Man indicted in 2005 death of St. Helena man

A St. Helena Island man was indicted this week in connection with the 2005 shooting death of Vincent Wilson.

Wilson, 28, was found Feb. 28, 2005, lying on a couch with a gunshot wound to the head in a shed behind his home at 76 Tombee Road, officials with the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office said at the time.

David Washington, 48, was on another couch and had been shot in the leg, authorities said.

On Tuesday, Gerome Fripp, 33, was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine,yes that charge is attempted armed robbery, and possession of a gun during an act of violence, according to the Department of Justice.

If convicted, Fripp could be sentenced to life in prison and receive a $250,000 fine.

Assistant U.S. attorney Rose Mary Parham said Fripp and Winston Syndabattempted to rob Wilson and Washington, who they believed had drugs or drug money.

Syndab, of Myrtle Beach, pleaded guilty March 3 to federal charges of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine, possession of a firearm and furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, Parham said.

Syndab also admitted to shooting Wilson and faces a prison sentence of 480 months to life, she said.

"(Syndab) fired seven rounds. One round hit the bodyguard, and one hit Mr. Wilson in the head," Parham said.

Syndab is expected to be sentenced in 60 to 90 days.

Syndab was arrested on April 17, 2007 on unrelated gun charges.

"(Syndab) was picked up ... they realized what his nickname was and realized it was a nickname connected to the murder," Parham said.

She said Fripp already was in prison on unrelated gun charges when he was connected to Wilson's death. He was transferred to federal custody on March 10.

The case was investigated by the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

"(Authorities) did such a great job on this," Parham said. "They never gave up."