CRIME & COURTS

FBI, SLED Launch Coastal Raid

Former county councilman’s home searched…

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Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) confirmed the initiation of a joint search on Thursday morning (January 30, 2025) at a Conway, S.C. address belonging to former Horry County council member Orton Bellamy.

“SLED is assisting with an FBI investigation,” agency public information director Renée Wunderlich confirmed to FITSNews. “Any questions on that matter at this time should be directed to the FBI.”

FBI spokesman Kevin Wheeler confirmed agents were conducting “court-authorized activity” at the Conway address, but did not indicate what they were looking for – or what sort of investigation the search revolved around. As of midday Thursday, no arrests had been made in connection with the court-authorized search, Wheeler said.

According to Tommy Cardinal, managing editor of My Horry News, “officers wore plastic gloves and took photos” at the residence while “unmarked law enforcement vehicles were parked at the scene.”

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Bellamy is a former Horry County council member, serving from 2018-2022, and the former town manager of Atlantic Beach, S.C. Curiously, Bellamy requested SLED investigate allegations of voter fraud in connection with Atlantic Beach’s 2023 municipal race – the results of which the town declined to certify. Bellamy requested that investigation last August.

In November, he was fired from his post after allegedly locking city officials out of their meeting space and cancel duly called meetings of the municipal government.

In addition to his county and municipal posts, Bellamy has previously held office at the state level – serving as a member of the S.C. Parole Board. Bellamy is the owner of a company entitled Parole and Pardon Consultant Services, according to the S.C. Secretary of State (SCSOS).

Self-christened as “The Black Pearl,” Atlantic Beach is home to an estimated 200 people – less than half its peak population of nearly 450 in the 1990s. The town has been rocked by numerous scandals in recent years. Last April, our Andy Fancher reported on the town’s police chief being arrested for solicitation.

This is a developing story… please check back for updates.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …

Will Folks on phone
Will Folks (Brett Flashnick)

Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and eight children.

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