West Memphis Arrests Take Violent Drug Dealers Off the Streets

LITTLE ROCK—Christopher R. Thyer, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas; Howard S. Marshall, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Little Rock Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Colonel Stan Witt, Arkansas State Police; and Chief Donald Oakes, West Memphis Police Department, announced today that on November 6, 2013, a federal grand jury returned a 25-count indictment charging twenty individuals in Crittenden County with participating in a drug conspiracy and firearms offenses.

“I made a commitment to the Arkansas Delta law enforcement to work side-by-side with them to take violent drug dealers off their streets,” stated Thyer. “The arrests this morning were the result of a coordinated effort with the West Memphis Police Department. When we work together, we will make a difference for the citizens of Eastern Arkansas.”

“Today’s arrests in Operation Delta Crossroads are intended to reiterate the strong message to gang members and other criminals who pose the greatest threat of violence to the safety and security of those who live and work in Eastern Arkansas," stated Acting FBI Special Agent in Charge Howard S. Marshall. "We are here, we are working together, and we are committed to dismantling and disrupting your illegal operations.”

“With the arrests made this morning we took a big step in the fight against drugs and violence it in our community, and it is a great example of what can be accomplished when local, state, and federal law enforcement cooperate for a common goal.”

The charges stem from a state and federal Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation operationally dubbed Delta Crossroads. The investigation, which primarily focused on drug trafficking in West Memphis, was initiated by the FBI at the request of the West Memphis Police Department, which assisted extensively with the investigation. During the course of the investigation, law enforcement utilized three court-authorized wiretaps, during which hundreds of calls pertaining to cocaine and crack cocaine trafficking and firearms offenses were intercepted.

Defendants arrested in a round-up conducted by the FBI, ASP, and West Memphis Police Department, on November 18, 2013, will appear before United States Magistrate Judge Joseph J. Volpe for plea and arraignment on November 19, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. The remaining defendants will appear for plea and arraignment on a later date. The case, 4:13CR00329 BSM, is pending before U.S. District Chief Judge Brian S. Miller.

The investigation was conducted by the United States Attorney’s Office, FBI, ASP, and West Memphis Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julie Peters.

An indictment contains only allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Statutory Sentences

Conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of mixtures containing cocaine and more than 28 grams of mixtures containing cocaine base, commonly known as crack cocaine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846, carries a possible punishment of no less than five years' and up to 40 years' imprisonment, a fine of up to $5 million, and not less than four years and up to life supervised release.

Possession with intent to distribute cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) carries a possible punishment up to twenty years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $1 million, and not less than three years and up to life supervised release.

Possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) carries a possible punishment up to twenty years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $1 million, and not less than three years and up to life supervised release.

The use of a telephone in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 carries a possible punishment of up to four years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to one year supervised release.

The possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c) carries a possible punishment of no less than five years and up to life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years’ supervised release.