Southern District of Mississippi
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Approximately 40 Individuals Arrested in Multi-State Drug Trafficking TakedownRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – Approximately 40 individuals were arrested today pursuant to 10 federal indictments filed in the Southern District of Mississippi charging defendants from Lauderdale, Newton, Neshoba, Scott, and Jasper counties in Mississippi, as well as Mexico, California, Texas, and Alabama. The charges stem from a four-year federal investigation of multiple drug trafficking operations distributing methamphetamine, cocaine, and other illegal drugs.
The indictments charge various drug trafficking crimes, including, but not limited, to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to do so. Several defendants face mandatory minimum sentences because of the significant quantities of illegal drugs involved, and some defendants face enhanced penalties for crimes involving methamphetamine where minors were present, or for drug trafficking near schools. Additionally, some defendants have been charged with firearms-related crimes or using a telephone to threaten injury or death to another by means of an explosive device.
The following defendants were arrested today:
Tavia Armstrong, 32, of Meridian; Alyssia Boose, 32, of Newton; Billy Boose, 46, of Newton; Fred Campbell, 49, of Meridian; Jacoby Clayton, 29, of Meridian; Mario Cole, 37, of Meridian; Bobby Coleman, 35, of Union; George Collier, 46, of Pelahatchie; Christopher Evans, 47, of Union; Tabbgrinn Graham, 33, of Decatur; James Green, 52, of Meridian; Cassady Harris, 37, of Union; Yvette Herring, 45, of Riverside, CA; Dakota Holt, 32, of Meridian; Edward House, 46, of Meridian; Jeffery Jennings, 40, of Meridian; James Johnson, 50, of Louin; Cedric Jones, 52, of Houston, TX; Lajason Jones, 43, of Decatur; Markee Jones, 44, of Meridian; Nathan Kendricks, 46, of Meridian; Kevin King, 41, of Meridian; Todrian Laphand, 30, of Meridian; John Little, 31, of Meridian; Nicholas Massey, 35, of Decatur; Kenneth McCurdy, 43, of Forest; Jeffery Murrell, 54, of Newton; Johnny Patton, 42, of Quitman; Darius Powell, 35, of Meridian; Marcus Powell, 38, of Meridian; Raykeitdgrith Ricks, 41, of Lawrence; Znthony Ruffin, 38, of Toomsuba; Dustin Jamal Russell, 33, of Newton; Steven Savell, 48, of Union; Carlos Seals, 42, of Meridian; Brandon Slaughter, 31, Meridian; Jacorie Smith, 27, of Meridian; Curtis Spivey, 39 of Philadelphia; Billy Wilson, 52, of Cuba, AL; and Crisseta Woods, 46, of Union.
Additional defendants charged in the indictments have not yet been arrested.
Initial court appearances are scheduled to begin on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at 9:00 a.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judges F. Keith Ball and LaKeysha Greer Isaac in U.S. District Court in Jackson.
The announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi, Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations, Acting Special Agent in Charge Steve Hofer of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and U.S. Marshal Mark Shepherd.
The cases are being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the East Mississippi Drug Task Force and Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Alabama 17th Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force, the Newton County Sheriff’s Department, and the Scott County Sheriff’s Department.
The following agencies also assisted in the investigation: U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Mississippi Highway Patrol, Mississippi Bureau of Investigations, Neshoba County Sheriff’s Office, Philadelphia Police Department, Decatur Police Department, Union Police Department, Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, Mississippi Commercial Truck Enforcement Division, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, Mississippi Alcoholic Beverage Control, and the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carla J. Clark is prosecuting the cases. The Office of Enforcement Operations in the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division also provided assistance.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
An indictment is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Moss Point Man Sentenced to over 16 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute 14 Grams of FentanylRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Moss Point man was sentenced to a total of 195 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 14 grams of fentanyl.
Richard Terrell Magee, 39, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court documents, on July 28, 2022, agents conducted a controlled purchase of 14 grams of fentanyl from Magee in Jackson County, Mississippi. Magee was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 21, 2023. He pled guilty on October 19, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. The DEA reports that two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, and one kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. More facts on fentanyl can be found at https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl and https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
Moss Point Man Sentenced to over 21 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Moss Point man was sentenced to 262 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute over 112 grams of methamphetamine.
Ronald Charles Glaude, Jr. AKA “Bug”, 34, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court documents, on February 22, 2019, law enforcement agents utilized a confidential informant to purchase a clear plastic bag containing a total package weight of approximately 112.5 grams of methamphetamine for $1600.00 from Glaude at a residence in Moss Point, Mississippi.
Glaude was indicted by a federal grand jury and he pled guilty on October 26, 2023, to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Acting Special Agent in Charge Rebekah Day of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor- led, intelligence driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Pascagoula Police Department, and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
California Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking and Related Offenses for Forcing Victim to Engage in Commercial Sex Across the CountryRead the Press Release
A federal jury in the Southern District of Mississippi convicted Michael Deon Fulcher, 54, with sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution. The co-defendant, Jonzie Hamilton, 35, previously pleaded guilty to interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution.
“The defendant preyed upon this vulnerable victim and used sexual violence and threats of physical harm to coerce her into commercial sex for his own financial gain,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We thank this victim for bravely facing her trafficker. The Justice Department will vigorously prosecute these cases to hold human traffickers accountable and bring justice to their victims.”
