19 people arrested in Northeast Arkansas due to drug trafficking charges
JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT/Edited News Release) - A multi-agency operation in Northeast Arkansas resulted in 19 people being arrested on drug trafficking charges.
Fifteen people were arrested on Tuesday, April 16 as part of a law enforcement operation targeting associates of a drug organization responsible for the distribution of methamphetamine in Northeast Arkansas.
According to a news release, law enforcement officers previously arrested one person on Monday, April 15, and served arrest warrants on an additional three people already in custody.
The investigation began in August 2022 to combat a significant drug distribution organization operating in the Northeast Arkansas area.
Several indictments, which were returned by a Grand Jury on Tuesday, April 2, and unsealed on April 16, named multiple defendants who are charged with various drug, money laundering, and firearm offenses.
Law enforcement officers arrested 15 people and served an arrest warrant on two defendants already in federal custody and one in state custody.
Before the arrest on April 16, the investigation resulted in a seizure of 45 pounds of methamphetamine, 10 pounds of marijuana, one pound of cocaine, six firearms, various ammunition, and $125,000 in drug proceeds.
During the arrest operations, agents were able to recover even more methamphetamine, three firearms, ammunition, and around $28,000 in suspected drug proceeds.
“So many lives and communities have been destroyed by drugs and with today’s arrests, fifteen drug dealers have been taken off the streets,” said Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “Where drugs are present, so are firearms and violence. Working with our federal, state, and local partners to keep our citizens safe from the violence that too often accompanies drug trafficking, will help to create safer communities for citizens in the Eastern District of Arkansas.”
“Today’s arrests demonstrate how the FBI has zero tolerance for criminals who pollute our communities with dangerous narcotics,” Special Agent in Charge Alicia D. Corder, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Little Rock Field Office. “This was a collaborative effort between the FBI, Jonesboro Police Department, Craighead County Sheriff’s Office, Arkansas State Police, and several others. We will continue to work together to keep Arkansans safe and bring dangerous criminals to justice.”
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration, 2nd Judicial District Drug Task Force, Jonesboro Police Department, Craighead County Sheriff’s Office, Crittenden County Sheriff’s Office, Arkansas State Police, Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Poinsett County Sheriff’s Office, and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces investigation.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Those arrested on Tuesday will appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Benecia B. Moore on Thursday, April 18 for plea and arraignment. Defendants who were already in custody will have arraignments scheduled later. Trial dates will be announced at plea and arraignment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin O’Leary.
The defendants charged and in custody include:
- Cesar Cortez-Rocha, 51, Misson, Texas
- Amado Barranco, Jr. aka “Myo”, 55, McAllen, Texas
- Bobby Franklin Barber, 60, Jonesboro
- Misty Dawn Barber, 38, Jonesboro
- Jamie Lynn Patterson, 40, Jonesboro
- *Amie Dawn Eggers, 39, Jonesboro (already in federal custody on other charges)
- Carey Wayne Peden, 46, Little Rock
- Vance Allen Brown, 56, Hot Springs
- *Sir Edward Lee Qualls aka “Buddy”, 35, Earle (already in federal custody on related charges)
- Reginald Bogan aka “Smooth”, 37, Jonesboro
- **Melissa Bradley, 33, Jonesboro (already in custody on state charges)
- Jerry Crump, 55, Jonesboro
- Sandi Stanfill, 59, Paragould
- Delisha Pugh, 25, Earle
- Jennifer Jones, 37, Brookland
- William Jones, 28, Harrisburg
- Marcus McIntyre, 42, Memphis, Tennessee
- Harthoner Goforth, 38, Paragould
- Shauna Rutledge, 37, Hughes
* = already in federal custody
** = in state custody
The operation was brought up at the Jonesboro city council’s meeting on April 16, where Mayor Harold Copenhaver applauded the Jonesboro Police Department’s efforts to help keep the community safe.
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