Three Sentenced in Stolen Vehicle Conspiracy

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of South Carolina
January 19, 2011

COLUMBIA, SC—United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated today that Ernest L. Cook, age 61, of Mullins, South Carolina; Larry Garfield Carter, age 54, of Raeford, North Carolina; and William Clayton Meadows, age 46, of Jupiter, Florida, were sentenced by United States District Judge R. Bryan Harwell of Florence for participating in a conspiracy to buy and sell stolen vehicles, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. Cook received 21 months in prison and was ordered to pay $673,322 in restitution to the victims. Carter and Meadows were each sentenced to 12 months and one day imprisonment and will pay restitution in the amounts of $167,284 and $254,308, respectively.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that Cook, the owner of a construction company, purchased stolen motor vehicles such as trackhoes, bulldozers, graders, dump trucks, excavators, wheel loaders, and tractors from Carter and Meadows. Carter and Meadows stole the equipment primarily from North and South Carolina. Cook purchased the motor vehicles for below market value and sold it at a discount.

The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Winston D. Holliday, Jr., of the Columbia office.