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. with the source replying "I need two of em," meaning two grams of heroin/fentanyl, according to the plea agreement. Fordson, also a part of the Fuller fentanyl distribution ring, agreed with Fuller and others in 2018 to "distribute and to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.". 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. A third operation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration began in August 2021 when DEA and the North Little Rock Police Department identified street-level methamphetamine and fentanyl. Chancellor Damphousse Elected to Serve As President of Sun Belt Conference, In a Position to Give Some Magic This Season? During the stop, he asked to search the car and was given permission by the driver. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/Staci Vandagriff), Dornetta Hobbs, mother of Detective Kevin Collins, uses her mask to dab her eyes during a news conference Wednesday at the U.S. attorneys office in Little Rock. 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. Rawls, 50, of Benton, was sentenced to 420 months imprisonment for his role in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine. 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. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. 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. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. "When my alarm went off at 3:15 this morning," Harper said,"Detective Collins' spirit was with not just me, but the entire team, the investigative team, the arrest team and the prosecutorial team.". This investigation culminated in the indictment of 18 defendants. 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. The investigation was conducted by the FBI, with assistance from multiple law enforcement agencies including: the Little Rock Police Department, Benton Police Department, Sherwood Police Department, Pulaski County Sheriffs Office, Arkansas National Guard, Arkansas State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, and United States Marshal Service. A locked padlock 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. He adds the dedication of this deputy resulted in more than just drugs off the street it saved lives, potentially thousands. - Deputies in Johnson County say they made a huge drug bust during a traffic stop Tuesday but think the bigger crime was the suspects bringing Little Debbie into the mix. 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. Reports say that authorities made the arrest around 5:43 p.m. on Idaho Drive after they found Hall inside of a vehicle. Along with trafficking, Hall was additionally charged with simultaneous possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, and two counts of possession of a controlled substance with purpose. LITTLE ROCKA federal jury convicted a Little Rock man who distributed the fentanyl that resulted in a person's overdose death in early 2021. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Sounds like bad cops planting shit and another thing the Clairday boy I can guarantee he doesnt mess with meth nor cocaine due to loosing family members to that drug he hates it. 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. A greater amount, in fact, a very large amount was found secreted around the vehicle, said Seiders, most of them inside of the structure of the vehicle itself.. In December 2020, the Drug Enforcement. Gladney was already under federal indictment for drug and gun crimes stemming from an April arrest by state police following a traffic stop in Crittenden County. How much help are American volunteers in Ukraine? A locked padlock Eastern District of Arkansas | Gang Activity in White County Results in Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. A man briefly broke free and fled from North Little Rock police officers arresting him on drug charges during a traffic stop Friday afternoon, according to an arrest report. With this investigation, DEA, working with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, has taken down a drug trafficking organization responsible for bringing significant amounts of these illegal dangerous drugs into Arkansas through the U.S. Collins and another officer were shot in the incident, and Collins died of his wounds at a local hospital. (Prince Williams/Wireimage). Print Headline: Sweep leads to 80 indictments. The defendants arrested today will appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joe J. Volpe on March 15, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. for plea and arraignment. emailStay Connected Eight plead not guilty in federal, state drug bust in Jonesboro - KAIT Eighteen individuals were indicted because of the DEAs investigation. 20 arrests were made in Little Rock; one, Christian White, was arrested in the Mesquite/Dallas, Texas area; and one, Rachel Green, was arrested in Atlanta, Georgia. Arkansas Drug Director Kirk Lane is seeing more of these stories, massive busts on highways and side roads as traffickers travel the state. 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. This investigation culminated in the indictment of 18 defendants. Unfortunately, its getting to be the norm, Lane said. White County drug bust seizes 67 pounds, $3M worth of narcotics She said 27 suspects were still at large Wednesday afternoon and another eight defendants were already in state custody. 