“This way this victim was trafficked across multiple states and then into Mississippi is an example of how human trafficking affects our entire nation,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi. “We will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute human traffickers, like the defendant, as part of our efforts to bring an end to this horrible crime.”
“The FBI takes allegations of sex trafficking very seriously and we are determined to rigorously investigate human trafficking actors,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Jackson Field Office.
The evidence presented at trial demonstrated that Fulcher used sexual assault, threats of violence, isolation, control, psychological manipulation and emotional abuse to compel the victim to engage in commercial sex between April and June 2020. Fulcher lured the physically injured victim into his car in Las Vegas by making false promises to help her, but then brought her to his home, where he sexually assaulted her.
Shortly afterwards, Fulcher brought the victim to California, where he acted in concert with Hamilton to compel the victim to engage in commercial sex acts over the course of several weeks. Fulcher required the victim to follow his strict rules, threatened the victim with physical harm, confiscated her money and Social Security debit card and even had an unlicensed dentist pull out her teeth. Fulcher also sent the victim and Hamilton across the country for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex, stopping in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana and eventually Mississippi where the victim ran away.
While the victim was on the road, Fulcher required the victim to send him all of her earnings and continued his coercive scheme by threatening the victim with physical harm, controlling her access to her phone, isolating her from anyone she knew and refusing to allow her to receive much-needed medical treatment.
A sentencing hearing for Fulcher is scheduled for April 30. Fulcher faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and mandatory restitution for the sex trafficking charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Hamilton’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 31.
The FBI Gulfport Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Kate Alexander and Francisco Zornosa of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit prosecuted the case, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones for the Southern District of Mississippi.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
California Man Convicted of Sex Trafficking and Related Offenses for Forcing Victim to Engage in Commercial Sex Across the CountryRead the Press Release
A federal jury in the Southern District of Mississippi convicted Michael Deon Fulcher, 54, with sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking and interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution. The co-defendant, Jonzie Hamilton, 35, previously pleaded guilty to interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution.
“The defendant preyed upon this vulnerable victim and used sexual violence and threats of physical harm to coerce her into commercial sex for his own financial gain,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “We thank this victim for bravely facing her trafficker. The Justice Department will vigorously prosecute these cases to hold human traffickers accountable and bring justice to their victims.”
“This way this victim was trafficked across multiple states and then into Mississippi is an example of how human trafficking affects our entire nation,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee for the Southern District of Mississippi. “We will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute human traffickers, like the defendant, as part of our efforts to bring an end to this horrible crime.”
“The FBI takes allegations of sex trafficking very seriously and we are determined to rigorously investigate human trafficking actors,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Rebecca Day of the FBI Jackson Field Office.
The evidence presented at trial demonstrated that Fulcher used sexual assault, threats of violence, isolation, control, psychological manipulation and emotional abuse to compel the victim to engage in commercial sex between April and June 2020. Fulcher lured the physically injured victim into his car in Las Vegas by making false promises to help her, but then brought her to his home, where he sexually assaulted her.
Shortly afterwards, Fulcher brought the victim to California, where he acted in concert with Hamilton to compel the victim to engage in commercial sex acts over the course of several weeks. Fulcher required the victim to follow his strict rules, threatened the victim with physical harm, confiscated her money and Social Security debit card and even had an unlicensed dentist pull out her teeth. Fulcher also sent the victim and Hamilton across the country for the purpose of engaging in commercial sex, stopping in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana and eventually Mississippi where the victim ran away.
While the victim was on the road, Fulcher required the victim to send him all of her earnings and continued his coercive scheme by threatening the victim with physical harm, controlling her access to her phone, isolating her from anyone she knew and refusing to allow her to receive much-needed medical treatment.
A sentencing hearing for Fulcher is scheduled for April 30. Fulcher faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and mandatory restitution for the sex trafficking charge. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Hamilton’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 31.
The FBI Gulfport Field Office investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Kate Alexander and Francisco Zornosa of the Civil Rights Division’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit prosecuted the case, with the assistance of Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones for the Southern District of Mississippi.
Anyone who has information about human trafficking should report that information to the National Human Trafficking Hotline toll-free at 1-888-373-7888, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information about human trafficking, please visit www.humantraffickinghotline.org. Information on the Justice Department’s efforts to combat human trafficking can be found at www.justice.gov/humantrafficking.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Joins “SOAP up” in Hattiesburg to Raise Awareness for Human Trafficking PreventionRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – During National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, U.S. Attorney Todd Gee and his staff continue to bring awareness to the fight against human trafficking. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to bringing traffickers to justice, assisting trafficked victims, and enhancing public awareness through community outreach.
U.S. Attorney Todd Gee and Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Goff, Human Trafficking Coordinator for the office, will participate in “SOAP Up Hattiesburg: Outreach Event to End Human Trafficking” on Saturday, January 20. The event will be hosted by members of the Coalition Against Trafficking student group and the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Center for Human Trafficking Research and Training (CHRT). The program will offer participants training on the signs of human trafficking and the opportunity to assist with a community impact project. Additional information about this event and The Soap Project can be found here: https://www.usm.edu/news/2024/release/soap-up-hattiesburg.php.
U.S. Attorney Todd Gee’s announcement on Human Trafficking Prevention Month: https://youtu.be/fhk2DetoaGE?si=Qckg5CxYy_wBkFLy
Anyone who has information about a potential human trafficking situation or a person who may be experiencing human trafficking should contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733.
