Two men facing state charges in ongoing investigation into unsanctioned Charleston County nightclub
Multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies carried out a targeted sting operation at the Alamo club on Highway 78 around 3 a.m. on June 1, which resulted in the arrests of 80 people, including two alleged high-level cartel members and one person wanted in an international murder investigation.
Warrants provided June 6 by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) indicate that further investigation in the aftermath of what has been called 'Operation Last Stand' has resulted in additional charges against two individuals.
Benjamin Reyna Flores, 59, was charged with Sale of Alcohol by an Unlicensed Person, Unlawful Storage of Alcoholic Liquors, Unlawful Sale of Liquor and Unlawful Sale of Beer.
Terone Lavince Lawson, 44, was charged with Possession of Psilocybin MushroomsPossession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Cocaine and two counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Person Convicted of Certain Crimes.
The warrants state that Lawson was working as a security guard at the nightclub at the time of the raid, and that drugs and weapons were found in his vehicle.
Charleston County Sheriff Carl Ritchie said during a June 2 press conference that the agency had been monitoring the unlicensed club since November 2024.
Immigration advocates say Charleston County sting operation unfairly targeted Latinos and Hispanics
Authorities said seven people believed to be victims of human trafficking were discovered inside the club during the raid, as well as a missing juvenile.
More than 70 people who were taken into custody were believed to be in the country illegally, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The agency also claimed the club was run by a suspected member of Los Zetas, a Mexican drug cartel.
But few details surrounding who exactly was swept up in the operation have raised concerns of racial profiling among some in the Hispanic and Latino communities, with immigration advocates calling for more transparency.
'Many of us are too afraid to speak up — not because we're guilty, but because we fear retaliation,' Alejandar Delaveea said in a June 6 press conference. 'Because we don't have legal status. Just being in the wrong place at the wrong time is treated like a crime — even if it's your first offense. If living life is a crime, then I guess I'm guilty… but one thing I won't be is silent.'
The investigation remains ongoing.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Newsweek
41 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Man Married to US Citizen Held in Alligator Alcatraz After Traffic Stop
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Oscar Alejandro, a Mexican national married to a U.S. citizen, and his brother, Carlos Martin Gonzalez, who was traveling on a tourist visa, were arrested during a traffic stop in Orlando, Florida, and taken into custody at the "Alligator Alcatraz" detention center, according to multiple local media reports. Newsweek has reached out to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Florida Highway Patrol, and the Consulate of Mexico in both Orlando and Miami for comment via email on Friday. Newsweek has filled out a contact form for comment with Reyes Legal, who are representing the brothers. Why It Matters In recent weeks, human rights advocates have raised concerns about a new Florida detention center, dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz," which was quickly created on Everglades land and holds an estimated 1,000 beds currently. The center is part of the Trump administration's effort to crackdown on illegal immigration. President Donald Trump has vowed to carry out the largest mass deportation in U.S. history, an initiative that has seen an intensification of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and arrests across the country, including people with valid visas and documentation. The administration has deported thousands of people to their countries of origin, as well as a smaller percentage to third countries with U.S. agreements. It has also encouraged individuals without proper documentation to self-deport. What To Know On July 7, Carlos, 26, was stopped by Florida Highway Patrol in Orlando over tinted windows and a Mexican license plate, the local news outlet WSVN reported. The trooper found no proper registration for the vehicle. Carlos said his brother had the registration materials, which Oscar, 30, reportedly brought. However, the registration was not in the brothers' names, and Carlos was arrested for operating an unregistered vehicle. The brothers were first held in Orange County Jail before being transferred to the detention facility known as Alligator Alcatraz. Newsweek could not confirm either brother's location in the ICE detainee database. Their father, Don Martin Gonzalez, told local news outlet WSVN his sons are "both in Alligator Alcatraz, but they are not together." He said his sons were on vacation in the Florida city following the death of their mother. Carlos was originally in the states on a tourist visa and Oscar is married to a U.S. citizen and has an expired residency permit, according to El Pais. Oscar has been living in the U.S. for eight months. President Donald Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and others, tour "Alligator Alcatraz," a new migrant detention facility at Dade-Collier Training and Transition facility, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Ochopee,... President