A total of 37 Mississippi residents have been arrested following a four-year federal investigation into multiple drug trafficking operations, along with suspects in California, Texas, Alabama, and Mexico.
Close to a dozen federal indictments were filed in the Southern District of Mississippi charging defendants from Lauderdale, Newton, Neshoba, Scott, and Jasper counties. According to court documents, the investigation revealed that the suspects were found distributing methamphetamine, cocaine, and other illegal substances.
As a result, the indictments are charging defendants with various drug trafficking crimes, including possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to do so.
Several defendants face mandatory minimum sentences because of the significant quantities of illegal drugs involved, while some defendants face enhanced penalties for crimes involving methamphetamine where minors were present, or for drug trafficking near schools.
Other suspects have been charged with firearms-related crimes or using a telephone to threaten injury or death to another by means of an explosive device.
The following defendants were arrested today:
- Tavia Armstrong, 32, of Meridian
- Alyssia Boose, 32, of Newton
- Billy Boose, 46, of Newton
- Fred Campbell, 49, of Meridian
- Jacoby Clayton, 29, of Meridian
- Mario Cole, 37, of Meridian
- Bobby Coleman, 35, of Union
- George Collier, 46, of Pelahatchie
- Christopher Evans, 47, of Union
- Tabbgrinn Graham, 33, of Decatur
- James Green, 52, of Meridian
- Cassady Harris, 37, of Union
- Yvette Herring, 45, of Riverside, CA
- Dakota Holt, 32, of Meridian
- Edward House, 46, of Meridian
- Jeffery Jennings, 40, of Meridian
- James Johnson, 50, of Louin
- Cedric Jones, 52, of Houston, TX
- Lajason Jones, 43, of Decatur
- Markee Jones, 44, of Meridian
- Nathan Kendricks, 46, of Meridian
- Kevin King, 41, of Meridian
- Todrian Laphand, 30, of Meridian
- John Little, 31, of Meridian
- Nicholas Massey, 35, of Decatur
- Kenneth McCurdy, 43, of Forest
- Jeffery Murrell, 54, of Newton
- Johnny Patton, 42, of Quitman
- Darius Powell, 35, of Meridian
- Marcus Powell, 38, of Meridian
- Raykeitdgrith Ricks, 41, of Lawrence
- Znthony Ruffin, 38, of Toomsuba
- Dustin Jamal Russell, 33, of Newton
- Steven Savell, 48, of Union
- Carlos Seals, 42, of Meridian
- Brandon Slaughter, 31, Meridian
- Jacorie Smith, 27, of Meridian
- Curtis Spivey, 39 of Philadelphia
- Billy Wilson, 52, of Cuba, AL
- Crisseta Woods, 46, of Union
Additional defendants charged in the indictments have not yet been arrested.
Initial court appearances are scheduled to begin on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judges F. Keith Ball and LaKeysha Greer Isaac in U.S. District Court in Jackson.