Saucier Man Sentenced to over 2 Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Saucier, Mississippi man was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Damion Xavier Giglio, 39, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court documents, on February 11, 2023, Giglio was encountered by Marine Resource Officers on a piece of property located in Saucier, Harrison County, MS. During the contact, Mr. Giglio was arrested for trespassing, not wearing hunter’s orange, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Giglio was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 21, 2023. He pled guilty on October 17, 2023, to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
Moss Point Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Moss Point woman pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Linda Renee Mizell, 41, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court documents and statements made in court, in early 2023, law enforcement officers received intelligence that Mizell was selling methamphetamine at her residence in Jackson County, Mississippi. A search warrant executed at the residence recovered a digital scale and methamphetamine paraphernalia. Linda Mizell was interviewed and admitted to her involvement in the conspiracy.
Mizell pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. She is scheduled to be sentenced on April 2, 2024, and faces up to twenty years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi, and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.
Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Jackson man pled guilty in federal court to production of child pornography.
According to court documents, in April 2021, Delvan Jerrod Howard, 43, video recorded himself engaging in sexually explicit conduct with a minor.
Howard was indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2022. He is scheduled to be sentenced on April 24, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jessica Orench of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Mississippi Attorney General’s Cyber Crime Unit and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda R. Haynes is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Federal Jury Convicts Texas Man of Cocaine ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. - On January 11, 2024, a federal jury convicted Jose Humberto Gandara, 52, of Edinburg, Texas for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute a substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine, announced U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Acting Special Agent in Charge Steve Hofer of the Drug Enforcement Administration.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, in 2016, Jose Humberto Gandara was stopped in Gulfport, while driving a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta. The Jetta contained almost $150,000 hidden in a concealed compartment located under the center console. Gandara initially denied any knowledge of the money. Officers then showed Gandara a pair of shoes, which they located in the hidden compartment. The officers previously cut the shoes to see if they contained a tracker. Gandara asked the officers why they cut his shoes, and when they confronted him with the fact that the shoes came from the hidden compartment, Gandara admitted to moving the money for a percentage. Gandara denied being involved with narcotics, but photographs from his phone appeared to depict bricks of cocaine.
In January of 2015, Gandara bought a different 2012 Volkswagen Jetta that was subsequently stopped at the border of Mexico/Texas. While Gandara was not driving that Jetta, the driver was an individual that Gandara had previously identified as his employee. Border Patrol agents found approximately 12 kilograms of cocaine in a hidden compartment, which matched the hidden compartment in the vehicle Gandara was driving in Gulfport.
Officers were also able to determine that in September of 2015, Gandara was stopped in Alabama with nearly $360,000. The money was divided into multiple bundles, each of which were wrapped in green plastic wrap and stuffed inside the front seats of the car Gandara was driving. Gandara again denied knowledge of the money, but the money found in the seats matched a bundle of money Gandara claimed from his duffle bag.
Subsequent investigation revealed that the $150,000 seized from Gandara in Gulfport was payment for cocaine that was interdicted in Louisiana, while bound for Moss Point, Mississippi. The evidence and testimony at trial showed that Gandara was acting on behalf of a source of supply, located in Texas, who was importing cocaine directly from Mexico and sending it on to Moss Point, Mississippi.
Gandara is scheduled to be sentenced on April 17, 2024. He faces a maximum potential sentence of twenty years in prison.
The DEA, United States Border Patrol, Gulfport Police Department, Louisiana State Police, and Alabama’s 17th Judicial Task Force Team investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan Buckner and Hunter McCreight prosecuted the case with support from Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gaines Cleveland and Lee Smith.
Vicksburg Man Sentenced to 50 Years in Prison for Production and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Vicksburg man was sentenced in federal court to serve a total of 50 years in prison, followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for production of child pornography and possession of child pornography.
According to court documents, beginning in January 2022, Samuel Boyd Slade, Jr., 43, produced images and videos depicting minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
In addition to his term of imprisonment, Slade was ordered to pay $6,000 in restitution to victims and a $6,000 assessment under the Amy, Vicky, and Andy Child Pornography Victim Assistance Act of 2018. Slade was also ordered to register as a sex offender.
United States Attorney Todd W. Gee and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Orench of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda R. Haynes.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Missouri Woman Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison for Accessory After the Fact in the Murder of Three Employees of Hinds County BusinessRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Missouri woman was sentenced in federal court to 10 years in prison for helping her co-defendant, who discharged a firearm during the commission of a robbery that killed three people.
According to court documents, Jamison Layne Townsend, 42, and her co-defendant, Joshua Michael Garcia, went to Bill’s Coin & Jewelry on December 17, 2016, to rob the business. During the robbery, Garcia shot and killed the owner and two co-workers. Townsend and Garcia emptied the display cases of watches, rings, necklaces, bracelets, coins, and other items. Later that day, they entered a pawn shop in Mobile, Alabama, and pawned five items that were stolen from Bill’s earlier that day.
On December 19, 2016, a trooper with the Tennessee Highway Patrol attempted to stop Townsend and Garcia, who were traveling in a red Dodge Charger on Interstate 24. A chase ensued and Townsend and Garcia escaped at a high rate of speed. Two days later, Townsend and Garcia were arrested in Geary County, Kansas. Officers searched the Charger and found numerous items that were stolen from Bill’s, including coins, watches, trays of jewelry, and many items that still contained the sales tags from Bill’s. Additionally, officers recovered four firearms, including a Les Baer .45 caliber handgun that was determined to be the murder weapon by the Mississippi State Crime Laboratory. Ammunition, a cell phone, and numerous items of clothing were also recovered from the Dodge Charger.
