The FBI and federal prosecutors announced the arrest of 20 people tied to a drug trafficking conspiracy in the Mississippi Delta, including 14 local law enforcement officers accused of taking bribes and protecting the operation. Authorities say the takedown involved a multi‑state operation on October 30, numerous field offices and specialized units, and a wide array of federal charges that include drug distribution and firearms violations.
Federal officials charged a group of 20 people with drug distribution after a long investigation into trafficking in the Northern District of Mississippi and nearby counties, including Shelby County, Tennessee. Court filings identify the charged individuals by name and allege their roles in a coordinated conspiracy that crossed county and state lines.
Court documents say that Brandon Addison, Javery Howard, Milton Gaston, Truron Grayson, Bruce Williams, Sean Williams, Dexture Franklin, Wendell Johnson, Marcus Nolan, Aasahn Roach, Jeremy Sallis, Torio Chaz Wiseman, Pierre Lakes, Derrik Wallace, Marquivious Bankhead, Chaka Gaines, Martavis Moore, Jamario Sanford, Marvin Flowers, and Dequarian Smith are all charged with drug distribution. Those 20 defendants were arrested across multiple counties within the Northern District of Mississippi and in Shelby County, Tennessee.
The announcement from federal law enforcement noted that 19 people face separate counts for violating federal firearm laws that bar carrying a gun during drug trafficking, and that 14 of those people were local law enforcement officers in the Mississippi Delta. Officials said six additional subjects allegedly impersonated police and in doing so “undermined the integrity of the badge,” according to statements from investigators.
If any defendant is convicted, a federal district court judge will determine sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert J. Mims is prosecuting the case on behalf of the Northern District of Mississippi, the Justice Department confirmed in its filings.
U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner for the Northern District of Mississippi, FBI Deputy Director Andrew Bailey, and FBI Jackson Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff jointly announced the arrests at a press event in Oxford, Mississippi. The U.S. Marshals Service assisted with the arrests, and the FBI said it is leading the broader investigation into the alleged conspiracy.
“Let this be a lesson for those sworn to serve the public that if you’re a good law enforcement officer, the FBI will always stand with you,” FBI Co-Deputy Director Bailey said. “But for those corrupt individuals who abuse their office, we will come for you and hold you accountable.”
The FBI said it worked with task force officers and the U.S. Marshals Service to execute early-morning arrests on October 30 in an operation that stretched across two states. Multiple field offices contributed personnel and resources, reflecting the investigation’s geographic reach and complexity.
SWAT teams from a long list of FBI field offices supported the operation, including Birmingham, Dallas, Jackson, Little Rock, Louisville, Mobile, Nashville, New Orleans, and Oklahoma City, federal officials reported. The FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team, Crisis Negotiation Unit, Crisis Management Unit, intelligence personnel, and professional staff also provided specialized capabilities during the takedown.
FBI Jackson Assistant Special Agents in Charge Crystal Bender Sims and Maher Dimachkie described the probe as extensive and multi‑year in scope. “This was a multi-year investigation that covered multiple jurisdictions,” Bender Sims noted when discussing the coordination required to bring the case together and carry out the arrests.
Federal leaders emphasized a commitment to rooting out corruption and protecting honest officers who serve their communities. SAC Eikhoff said the FBI will continue partnering with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to identify and remove public corruption, and prosecutors will pursue the charges under applicable federal law.