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. The press release said Collins was assisting the FBI with intelligence pertaining to the criminal activity of the gangs, as well as surveillance, interviews and arrests of those involved in criminal activity in Pine Bluff. Officers stopped a vehicle driven by Jayuian Ellington, 44, of North Little Rock for having defective equipment and smelled marijuana coming from inside the vehicle, the report said. According to reports, authorities underwent the. Courtney Rhodes pleaded guilty to the distribution of a controlled substance, while the. 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. Gioelli is one of 17 co-defendants who are a part of the case targeting Desmond Kelley, who was head of another fentanyl distribution ring in central Arkansas. Dubbed Operation Candyland, this investigation by the FBI, Arkansas Eastern District of Arkansas Local authorities reported receiving citizen complaints about drug trafficking and gunshots at these locations. LITTLE ROCKThree federal investigations culminated in 45 arrests this morning. Further, there were numerous items used to produce, grow, cultivate, package, and sell controlled substances. He was taken to the Pulaski County jail but was no longer on the jail roster as of Saturday evening. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File). Rapper Bankroll Freddie attends his Birthday Party at Onyx Nightclub on April 7, 2021 in Atlanta. Two FBI operations, each focused on a rival gang, were created to address violence and drug trafficking in the corridor between Pine Bluff and Little Rock. or redistributed. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Afterward, Charles Hobbs, Collins' stepfather, expressed his appreciation for the work that went into the investigations. During FBI wiretapped phone calls and text messages between Fordson and Fuller, Fordson negotiated the purchase and distribution of fentanyl from Fuller. Ross said Wednesday's arrests were part of three separate -- but related -- operations, two of which were conducted by the FBI and the third by the DEA, with both organizations working in concert with state and local police in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Jonesboro and Helena-West Helena to interrupt what was described as a "pipeline" of drugs and guns moving between Pine Bluff and Little Rock. This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at. 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. 80 individuals indicted between Pine Bluff, Little Rock for drugs Two Drug Conspiracies Land Little Rock Man in Federal Prison for 18 Years Thursday, May 5, 2022 Share For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Arkansas LITTLE ROCKA Little Rock man's involvement in two separate drug conspiracies will end with him spending 18 years in federal prison. Three more defendants, Quincy Martez Chambers, Deandreian Devonte Meadows, and Joseph Riggins, Jr., are charged separately in stand-alone indictments. Javier Rodela and Alejandro Flores of El Paso Texas were charged with trafficking a controlled substance and are being held in the White County Detention Center on $400,000 bonds. Deputies: Drugs found stashed in Little Debbie box during Arkansas Rain: 7am to 7am: .00 Month: 0.00 Year: 20.21 Recorded temps: High: 63 Low: 45, By: U.S. Attorney Eastern District of Arkansas. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, LITTLE ROCKThirteen people will appear in federal court today after being arrested Tuesday morning as part of "Operation Hartbreak Kid.". Authorities took Hall to the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility where he's currently being held without bond until he appears in North Little Rock Court on Tuesday, January 4, 2022. In just the first half of this current fiscal period, the state is already at $115 million. All rights reserved. Catalog; For You; Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. At this time, agents located LSD, Kratom, marijuana, paraphernalia, MDMA (ecstasy), mushrooms, $2,449.00, five firearms, and cocaine. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. GEORGIA MAN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY STEALING $50K FROM ELDERLY WOMAN, POSSESSION OF GUNS AND MARIJUANA, Rapper Bankroll Freddie attends his Birthday Party at Onyx Nightclub on April 7, 2021 in Atlanta. Pine Bluff Police Detective Kevin Collins was shot and killed in October 2020 while serving an arrest warrant on an EBK associate wanted for a homicide in Georgia. 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Kevin Collins, who was shot to death Oct. 5, 2020 as he attempted to serve an arrest warrant on a known member of the EBK street gang. In addition, agents seized more than nine ounces of crack cocaine and more than 165 pounds of marijuana. Multiple undercover operations and numerous other law enforcement actions, including multiple seizures of cocaine and crack cocaine were used during the investigation. The White County Sheriffs Office is praising the actions of a deputy after millions of dollars worth of narcotics were discovered during a traffic stop. He faces up to 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. Between March 2021 and June 2022, the FBI utilized 12 wiretaps to get real-time information and intervene to prevent violence in Pine Bluff, Little Rock and other communities throughout the state. According to the Little Rock Police. A third operation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration 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 West Coast source. "That regret and grief over the loss of his life led to an even greater resolve by his colleagues, including the task force, who have been working hard to investigate these cases.". 