A 54-year-old man from Columbia, Marlon Smith, has been arrested and charged in connection with a major vehicle theft operation that led to the recovery of an estimated $250,000 in stolen vehicles and heavy equipment, according to Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell.
Smith has been charged with three counts of receiving stolen goods, three counts of possession of a stolen vehicle, and two counts related to operating a chop shop. His arrest on December 19 followed a six-month investigation conducted by the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
The recovered items included a skid steer, three heavy-duty pickup trucks, a heavy-duty trailer, and a Lexus sedan. Sheriff Ravenell expressed gratitude for the collaboration with SLED, emphasizing that while Smith remains in jail, efforts are underway to return the stolen property to its rightful owners.
Sgt. Kyle Hardison is leading the ongoing investigation into the case.
