Several law enforcement officers in the Mississippi Delta have been arrested following a multi-year drug-related investigation led by the FBI.
In a Thursday press conference, U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner announced that 20 people, most of whom wore a badge at the time of the alleged crimes, were arrested on criminal charges related to their accused roles in a major drug trafficking conspiracy. The biggest names of those arrested were Washington County Sheriff Milton Gaston and Humphreys County Sheriff Bruce Williams.
According to a federal indictment, the law enforcement officers allegedly involved took bribes to aid and abet drug trafficking and associated crimes. The officers involved are said to have worked for an undercover FBI agent posing as a Mexican drug cartel member, where they provided safe passage for drug runs along the Mississippi Delta and up to the Memphis area. In exchange for their services, the officers reportedly received cash benefits, with some racking up tens of thousands of dollars.
“These corrupt law enforcement officers provided protection for those whom they believed were drug traffickers in exchange for bribe payments. Each of the law enforcement officers arrested had taken an oath to protect and serve their respective communities — an oath that they violated,” Robert Eikhoff, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Jackson field office, said.
“This type of corruption strikes at the heart of communities. It erodes public confidence and undermines the strength of law enforcement integrity.”
The following individuals linked to law enforcement have been handcuffed:
- 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)
“The Mississippi Department of Public Safety and the Mississippi Department of Corrections do not condone, nor will we tolerate, conduct that violates the public’s trust, particularly from those who have taken an oath to protect and serve,” Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell and Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner Burl Cain said in a joint statement.
“We commend the diligent work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and have fully cooperated throughout the course of this investigation. Any additional inquiries should be directed to the FBI.”
Other non-law enforcement defendants include: Assahn Roach, Jeremy Sallis, Torio Chaz Wiseman, Pierre Lakes, and Derrik Wallace. Joyner said that 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 the Magnolia State.
In addition, 19 individuals 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.
