South Carolina Man Charged in Three-State Stolen Vehicle Case

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of South Carolina
June 17, 2010

COLUMBIA, SC—United States Attorney William N. 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 Meadow, age 29, of Jupiter, Florida, were charged in a one-count indictment with conspiracy to buy and sell stolen vehicles, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 371. The indictment lists a number of thefts perpetrated by Carter and Meadow that occurred in North Carolina. The vehicles were transported to South Carolina for sale to Cook. Most were heavy equipment.

William N. Nettles stated the maximum penalty the defendants could receive is a fine of $250,000 and/or imprisonment of five years.

Mr. Nettles stated that the case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and that he has assigned the case to Assistant United States Attorney Winston D. Holliday, Jr., of the Columbia office for prosecution.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this indictment are merely accusations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.