A coordinated arrest operation took place this morning in Marianna and Forrest City as part of an ongoing federal drug investigation. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. "Law enforcement discovered that the gangs were funding their violent activity primarily through the sale of large quantities of high-grade marijuana," the release read. Work of slain Pine Bluff detective leads to 80 indictments for drug 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. "Kevin really worked hard at his job and being a police officer," Hobbs said. 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. Both agencies believe this seizure of drugs will not only impact the drug trade locally, but also help to identify the 'bad actors' in the city of Little Rock. Three other defendants were charged in stand-alone indictments, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorneys Office Eastern District Arkansas. 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.'. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS 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. 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. Thirteen people were arraigned in federal court Wednesday on drug distribution charges after being arrested Tuesday morning as part of what federal authorities dubbed "Operation Hartbreak Kid." document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 | MH Magazine WordPress Theme by MH Themes, Report: Armed suspects enter residence, assault, and steal from woman, Suspect arrested after allegedly choking, threatening victim with knife, First-Ever LOTTO Jackpot Hit for $2.338 Million, A-State Spring Commencement has Approximately 2,100 Candidates, Greene County deputies injured during arrest, Registration to Adopt USPS Operation Santa Letters is Available, Officer wrecks patrol car in front of police station, Underwater robot competition coming to Arkansas, $200,000 bond set for kidnapping, robbery suspect, West Memphis Three still seek justice 11 years after their release from prison, Burglars clean out north Jonesboro residence, report says. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Law enforcement began early this morning by searching for 72 suspects, all of whom were indicted for federal gun and drug trafficking crimes. Three men pleaded guilty in two separate fentanyl cases in federal court in Little Rock on Wednesday. Operation Hartbreak Kid was conducted by the DEA with assistance from the USPIS, United States Marshals Service, Arkansas State Police, North Little Rock Police Department, Arkansas Community Corrections, Lonoke County Sheriffs Office, Lonoke Police Department, Little Rock Police Department, Pulaski County Sheriffs Office, and Jacksonville Police Department. Little Rock agencies seize 'copious amounts' of meth, fentanyl - MSN Jarad Harper, assistant special agent in charge of the Little Rock DEA office, said that operations on Wednesday morning were performed with Collins uppermost in many officers' minds. 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. 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. Legal Statement. In addition, agents seized more than nine ounces of crack cocaine and more than 165 pounds of marijuana. 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. Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute more than 500 grams but less than 5 kilograms of 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. Rapper Bankroll Freddie attends 1st Party of The Year at Gold Room on January 1, 2022 in Atlanta. Print Headline: Sweep leads to 80 indictments. 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. Investigation revealed the drugs were being mailed into Arkansas from California, and these shipmentswhich included kilogram-quantities of methamphetamine and thousands of pressed fentanyl pillswere then distributed to individuals in Little Rock and Pine Bluff as well as Houston, Texas. "He wanted to bring other law enforcement agencies in to be involved in what was going on with the gangs and he made the ultimate sacrifice. 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. The third investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, or DEA, which began in August 2021 after the agency and North Little Rock Police Department identified street-level methamphetamine and fentanyl dealers in central Arkansas, who were connected to the same source of supply as the rival gangs. Before Wednesdays 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. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. Twenty-seven fugitives are still not in custody, as of Wednesday morning, and those who were arrested were scheduled to appear for arraignment by U.S. Magistrate Judge Joe. The release says authorities seized about 16.2 pounds of cocaine, 7.7 pounds of marijuana, 13 firearms and $9,540. HOUSTON RAPPER THE BREADMAN GETS 23 YEARS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING. JOHNSON COUNTY, Ark. In addition to his active warrants, Hall was also charged with trafficking due to his possession of fentanyl. Unfortunately, its getting to be the norm, Lane said. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Possession with the intent to distribute 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. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Get FBI email alerts Further, there were numerous items used to produce, grow, cultivate, package, and sell controlled substances. The investigation revealed drug trafficking and travel between Arkansas and Texas, California, Arizona, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. LITTLE ROCK, ARChristopher R. Thyer, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas; along with David T. Resch, Special Agent in Charge of the Little Rock Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Little Rock Police Department Chief Kenton Buckner announced the unsealing of a 62-count indictment charging multiple defendants in Arkansas, Georgia, Texas and Tennessee, with multiple drug, weapons and money laundering charges. Police executed a search warrant at 2:30 p.m. at 10520 W. Markham St. and reported finding the Xanax, along with methamphetamine and assorted drug paraphernalia, the report said. Authorities arrested 33-year-old Michael Hall for outstanding warrants. This achievement was made possible by a collaborative effort with our many local and federal law enforcement agencies. This spring, Le Creuset has introduced an exciting new shade thats already selling fast: shallot, a soft lavender with pink and slight gray undertones. Fax Line:(501) 340-2728. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. 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. PressReader. 