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Possession with intent to distribute more than 28 grams but less than 280 grams of crack cocaine is punishable by not less than five years, not more than 40 years incarceration in the Bureau of Prisons with a possible fine of up to $5,000,000, and not less than four years supervised release. 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. But it wasnt until the vehicle was taken back to the department that the full extent of hidden narcotics was found. During the arrest, authorities found guns and. He is charged with felony escape, two felony counts of possession of Schedule II drugs with purpose, felony possession of Schedule I drugs with purpose, felony possession of drug paraphernalia and felony possession of marijuana with purpose. The second investigation focused on the Loady Murder Mobb gang and resulted in the indictment of 26 defendants. We appreciate the dedication and commitment of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners who conducted this investigation and made these arrests., Methamphetamine, cocaine, and fentanyl are insidious, addictive drugs that consume all who abuse them, said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Jarad Harper. Before todays DEA arrests, investigators seized $146,000 in cash, 10 firearms, 12 pounds of methamphetamine, 1.2 kilograms of powder fentanyl, 600 pressed fentanyl pills, 10 pounds of marijuana, and nine ounces of cocaine. Mexican cartels are marketing their drugs through social media: Former DEA special agent. Tuesday, the unnamed drug interdiction deputy was patrolling along highway 67 near Searcy when he pulled over a car for a lane change violation. P.O. JOHNSON COUNTY, Ark. Included in the indictment were several forfeiture counts which called for the forfeiture of multiple vehicles used by the Freddie Brewster organization, including the inventory of the used car shop. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Distribution of less than 500 grams of cocaine 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 FBI conducted their operations with assistance from Arkansas State Police, Arkansas Department of Community Corrections, Little Rock Police Department, North Little Rock Police Department, Pine Bluff Police Department, and Jonesboro Police Department. Official websites use .gov (KAIT) - The eight people arrested in connection with a federal and state drug bust earlier this week in Jonesboro have appeared in federal court, with an initial trial date now set. FBIs GETROCK Task Force was formed in 2017 in response to the escalation in gang and gun violence in Little Rock. Collins was killed in a shootout Oct. 5, 2020, while working an investigation at the Econo Lodge motel in Pine Bluff. All rights reserved. Marshals, Arkansas National Guard, Arkansas State Police, the U.S. Attorneys office, and the FBI.. An investigative focus on the pipeline of drugs and firearms between Pine Bluff and Little Rock resulted in the indictment of 80 individuals, all charged with various federal firearms and drug trafficking charges in multiple indictments that were unsealed today. An investigative focus on the pipeline of drugs and firearms between Pine Bluff and Little Rock resulted in the indictment of 80 individuals, all charged with various federal firearms and drug trafficking charges in multiple indictments that were unsealed today. 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. Main Office: Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Three Federal Operations in Pine Bluff and Little Rock Lead to Dozens The three men were a part of fentanyl distribution rings that trafficked the drug in Central Arkansas. O.C. The maximum penalty for being a felon or an unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm is 10 years' imprisonment and a $250,000 fine. In addition to the arrests, during the operation authorities seized 4 firearms, one of which was an AR-style pistol; 2 ounces of cocaine; 1 ounce of crack cocaine; and $30,000 cash. Have a question about Government Services? 15 people arrested in Little Rock-based drug trafficking bust. TWO MEN BUSTED FOR ATTEMPTING TO SELL FENTANYL TO VETS IN BOSTON VA SUBSTANCE ABUSE PROGRAM, Rapper Bankroll Freddie attends 1st Party of The Year at Gold Room on January 1, 2022 in Atlanta. This organization used the mail system to evade detection in order to facilitate their operation. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Box 1229 Drug trafficking brings violence and fear to our communities, and we will do everything we can to protect our streets from these crimes, stated Jonathan D. Ross, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas.