He has a lot of things that he looks for to pick up on people that may be trafficking, explained Lt. Scott Seiders with WCSO. Possession of a firearm by a felon is punishable by not more than 20 years incarceration in the Bureau of Prisons with a possible fine of up to $250,000, and not more than three years supervised release. Have a question about Government Services? These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Julie Peters and Amanda Fields with assistance from Cameron McCree. 2:20 CR 20017-001-018 (Original Indictment issued August 26, 2020, Superseding Indictment issued October 7, 2020) According to a release from the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, the Drug Enforcement Admiration arrested 13 people as part of Operation Hartbreak Kid, which was named after the man agents believe to be the lead defendant in the case, 27-year-old Derrick Hart. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Reports say that authorities made the arrest around 5:43 p.m. on Idaho Drive after they found Hall inside of a vehicle. During the arrest, authorities found guns and. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. Subscribe Multiple undercover operations and numerous other law enforcement actions, including multiple seizures of cocaine and crack cocaine were used during the investigation. Agents with Homeland Security then made contact with Clay County 2nd Judicial DTF Agents and arranged a controlled delivery to the address in Rector, AR. Former DEA special agent Derek Maltz breaks down how Mexican cartels are utilizing social media sites to 'target' young children on 'Lawrence Jones Cross Country.'. All three will be sentenced at later dates. Fax Line:(501) 340-2728. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. Terrell Fordson, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, while federal prosecutors dismissed two other charges. The drugs were then distributed to individuals in Little Rock and Pine Bluff, Arkansas, as well as Houston, Texas. Detectives arrested Krystal Bolen, 37, the report said. A third operation, this one led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), began in August 2021 when DEA and the North Little Rock Police Department identified street-level methamphetamine and fentanyl dealers in central Arkansas who were connected to the same source of supply. Print Headline: Sweep leads to 80 indictments. After the delivery, agents executed a search warrant into the Rector home to retrieve the package and arrested Jacob Smith, who accepted the package from undercover DTF agents. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Chris Givens and Benecia Moore. On October 25, 2021, three separate . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, (Prince Williams/Wireimage). On Wednesday and in prior operations involving the EBK and Loady Murder Mobb gangs, investigators seized a total of 46 firearms, including two machine guns; approximately $805,000 in cash and $428,000 in jewelry; approximately 278 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $450,000; nine ounces of cocaine; four ounces of crack cocaine; 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine; and 116 pills containing fentanyl. In March 2021, the FBIs GETROCK Task Force obtained a wiretap and used a total of twelve wiretaps through June 2022 as a source of real-time information to intervene and prevent violence in Pine Bluff, Little Rock, and other communities throughout the state. Postal Service. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. Material from the Associated Press is Copyright 2023, Associated Press and may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ARKANSAS The season of giving is here, and the Postal Service is putting out the call for kind-hearted, generous people across the country to sign [], An unfortunate accident happened Saturday evening in Jonesboro involving a patrol car and a civilian driver. If convicted of conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine each defendant will face a sentence of not less than 10 years to life imprisonment. As part of the operation on Tuesday more than 20 vehicles and more than $35,000 in drug proceeds from multiple bank accounts was seized. Jim Dawson, the special agent in charge of the local FBI office, said after Collins' death, the FBI banded together with investigative partners around the state to accelerate efforts to address the problem of violent crime in central Arkansas. From a video recorded inside the confidential source's vehicle, Rhodes can be seen pulling out a large plastic bag with an "off white" substance containing a heroin/fentanyl mixture. Law enforcement began early this morning by searching for 72 suspects, all of whom were indicted for federal gun and drug trafficking crimes. Legal Statement. Todays arrests are the culmination of a long term collaboration between the Little Rock, Benton, and Sherwood Police Departments, as well as the Pulaski County Sheriffs Department, U.S. Representatives from law enforcement agencies across the state converse before a news conference Wednesday at the U.S. attorneys office in Little Rock. During the search, drugs were found and the two men were arrested. Immerse Arkansas to break ground for first-of-its-kind