Southern Fried Stings

Jay Russell is the founder and president of R.A.I.D. (Resistance Against Illegal Drugs) Corps, Inc., which, for over a decade, has helped schools and businesses throughout North America develop programs designed to reduce substance abuse. He was a South Carolina State Trooper and worked on the Governor's elite Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Team (ACE Team). His abilities and knowledge have been utilized by hundreds of schools, businesses and organizations. With Jay's help, schools and companies have made strides toward reducing accidents and the occurrence of drug encounters, while sustaining a safe environment.

A Spartanburg, S.C., native, Jay has lived in the city his entire life. At 40, he has two kids. Those who have only seen Jay's tough-guy side might be surprised to learn that he loves art and enjoys sculpting and painting. He owns two small horses and two Rottweilers. His motto is, "Every sinner has a future, and every saint has a past."

England Simpson, 26, is Jay Russell's sidekick, trainee and verbal sparring partner. Sassy and spirited, England can give as good as she gets, trading wisecracks and insults with Jay as they repeatedly go into action side by side. In college she studied sociology, with a concentration in criminology. She continued to prepare for a career in law enforcement by taking an internship with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg (N.C.) courthouse.

In her private life, England proudly proclaims herself a "nerd," passionate about music, video games and Japanese anime. She is also a huge fan of horror movies. She says that in her free time, if she isn't at a concert, she's gearing up to go to a fan convention.

While Jay Russell sometimes acts as though he's her bad-tempered uncle, England actually has a warm relationship with her family – her parents and three "beautiful and amazing" sisters. One of those sisters is England's twin.

England's motto is, "The heart may betray, but the sword never lies."

William Durham brings a lifetime of martial arts experience to the Jay Team, having studied karate since the age of 7. He has a black belt in Kenpo, Kickboxing, and Shuri and has studied Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Okinawan Shuri, and Chinese Kenpo. His expertise in these disciplines has taken him around the world. He is also an amateur bodybuilder and an accomplished drag racer. His competency makes him Jay Russell's go-to-guy when things get tough.

William is a native of Spartanburg, SC. His father passed away when he was 12 years old. Mike Sanders, whom he calls Renshi, raised him. William and his wife Marsha have five children: one boy Austin, and four girls Sara Grace, Carly, Jordan, and Amber.

Randy "Wolf" Wise, 45, is the Jay Team's "make it happen" guy. He's a private investigator who conducts raids and drug searches in Myrtle Beach schools and has worked with R.A.I.D. for more than 12 years. He served 13 years as a law enforcement officer, reaching the rank of sergeant, and was a highway patrolman for four years. He has experience on task forces in narcotics and illegal weapons, as well as with street crime units.

Wolf got his nickname because of his uncanny ability to befriend and relax the criminal element before suddenly turning on them and taking them down. Referred to as "the wolf in sheep's clothing", he has a laid-back, friendly, easy-going personality that lulls his opponents until the time comes to spring into action. Wolf takes down the bad guys with a sudden burst of quick energy and highly charged aggressive action that shocks the bad guys and catches them completely off guard. Wolf's dog, Nero, is always ready to help him search out the contraband or drag down the bad guys. And Wolf is an expert behind the wheel of a car, with years of experience as a stock car driver on tracks across South Carolina.

Wolf is a South Carolina native and a single father to two children. His hobbies include watching car racing, go-karts and college football. He also enjoys coaching his son Tanner's rec league football team.

While Randy loves hanging out at the beach, lying in the sun, partying with friends and listening to live music. He says that he's particularly drawn to any activity that's filled with "thrills and danger."

Six-foot-two Robert "Tank" Crayton, 32, is the newest member of the Jay Team. In this team of tough guys, he's one of the toughest – hence the nickname.

Tank's background both in the U.S. Army and juvenile justice gave him extensive training in hand-to-hand combat, submission techniques, boxing and martial arts. He is also highly proficient in all manner of weaponry, including M-16 and M-203 rifles, pistols and firearms, shotguns, grenades and the AT-4 rocket launcher.

When he isn't fighting crime alongside Jay Russell, Tank is a youth counselor and chemical ops specialist who helps to improve the lives of at-risk young people. He says that he enjoys the satisfaction of working with "a myriad of personalities" and that every day poses new and interesting challenges. "It means so much to me," he says, "when I can gain their trust and when they allow me to help them."

Although Tank now lives in South Carolina, he grew up in "a very athletic household" in Brooklyn. N.Y. Inspired and encouraged by both his parents, Tank played basketball and football, boxed and ran track. His father, Tank says, excelled at every sport "with trophies all over from the multiple sports that he played as a youth. But it would actually be my mother who taught me the love of the game and who gave me the determination to succeed."

In addition to his athletic prowess, Tank also has a lifelong love of performing. The "class clown" in school, he has appeared onstage in almost every form of show business – singing, acting, rapping, stand-up comedy, improv and much more. It all dates back to his childhood, he says, when he loved entertaining his family and friends, singing in choirs and appearing in school plays and skits. And even at that early age, Tank says, "I always wanted to be on TV."

Tank's hobbies run the gamut from the active – lifting weights and playing basketball – to the passive – playing video games, reading comic books and relaxing with his family.