Townsend pled guilty on September 18, 2023, to three counts of accessory after the fact.
Joshua Michael Garcia previously pled guilty to discharging a firearm that resulted in the murder of three persons during the commission of a robbery. He was sentenced to three life sentences.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jennifer Orench of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Jackson Police Department with assistance from the Geary County, Kansas, Sherriff’s Department, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Mississippi State Crime Laboratory, the United States Marshal’s Service, the Gulfport Police Department, and the Biloxi Police Department.
The case was prosecuted by Criminal Chief Erin Chalk.
Meridian Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute 43 Grams of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Meridian man pleaded guilty today to possession with intent to distribute approximately 43 grams of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Willie Bernard Lewis, 37, sold methamphetamine to a confidential informant on August 20, 2021, and August 31, 2021. On September 1, 2021, law enforcement executed a search warrant on his residence and located approximately 43 grams of methamphetamine and 10.9 grams of fentanyl. Lewis has prior convictions for sale of cocaine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. The DEA reports that two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, and one kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. More facts on fentanyl can be found at https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl and https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl.
Lewis is scheduled to be sentenced on April 8, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement.
The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department and the ATF investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam T. Stuart is prosecuting the case.
Redwater Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute over 50 Grams of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Leake County woman pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, in May of 2021, Kelsy Ann Billie, 24, conspired to distribute over fifty grams of methamphetamine near the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Billie was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2023.
Billie is scheduled to be sentenced on April 25, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of forty years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd Gee, Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Whitney Woodruff, Regional Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, made the announcement.
The Choctaw Police Department, the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.
Pearl River Man Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a MinorRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Neshoba County man pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual abuse of a minor on the Choctaw Indian Reservation.
According to court documents, in September of 2017, Scottie Amos, 26, committed a sexual act on a minor who was between the ages of 12 and 16 in the Tucker Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Amos was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2022.
Amos is scheduled to be sentenced on April 11, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Amos has previously pleaded guilty to burglary and awaits sentencing in that case as well.
U.S. Attorney Todd Gee and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jessica Orench of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Choctaw Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigations all investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.
Jackson Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiring to Defraud Vehicle Sellers on Facebook MarketplaceRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Jackson man pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud through Facebook Marketplace.
According to court records, Jerrick Floyd, 24, conspired with others to organize a scheme to defraud individuals selling vehicles on Facebook Marketplace. The victim would receive a fake cashier’s check or wire transfer to their bank and Floyd would arrange for an accomplice to pick up the vehicle before the victim discovered they had been deceived.
Floyd will be sentenced on April 3, 2024. He faces up to twenty years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jessica Orench of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn Murray is prosecuting the case.
Gulfport Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute over 81 Grams of FentanylRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Gulfport man pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute over 81 grams of fentanyl.
According to court documents, on April 21, 2023, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office conducted a search warrant on the residence of Ashton Craig Cuevas, 19, in Gulfport. The search took place the day after agents conducted a controlled purchase of fentanyl pills from Cuevas. The search of Cueva’s home yielded 81.1 grams of fentanyl, as well as the pre-recorded buy money from the controlled purchase.
Cuevas is scheduled to be sentenced on April 16, 2024, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of forty years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, fentanyl is approximately 100 times more potent than morphine and 50 times more potent than heroin. The DEA reports that two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal, and one kilogram of fentanyl has the potential to kill 500,000 people. More facts on fentanyl can be found at https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl and https://www.dea.gov/resources/facts-about-fentanyl.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.
Philadelphia Man Sentenced to over 12 Years in Prison for Distributing Methamphetamine on the Choctaw Indian ReservationRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Philadelphia man was sentenced to 146 months in prison for possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
According to court documents, Roger Devonta Stokes, 41, distributed more than 5 grams of methamphetamine in the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians in July of 2021.
A federal grand jury indicted Stokes in a two-count indictment involving the distribution of methamphetamine on the Choctaw Indian Reservation. On September 7, 2023, Stokes entered a plea of guilty to one of those counts.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee, Regional Agent in Charge Whitney Woodruff of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerly of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Choctaw Police Department of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs, and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brian K. Burns.
Laurel Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute over 12 Grams of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Laurel man pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 12.46 grams of a substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
According to court records, Danny Ray Cole, 46, was captured on audio and video recordings distributing pills to a buyer. It was determined that the pills contained methamphetamine.
Cole will be sentenced on April 16, 2024. He faces up to twenty years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans made the announcement.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the Jones County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Allen is prosecuting the case.
Illinois Man Pleads Guilty to Failure to Register as a Sex Offender in MississippiRead the Press Release
Hattiesburg, Miss. – A Peoria, Illinois man pled guilty to failure to register as a sex offender in Mississippi.
According to court documents, Shontia Berry, 47, was convicted in 2009 of a sex offense that required him to register as a sex offender for life in any jurisdiction in which he resides, works, or attends school. The Mississippi Sex Offender’s registry showed Berry registering in Mississippi in July of 2022. Berry then relocated to Alabama and registered there, but then moved back to Lamar County, Mississippi and did not register or update his Mississippi Registration as required by law.