youth shelter, Police activate Silver Alert for missing North Little Rock woman, Your Arkansas weather forecast from THV11, Tornado recovery agencies in Arkansas move on to new areas, Seven Arkansas men arrested on fentanyl drug charges related to overdose death, Bryant school bus driver arrested, charged with DWI, 2 dead following pursuit with Arkansas State trooper in Memphis, TBI reports. . In total, deputies found 62 lbs. Another search warrant was then executed at the apartment in Marmaduke. A coordinated arrest operation took place this morning in Marianna and Forrest City as part of an ongoing federal drug investigation. "We won't stop until we have all of them in custody.". As part of the operation on Tuesday more than 20 vehicles and more than $35,000 in drug proceeds from multiple bank accounts was seized. Email Email. Lock Agents made contact with these two individuals at their apartment on 3rd Street in Marmaduke. Bragg credited the arrests on Wednesday to work begun by Pine Bluff Det. Agents with Homeland Security received information from FedEx and Border Patrol regarding a package shipped from Mexico to Rector, Arkansas that contained approximately fifteen pounds of DMT, which is a hallucinogenic schedule I controlled substance. The investigation revealed drug trafficking and travel between Arkansas and Texas, California, Arizona, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. Arkansas overdoses from drugs laced with fentanyl on the rise With the rise of drugs being laced with fentanyl, state officials say there were 618 overdose deaths in 2021 with about 65% of. All rights reserved. He is charged with capital murder and is facing a possible death sentence if he is convicted. Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 kilograms but less than 100 kilograms of marijuana is punishable by not more than 20 years incarceration in the Bureau of Prisons with a possible fine of up to $1,000,000, and not less than three years supervised release. The investigations focused on rival gangs responsible for violence throughout central Arkansas, with one operation focused on the EBK -- Every Body Killas -- gang and resulting in the indictment of 35 defendants. During the arrest, authorities found guns and drugs with an overall value of $175,520. He adds the dedication of this deputy resulted in more than just drugs off the street it saved lives, potentially thousands. The release says authorities seized about 16.2 pounds of cocaine, 7.7 pounds of marijuana, 13 firearms and $9,540. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Law enforcement discovered that the gangs were funding their violent activity primarily through the sale of large quantities of high-grade marijuana. One FBI investigation focused on the Every Body Killas, or EBK gang, which resulted in 35 indictments, and the other focused on the Loady Murder Mobb Gang, which resulted in 26 indictments. But it wasnt until the vehicle was taken back to the department that the full extent of hidden narcotics was found. In addition to his active warrants, Hall was also charged with trafficking due to his possession of fentanyl. Brenda Golden Day- age 36, Fort Smith, Arkansas - sentenced April 1, 2021 to 60 months BOP and $100 special assessment for Distribution of More Than Five Grams of Methamphetamine. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Little Rock District Office conducted their operation with assistance from DEA Riverside, California District Office; USPIS; North Little Rock Police Department; Sherwood Police Department; and Benton Police Department. Three more defendants, Quincy Martez Chambers, Deandreian Devonte Meadows, and Joseph Riggins, Jr., are charged separately in stand-alone indictments. The formal accusation accuses Gladney of selling marijuana, possessing several firearms including 9mm handguns, an AM15 multi-caliber rifle, 5.56 NATO caliber rifle and SKS rifle. Market data provided by Factset. Legal Statement. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The DEA Little Rock Office was assisted by the DEA Riverside, California office, United States Postal Inspection Service, North Little Rock Police Department, Sherwood Police Department and Benton Police Department. Three federal investigations focused on the drug and firearm pipeline in Arkansas came to a head on Wednesday morning when 80 indictments were unsealed and 45 arrests were made, which included the rapper Bankroll Freddie, whose real name is Freddie Gladney III. He was taken to the Pulaski County jail but was no longer on the jail roster as of Saturday evening. The FBI investigation began in January 2013. DEA agents have seized $146,000 in cash, 10 firearms, 12 pounds of methamphetamine, 1.2 kilograms of powdered fentanyl, 600 pressed fentanyl pills, 10 pounds of marijuana, and nine ounces of cocaine. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Law enforcement began early Wednesday morning by searching for 72 suspects, all of whom were indicted for federal gun and drug trafficking crimes. Unfortunately, its getting to be the norm, Lane said. Twenty-seven fugitives remain after this mornings arrests. She said 27 suspects were still at large Wednesday afternoon and another eight defendants were already in state custody.