The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes Task Force began an investigation into the sale and distribution of illegal drugs in the Burton area in June after receiving a complaint of drug activity at a local car wash.
Through the investigation, it was determined that James “Baby” Odom was selling narcotics from his car wash located at 16 Eastern Road in Burton. Investigators established probable cause to obtain an arrest warrant for Odom for the sale and distribution of crack cocaine.
On Friday, deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being operated by Odom and he was taken into custody on the outstanding arrest warrant. Odom was found in possession of cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, and illegal prescription medication at the time of his arrest.
Following the stop, investigators executed search warrants at Odom’s residence and business. Quantities of both cocaine and marijuana were recovered during the search warrants. In addition, items or implements commonly used in the manufacturing of crack cocaine were seized, as well as an unlawfully possessed firearm.
The items found in Odom’s possession at the time of his arrest and the items seized under the authority of the search warrants lead to additional charges of trafficking crack cocaine, trafficking cocaine, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, manufacturing crack cocaine, possession of a firearm by a person unlawful, and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
