Update:Drug and Weapons Roundup in Blytheville and area nets 13 arrests

Drug and Weapons Roundup in Blytheville and area nets 11 arrests

According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney for Eastern District of Arkansas, The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, it was announced that a multiple count indictment charging 13 defendants in northeast Arkansas and southeast Missouri with multiple drug and weapons charges was unsealed Tuesday.

The resulting operations resulted in numerous arrests in the city of Blytheville as well as a notable law enforcement presence within the city including multiple helicopters hovering overhead aiding in the takedowns.

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The news release details that "an investigation into a large-scale drug trafficking organization based in Blytheville resulted in the early-morning arrests of 11 of the 13 defendants on charges involving conspiracy to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine and weapons possession. Six defendants were arrested in Blytheville and one in Jonesboro, while two were arrested in Missouri towns (Malden and Steele) near Arkansas. Two others were served arrest warrants while incarcerated in the Dunklin County, Missouri jail. Two of the indicted individuals, Brad Vernon and Joseph Riley, are still at large."

[Editor's update: Gosnell Police Chief Darrell Watkins confirmed to the CN Wednesday morning that Brad Vernon has since been taken into custody without incident. BPD Capt. Scott Adams confirmed the 13th suspect, Joseph Riley, surrendered on Wednesday]

Those arrested Tuesday will remain in custody and have their initial appearances before United States Magistrate Judge Joe. J. Volpe on Thursday.

"We remain resolute in our continuing effort to help the people of northeast Arkansas, and the Delta in general, combat the plague of methamphetamine and gun violence," U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas Christopher R. Thyer said. "If the drugs dealers won't go away, neither will we. While past law enforcement operations have slowed the drug trade in northeast Arkansas, now we have people from neighboring states coming into Blytheville to purchase large quantities of meth. Today's operation, the culmination of a combined, cooperative effort from multiple federal and state law enforcement agencies, makes clear we will not permit this behavior to go unchecked and unpunished."

The release said that some of the co-conspirators arrested Tuesday have been known to law enforcement officers for several years, "dating back to previous drug investigations in Blytheville".

The release also said that this joint DEA-ATF investigation began in mid-2015, "with a series of smaller controlled purchases of methamphetamine from targets in Missouri". As those purchases began to grow larger, their "targets" brought them closer to their main meth suppliers in Blytheville in order to purchase larger quantities, "up to quarter-pounds at a time".

The size of the operation was detailed by the release that said, "All told, law enforcement directly purchased more than one kilogram (1,000 grams) of methamphetamine from the Arther James and Robert Brown drug-trafficking organization (DTO) in 17 controlled purchases. The entire conspiracy involves multiple kilograms of methamphetamine. In addition, agents seized nine firearms from James, Brown, and Antonio McNichols, all of whom are convicted felons. Five of the firearms were seized during the Tuesday morning arrests, while four others were seized during search warrants conducted during the investigation."

"Today's arrests demonstrate DEA's relentless effort to reduce violent crime and rid our streets of criminal drug trafficking organizations," Matthew Barden, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) Little Rock District Office said. "In conjunction with our federal, state and local partners, we continue to work together to end the scourge of drugs and violence that erode the quality of life in our neighborhoods. These arrests send a clear message that our community will not tolerate the heinous activity perpetrated by drug traffickers and shows our commitment to work together to dismantle violent street gangs."

The indictment was handed down by a federal grand jury on October 6, 2016. The indictment charges 13 defendants in 28 separate counts. The counts include conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, felon in possession of firearms and the use of a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking crime. If convicted of conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, defendants will face a sentence of not less than 10 years to life imprisonment.

"The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Little Rock Field Office, Cape Girardeau Field Office and the DEA Little Rock Field Office worked jointly with the Mississippi County Sheriff's Office and the Second Judicial District Drug Task Force in an extensive investigation to thwart a drug-trafficking organization in the Mississippi County area of Arkansas," Jeffrey B. Reed, Resident Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) Little Rock Field Office said. "This joint investigation led to the arrest of several offenders to create a safer environment for the communities of northeast Arkansas."

