CAMDEN, AR—Conner Eldridge, United States Attorney for the Western District of Arkansas; David Resch, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI; David Downing, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the DEA; David Butler, Prosecuting Attorney for the 13th Judicial District of Arkansas; and the Arkansas State Police, announced today that eight (8) individuals have been charged with state and federal crimes involving large scale drug trafficking of methamphetamine and crack cocaine in Camden, Arkansas, and surrounding areas.

The investigation, known as Operation Three Amigos, resulted in five arrests today by local, state, and federal law enforcement as part of a roundup of the charged defendants. Previously, three defendants were arrested and charged in the operation. The investigation has resulted in the seizure of two firearms and several rounds of ammunition, four vehicles and over $10,000.00 in United States currency from members of the organization.

Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and FBI Task Force Officers began their investigation into drug trafficking in Ouachita County in 2011. The investigation included controlled purchases of methamphetamine and crack cocaine, surveillance and monitoring, and other investigative techniques.

U.S. Attorney Eldridge stated, “The members of this drug trafficking operation brought methamphetamine and crack cocaine into Camden and surrounding areas. I thank our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners for continuing to work with this office to pursue and prosecute those who bring criminal activity and the fear and violence that come with it into our communities in the Western District of Arkansas.”

“The arrests today are a result of concentrated efforts from the Camden Police Department, Ouachita County Sheriff’s Office, Drug Enforcement Administration, the 13th Judicial Drug Task Force, United States Attorney’s Office, Arkansas State Police, and the FBI,” states David T. Resch, Special Agent in Charge of the Little Rock Federal Bureau of Investigation, “Together, we are committed and focused to stopping the movement and sale of drugs on the streets of Arkansas.”

“We have taken another step in our fight against drug trafficking”, said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge David Downing. “Thanks to the cooperative success of this investigation with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners, we have identified a significant drug trafficking organization and disrupted their ability to operate throughout Arkansas and beyond. Our citizens are now safer as this organization lies in shambles,” said Downing.

David Butler, Prosecuting Attorney for the 13th Judicial District of Arkansas commented, “In addition to praise for the officers associated with federal, state, and local agencies who participated in the joint drug investigation, thanks to the many officers from across the state who assisted local law enforcement officials in apprehending the suspects and executing the search warrants.

Each defendant was charged with at least one count of Distribution of a Controlled Substance—namely cocaine base, a schedule II controlled substance. They are all from Camden. The defendants arrested on federal charges today are as follows:

Sheldon “Yak” Mitchell, age 34—three counts

Kim “2Lou” Williams, age 39—three counts

Willie “Will” Williams, age 41—three counts

Jeffrey “Woodchuck” Haywood, age 51—two counts

Other defendants that are part of this operation are as follows:

Carlos “Li’l Gafford” Morgan, age 32—of Camden was previously arrested and arraigned on 4 counts of same.

Senica Howard, age 36 of El Dorado was previously arrested and arraigned on twocounts of Distribution of Methamphetamine.

Mario “Hoolie” Thomas, age 36—Thomas is currently set for trial and charged with two counts of Distribution of more than 28 grams of a Controlled Substance—namely cocaine base, a schedule II controlled substance.

An additional defendant was arrested on state charges today, Calvin Williams, age 42 of Camden, Arkansas.

The most serious charges for distribution of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and for conspiracy to distribute more than 280 grams of crack cocaine have maximum penalties of life in prison. If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the court after review of factors unique to this case, including the defendant’s prior criminal record (if any), the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violations.

Operation Three Amigos was a joint operation between the 13th Judicial Drug Task Force, the Camden Police Department, the Ouachita County Sheriff’s Office, the Little Rock FBI Division, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Ouachita County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Arkansas State Police. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Wulff is prosecuting the case for the Western District of Arkansas.

An indictment is merely an accusation. An arrest warrant represents a finding of probable cause. A person is presumed innocent unless or until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.