SOUTH CAROLINA — Four people were arrested and significant amounts of drugs seized following a narcotics raid on a Winterwood Road home Wednesday, according to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office.
The operation followed a controlled buy of suspected fentanyl earlier in September from 46-year-old Billy Lee Sanders, who fled into nearby woods when agents arrived and remains at large.
Authorities arrested 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.
During the search, deputies seized 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 pills believed to be alprazolam, clonazepam, and gabapentin. Digital scales and a smoking pipe were also recovered.
Faile faces multiple charges, including trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Bond was denied. McNeil and Sowell each face six warrants related to possession with intent to distribute several drugs. McNeil’s bond was set at $11,500; Sowell posted $10,000 bond and was released Thursday. Whited faces trafficking and possession charges, and bond was denied.
Sheriff Barry Faile said, “We started getting complaints about this address and the people in and out of the property a while back. We opened a case, did a lot of legwork, and were able to buy from Sanders and get the search warrant.”
Sanders remains wanted on multiple drug charges connected to the fentanyl sale and the drugs found during the raid.