The United States Marshal Services located Berry in February, 2023, in the Hattiesburg, Mississippi area. An investigation revealed that Berry had been working and residing in Mississippi since July 29, 2022.
Berry will be sentenced on April 9, 2024, and faces up to 10 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine Berry’s sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
United States Attorney Todd W. Gee and United States Marshal Mark Shepherd made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Glenda R. Haynes is prosecuting the case.
Bay St. Louis Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute over 68 Grams of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Bay St. Louis man pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute over 68 grams of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, On July 13, 2023, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Charles Jamaal Nichols, 37. Nichols led agents on a foot chase and agents observed him throwing things as he ran. Agents recovered large shards of methamphetamine on the trail where Nichols ran. The methamphetamine was scattered throughout the grass, within gutters that were laying behind a business, and along the fence line. Agents were able to recover 68.5 grams of what was sent to the lab and confirmed to be 97% pure methamphetamine.
Nichols will be sentenced on April 2, 2024, and faces a maximum of twenty years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.
Durant Man Pleads Guilty to Bank RobberyRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Durant man pleaded guilty to bank robbery, announced U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Curtis Lee Williams, 21, robbed the BankPlus branch in Durant on July 7, 2022, wearing all black, sunglasses, a wig, and no shoes. The same day, one of the $50 bait bills from the bank was used to purchase three firearms from a pawn shop in Kosciusko. An arrest was made in Durant later that day following a traffic stop.
Williams was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 4, 2023.
Williams is scheduled to be sentenced on March 29, 2024. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Durant Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
Vancleave Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. - A Vancleave, Mississippi man pled guilty to possession of more than 9,900 images and videos of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to court documents, Cameron Willis Cotrill, 67, was identified in an online child exploitation investigation on the BitTorrent network for offenders possessing and sharing child sexual abuse material. As part of the investigation, a direct download was completed of 139 files that were being made available from Cotrill’s device at his Vancleave address. On January 11, 2022, the FBI assisted state officers with the execution of a state search warrant at Cotrill’s address. Full forensic examinations of Cotrill’s electronic devices recovered at the search determined that Cotrill possessed over 9,900 images and videos on his desktop computer depicting the sexual abuse of children.
Cotrill is scheduled to be sentenced on April 11, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., in Gulfport. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case with assistance from the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Three Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Steal USDA-Mortgaged HousesRead the Press Release
Natchez, Miss. – Three individuals were sentenced for their respective roles in a scheme to steal houses from the United States Department of Agriculture.
Barry Martin, 47, of Georgia was sentenced to 46 months in prison; Fiesta Kagler, 59, of Georgia, was sentenced to 46 months in prison; and Ella Martin, 69, of Jayess, Mississippi, a former USDA employee, was sentenced to 35 months in prison.
According to court documents, the defendants conspired to identify and steal USDA-mortgaged properties. The targeted properties were mortgaged through the Brookhaven office of USDA Rural Development, an agency which helps rural residents buy or rent safe, affordable housing, especially low and very low income individuals. As an employee of that office, Ella Martin had access to a list of abandoned, foreclosed, nearly-foreclosed, or similarly distressed USDA-mortgaged properties and would create fraudulent warranty deeds designed to convey ownership of those properties to her co-conspirators and others. The fraudulent deeds included forged signatures from former homeowners, including at least one deceased individual. The fraudulent deeds were then filed in Chancery Courts around Mississippi with the intent to deprive the actual owners of the use and benefit of the properties and to deprive the United States Government of the actual value of the properties.
All three defendants will be required to pay restitution, which will be determined at a separate hearing.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Dax Roberson of the USDA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) made the announcement.
The USDA OIG and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie prosecuted the case.
Former City of Jackson Employee Sentenced for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss.– A former City of Jackson employee was sentenced to 5 years of probation for wire fraud and ordered to pay approximately $54,000 in restitution.
According to court documents, Keyshia Sanders, 48, the City of Jackson’s former Constituent Service Manager, pleaded guilty to engaging in a wire fraud scheme to fraudulently induce the disbursement of grant money for her own benefit. The scheme involved the use of fraudulent invoices that caused the grant’s fiscal agent to disburse funds to Sanders in clear contradiction to the terms of the grant and Sander’s role as a City of Jackson employee. The grant was intended to provide project support in the City of Jackson to invest in artists, artist collectives, and small arts organizations. In total, the fraudulent transactions caused by Sanders over the course of the scheme totaled a loss of approximately $54,000.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Mississippi State Auditor’s Office investigated the case.
Biloxi Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. - A Biloxi man pled guilty to being in possession of more than 290 visual depictions of child pornography, announced U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New Orleans.
According to court documents, Christopher Lee Parker, 36, was identified in a child exploitation investigation in cyber tip reports coming from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. A federal search warrant obtained for Parker’s Biloxi residence resulted in the recovery of Parker’s cell phones, in which Parker, at times through mobile Apps, possessed approximately 291 visual depictions, in still and video formats, of minors, to include those who had not reached 12 years of age, engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
Parker is scheduled to be sentenced on April 11, 2024, at 9:30 a.m., in Gulfport. He faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations with assistance from the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office and the Biloxi Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Jones is prosecuting the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov
Federal Jury Finds Defendant Guilty of Murder for Hire, Conspiracy to Commit Murder for Hire, and Solicitation to Commit a Crime of ViolenceRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A federal jury convicted Joshua Druid Bryan of Clinton, MS, today for murder for hire, conspiracy to commit murder for hire, and solicitation to commit a crime of violence.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Bryan, 28, hired a hitman to murder another person. He also entered into a conspiracy with Regan Bryan, his sister, to commit the offense. Regan Bryan previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit murder for hire.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement.
