Law enforcement officials arrest five in area marijuana investigation
Two determined as illegals

By Greg Oliver (Contact / Staff Bio)
April 25, 2008 - 12:04 a.m. EST

Agents from the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office, Oconee County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division and Clemson Police Department joined forces to arrest five individuals for distributing marijuana in southern Pickens County — two of whom are illegals.

Jesus Ernesto Rodriguez-Netro, 25; Christina Wilcox Rodriguez-Netro, 28; and Carlos Humberto Rodriguez-Torres, 21, all of Cambridge Road, Clemson, were each charged with trafficking between 10-100 pounds of marijuana. Jesus Ernesto Rodriguez-Netro was charged with three counts.

William Wesley Wheeler, 20, of Sandy Circle, Pendleton, was charged with trafficking between 10-100 pounds of marijuana, second offense, and possession of cocaine, second offense, while Ricardo Bernard Lane, 22, of Andrea Circle, Easley, was charged with possession of marijuana.

During their investigation, agents identified Jesus Ernesto Rodriguez-Netro as the source of the marijuana and secured a search warrant for his Cambridge Road residence following numerous surveillance operations and an undercover purchase.

Late last week, authorities executed the search warrant and discovered marijuana, weapons, scales, baggies, records and other items reflecting a substantial amount of marijuana being sold from that residence. Agents then seized approximately 40-45 pounds of marijuana.

“We’re quite certain this came from Mexico,â€