All 20 people charged in connection with a multi-year, drug-related investigation led by the FBI have pleaded not guilty.
Among those who have elected to contest their charges are Washington County Sheriff Milton Gaston and Humphreys County Sheriff Bruce Williams. The two, along with 18 others, were arrested on Oct. 30 for their alleged roles in a major drug trafficking conspiracy. An overwhelming majority of those arrested worked in law enforcement. Gaston’s attorney is state Sen. Derrick Simmons, while Williams is represented by Cleveland attorney Michael Carr.
According to a federal indictment, the law enforcement officers involved are said to have taken bribes ranging from $1,500 to $37,500 to aid and abet drug trafficking and associated crimes. The officers are believed to have worked for an undercover FBI agent posing as a Mexican drug cartel member, providing safe passage for drug runs through the Mississippi Delta and up to the Memphis area.
“These corrupt law enforcement officers provided protection for those whom they believed were drug traffickers in exchange for bribe payments,” FBI Jackson Field Office special agent in charge Robert Eikhoff said at the time of the indictments. “Each of the law enforcement officers arrested had taken an oath to protect and serve their respective communities — an oath that they violated.
“This type of corruption strikes at the heart of communities. It erodes public confidence and undermines the strength of law enforcement integrity.”
In addition to Gaston and Williams, the following individuals linked to law enforcement were indicted:
- Brandon Addison (Hollandale Police Department, Humphreys County Sheriff’s Office)
- Javery Howard (Metcalf Police Department, Hollandale Police Department)
- Truron Grayson (Humphreys County Sheriff’s Office)
- Sean Williams (Yazoo City Police Department, Mississippi Department of Corrections)
- Dexture Franklin (Washington County Sheriff’s Office)
- Wendell Johnson (Bolivar County Sheriff’s Office)
- Jamario Sanford (Greenwood Police Department)
- Marvin Flowers (Sunflower County Sheriff’s Office)
- Martavius Moore (Greenville Police Department, Mississippi Department of Corrections)
- Marquavius Bankhead (Mississippi Highway Patrol)
- Chaka Gaines (Greenwood Police Department)
- Dequarian Smith (Humphreys County Sheriff’s Office, Isola Police Department)
- Marcus Nolan (Mississippi Department of Corrections)
Non-law enforcement defendants include Assahn Roach, Jeremy Sallis, Torio Chaz Wiseman, Pierre Lakes, and Derrik Wallace. Addison and Howard are believed to have joined in on the conspiracy when they joined in on a trip to Miami. On that trip, the co-conspirators reportedly met with undercover agents posing as cartel members, where they discussed how to facilitate illegal drug trafficking operations in Mississippi.
19 of the 20 individuals in this case are charged with violating federal firearm laws relating to carrying a firearm while participating in a drug trafficking crime. The individuals were arrested in numerous counties in Mississippi, along with Shelby County, Tenn., according to officials.
If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. The FBI is investigating the case, while Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Mims heads the prosecution.