The ATF investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Payne and Matt Allen prosecuted the case.
Neshoba County Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute over 50 Grams of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Neshoba County man pleaded guilty to possessing over 50 grams of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.
According to court documents, on April 28, 2022, Darrell E. McBeath, 38, distributed over 50 grams of methamphetamine near the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. McBeath was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2023.
McBeath is scheduled to be sentenced on April 3, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 40 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd Gee, Regional Agent in Charge Whitney Woodruff of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The Choctaw Police Department, the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.
Simon City Royals Gang Member Sentenced to over 21 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Meridian, Mississippi man and Simon City Royals gang member was sentenced to 262 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute approximately 630 grams of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, Jeremy Lovell, 45, was found in possession of approximately 630 grams of methamphetamine and two firearms during the execution of a search warrant at his residence on May 3, 2022. Through the investigation, law enforcement determined that from 2020 to 2022, Lovell distributed more than 104 pounds of methamphetamine in Lauderdale County. Lovell has prior convictions for burglary of a commercial building and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement.
The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department, East Mississippi Drug Task Force, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the ATF investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam T. Stuart prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Mexican National Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Unlawful Return after Removal and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Mexican man was sentenced to 24 months in prison for unlawful return to the United States after removal, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
According to court documents, on March 23, 2023, the Pearl Police Department received a report of an intoxicated man with a gun at a Pearl apartment complex. Law enforcement officers responded to the area and located Antonio Andrade-Hernandez, 36, with a gun pointed at his own head. Law enforcement officers were able to get Andrade-Hernandez to surrender peacefully. A records check revealed that Andrade-Hernandez was an illegal alien who had previously been removed from the United States. Additionally, since Andrade-Hernandez is a Mexican national illegally in the United States, it is contrary to federal law for him to possess any firearm.
On April 4, 2023, Andrade-Hernandez was indicted by a federal grand jury. He subsequently pled guilty to unlawful return after removal and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Pearl Police Department, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam T. Stuart prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Honduran Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited PersonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Honduran man was sentenced to 24 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
According to court documents, Tommy Pineda-Guevara, 20, was found in possession of a firearm during a traffic stop on September 1, 2022. Pineda-Guevara is a citizen and national of Honduras. Under federal law, aliens are prohibited from possessing firearms.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Acting Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations in New Orleans made the announcement.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Homeland Security Investigations investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam T. Stuart prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Standing Pine Woman Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute over 50 Grams of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, MS – A Standing Pine woman pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, on September 9, 2022, Shannen Marie Chapala, 31, distributed over 50 grams of methamphetamine in the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Chapala was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2023.
Chapala is scheduled to be sentenced on March 8, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd Gee, Special Agent in Charge Brad Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Regional Agent in Charge Whitney Woodruff of the Bureau of Indian Affairs made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Choctaw Police Department, the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.
Waveland Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute 167 Grams of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Waveland man pled guilty today to possession with intent to distribute 167 grams of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, on July 12, 2023, law enforcement officials received information that Lance Ali Vaughn, age 40, was selling methamphetamine in Hancock County. Agents set up a controlled purchase and, when Vaughn arrived at the predetermined location for the drug buy, a K9 alerted to drugs in the vehicle. A subsequent search yielded 167 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine.
Vaughn will be sentenced on March 27, 2024, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years and a maximum of forty years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case
Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute a Controlled SubstanceRead the Press Release
Gulfport, MS – A Fremont, Ohio man pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
According to court records, Trayvion Joaquin Scott, 25, pled guilty to his involvement in a large-scale drug trafficking organization that began operating in Picayune, MS as far back as 2015. Scott’s primary involvement in the conspiracy was making drug payments via Walmart to Walmart money transfers on behalf of the trafficking organization.
Scott will be sentenced on March 28, 2024. He faces up to twenty years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.
Rankin County, Mississippi Civil Rights Violations Request for InformationRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - The Department of Justice is committed to enforcing laws protecting the civil rights of all persons in Rankin County, Mississippi and throughout the nation. To enforce these laws, it is critical that federal authorities receive information from the public regarding allegations of abuse. As the Department previously indicated in its press release issued on August 3, 2023, announcing the guilty pleas of six former Rankin County Law Enforcement Officers, the public is encouraged to contact the FBI hotline at 1-800-CALL-FBI, email tips.fbi.gov or call the FBI Jackson Field Office at 601-948-5000, if you or someone you know has been a victim of abuse by a member of the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office.
Pascagoula Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute over 60 Grams of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Pascagoula man pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute over 60 grams of methamphetamine.
According to court documents, law enforcement received information that Jerome Clifton Clegg, 38, was distributing large quantities of methamphetamine in Pascagoula, MS (Jackson County). In August 2023, agents set up surveillance of Clegg’s apartment and observed two drug transactions take place. A traffic stop with the first individual who purchased drugs from Clegg yielded 58 grams of methamphetamine and a second traffic stop with the second individual yielded an additional 3 grams. Based on this information, agents conducted a search of Clegg’s home which yielded additional narcotics and a handgun.
