Three South Carolinians Charged with Drugs, Weapons Possession in Franklin Co.

Three South Carolinians are behind bars in Franklin County charged with drugs and weapons possession.

Franklin County Sheriff Steve Thomas said the arrests happened Sunday, September 1 after deputies pulled over a red sedan on I-85 northbound for an expired tag.

“A pipe containing a white, chrystal-like substance was found on the driver,” Thomas said. “There were two other passengers in the vehicle. My deputy requested another deputy respond due to the number of occupants in the vehicle and the conflict of their stories regarding where they were going and where they had come from.”

The deputies asked if there were any drugs or cash in the vehicle, but the driver said she did not want her car searched.  After asking the Keller to step out of vehicle, deputies discovered drugs and guns.

“As the deputy asked Mr. Keller to step out of the vehicle, he discovered a yellow bar-shaped pill and a baggie containing a white, chrystal-like substance on his person and a large quantity of cash in his pocket,” Thomas said. “A drug dog was brought to the scene and it did react positively for drugs in the vehicle. There was also a DV15 rifle, a stolen black revolver, a black case with a large quantity of methamphetamine, marijuana, digital scales and glass smoking pipe devices inside the vehicle.”

Arrested were 25-year old Casey Milosek of Westminster, SC, 32-year old Ronald Keller of Piedmont, SC, and 53-year old John Rixen, of Westminster, SC.

Milosek is charged with trafficking cocaine, possession of drug-related objects, expired tags, possession of firearm by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana and a hold for the FBI.

Rixen is charged with trafficking cocaine, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and possession of drug-related objects.

Keller is charged with trafficking cocaine, possession of marijuana schedule IV drugs, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, felony theft by taking, and possession of drug-related objects.

All three were denied bond and remain in the Franklin County Detention Center.