Donald Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and others, tour "Alligator Alcatraz," a new migrant detention facility at Dade-Collier Training and Transition facility, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Ochopee, Fla. More AP Photo/Evan Vucci What People Are Saying Juan Sabines Guerrero, Consul of Mexico in Orlando, Florida, said in Spanish in an X post on July 21: "Today I received Mr. Martín González, father of two young Mexicans detained in Orlando and transferred to the prison known as #AlligatorAlcatraz. His son Carlos was on vacation with a valid tourist visa following the passing of his mother; Alejandro is married to a U.S. a call, the attorney warned us about possible violations of the civil rights of both nationals, as the prison where they are held is not under federal government (ICE) jurisdiction but rather under the state of Florida, so they still lack an 'alien' number or case number, preventing them from accessing adequate defense and a fair trial." Don Martin Gonzalez, the brother's father, told WSVN: "They are in something like cages. They're like chicken coops. That's what they're telling me, so one is in one, and the other is in another. With, I think, like 36 people, or something like that, or more, per cage. This is a very harsh prison. Very harsh It's not a prison; it's a detention center. It's very difficult to be there. You're not allowed to bathe, only every four days. The water given to drink is dirty. You drink as little as possible so they don't get sick, while there are a lot of mosquitoes. They have them chained to the floor, hands and feet." Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Garrett J. Ripa said Friday about Alligator Alcatraz: "We've had two or three removal flights, and we'll continue to have those removal flights. Up to 100 individuals who were illegally present in the state of Florida have already been removed from the United States." What Happens Next Deportation flights from Alligator Alcatraz have commenced. Sabines Guerrero said that "following instructions from President @Claudiashein," the consul has assigned the brothers legal representation in an effort to release them from the facility. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Tuesday confirmed 14 Mexican nationals are being held at the facility and said "all arrangements are being made to ensure they are repatriated immediately."
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Exclusive-Mexico's antitrust watchdog accuses banks of joint price fixing
By Natalia Siniawski MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexico's antitrust watchdog COFECE has found that 21 banks and financial institutions operating in the country are likely responsible for fixing fees related to deferred credit card payments, according to a document produced by the government agency that was seen by Reuters. The 649-page document outlining the findings and listing the institutions and individuals allegedly involved includes the Mexican subsidiaries of HSBC, Santander and Scotiabank. The document indicates that, based on preliminary findings, there is sufficient evidence to presume the parties may have engaged in anti-competitive conduct. COFECE began the investigation in 2022, saying at the time it was looking into suspected monopolistic practices, including price-fixing and manipulation in the market for deferred credit card payments, by which the cost of a purchase can be spread over several months. The antitrust authority alleges the institutions met regularly to set surcharges for merchants, which were then formalized in regulations and collectively enforced, while also excluding some merchants from the market. The banks listed in the document are being notified of the findings, the document says, marking the start of a trial-like phase in which the parties can present evidence and arguments in their defense before the watchdog's plenary issues a final resolution. It is unclear what the penalty would be if the allegations are upheld. By law, it can impose fines as high as 10% of a company's annual Mexican earnings. COFECE's remit is limited to issuing fines. It does not have the power to prosecute, but can file class-action lawsuits and submit reports to prosecutors who can initiate legal proceedings. Some of the other institutions cited are: Red Amigo DAL; Banco Mercantil del Norte; Banco Nacional del Ejercito, Fuerza Aerea y Armada; Servicios Financieros Soriana; Banco Regional; Banco INVEX, and Banco Azteca. Others include Banca Afirme; Banca Mifel; Tarjetas del Futuro; Liverpool PC; Banco del Bajio; Banco Inbursa; Klar Technologies; Crediclub; Oplay Digital Services; Caja Morelia Valladolid and Banco Ahorro Famsa. COFECE and the banks did not immediately respond to requests for comment. COFECE has previously targeted other major industries in high-profile actions. In August 2021, the agency fined five pharmaceutical distributors and 21 individuals roughly 903 million pesos ($48.65 million) for a decade of fixing prices and restricting the supply of essential medicines between 2006 and 2016. In October 2022, it imposed over 2.4 billion pesos in fines on more than 50 liquefied petroleum gas distributors across several states, finding evidence of coordinated price manipulation and market division. ($1 = 18.5605 Mexican pesos) Sign in to access your portfolio


Los Angeles Times
6 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
For some, Latinos will never be truly American
