Contact Person: DeWayne Pearson (803) 929-3000
Columbia, South Carolina – Acting United States Attorney Beth Drake announced today that Frederick Deon Galloway, 40, and his wife, Tawania Moneik Galloway, 41, both of Sumter, South Carolina, were indicted by a federal grand jury in a four count indictment. Frederick Galloway was indicted for one count of tampering and removing a vehicle identification number (VIN), in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Sections 511 and 2, and one count of operating a chop shop in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Sections 2322(a)(1) and 2. Tawania Galloway and Frederick Galloway were also indicted for one count of federal witness tampering, in violation of Title 18 United States Code, Section 1512(c)(2), and one count of making a false entry in a sworn affidavit with the intent to impede, obstruct, and influence a federal investigation, in violation of Title 18 United States Code, section 1519. If convicted on all counts, Frederick Galloway is facing up to 5 years for removing a VIN, and up to 15 years for the chop shop violation. Frederick Galloway and Tawania Galloway are also facing up to 20 years for the witness tampering charge and up to 20 years for providing a false sworn statement.
The investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Sumter Police Department, and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney T. DeWayne Pearson of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Columbia, SC.
The Acting United States Attorney stated that all charges in this indictment are merely accusations and that the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
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