Charges included possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, possession of a firearm in relation to drug trafficking and use of a telephone to facilitate drug trafficking, among other crimes.
In a press conference, U.S. Attorney Chris Thyer called today a good day.
“I promised to be here in the community, to pull up the weeds that have infected the community, particularly the drug dealers that have taken over Phillips County and Helena-West Helena,” Thyer said.
300 law enforcement officers and support personnel, including approximately 130 tactical officers, executed 17 federal and eight state arrest warrants in a targeted takedown. The sweep resulted in the arrests of a number of defendants on drug, firearm or fraud charges.
According to a press release, from 2012 through 2015, agents with the FBI, ASP and 1st Judicial District Drug Task Force coordinated more than 60 controlled purchases of drugs resulting in the acquisition of significant amounts of crack cocaine. Agents also utilized two court-authorized wiretaps in the drug-trafficking and firearms investigation.
FBI and USDA agents also engaged in undercover transactions, which involved the illegal transfer of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
It was a laundry list of indictments for 39 people in the area. The charges included possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, distribution and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, possession of a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime, use of a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking crime and conspiracy to unlawfully redeem SNAP benefits, among other crimes.
Attachment 1: Delta Blues & Plastic Castle Indictments/Case Numbers
1. Case No. 4:15CR00277 DPM
CLARK BAILEY JR, aka CJ, age 24, Little Rock
Distribution/Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
2. Case No. 4:15CR00278 JLH
DEMARCUS BAYLARK, aka BAY, age 35, Southaven, MS
Conspiracy to Distribute/Possess with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
Distribution/Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug-Trafficking Crime
ROSCOE BROWN, aka BLOCK, age 34, Southaven, MS
Conspiracy to Distribute/Possess with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
Distribution/Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug-Trafficking Crime
3. Case No. 4:15CR00280 BRW
CORDDERRO CARTER, aka DREDD, age 22, Helena-West Helena
Conspiracy to Distribute/Possess with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
Distribution/Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
4. Case No. 4:15CR00283 JLH
DANYELLE HERD, age 27, Helena-West Helena
Conspiracy to Distribute/Possess with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
Distribution/Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
DEAUNDRE WILSON, aka STICKUP, age 35, Helena-West Helena
Conspiracy to Distribute/Possess with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
Distribution/Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
5. Case No. 4:15CR00285 KGB
JERMAINE JOHNSON, age 33, Helena-West Helena
Distribution/Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
6. Case No. 4:15CR00284 BSM
RAYMOND HUDSON, aka RAMBO, age 33, Helena-West Helena
Conspiracy to Distribute/Possess with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
Distribution/Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
Use of Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug-Trafficking Crime
KAJAVIS ONEAL, aka FLUKE, age 24, Helena-West Helena
Conspiracy to Distribute/Possess with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
Distribution/Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine2
TARIK SLATER, age 35, Helena-West Helena
Conspiracy to Distribute/Possess with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
Distribution/Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
Use of Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug-Trafficking Crime
KEITH WHITE, aka FLY, age 31, Helena-West Helena
Conspiracy to Distribute/Possess with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
Distribution/Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
7. Case No. 4:15CR00282 DPM
CHARLES GIBBS, aka LOW DOWN, age 33, Helena-West Helena
Conspiracy to Distribute/Possess with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
Distribution/Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
8. Case No. 4:15CR00286 DPM
CARLOS WILSON, age 40, Helena-West Helena
Distribution/Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
9. Case No. 4:15CR00279 BSM
JERRY BECKWOOD, age 41, Helena-West Helena
Conspiracy to Distribute/Possess with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
Distribution/Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
10. Case No. 4:15CR00281 KGB
ANTHONY FONZIE, aka SKEE, age 32, Helena-West Helena
Conspiracy to Distribute/Possess with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
Distribution/Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine
Use of Communication Facility in Furtherance of Drug-Trafficking Crime
11. Case No. 4:15CR00276 KGB
KHALID S. A. ALKARSH, aka KHALID SALI ALMED AL-KARSH, aka OMAR, age 38, Helena-West Helena and Dearborn, Michigan
Conspiracy to Unlawfully Redeem SNAP Benefits
Unlawful Transfer of SNAP Benefits
BAKIL MOHAMED ALQIRSH, aka JAY, age 25, Helena-West Helena and Dearborn, Michigan
Conspiracy to Unlawfully Redeem SNAP Benefits
Unlawful Transfer of SNAP Benefits
SHAWNDUS AUSTIN, age 23, North Little Rock
Unlawful Transfer of SNAP Benefits
EVONE AVANCE, age 49, Helena-West Helena
Unlawful Transfer of SNAP Benefits
DONYA BRANCH, age 26, Helena-West Helena
Unlawful Transfer of SNAP Benefits3
ANTHONY BBROWN, age 25, Helena-West Helena
Unlawful Transfer of SNAP Benefits
CARDIEE DAVIS, age 27, Helena-West Helena
Unlawful Transfer of SNAP Benefits
LAURINDA EDMOND, age 25, Helena-West Helena
Unlawful Transfer of SNAP Benefits
MAGNOLIA FORD, age 32, Helena-West Helena
Unlawful Transfer of SNAP Benefits
OPHELIA GATES, age 33, Helena-West Helena
Unlawful Transfer of SNAP Benefits
BRENDA GREEN, age 53, Helena-West Helena
Unlawful Transfer of SNAP Benefits
MARKETIA HULL, age 29, Helena-West Helena
Unlawful Transfer of SNAP Benefits
LENNTOY HUNTER, age 43, Helena-Wet Helena
Unlawful Transfer of SNAP Benefits
JACQUELINE JONES, age 32, Helena-West Helena
Unlawful Transfer of SNAP Benefits
DEONDRA JOHNSON, age 25, Helena-West Helena
Unlawful Transfer of SNAP Benefits
AMANDA KIRKWOOD, age 32, Helena-West Helena
Unlawful Transfer of SNAP Benefits
FELICA LARRY, age 33, Helena-West Helena
Unlawful Transfer of SNAP Benefits
JASMINE PERRY, age 25, Helena-West Helena
Unlawful Transfer of SNAP Benefits
SHANETELLA PETERSON, age 35, Helena-West Helena
Unlawful Transfer of SNAP Benefits
WILLIE PIERCE, age 45, Helena-West Helena
Unlawful Transfer of SNAP Benefits
JANELLA THOMAS, age 28, Helena-West Helena
Unlawful Transfer of SNAP Benefits
MICHELLE THOMAS, age 38, Helena-West Helena
Unlawful Transfer of SNAP Benefits
VERBIE WALKER, age 27, Helena-West Helena
Unlawful Transfer of SNAP Benefits
MICHAEL WILLIAMS, age 23, Helena-West Helena
Unlawful Transfer of SNAP Benefits
12. Defendants Charged by the State:
Delivery of a Controlled Substance, C Felony
CHARLIE ARMSTRONG, age 44, Helena-West Helena
DEWAYNE BAKER, age 43, Helena-West Helena4
ERIC BREWER, age 36, Helena-West Helena
KEFREN DAVIS, age 23, Helena-West Helena
KIMBERLY HARDISON, age 29, Helena-West Helena
BRIAN JOHNSON, age 34, Helena-West Helena
WILLIAM SMITH, age 50, Helena-West Helena
EDWARD WALKER, age 34, Helena-West Helena
Source: 39 people indicted in Helena-West Helena drug, gun and fraud investigation