"We at the Mississippi County Sherriff's Department transported all 11 of the defendants to Little Rock today and I am very pleased. I have asked numerous times for help from the federal agencies, such s the ATF and the DEA, and I simply cannot say enough about how they have worked with us and what an outstanding job they have done along with the local folks and the Mississippi County Sherriff's Department...they all did a great job. When we do these things we continue to make Mississippi County a safer place to live and we will continue to keep fighting it. We will keep after them and never stop," Mississippi County Sherriff Dale Cook said.

Blytheville Police Chief Ross Thompson said, "These operations are truly a collaborative effort and I thank all the officers and agents for helping our communities...don't let anybody convince you that selling drugs is a victimless crime. The gangs, violence and greed the drugs promote has victimized our city. Just a little over a year ago we stood before the community and said if you continue to put poison on our streets we will put you in jail. Period. These individuals chose to continue to sell drugs and put their poison on our streets so now they will face the consequences of their criminal actions."

The investigation was jointly led by the DEA and ATF, with cooperation and additional assistance from the Second Judicial District Drug Task Force, the Blytheville Police Department, the Mississippi County Sheriff's Department, the Osceola Police Department and the Arkansas Highway Police. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chris Givens.

Those indicted include:

-- Arther Lionel James, 38, of Blytheville (arrested in Blytheville);

-- Brad Vernon, 34, of Gosnell (fugitive);

-- Adam Bailey, 35, of Kennett, Mo. (incarcerated in Dunklin County Jail);

-- Angeleke Blankenship, 43, of Kennett, Mo. (arrested in Malden, Mo.);

-- Antonio Brodie, of Blytheville (arrested in Jonesboro);

-- Justin Buys, 31, of Blytheville (incarcerated in the Dunklin County Jail);

-- Heath Fowler, 40, of Blytheville (arrested in Blytheville);

-- Keith Keys, 49, of Blytheville (arrested in Blytheville);

-- Antonio McNichols, 46, of Blytheville (arrested in Blytheville);

-- Lewis Miles, 45, of Blytheville (arrested in Blytheville);

-- Joseph Riley, 30, of Blytheville (fugitive);

-- Robert Lamont Brown, 39, of Blytheville (arrested in Blytheville); and

-- Steven Thomas, 31, of Steele, Mo. (arrested in Steele, Mo.)

According to the release, the following are statutory sentencing guidelines:

Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine is punishable by not less than 10 years, not more than life, incarceration in the Bureau of Prisons with a possible fine of up to $10,000,000, and not less than 5 years supervised release.

Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute more than 50 grams but less than 500 grams of methamphetamine is punishable by not less than 5 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 4 years supervised release.

Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute less than 50 grams of methamphetamine is punishable by not more than 20 years' incarceration in the Bureau of Prisons with a possible fine of up to $1,000,000, and not less than 3 years supervised release.

Distribution of 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine is punishable by not less than 10 years, not more than life, incarceration in the Bureau of Prisons with a possible fine of up to $10,000,000, and not less than 5 years supervised release.

Distribution of 5 grams or more of actual methamphetamine is punishable by not less than 5 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 4 years supervised release.

Distribution of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine mixture is punishable by not less than 5 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 4 years supervised release.

Distribution of a mixture containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine is punishable by not more than 20 years' incarceration in the Bureau of Prisons with a possible fine of up to $1,000,000, and not less than 3 years supervised release.

Possession of a firearm by a felon is punishable by not more than 10 years' incarceration in the Bureau of Prisons with a possible fine of up to $250,000, and not more than 3 years supervised release.

Use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug trafficking crime is punishable by not more than 4 years' incarceration in the Bureau of Prisons with a possible fine of up to $250,000, and not more than 1 year supervised release.