LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KAIT) - The eight people arrested in connection with a federal and state drug bust earlier this week in Jonesboro have appeared in federal court, with an initial trial date now set. The investigations focused on rival gangs responsible for violence throughout central Arkansas, with one operation focused on the EBK -- Every Body Killas -- gang and resulting in the indictment of 35 defendants. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Pine Bluff Police Detective Kevin Collins was shot and killed in October 2020 while serving an arrest warrant on an EBK associate wanted for a homicide in Georgia. The three men were a part of fentanyl distribution rings that trafficked the drug in Central Arkansas. An official website of the United States government. DEA agents arrest 13, seize drugs & gun in North Little Rock neighborhood bust During the search, drugs were found and the two men were arrested. Law enforcement began early Wednesday morning by searching for 72 suspects, all of whom were indicted for federal gun and drug trafficking crimes. A third operation, led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), began in August 2021 when the North Little Rock Police Department identified street-level methamphetamine and fentanyl. GEORGIA MAN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY STEALING $50K FROM ELDERLY WOMAN, POSSESSION OF GUNS AND MARIJUANA, Rapper Bankroll Freddie attends his Birthday Party at Onyx Nightclub on April 7, 2021 in Atlanta. As part of the operation on Tuesday more than 20 vehicles and more than $35,000 in drug proceeds from multiple bank accounts was seized. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File). Between March 2021 and June 2022, the FBI utilized 12 wiretaps to get real-time information and intervene to prevent violence in Pine Bluff, Little Rock and other communities throughout the state. More than five pounds of methamphetamine and six firearms were seized on . According to the Johnson County Sheriff's office, the driver of a vehicle ran away from the traffic stop after a deputy saw methamphetamine . LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Courtney Rhodes pleaded guilty to the distribution of a controlled substance, while the. According to reports, authorities underwent the. All three will be sentenced at later dates. Rawls, 50, of Benton, was sentenced to 420 months imprisonment for his role in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Manuel Taylor was charged in a separate indictment. According to a release from the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, the Drug Enforcement Admiration arrested 13 people as part of Operation Hartbreak Kid, which was named after the man agents believe to be the lead defendant in the case, 27-year-old Derrick Hart. He was trying to make an arrest of a guy who had already killed someone.". P.O. The DEA's investigation found drugs were mailed from California into Arkansas in shipments that included kilogram-quantities of methamphetamine and thousands of pressed fentanyl pills, according. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. O.C. with the source replying "I need two of em," meaning two grams of heroin/fentanyl, according to the plea agreement. Agencies that assisted the FBI in executing their operations included the Arkansas State Police, Arkansas Department of Community Corrections, Little Rock Police Department, North Little Rock Police Department, Pine Bluff Police Department and Jonesboro Police Department. 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LITTLE ROCK-A sweeping law-enforcement operation that involved numerous agencies and targeted members of a drug-trafficking organization responsible for the distribution of multiple kilograms of methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine in central Arkansas resulted in more than a dozen arrests Tuesday morning. Catalog; For You; Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Manuel Taylor was charged in a separate indictment. Prior to his death, Detective Collins was assisting FBI with intelligence related to criminal activity of these gangs, as well as surveillance, interviews, and arrests of individuals responsible for criminal activity in Pine Bluff. , These arrests represent the commitment of the U.S. LITTLE ROCKA federal jury convicted a Little Rock man who distributed the fentanyl that resulted in a person's overdose death in early 2021. Official websites use .gov Rawls, 50, of Benton, was sentenced to 420 months imprisonment for his role in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Pine Bluff Police Detective Kevin Collins was shot and killed in October 2020 while serving an arrest warrant on an EBK associate wanted for a homicide in Georgia. During the arrest, authorities found guns and. She is charged with felony trafficking Xanax, felony possession of methamphetamine with purpose, felony possession of drug paraphernalia, felony possession of drugs in proximity to certain facilities and felony unauthorized use of another person's property. Rapper Bankroll Freddie attends his Birthday Party at Onyx Nightclub on April 7, 2021 in Atlanta. He adds the dedication of this deputy resulted in more than just drugs off the street it saved lives, potentially thousands. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. The units investigations and operations are coordinated out of FBI Little Rocks field office, and GETROCK continues to serve as the clearinghouse for gang-related law enforcement activity in Central Arkansas. Also, agents found a journal where Clairday made entries as far back as 2018 where he described his experiments with growing mushrooms and his recipes for DMT production and use. This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. - Deputies in Johnson County say they made a huge drug bust during a traffic stop Tuesday but think the bigger crime was the suspects bringing Little Debbie into the mix. If you want to plan the perfect spring picnic, food and drink are important, but its certainly not the only factor to consider. (Prince Williams/Wireimage). In addition to the arrests, during the operation authorities seized 4 firearms, one of which was an AR-style pistol; 2 ounces of cocaine; 1 ounce of crack cocaine; and $30,000 cash. The indictment was handed down by a Federal Grand Jury on . Rhodes told the confidential source to meet him in the John Barrow area of Little Rock. The investigations into the rival gangs and their involvement in the drug and firearms pipeline in Arkansas gained momentum in October 2020 after Pine Bluff Police Detective Kevin Collins was shot and killed while serving an arrest warrant on an EBK member wanted for homicide in Georgia. The total street value of the bust more than $3 million, one of the largest traffic-stop-related drug busts in White County history. Two Drug Conspiracies Land Little Rock Man in Federal Prison for 18 Years Thursday, May 5, 2022 Share For Immediate Release U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Arkansas LITTLE ROCKA Little Rock man's involvement in two separate drug conspiracies will end with him spending 18 years in federal prison. Gladney was listed as a defendant in the indictment that was a result of the FBI focusing on the EBK gang, as was his father Freddie Gladney, Jr. Main Office: Get FBI email alerts North Little Rock police arrested a 33-year-old man with multiple active felony warrants out. Michael Gioelli pleaded guilty to knowingly distributing a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of fentanyl with prosecutors dropping the rest of the counts against him. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Ke'shone Smith of Pine Bluff, who was wanted for a murder in Georgia when Collins was killed, is scheduled to go on trial for Collins' murder April 17 in Jefferson County Circuit Court. All rights reserved. Box 1229 On June 16, 2021, Agents with Homeland Security and the Second Judicial District Drug Task Force, partnered with officers from Jonesboro Police Department, Arkansas State Police, Craighead County Sheriffs Department, Greene County Sheriffs Department, Clay County Sheriffs Department, Rector Police Department, Marmaduke Police Department, Pocahontas Police Department, and the Paragould Police Department in what started as a controlled delivery of a package of drugs from Mexico, and led into the shutdown of a 4 year long mushroom and DMT home lab and dispensary. Share on Facebook Facebook No Thanks Both Clairday and Smith were booked into the Greene County Detention Center on trafficking a controlled substance, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and several charges of possession of controlled substances with purpose to deliver. Investigation revealed the drugs were being mailed into Arkansas from California, and these shipmentswhich included kilogram-quantities of methamphetamine and thousands of pressed fentanyl pillswere then distributed to individuals in Little Rock and Pine Bluff as well as Houston, Texas. U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Arkansas, Methamphetamine, Firearms Recovered from North Little Rock Drug Ring, Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee (LECC), "Operation Hartbreak Kid" Results in Thirteen Arrests, 35 Years In Federal Prison for Convicted Cocaine Trafficker, Operation "Candyland" Leads to Multiple Drug Arrests in Marianna and Forrest City, Little Rock Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Distributing Fentanyl That Resulted in Death. 2:20 CR 20017-001-018 (Original Indictment issued August 26, 2020, Superseding Indictment issued October 7, 2020) He has a lot of things that he looks for to pick up on people that may be trafficking, explained Lt. Scott Seiders with WCSO. Fordson faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $1 million. JOHNSON COUNTY, Ark. The press release said Collins was assisting the FBI with intelligence pertaining to the criminal activity of the gangs, as well as surveillance, interviews and arrests of those involved in criminal activity in Pine Bluff. A press release from the drug task force detailed a large interagency drug bust this week in NEA. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The U.S. Attorney's office said Wednesday that all defendants currently in custody and those rounded up in subsequent arrests will be arraigned before a federal magistrate judge in the coming days. Mexican cartels are marketing their drugs through social media: Former DEA special agent. Associated Press text, photo, graphic, audio and/or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The investigation was conducted by the FBI, with assistance from multiple law enforcement agencies including: the Little Rock Police Department, Benton Police Department, Sherwood Police Department, Pulaski County Sheriffs Office, Arkansas National Guard, Arkansas State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, and United States Marshal Service. [], During this years competition, competitors will use their robots to simulate a waterway cleanup. The drugs tested positive for opiates and are believed to be fentanyl. Most of the defendants who were arrested this morning will appear at a later date for arraignment before United States Magistrate Judge Joe J. Volpe. In recent weeks, Little Rock police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have teamed up in an effort to help combat violent crimes. This investigation involved the seizure of various illegal drugs ranging from marijuana to fentanyl, along with several firearms. In March 2021, the FBIs GETROCK Task Force obtained a wiretap and used a total of twelve wiretaps through June 2022 as a source of real-time information to intervene and prevent violence in Pine Bluff, Little Rock, and other communities throughout the state. