10 people have been charged in a five-count federal indictment with drug trafficking offenses, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, DEA Special Agent in Charge Stephen G. Azzam and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Freeze.
The indictment charges Dexter Jones, 42, of Soso, Mississippi, with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
John Baxter, 35, of Stockton, California, with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Derrick Coleman, (address unknown) with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance
John Foster, 41, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Shareka Homles, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Darrion Jones, 32, of Laurel, Mississippi, with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Mitchell Jones, 42, of Soso, Mississippi, with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Roderick Simpson, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and two additional counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Cedric Walker, of Laurel, Mississippi, with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and another count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Jamie Wheat, 41, of Laurel, Mississippi, with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possession with intent to distribute Methamphetamine.
The two indictments state that beginning in 2015, the defendants conspired with others to possess with intent to distribute narcotic drug controlled substances including methamphetamine and cocaine in the Eastern Division of the Southern District of Mississippi.
“The way to address our drug crisis is to attack the criminal organizations that perpetuate it,” Said U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst. “I commend our federal, state and local law enforcement agencies for their diligent investigation.We will not stop prosecuting these criminal enterprises until our citizens are safe and our communities are protected.”
If convicted, the defendants face up to life in prison and fines of up to $10,000,000.
“With these arrests, DEA and its state and local law enforcement partners have taken down an organization responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine in the state of Mississippi,” said DEA Special Agent in Charge Stephen G. Azzam. “By removing these violent criminals from the streets, they can no longer threaten the health and safety of our communities. We will continue to work together to target criminal organizations and their assets to ensure that drug traffickers are held responsible for the harm they cause.”
Five of the defendants appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Michael T. Parker on October 25, 2017, for initial appearances and arraignments.
