Fourteen people have been taken into custody on federal charges following three coordinated law enforcement operations targeting drug trafficking organizations and illegal firearms in north Mississippi, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi.
The arrests were announced by U.S. Attorney Scott Leary, along with Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson and Homeland Security Investigations Assistant Special Agent in Charge Matt Reidell.
Federal officials said the operations were the result of ongoing investigations into two drug trafficking organizations operating in north Mississippi, as well as a separate investigation into the importation and distribution of Glock-type conversion devices, which can convert certain semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic weapons.
Greenville, Tupelo, and Leland people were arrested on crimes ranging from narcotics distribution to illegal possession of machine guns, carjacking, and felony possession of a handgun.
Those arrested and their charges
Federal authorities identified the following defendants:
Greenville:
- Joshua Alexander, 30, charged with drug distribution.
- Lucas Davis, 43, charged with drug distribution.
- George Jefferson, 43, charged with drug distribution.
- Floyd Milton, 41, charged with drug distribution.
- La’Jayvion Moy, 21, charged with carjacking and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
- Marquez Palmer, 38, charged with drug distribution.
- Dajuante Rancifer, 34, charged with drug distribution.
Tupelo:
- Craig Baker, 60, charged with drug distribution.
- Jackie Brunson, 54, charged with drug distribution.
- Kabriyen Clark, 23, charged with illegal possession of a machine gun.
- Otheno English, 42, charged with drug distribution.
- Raymond Long, 52, charged with drug distribution.
- Rana Owens, 44, charged with drug distribution.
Leland:
- Trevion Bernard, 20, charged with possession of a machine gun.
Those arrested and their charges
The arrests were made as part of the federal Homeland Security Task Force project, which combines federal, state, and local agencies to pursue organized criminal activities such as drug trafficking, firearms offenses, and other crimes.
In addition to ATF and Homeland Security investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, North Mississippi Narcotics Unit, Greenville Police Department, and Tupelo Police Department all contributed to the investigations and arrests.
Assistant United States Attorneys Chad Doleac, John Herzog, Clyde McGee, Sam Stringfellow, and Feleica Wilson are prosecuting the cases.
Federal officials did not indicate how much narcotics or firearms were confiscated during the raids, nor did they provide information about the individual investigations.
If convicted, a federal district judge will sentence the offenders based on federal sentencing guidelines and other statutory circumstances.
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