U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst has announced the sentencing for three suspects convicted on drug trafficking charges in Mississippi.
Jose Luis Chavez
A Texas man will spend time behind bars in Mississippi on drug trafficking charges.
47-year-old Jose Luis Chavez a/k/a “Big Head,” of Edinburg, Texas was sentenced to serve 12 years in prison for trafficking drugs to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
According to Hurst, Chavez previously pled guilty to a laundry list of charges that outlined an extensive trafficking operation. Chavez pled guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute the following amounts of different drugs.
- 500 grams or more of cocaine
- 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine
- 100 kilograms or more of marijuana
- 100 grams or more of heroin
In March 2016, agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration opened an investigation into the drug trafficking organization of Chavez.
Agents learned and confirmed Chavez was a major source of supply of cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine and heroin for the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
With the help of at least three others, Chavez conspired to traffic these narcotics from Texas to Mississippi. Agents arrested Chavez in Texas, and brought him to Mississippi for prosecution.
Chavez pled guilty back in January.
Dexter Jones & Darrion Jones
42-year-old Dexter Jones, of Hattiesburg, and 33-year-old Darrion Jones, 33, of Heidelburg were sentenced for their roles in a drug trafficking conspiracy.
Dexter was sentenced to serve life in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, while Darrion was sentenced to serve 25 years for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
An investigation of Dexter Jones’s drug trafficking activity began in 2015 based on information from a confidential source. The investigation revealed that Dexter, Darrion, and several other individuals were distributing large quantities of methamphetamine in the Hattiesburg and Laurel, Mississippi areas.
Also indicted in the drug trafficking conspiracy were Jamie Wheat, John Foster, Mitchell Jones, and John Baxter.
Wheat pled guilty and was sentenced to 15 years in prison. John Foster pled guilty and will be sentenced on September 18. Mitchell Jones pled guilty and will be sentenced on September 27. Baxter’s case is still pending.