2:20 CR 20017-001-018 (Original Indictment issued August 26, 2020, Superseding Indictment issued October 7, 2020) "His name is still out there, people still think about him and he's still helping to make arrests," Hobbs said. O.C. 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. 3 men admit to dealing fentanyl with drug rings - Arkansas Online A third operation, led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), began in August 2021 when the North Little Rock Police Department identified street-level methamphetamine and fentanyl. Little Rock police arrested a woman on drug-trafficking charges Thursday afternoon after finding more than 1,000 tablets of Xanax at a West Markham Street residence, according to an arrest. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. He adds the dedication of this deputy resulted in more than just drugs off the street it saved lives, potentially thousands. Both Clairday and Smith were booked into the Greene County Detention Center on trafficking a controlled substance, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and several charges of possession of controlled substances with purpose to deliver. A press release from the drug task force detailed a large interagency drug bust this week in NEA. 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. 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. An indictment contains only allegations. "These operations today are, in part, a continuation of those efforts," Dawson said, adding that the indictments unsealed on Wednesday are part of an ongoing effort to disrupt the activities of violent street gangs in Arkansas. In total, deputies found 62 lbs. During FBI wiretapped phone calls and text messages between Fordson and Fuller, Fordson negotiated the purchase and distribution of fentanyl from Fuller. 80 individuals indicted between Pine Bluff, Little Rock for drugs Thousands of arrests made in $55 million drug bust | thv11.com 11 indicted in central Arkansas drug ring | KATV Eighteen individuals were indicted because of the DEAs investigation. How much help are American volunteers in Ukraine? Gladney was arrested Wednesday in Jonesboro. (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. He said that much of the investigative work that led to the indictments was done by task force officers -- local police deployed to work with federal agencies -- out of Little Rock, North Little Rock, Pine Bluff and other local jurisdictions. The investigations focused on rival gangs responsible for violence throughout central Arkansas, with one operation focused on the EBK or Every Body Killas gang and resulting in the indictment of 35 defendants. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 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. Collins, Ross said, was working as a task force officer the day he was killed, and he said the investigation into gang violence done by the slain officer had provided much of the intelligence, built upon over the next two years, that was the basis for the indictments. All rights reserved. During Tuesdays arrests, officers recovered an additional AR-15 rifle. Dubbed Operation Candyland, this investigation by the FBI, Arkansas Eastern District of Arkansas 7 arrested in Jonesboro drug bust, $35,000 worth of meth - KATV The Brewster DTO was based out of Brewsters Used Auto and Detail shop on Forbing Road in southwest Little Rock. U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Arkansas, Methamphetamine, Firearms Recovered from North Little Rock Drug Ring, Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (LECC), "Operation Hartbreak Kid" Results in Thirteen Arrests, 35 Years In Federal Prison for Convicted Cocaine Trafficker, Operation "Candyland" Leads to Multiple Drug Arrests in Marianna and Forrest City, Little Rock Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Distributing Fentanyl That Resulted in Death. 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. 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. Later on, agents retrieved two arrest warrants for Amber Smith and Tylor Clairday for trafficking a controlled substance. An indictment only contains allegations. Eastern District of Arkansas | Central Arkansas Drug Organization - 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. FBIs GETROCK Task Force was formed in 2017 in response to the escalation in gang and gun violence in Little Rock. 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. Greg Wehner is a breaking news reporter for Fox News Digital. POLICE BEAT: Drug search leads to woman's arrest - Arkansas Online Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. Three more defendants, Quincy Martez Chambers, Deandreian Devonte Meadows, and Joseph Riggins, Jr., are charged separately in stand-alone indictments. The counts include conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, aiding and abetting the distribution of cocaine, felon in possession of firearms, money laundering, and the use of telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking crime. The indictment was handed down by a Federal Grand Jury on September 11, 2014. Another search warrant was then executed at the apartment in Marmaduke. An official website of the United States government. He was taken to the Pulaski County jail but was no longer on the jail roster as of Saturday evening. In recent weeks, Little Rock police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have teamed up in an effort to help combat violent crimes. According to the indictment, Freddie Gladney III and the 34 other individuals allegedly knowingly and intentionally distributed and possessed cocaine, crack-cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. The last couple of years weve seen larger and larger amounts.. Most of the defendants who were arrested this morning will appear at a later date for arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Joe J. Volpe. U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Arkansas, Investigations Built on the Work of Late Pine Bluff Detective Kevin Collins, Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (LECC), Three Federal Operations in Pine Bluff and Little Rock Lead to Dozens of Drug & Firearm Arrests, 35 Years In Federal Prison for Convicted Cocaine Trafficker, Operation "Candyland" Leads to Multiple Drug Arrests in Marianna and Forrest City, Little Rock Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Distributing Fentanyl That Resulted in Death. The drugs tested positive for opiates and are believed to be fentanyl. U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ross said Wednesday's operation was part of an ongoing effort to address the problem of gang violence in central Arkansas. They also bought more than a 2.2 pounds of cocaine from the organization and used. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. According to the plea agreement Rhodes signed Wednesday, in January 2019 a confidential source working with law enforcement made a recorded call to Rhodes for "the purpose of purchasing heroin or fentanyl.". LITTLE ROCKThirteen people will appear in federal court today after being arrested Tuesday morning as part of "Operation Hartbreak Kid.". Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. He is charged with capital murder and is facing a possible death sentence if he is convicted. 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. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. 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. . During the investigation, Hart and Tetus Jenkins, 43, of North Little Rock, were identified as the sources of supply to more than eight other individuals. 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. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File). The investigations focused on rival gangs responsible for violence throughout central Arkansas, with one operation focused on the EBK or Every Body Killas gang and resulting in the indictment of 35 defendants. [], Sounds to me like this is bullshit. The second investigation focused on the Loady Murder Mobb gang and resulted in the indictment of 26 defendants. According to the plea agreement, Fordson was responsible for between 24 and 32 grams of fentanyl. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. An official website of the United States government. Additional support was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations; United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Arkansas National Guard Counterdrug Joint Task Force; and the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory. 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. Gladney and his father were indicted for possessing between 500 grams and 5 kilograms of cocaine, between 28 and 280 grams of crack-cocaine, and between 100 kilograms and 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, the indictment noted. P.O. The investigation revealed drug trafficking and travel between Arkansas and Texas, California, Arizona, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. The 80 individuals sought were charged with various federal firearms and drug trafficking charges. 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. A coordinated arrest operation took place this morning in Marianna and Forrest City as part of an ongoing federal drug investigation. 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. Share on Twitter Twitter "We've taken most of those into custody and in the coming days we hope to take the remainder in," he said. or redistributed. Your email address will not be published. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. All rights reserved. On Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Peters filed a motion to dismiss the earlier indictment on the grounds that Gladney's arrest in April was part of the same conspiracy contained in the new indictment. As a part of his guilty plea Wednesday, Gioelli admitted the amount of fentanyl he distributed was between eight and 16 grams. 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. More than five pounds of methamphetamine and six firearms were seized on . Kraneum is legal everywhere. Law enforcement discovered that the gangs were funding their violent activity primarily through the sale of large quantities of high-grade marijuana. 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. Rawls, 50, of Benton, was sentenced to 420 months imprisonment for his role in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Bragg credited the arrests on Wednesday to work begun by Pine Bluff Det. That indictment named an additional 18 defendants. The units investigations and operations are coordinated out of FBI Little Rocks field office, and GETROCK continues to serve as the clearinghouse for gang-related law enforcement activity in Central Arkansas. "We deeply regret the death of Kevin Collins," Ross said. The defendants arrested include Hart, Jenkins, Justin Cross, 29, of North Little Rock; Jonathan Dunigan, 23, of Austin; Andre Graves, 44, of Little Rock; Bianca Lavonda, 33, of North Little Rock; Prince Strong, 37, of Jacksonville; Steven Taylor, 64, of Jacksonville; Daniel White, 34, of North Little Rock; and Dayton Wiggins, Jr., 47, of Jacksonville. O.C. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Local authorities reported receiving citizen complaints about drug trafficking and gunshots at these locations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Additional support was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations; United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Arkansas National Guard Counterdrug Joint Task Force; and the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory. Arkansas drug and firearm investigations lead to 80 indictments Of the 80 defendants indicted in the three investigations, 8 of those were already in custody when this mornings roundup began. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Main Office: 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. A locked padlock "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.". A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Arkansas drug and firearm investigations lead to 80 indictments - MSN P.O. LITTLE ROCKThree federal investigations culminated in 45 arrests this morning. 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. Catalog; For You; Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Eastern District of Arkansas | Jury Convicts Little Rock Man for 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. According to the Little Rock Police. 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. Rapper Bankroll Freddie attends his Birthday Party at Onyx Nightclub on April 7, 2021 in Atlanta. During the stop, he asked to search the car and was given permission by the driver. ARKANSAS, USA Arkansas State Police (ASP) have arrested 22 people in connection to an alleged narcotics operation in St. Francis County. Authorities also seized four firearms including an AR-style pistol, 2 ounces of cocaine, 1 ounce of crack-cocaine and $30,000 on Wednesday morning. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. 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. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Collins and another officer were shot in the incident, and Collins died of his wounds at a local hospital. Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute less than 28 grams of crack 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.