Northeast Arkansas meth investigation results in 16 arrests this week

ARRESTS MADE: A federal investigation resulted in 16 arrests this week.

A virtually two-year federal investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine in northeast Arkansas resulted within the arrest of 16 folks this week on prices associated to medicine, weapons and cash laundering. 

After a federal grand jury returned “quite a few indictments” in opposition to the suspects on April 2, a “sweeping legislation enforcement operation” arrested 15 associates of a drug group on Tuesday morning, in line with a press launch from the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace for the Japanese District of Arkansas. 

Regulation enforcement additionally arrested one particular person Monday and served arrest warrants for 2 defendants who have been already in federal custody and one other who was already in state custody. 

Earlier than the arrests, the investigation had resulted within the seizure of 45 kilos of meth, 10 kilos of marijuana, a pound of cocaine, six firearms, ammunition and $125,000 in drug proceeds, the press launch mentioned. Throughout Tuesday’s arrests, legislation enforcement seized extra meth, three extra weapons, ammunition and about $28,000 in drug proceeds. 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation performed the investigation with assist from the federal Drug Enforcement Administration, the 2nd Judicial District Drug Activity Power, the Jonesboro Police Division, the Craighead County Sheriff’s Workplace, the Crittenden County Sheriff’s Workplace, the Arkansas State Police, the Greene County Sheriff’s Workplace, the Poinsett County Sheriff’s Workplace and the Clay County Sheriff’s Workplace, the discharge mentioned. 

The defendants’ prices are associated to drug distribution, cash laundering and firearm possession. The minimal penalty for the drug prices is 10 years in jail and a nice of $10 million.

These arrested yesterday are set to look earlier than U.S. Justice of the Peace Decide Benecia B. Moore Thursday for pleas and arraignments.  Arraignments for the people who have been already in custody haven’t been scheduled.

The U.S. legal professional’s workplace launched the next names of the defendants:

Cesar Cortez-Rocha, 51, Misson, Texas

Amado Barranco, Jr. aka “Myo”, 55, McAllen, Texas

Bobby Franklin Barber, 60, Jonesboro

Misty Daybreak Barber, 38, Jonesboro

Jamie Lynn Patterson, 40, Jonesboro

*Amie Daybreak Eggers, 39, Jonesboro (already in federal custody on different prices)

Carey Wayne Peden, 46, Little Rock

Vance Allen Brown, 56, Sizzling Springs

*Sir Edward Lee Qualls aka “Buddy”, 35, Earle (already in federal custody on associated prices)

Reginald Bogan aka “Easy”, 37, Jonesboro

**Melissa Bradley, 33, Jonesboro (already in custody on state prices)

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

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