Clegg is scheduled to be sentenced on March 28, 2024. He faces a maximum penalty of forty years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the South Mississippi Metro Enforcement Team.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.
Meridian Man Pleads Guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Meridian man pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, Jacquis LaShawn Houston, 27, was found in possession of a firearm by a Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Deputy on March 16, 2020, during a traffic stop on a vehicle in which Houston was riding as a passenger. Houston threw a 9mm caliber pistol from the vehicle. As a convicted felon, it is contrary to federal law for Houston to possess any firearm.
Houston will be sentenced on February 28, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives made the announcement.
The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Carriere, Mississippi Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Possession with Intent to Distribute 56 Grams of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Carriere man was sentenced to 204 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute 56 grams of methamphetamine.
Calvin Deshun Vaughn, 48, was sentenced on November 30, 2023, in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.
According to court records, in 2015, an investigation began into a large-scale drug trafficking organization, located largely in Picayune, MS (Pearl River County). In 2019, Calvin Deshun Vaughn was identified as being part of the conspiracy. Federal agents used a confidential source to begin making purchases of methamphetamine from Vaughn. On January 30, 2019, a confidential source purchased 56 grams of 98% pure methamphetamine from Vaughn in Carriere, MS.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor led, intelligence driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
California Men Sentenced for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 54 Grams of Fentanyl and 206 Grams of Fentanyl AnalogueRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Two Irvine, California men were sentenced to federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl.
David Quinonez, 23, was sentenced to 87 months in prison, and Aaron Torres, 24, was sentenced to 64 months in prison.
According to court records, in March of 2022, law enforcement agents were made aware that David Quinonez was sending pills containing fentanyl to the Southern District of Mississippi. Undercover agents began communicating with Quinonez and were then able to determine that Aaron Torres was Quinonez’s source of supply. The agents arranged to purchase fentanyl pills from Quinonez in California. When they met with Quinonez, Torres was also present in the car and the pair had pills containing fentanyl that they intended to sell. The overall conspiracy involved 54 grams of fentanyl and 206 grams of a fentanyl analogue.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
California Man Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 1342 Grams of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Los Angeles, California man was sentenced to 180 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 1342 grams of methamphetamine.
According to court records, on October 31, 2019, an anonymous tipster alerted the DEA to a PODS container being shipped by Shaun Patrick Fuller, 41, to Jackson County, Mississippi. The tipster said the PODS contained drugs that were being sent from California to Mississippi to be trafficked. A canine alerted on the container and a search warrant was obtained. The search revealed 1342 grams of meth that tested at 100% purity. A controlled delivery of the PODS container took place and it was determined that the container was sent to the Jackson County residence by Fuller.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
Pearl River Man Sentenced to over Five Years in Prison for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon by a Habitual Offender of Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. –A Pearl River man was sentenced to 63 months in federal prison for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and for being a Habitual Offender of Domestic Violence.
According to court documents, Lee Garrick McMillan, 31, admitted to assaulting his wife while in the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. McMillan fractured his wife’s ribs by kicking her with steel toed boots on May 20, 2023. This assault marked the third domestic violence incident perpetrated by McMillan against an intimate partner.
U.S. Attorney Todd Gee and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, American Indian women residing on Indian reservations suffer domestic violence and physical assault at rates far exceeding women of other ethnicities and locations.
The Choctaw Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin J. Payne and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian K. Burns prosecuted the case.
Bay St. Louis Woman Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 Dosage Units of Pills Containing FentanylRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Bay St. Louis woman pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 dosage units of pills containing fentanyl.
Emma Kate Stoute, 18, pled guilty in U.S. District Court in Gulfport on November 27, 2023.
According to court documents, on August 29, 2023, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration followed up on a written complaint that alleged there was drug trafficking activity occurring at the Motel 6 in Bay St. Louis. Agents conducted surveillance on the motel and narrowed down the suspected parties and rooms. During surveillance, agents observed a red Toyota Camry arrive at the hotel to pick up two of the individuals suspected of selling drugs. Once the vehicle departed, agents conducted rolling surveillance of the vehicle and observed the occupants of the vehicle participate in what appeared to be a drug transaction in Louisiana. After the transaction, agents followed the vehicle back into Mississippi and conducted a traffic stop. Stoute was identified as one of the occupants of the vehicle. She was in possession of 50 dosage units of pills containing fentanyl. A subsequent search of her cellular device yielded messages confirming that Stoute was trafficking fentanyl pills in the Southern District of Mississippi.
Stoute is scheduled to be sentenced on March 21, 2024. She faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.
Picayune Man Pleads Guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute 27 Grams of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Picayune man pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute 27 grams of methamphetamine.
According to court records, Conel Lamont Holloway, 40, sold 27 grams of methamphetamine for $700 during a controlled sale by the Drug Enforcement Administration in Picayune, MS. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 7, 2022, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Holloway is scheduled to be sentenced on March 5, 2024. He faces a mandatory minimum of 5 years with a maximum penalty of up to 40 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor- led, intelligence driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Two Men Arrested in Gulfport Transporting 12 Kilograms of FentanylRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – Two men were arrested today in Harrison County on criminal charges related to their alleged transportation of 12 kilograms of fentanyl while driving on Interstate 10 in Gulfport.
According to court documents, John Lee Price, III, and Ahmed Karim Barrie were pulled over in a pick-up truck, pulling a horse trailer, on I-10 when the driver of the vehicle was observed to commit a traffic violation. During the traffic stop, the two men were found to be in possession of roughly 50,000 fake pills that were weighed, and field tested as roughly 12 kilograms of fentanyl.
