South Carolina man locked up after being found with drugs and gun, sheriff says
A South Carolina man is behind bars on drug and gun charges, according to the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.
Gary Edward Ware Jr., a 38-year-old Gilbert resident, was arrested on charges of trafficking fentanyl, distributing meth and a weapon possession crime, the sheriff’s department said Wednesday night in a news release.
“We’ve had previous encounters with Ware and received some recent intelligence about ongoing drug activity at his home on Hayride Road in Gilbert,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said in the release. “That prompted us to secure a search warrant for the home.”
The home is not far from Exit 39 on Interstate 20.
Deputies found the fentanyl, along with plastic bags used for packaging, a digital scale and other drugs during a search last Saturday, according to the release.
“Deputies also found some 9 mm ammunition in Ware’s home,” Koon said. “Due to a previous criminal conviction, he is prohibited from having ammunition in his possession. That’s the basis for the weapon possession charge.”
Ware was arrested and taken to the Lexington County Detention Center, according to the release. Bond was denied on all three charges and Ware remains locked up, jail records show.
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This story was originally published August 14, 2025 at 7:10 AM.
