Members of the Beaufort/Jasper Multi Agency Drug Task Force initiated a drug investigation into a subject living in the Thunderbolt Georgia area and frequenting the Beaufort County South Carolina area. This subject was identified as Garry Clifford Chupurdy, and it was learned that he was responsible for the importation of several thousands of pounds of marijuana being brought into the United States.

A drug investigation was initiated by The Drug Task Force when they received information from confidential sources having knowledge of Chupurdy's involvement of importing large quantities of marijuana by boat (Cat's Meow) from Jamaica to the United States. Chupurdy had ties to the Beaufort County area and had lived on Hilton Head Island for several years. The investigation began in the middle of year 2006 and was concluded near the middle of 2007. Investigation revealed Chupurdy was involved in importing approximately 1500 pounds in 2006 and 2000 pounds of marijuana in 2007. Chupurdy would make yearly drops of smuggled marijuana in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of South Carolina and Georgia and would ultimately retrieved the marijuana and package it for distribution. Case Officers conducted countless hours of surveillance in South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina. Money and drug seizures were made in each one of these states.

This case was primarily worked by agents assigned to the Beaufort/Jasper Multi Agency Drug Task Force, Immigration Customs Enforcement (Charleston) and the United States Coast Guard Investigative Division (Georgia). Near the conclusion of this investigation Immigration Customs Enforcement (Georgia), Georgia Bureau of Investigation, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, Chatham-Savannah Counter Narcotics Team, Savannah Chatham Metropolitan Police Department Dive Team, Thunderbolt Police Department, The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms, Customs Border Protection in Savannah Georgia, Jacksonville Air and Marine Operations Branch based in Jacksonville Florida and the U.S. Coast Guard all assisted with the investigation. The case was prosecuted in both the Districts of South Carolina and Georgia.

In June of 2007 several search warrants were executed in the Charleston, Beaufort, Thunderbolt and Savannah area which resulted in the seizure of several boats, illegal narcotics, weapons, currency, property, art work, vehicles and other miscellaneous items.

On February 19, 2008, Garry Chupurdy was sentenced in the United States District Court in Savannah, Georgia to 220 months in Federal Prison. Two other individuals (Qing Hong Xiang and Aaron Lee Browne) were also sentenced because of their involvement in the trafficking of marijuana. Xiang received 78 months and Browne received 52 months in Federal Prison.

Arrestees/Charges

Garry Clifford Chupurdy, Age 58, of Thunderbolt , Georgia

• Importation of Marijuana
• Conspiracy to Import Marijuana
• Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and to Distribute Marijuana
• Conspiracy to Conduct Financial Transactions with Proceeds of Specified Unlawful Activity

Qing Hong Xiang, Age 33, of Savannah , Georgia

• Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana
• Conspiracy to Import Marijuana
• Conspiracy to Conduct Financial Transactions with Proceeds or Specified Unlawful Activity

Aaron Lee Browne, Age 36, of Savannah , Georgia

• Interstate and Foreign Travel or Transportation and Aid of Racketeering Enterprises

Items Seized

Drugs:

• Marijuana - 2,215.84 lbs.
• Hash Oil - 221.17 lbs.

Boats:

• "Cat's Meow" 78' Catamaran sailboat
• "Cat Call" 28' 10" 1996 Hydrocat Boat
• 1966 Bertram Custom Center Console Boat
• "Root 'N Toot 'N" 38-foot 1994 Cigarette Racing Limited Boat
• 16' 07" 1990 Boston Whaler Boat
• 19-foot 1979 Cudacraft Boat

Vehicles:

• 2000 Honda Odyssey - ($8,000)
• 2003 Ferrari 360 Spider - Est. value $160,000
• 2004 Aston Martin Vanquish - Est. value $180,000
• 2005 Ford F-350 Super Duty Crew Cab Truck - ($45,000)

Firearms:

• .45 Revolver
• 12 Gauge Pistol Grip Shotgun
• .32 Semi-Automatic Pistol
• .223 Ruger Mini-14
• .38 Special Revolver
• Fox 410 Shotgun
• Charles Daly 12 Gauge Shotgun
• Marlin 22 Caliber Rifle
• Remington 870 410 Shotgun
• Remington 22 Caliber Rifle
• Remington 12 Gauge Shotgun
• Browning 12 Gauge Shotgun

Real Property:

• Waterfront Condominium - 2902 River Drive , C203, Thunderbolt, GA, (Est. Value $600,000+)

Currency:

• Approximately $200,000.00 in U.S. Currency

Other Items Seized:

• Jewelry, Art and Sculptures, Four Wheelers, Motorcycles and Miscellaneous Tools

See also, the February 19th Press Release from the U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Georgia: Three Sentenced in Marijuana Importation Scheme.