COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Nearly 50 people were detained, and six others were indicted after an operation targeting illegal immigration in South Carolina. South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the grand jury indictments on Thursday on charges linked to identity theft and illegal immigration in “Operation Ghost Story.” Officials said the investigation led to a large-scale operation at the Burnstein Von Seelen Precision Casting facility in Abbeville on Wednesday, during which 48 workers were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.Two of those indicted, Christophe Ramey and Sandy Willis, were identified as managers at the Burnstein Von Seelen facility. The pair were jailed in Richland County and went before a judge for bond hearings on Thursday. Christopher Ramey, Sandy Willis(Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center)Wilson’s office said the indictments “reflect an investigation into the extensive problem of how easily illegal immigrants in South Carolina can get fake US and state identification from ‘document vendors’ throughout the state.” Of Ramey and Willis, officials said the two allegedly “violated their legal obligations to verify the legitimacy of IDs before hiring employees, and facilitated the use of forged identity documents by illegal immigrants at the business.”The four other defendants - Jose Luis Aguilar Mejia, Lazaro Hernandez Hernandez, Xavier Martinez Adorno and Zenon Rojas-Cabrera - were identified by the attorney general’s office as alleged “document vendors,” who obtained forged driver’s licenses, Social Security cards and other fake forms of identification. Zenon Rojas-Cabrera (top left), Christopher Ramey (top middle), Lazaro Hernandez (top right), Jose Aguilar-Mejia (bottom left), Sandy Willis (bottom middle, and Xavier Adorno (bottom right).(SCAG/Greenville County Detention Center)As of Thursday, Mejia remains wanted for a grand jury indictment out of Greenwood County. It was also noted that some of the fake identity cards included the dates of birth and Social Security numbers of actual American citizens. “If you are unlawfully aiding illegal immigrants in South Carolina, you are going to be investigated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Wilson said. “If you are taking advantage of hard-working Americans, stealing their identities, and are intentionally ignoring your responsibilities as an employer in an effort to circumvent the law, we are coming for you.”“The crimes uncovered in Operation Ghost Story are not victimless. When illegal aliens use stolen identities and forged documents, they victimize law-abiding citizens whose personal information is misused and undermine the security of our communities. These actions also enable businesses to profit from illegal labor at the expense of honest workers and employers,” added Mark M. Zito, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in North and South Carolina.Thursday’s release came after federal officials confirmed to WIS that over 100 arrests were made in a pair of other operations in the Upstate last month. Jace Woodrum, Executive Director of the ACLU of South Carolina, responded to the raid with a statement:South Carolinians are fearful today following a workplace raid in Abbeville. While the politicians trumpeting this raid have given the public very few details, we know that 48 workers are now facing immigration charges. In a country that has made it difficult for people to pursue legal citizenship, under a government that has repeatedly lied about the relationship between immigration and public safety, we ask the public to consider early claims by ICE and its allies with a grain of salt.The bottom line is that these employees showed up for work, and many of them will not be able to return home to their families. In other states, we’ve seen similar actions include gross violations of individual liberties that are guaranteed to all, regardless of immigration status. We are seeking more information and ask that South Carolinians who were involved in the operation contact us. We do not have any additional details about the raid or anyone available for an interview tonight. Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with WIS. For more free content like this, subscribe to our email newsletter, and download our apps. Have feedback that can help us improve? Click here.Copyright 2026 WIS. All rights reserved.