Juan Arturo Martinez

Provided

Rkenneo Augustine Andrews

Provided

Carmen Lizeth Zapata Antunez

Provided

• 
• 
• 

Three individuals from Florida were found last week with about 4,000 grams of cocaine within a half mile of three Lexington County schools, the county Sheriff’s Department announced June 10.

Per a release from the department, Juan Arturo Martinez, 44, Rkenneo Augustine Andrews, 35, and Carmen Lizeth Zapata Antunez, 37, are charged with trafficking cocaine and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Martinez and Andrews are additionally charged with unlawful sale or delivery of a pistol.

“Narcotics agents got a tip about drug activity in the area of County Town Dr.,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said. “Agents executed a search warrants and seized approximately 4,000 grams of cocaine and two handguns.”

According to arrest warrants provided to the Chronicle, the defendants were found in a short-term rental property in the Irmo area of Lexington County located within a half mile of Crossroads Intermediate School, Irmo Middle School and Irmo High School.

The warrants state that two handguns, a Taurus Judge and a Makarov 9mm, were found in “a common living area/room.”

Trafficking cocaine is considered a violent crime under state law, the warrants note.

The warrants also note that Martinez and Andrews are prohibited from possessing firearms and/or ammunition in South Carolina after being previously convicted of violent crimes.

The release states that the state Law Enforcement Division and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration assisted in the investigation and the three defendants are being held at the Lexington County Detention Center.