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, An official website of the United States government. The units investigations and operations are coordinated out of FBI Little Rocks field office, and GETROCK continues to serve as the clearinghouse for gang-related law enforcement activity in Central Arkansas. He is charged with capital murder and is facing a possible death sentence if he is convicted. Todays arrests are the culmination of a long term collaboration between the Little Rock, Benton, and Sherwood Police Departments, as well as the Pulaski County Sheriffs Department, U.S. He said the arrests on Wednesday began at 6 a.m. as officers fanned out looking for more than 60 defendants named in the two FBI indictments. FBI.gov is an official site of the U.S. Department of Justice, Christopher Lamont JONES, 41, Little Rock, Ladeitrick HAMPTON, 33, North Little Rock, Willie Joseph TYLER, JR., 37, Little Rock, Rodriques DAngelo DAVIS, 30, Little Rock, Christina Akins BREWSTER, 27, Little Rock. The third investigation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, or DEA, which began in August 2021 after the agency and North Little Rock Police Department identified street-level methamphetamine and fentanyl dealers in central Arkansas, who were connected to the same source of supply as the rival gangs. ARKANSAS, USA Arkansas authorities have completed a drug bust that resulted in more than $55 million in various drugs, 1,200 different arrests, and the recovery of hundreds of firearms.. A greater amount, in fact, a very large amount was found secreted around the vehicle, said Seiders, most of them inside of the structure of the vehicle itself.. Collins' parents, Charles and Dornetta Hobbs of Pine Bluff, attended the press conference. Of the 80 defendants indicted in the three investigations, 8 of those were already in custody when this mornings roundup began. Market data provided by Factset. At that time, officers noticed marijuana in plain view and placed Tylor Clairday and Amber Smith under arrest for the trafficking charge. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. During the "controlled buy," Rhodes asked the confidential source, "What you got?" An investigative focus on the pipeline of drugs and firearms between Pine Bluff and Little Rock resulted in the indictment of 80 individuals, all charged with various federal firearms and drug trafficking charges in multiple indictments that were unsealed today. FBIs GETROCK Task Force was formed in 2017 in response to the escalation in gang and gun violence in Little Rock. (Prince Williams/Wireimage). With this investigation, DEA, working with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, has taken down a drug trafficking organization responsible for bringing significant amounts of these illegal dangerous drugs into Arkansas through the U.S. 15 people arrested in Little Rock-based drug trafficking bust. Hobbs said the announcement of Wednesday's arrests was particularly meaningful to both him and Collins' mother because of the credit Collins received from federal authorities for the part he played in the investigations. They also bought more than a 2.2 pounds of cocaine from the organization and used. "The most violent offenders, the most violent groups in the most violent places," Ross said, "these are our priorities.". The second investigation focused on the Loady Murder Mobb gang and resulted in the indictment of 26 defendants. Law enforcement discovered that the gangs were funding their violent activity primarily through the sale of large quantities of high-grade marijuana. From a video recorded inside the confidential source's vehicle, Rhodes can be seen pulling out a large plastic bag with an "off white" substance containing a heroin/fentanyl mixture. Officers stopped a vehicle driven by Jayuian Ellington, 44, of North Little Rock for having defective equipment and smelled marijuana coming from inside the vehicle, the report said. A federal investigation dubbed Operation Mad Hatter led to the arrest of 15 individuals authorities say are tied to a central Arkansas drug trafficking organization. Former DEA special agent Derek Maltz breaks down how Mexican cartels are utilizing social media sites to 'target' young children on 'Lawrence Jones Cross Country.'. Agents made contact with these two individuals at their apartment on 3rd Street in Marmaduke. Gladney was arrested Wednesday in Jonesboro. WDAR Case No. In December 2020, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began an investigation into a methamphetamine and cocaine distribution ring based in the McAlmont neighborhood of North Little Rock. That indictment named an additional 18 defendants. Additional support was provided by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations; United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS); Arkansas National Guard Counterdrug Joint Task Force; and the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory. Possession with intent to distribute more than 28 grams but less than 280 grams of crack cocaine is punishable by not less than five years, not more than 40 years incarceration in the Bureau of Prisons with a possible fine of up to $5,000,000, and not less than four years supervised release. Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute more than 28 grams but less than 280 grams of crack cocaine is punishable by not less than five years, not more than 40 years incarceration in the Bureau of Prisons with a possible fine of up to $5,000,000, and not less than four years supervised release. These large-scale investigations and ultimate arrests take a well-planned coordinated effort by many law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels, stated Thyer. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Julie Peters and Amanda Fields with assistance from Cameron McCree. In addition to the arrests, during the operation authorities seized 4 firearms, one of which was an AR-style pistol; 2 ounces of cocaine; 1 ounce of crack cocaine; and $30,000 cash. Jim Dawson, the special agent in charge of the local FBI office, said after Collins' death, the FBI banded together with investigative partners around the state to accelerate efforts to address the problem of violent crime in central Arkansas. The FBI conducted their operations with assistance from Arkansas State Police, Arkansas Department of Community Corrections, Little Rock Police Department, North Little Rock Police Department, Pine Bluff Police Department, and Jonesboro Police Department. Law enforcement began early this morning by searching for 72 suspects, all of whom were indicted for federal gun and drug trafficking crimes. Share on Twitter Twitter Postal Service. During the stop, he asked to search the car and was given permission by the driver. All rights reserved. "When my alarm went off at 3:15 this morning," Harper said,"Detective Collins' spirit was with not just me, but the entire team, the investigative team, the arrest team and the prosecutorial team.". A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Thirteen people were arraigned in federal court Wednesday on drug distribution charges after being arrested Tuesday morning as part of what federal authorities dubbed "Operation Hartbreak Kid." The counts include conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana, aiding and abetting the distribution of cocaine, felon in possession of firearms, money laundering, and the use of telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking crime. This investigation culminated in the indictment of 18 defendants. Javier Rodela and Alejandro Flores of El Paso Texas were charged with trafficking a controlled substance and are being held in the White County Detention Center on $400,000 bonds. A coordinated arrest operation took place this morning in Marianna and Forrest City as part of an ongoing federal drug investigation. A search found methamphetamine, cocaine, Ecstasy, marijuana and a digital scale, according to the report. In just the first half of this current fiscal period, the state is already at $115 million. During Tuesdays arrests, officers recovered an additional AR-15 rifle. Copyright 2023, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Inc. FBIs GETROCK Task Force was formed in 2017 in response to the escalation in gang and gun violence in Little Rock. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Little Rock District Office conducted their operation with assistance from DEA Riverside, California District Office; USPIS; North Little Rock Police Department; Sherwood Police Department; and Benton Police Department. Main Office: We are fortunate to have good working relationships where drug trafficking organizations such as this one are dismantled. One FBI investigation focused on the Every Body Killas, or EBK gang, which resulted in 35 indictments, and the other focused on the Loady Murder Mobb Gang, which resulted in 26 indictments. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF. Little Rock police arrested a woman on drug-trafficking charges Thursday afternoon after finding more than 1,000 tablets of Xanax at a West Markham Street residence, according to an arrest report. This organization used the mail system to evade detection in order to facilitate their operation. Possession of a firearm by a felon is punishable by not more than 20 years incarceration in the Bureau of Prisons with a possible fine of up to $250,000, and not more than three years supervised release. Javier Rodela and Alejandro Flores of El Paso Texas were charged with trafficking a controlled substance and are being held in the White County Detention Center on $400,000 bonds. North Little police arrest man carrying over $175,000 worth of drugs, guns Authorities arrested 33-year-old Michael Hall for outstanding warrants. These arrests are indicative of our commitment to rid our communities of these criminals determined to profit on the backs of addiction. According to the indictment, Freddie Gladney III and the 34 other individuals allegedly knowingly and intentionally distributed and possessed cocaine, crack-cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. Sounds like bad cops planting shit and another thing the Clairday boy I can guarantee he doesnt mess with meth nor cocaine due to loosing family members to that drug he hates it. An FBI seal is seen on a wall on Aug. 10, 2022, in Omaha, Nebraska. The DEA Little Rock Office was assisted by the DEA Riverside, California office, United States Postal Inspection Service, North Little Rock Police Department, Sherwood Police Department and Benton Police Department. Ross said Wednesday's arrests were part of three separate -- but related -- operations, two of which were conducted by the FBI and the third by the DEA, with both organizations working in concert with state and local police in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Jonesboro and Helena-West Helena to interrupt what was described as a "pipeline" of drugs and guns moving between Pine Bluff and Little Rock. Neither these AP materials nor any portion thereof may be stored in a computer except for personal and noncommercial use. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Chris Givens and Benecia Moore. The White County Sheriffs Office is praising the actions of a deputy after millions of dollars worth of narcotics were discovered during a traffic stop. Gladney and his father were indicted for possessing between 500 grams and 5 kilograms of cocaine, between 28 and 280 grams of crack-cocaine, and between 100 kilograms and 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, the indictment noted. A multiagency sweep early Wednesday involving 14 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies netted the arrests of 45 people, Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Bragg announced at a press conference Wednesday afternoon that 45 people had been arrested on charges involved drug trafficking, weapons violations and gang activity. Fax Line:(501) 340-2728. The 80 individuals sought were charged with various federal firearms and drug trafficking charges. Named after lead defendant Derrick Hart, 27, of North Little Rock, this operation targeted drug distribution in the North Little Rock area. A press release from the drug task force detailed a large interagency drug bust this week in NEA. Before todays DEA arrests, investigators seized $146,000 in cash, 10 firearms, 12 pounds of methamphetamine, 1.2 kilograms of powder fentanyl, 600 pressed fentanyl pills, 10 pounds of marijuana, and nine ounces of cocaine. This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at. 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