Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Arrests Seneca Man in Gun Store Burglary and Larceny Investigation

David Justin Drago

(Walhalla, SC)-------------------------------------A Seneca man remains in jail today, on a combined $77,205 surety bond, after his arrest Thursday evening on charges related to a burglary at an Oconee County gun store and the theft of a firearm.

27 year old David Justin Drago, of Julie Lane, was booked into the Oconee County Detention Center at around 10:23pm yesterday.  Drago was booked in on a Temporary Custody Order as arrest warrants were obtained this morning.

Drago has been charged with one count each of Second Degree Burglary, Grand Larceny, Malicious Injury to Property and Unlawful Possession of a Machine Gun.

According to an Investigator, the firearm and accessories have been recovered. 

Back on Wednesday afternoon, the Sheriff’s Office issued a news release seeking the public’s help today in relation to a burglary and larceny that occurred at Deep South Defense this past Saturday evening, May 24th.

The Sheriff’s Office was also seeking assistance in identifying a person of interest in relation to the investigation by the release of videos and pictures. 

According to the May 28th release, Deputies from the Uniform Patrol Bureau were dispatched last Saturday evening to Deep South Defense, located on the Highway 123 by-pass near Old Clemson Highway, in reference to reports of a burglary.  Upon arrival, the Deputy spoke with the owner of the business, who had discovered that a back door handle of the business was broken. 

For safety purposes, Deputies cleared the building.  Deputies were informed by the business owner that an AR-15 style rifle had been stolen from the business.  The initials of “DSD Seneca SC” are engraved on the rifle.  

Evidence obtained during the investigation showed a white male making entry, and then exiting, the business.  The white male is also observed walking by the front of another business that is next door to the incident location. 

The Criminal Investigations Bureau was notified and a Crime Scene Technician responded to the scene to continue to gather evidence.  The investigation was turned over to an Investigator assigned to the Property Crimes Unit.

Based upon evidence obtained during the investigation, it was determined that Drago caused damage to a door handle lock by using a hammer to break the handle and locking mechanism, which allowed him to make entry inside the business.  According to arrest warrants, Drago broke into the business without consent at night, with the intent to commit a crime and carried away the rifle and accessories, which are valued at around $15,000. 

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation.  Drago will be required to wear an electronic monitoring device, as a condition of bond, should he be released from jail.

The Sheriff’s Office would like to thank our law enforcement partners with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for their assistance in our investigation.