A Biloxi city councilman has made his first appearance in federal court after being issued three felony charges connected to drug possession and distribution earlier this year.
Robert Deming — who was elected to Biloxi’s city council in 2013 — was taken into custody on Thursday following an investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) revealed numerous illegal drugs were discovered during raids at six Candy Shop & Kratom stores in Mississippi and two in North Carolina in January.
All of Deming’s assets were forfeited after the raids, as well as an additional $2 million that was believed to be involved in drug trafficking and drug conspiracies.
At this time, Deming’s counts include conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance, as well as intentionally conspiring with others known and unknown to the grand jury to possess Schedule I substances.
He is also facing charges for the destruction, alteration, or falsification of records in federal investigations.
Each of the counts carries a maximum penalty of no more than 20 years in prison and at least three years of supervised release, along with a fine of under $1 million.
Deming has been detained without bond at the Harrison County Adult Detention Center since his arrest.
