S.C. Woman Uses Bibles to Smuggle Drugs, Weapons
South Carolina might be in the Bible belt, but one local woman was recently caught using the Bible for something other than memorizing Scripture.
Law Enforcement agents in South Carolina say Shareca Latoya Jones recently mailed a package containing two hollowed-out Bibles in an attempt to smuggle weapons, drugs and a cell phone to a prison inmate.
Sheriff Barry Faile told WBTV News that authorities began investigating 28-year-old Jones earlier this month after a package mailed to Lieber Correctional Institution in Ridgeville, S.C., was returned by the Post Office to a local business.
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The Lancaster County Drug Task Force's investigation eventually led them to discover Jones mailed the package to the prison from the Kershaw Post Office. The package contained two Bibles with razor knives, a cell phone, 30 ecstasy pills and more than 28 grams of cocaine hidden inside of them.
A week after the team began the investigation, deputies pulled Jones over at a traffic stop in the Kershaw area. When they arrested her, Jones was in possession of a loaded handgun, prescription medication, Ecstasy pills, 26 individual packages of marijuana, multiple cell phones, and a large sum of cash.
Deputies also searched Jones' home where they reportedly found more marijuana and drug paraphernalia. It is estimated that they seized about $3,800 in drugs.
Jones, among many charges, now faces drug and contraband charges, distribution of a controlled substance, providing contraband to an inmate, possession with intent to distribute marijuana. She was released from jail on a $52,000 surety bond.
“This case is a great example of how inter-agency cooperation leads to great things," Sheriff Faile told WBTV. "Our investigators did a great job putting this case together and bringing these serious charges against Jones.”
Messages to the Lancaster County Sheriff’s office and to Sheriff Barry Faile were not returned.
