a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
The case was investigated by agents of the 15th Circuit Drug Enforcement Unit, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office, City of Georgetown Police Department and the 15th Circuit Solicitor’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Nick Bianchi and Chris Schoen of the Charleston office tried the case.