A month ago, my colleague Brittny Mejia reported on the growing fear many U.S.-born Latino Angelenos feel due to the endless barrage of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids being carried out in their neighborhoods. 'You're scared to be brown,' said Jackie Ramirez, a radio host for 'The Cruz Show' on Real 92.3. 'You're scared to look a certain way right now.' On Wednesday, The Times published a story by staff writer Jack Flemming that certainly validates that fear. At the heart of it is a Latino family who is suing their former landlord and a real estate agent over what they claim was an illegal eviction from their Baldwin Park home last year. In a letter emailed June 25 to Sarah McCracken — a tenants' rights lawyer representing the family — urging her clients to drop the suit, Rod Fehlman, who appeared to represent the real estate agent, wrote the following: 'It is also interesting to note that your clients are likely to be picked up by ICE and deported prior to trial thanks to all the good work the Trump administration has done in regards to immigration in California.' The kicker? Every person in that family is a U.S. citizen. The story struck a chord online, with many X and Bluesky users accusing Fehlman of being racist. Some of that anger was even directed at Cal Poly Pomona — on his site, Fehlman states that he is an adjunct professor at the university. In a statement to The Times, a spokesperson for the university said that Fehlman's temporary contract ended in 2013. Yicenia Morales, McCracken's client, told The Times that she felt racially profiled because of her last name. 'It's not fair for him to take advantage of that. I was born here. I have a birth certificate. I pay taxes,' she said. 'I was already depressed over the eviction. Now I'm hurt, embarrassed and nervous as well. Will he really call ICE on us?' Fehlman did not respond to Jack's request for comment, but did speak with the Independent, telling the outlet that his words were misinterpreted. 'My email mentions nothing about Ms. McCracken's client's citizenship,' he said. 'This is an ongoing problem in Southern California and a sad reality that litigants have been picked randomly at Courthouses. It is unfortunate that this comment has been taken out of context intentionally by Ms. McCracken's firm and used to defame my office.' I reached out to Fehlman via email, asking him to clarify the context and provide any evidence he had to prove that Morales and her family were 'likely to be picked up by ICE and deported,' but he did not respond. Although it's unclear whether Fehlman's response was illegal — the State Bar of California bans lawyers from threatening to present criminal, administrative or disciplinary charges to obtain an advantage in a civil dispute — the incident is certainly a sobering reminder that there are plenty of people who will always see Latinos as un-American, and have been emboldened by the Trump administration's attack on immigrant communities to start saying the quiet part out loud. It doesn't matter that the majority of us were born here and primarily speak English. These people don't care that you served your country or that you wave its flag at protests. To them, we will always be Josés or Marias. Join the De Los team Aug. 2 from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. as we co-present a free Grand Performances concert headlined by Adrian Quesada, the Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist and one of the bandleaders of Black Pumas. Last month, Quesada put out 'Boleros Psícodelicos II, ' a follow-up to his critically acclaimed 2022 album of the same name that features vocalists Mireya Ramos, Gaby Moreno, Cuco and others. The record, which fuses psychadelia with traditional Latin sounds, has been on repeat at my household ever since its release — 'Bravo,' recorded with iLe from Calle 13, is a top tier hater track sung from the perspective of a spurned lover. Kicking off the night will be El Marchante (6 p.m.), a dynamic project that pays tribute to Latin American and Caribbean music through live events, and will be followed by Explorare (7 p.m.), a musical collective that got its start at a monthly residency at the Chinatown bar Melody Lounge. Quesada will hit the stage at 8:30 p.m. Since 1987, Grand Performances has hosted free outdoor performances. The organization's focus is on giving a platform to global and local acts. Previously, acts such as Stevie Wonder, Aloe Blacc and Ana Tijoux have participated in its programming. Last year, we co-presented a free concert featuring jazz and pop singer Daymé Arocena. The De Los team will be there starting at 5 p.m., and we'll be giving out free posters and other goodies to Latinx Files subscribers. You can RSVP for the event here. Alex Evans, co-executive director and head puppeteer at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, guides a dragon as Juanita y Juan — the duo formed by legendary Chicano punk rockers Alice Bag and Kid Congo Powers — perform their 'loud lounge' sounds for children and their parents at The Ford Theater in Los Angeles, on Sunday July 20, 2025. De Los editor Suzy Exposito spoke to Bag and Powers about introducing punk to kids, their 2025 album, 'Jungle Cruise,' and how to find comfort in such challenging, dark times. 'It's very easy to become despondent and overwhelmed. But you don't have to feel like you're lifting this whole weight by yourself,' Bag said. 'It's important to know that you do have a community that stands with you. We're all working in different ways. We're all a band. We're going to make it through this together.' Unless otherwise noted, all stories in this section are from the L.A. Times.