Price and Barrie are both charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (fentanyl). If convicted, they each face a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and Special Agent in Charge Brad L. Byerley of the Drug Enforcement Administration made the announcement.
The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office are investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose is prosecuting the case.
A criminal complaint is merely an allegation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Louisiana Man Sentenced to 17 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Two Pounds of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Louisiana man was sentenced to 204 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute two pounds of methamphetamine.
According to court records, in January 2022, a confidential source informed Homeland Security Investigators that Deandrea Keion Malbrough, 30, was sending methamphetamine to the Southern District of Mississippi. This source then connected undercover agents with Malbrough who went on to mail two pounds of methamphetamine to agents at an address in Gulfport.
A federal grand jury indicted Malbrough on February 22, 2023, and he pled guilty on July 17, 2023.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Eric DeLaune of Homeland Security Investigations made the announcement.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erica Rose.
Hattiesburg Man Sentenced to over 31 Years in Prison for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 318 Grams of MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Gulfport, Miss. – A Hattiesburg man was sentenced to 380 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 318 grams of methamphetamine.
According to court records, Robert Patrick Terrell, 43, conspired with Shawn Tullos and Pervis Everett to smuggle methamphetamine into the South Mississippi Correctional Institution (SMCI) in Green County, Mississippi. As part of an ongoing investigation, on August 10, 2021, a package sent to SMCI was recovered and examined. The package contained Terrell’s fingerprints and its contents were confirmed to be 318 grams of methamphetamine.
Terrell pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Shawn Tullos pled guilty and was sentenced to 128 months in prison. Pervis Everett pled guilty and was sentenced to 151 months in prison.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erica Rose and Lee Smith.
Pearl River Community Man Pleads Guilty to Habitual Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Pearl River Community man pled guilty to habitual domestic violence.
According to court documents and statements made in open court, on September 21, 2019, in the Pearl River Community of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Eric Shane Dan 47, using his fist, struck his spouse causing a laceration to her face which required medical treatment. Dan was previously convicted of domestic assault on two separate occasions.
Dan is scheduled to be sentenced on February 13, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of ten years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Choctaw Police Department investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway is prosecuting the case.
Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Fraudulently Obtaining more than $400,000 in COVID-19 Economic Assistance LoansRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Texas man pleaded guilty to illegally obtaining more than $400,000 in COVID-19 economic assistance loans.
According to court documents, Ganiyu Abayomi Jimoh, 30, of Houston, Texas, conspired with others to commit wire fraud by opening numerous bank accounts in Hinds, Madison, and Rankin Counties using other individuals’ personal identifying information, then fraudulently applying for multiple Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL) through the Small Business Administration (SBA). In August and September 2020, Jimoh received four direct deposits from the SBA totaling $439,500.
At the time of the instant offense, Jimoh was on federal bond out of the Southern District of Texas. Although Jimoh was from Houston, Texas, he traveled to Mississippi on multiple occasions to visit different banks. Jimoh could be seen on video surveillance of many of the bank transactions.
Jimoh pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced on February 27, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee of the Southern District of Mississippi and U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Patrick Davis made the announcement.
The United States Secret Service is investigating the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly T. Purdie is prosecuting the case.
The CARES Act is a federal law enacted on March 29, 2020, designed to provide emergency financial assistance to the millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization that expands states’ ability to provide unemployment insurance for many workers impacted by COVID-19, including for workers who are not ordinarily eligible for unemployment insurance benefits.
Anyone with information about attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866‑720‑5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
Meridian Man Sentenced to over 7 Years in Prison for Possession of a Firearm by Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. – A Meridian man was sentenced to 87 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, on July 15, 2022, agents from the East Mississippi Drug Task Force, utilized a confidential source to purchase approximately 13 grams of methamphetamine from Reginald Franklin, 53. After the controlled purchase, law enforcement executed a search warrant on Franklin’s residence and located four firearms, one of which was reported stolen, approximately 68 grams of methamphetamine, 308 dosage units of ecstasy, 4 grams of crack cocaine, and 35 grams of marijuana. Through the investigation, law enforcement determined that Franklin was a convicted felon having previously been convicted for aggravated assault. As a convicted felon, it is contrary to federal law for Franklin to possess any firearm.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
The East Mississippi Drug Task Force and the ATF investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam T. Stuart prosecuted the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Meridian Man Pleads Guilty to Armed RobberiesRead the Press Release
Jackson, Miss. - A Meridian man pled guilty to three counts of robbery and two counts of brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence.
According to court documents, Matthew Byrd, 42, committed four armed robberies of local businesses across Mississippi, between April 20, 2022, and May 15, 2022. During each robbery, Byrd displayed a firearm to intimidate the clerk and steal merchandise and cash from the business. Through the investigation, law enforcement was able to determine that Byrd was a convicted felon, previously being convicted of Possession of Methamphetamine and Residential Burglary. As a convicted felon it is contrary to federal law for Byrd to possess any firearm.
Byrd is scheduled to be sentenced on February 13, 2024, and faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
U.S. Attorney Todd W. Gee and Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department, East Mississippi Drug Task Force, Meridian Police Department, Clinton Police Department, Newton County Sherriff’s Department, and the ATF investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam T. Stuart is prosecuting the case.
This case is being prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.