We are fortunate to have good working relationships where drug trafficking organizations such as this one are dismantled. Two FBI operations, each focused on a rival gang, were created to address violence and drug trafficking in the corridor between Pine Bluff and Little Rock. Before todays DEA arrests, investigators seized $146,000 in cash, 10 firearms, 12 pounds of methamphetamine, 1.2 kilograms of powder fentanyl, 600 pressed fentanyl pills, 10 pounds of marijuana, and nine ounces of cocaine. Fax Line:(501) 340-2728. The AP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions therefrom or in the transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages arising from any of the foregoing. Of the 80 defendants indicted in the three investigations, 8 of those were already in custody when this mornings roundup began. According to a release from the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, the Drug Enforcement Admiration arrested 13 people as part of Operation . Prior to his death, Detective Collins was assisting FBI with intelligence related to criminal activity of these gangs, as well as surveillance, interviews, and arrests of individuals responsible for criminal activity in Pine Bluff. In recent weeks, Little Rock police and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have teamed up in an effort to help combat violent crimes. They also bought more than a 2.2 pounds of cocaine from the organization and used. Rhodes appeared in front of U.S. District Judge Brian S. Miller and was taken into custody after agreeing to plead guilty. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. All three will be sentenced at later dates. FBIs GETROCK Task Force was formed in 2017 in response to the escalation in gang and gun violence in Little Rock. Possession of a firearm by a felon is punishable by not more than 20 years incarceration in the Bureau of Prisons with a possible fine of up to $250,000, and not more than three years supervised release. Subscribe During the search, drugs were found and the two men were arrested. A third operation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration began in August 2021 when DEA and the North Little Rock Police Department identified street-level methamphetamine and fentanyl. Eighteen individuals were indicted because of the DEAs investigation. The distribution ring operated from a parking lot at the corner of Zinnia Street and Cotton Road in McAlmont, as well as a local McAlmont club at 410 Mimosa Street. Authorities also seized four firearms including an AR-style pistol, 2 ounces of cocaine, 1 ounce of crack-cocaine and $30,000 on Wednesday morning. Further, there were numerous items used to produce, grow, cultivate, package, and sell controlled substances. A lock () or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. LITTLE ROCK, Ark. "His name is still out there, people still think about him and he's still helping to make arrests," Hobbs said. "The investigation revealed drug trafficking and travel between Arkansas and Texas, California, Arizona, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee and Oklahoma.". All rights reserved. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. An indictment only contains allegations. All rights reserved. The FBI investigation began in January 2013. More than two years after the shooting death of a Pine Bluff detective, investigative work he began led to the indictments of 80 people in central Arkansas on drug, weapons and gang activity charges, federal authorities said Wednesday. Of the 80 defendants indicted on Wednesday, eight were in custody before the roundup began. (KAIT) - The eight people arrested in connection with a federal and state drug bust earlier this week in Jonesboro have appeared in federal court, with an initial trial date now set. He said that much of the investigative work that led to the indictments was done by task force officers -- local police deployed to work with federal agencies -- out of Little Rock, North Little Rock, Pine Bluff and other local jurisdictions. NORTH CAROLINA MAN SENTENCED TO 40 YEARS FOR RUNNING DRUG TRAFFICKING OPERATION OUT OF DAYCARE, An FBI seal is seen on a wall on Aug. 10, 2022, in Omaha, Nebraska. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Mexican cartels are marketing their drugs through social media: Former DEA special agent. This operation, named after lead defendant Derrick Hart, 27, of North Little Rock, targeted drug distribution in the North Little Rock area. The DEAs investigation found drugs were mailed from California into Arkansas in shipments that included kilogram-quantities of methamphetamine and thousands of pressed fentanyl pills, according to the press release. An indictment contains only allegations. A third operation led by the Drug Enforcement Administration began in August 2021 when DEA and the North Little Rock Police Department identified street-level methamphetamine and fentanyl dealers in central Arkansas who were connected to the same West Coast source. "We've taken most of those into custody and in the coming days we hope to take the remainder in," he said. LITTLE ROCKThirteen people will appear in federal court today after being arrested Tuesday morning as part of "Operation Hartbreak Kid.". Reports say that authorities made the arrest around 5:43 p.m. on Idaho Drive after they found Hall inside of a vehicle. An investigative focus on the pipeline of drugs and firearms between Pine Bluff and Little Rock resulted in the indictment of 80 individuals, all charged with various federal firearms and drug trafficking charges in multiple indictments that were unsealed today. Authorities arrested 33-year-old Michael Hall for outstanding warrants. During the arrest, authorities found guns and drugs with an overall value of $175,520. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. He is also accused in the indictment of acquiring these types of guns from a licensed firearms dealer and making false statements during the purchases, possessing one or more machine guns and possessing several guns without serial numbers, among other things. Ross said Wednesday's arrests were part of three separate -- but related -- operations, two of which were conducted by the FBI and the third by the DEA, with both organizations working in concert with state and local police in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Jonesboro and Helena-West Helena to interrupt what was described as a "pipeline" of drugs and guns moving between Pine Bluff and Little Rock. A third operation, this one led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), began in August 2021 when DEA and the North Little Rock Police Department identified street-level methamphetamine and fentanyl dealers in central Arkansas who were connected to the same source of supply. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. Former DEA special agent Derek Maltz breaks down how Mexican cartels are utilizing social media sites to 'target' young children on 'Lawrence Jones Cross Country.'. Local authorities reported receiving citizen complaints about drug trafficking and gunshots at these locations. A search found methamphetamine, cocaine, Ecstasy, marijuana and a digital scale, according to the report. Arkansas overdoses from drugs laced with fentanyl on the rise With the rise of drugs being laced with fentanyl, state officials say there were 618 overdose deaths in 2021 with about 65% of. All rights reserved. We greatly appreciate the FBI and their continued support for this critical mission, said Chief Kenton Buckner of the Little Rock Police Department. The total street value of the bust more than $3 million, one of the largest traffic-stop-related drug busts in White County history. During the "controlled buy," Rhodes asked the confidential source, "What you got?" Authorities took Hall to the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility where he's currently being held without bond until he appears in North Little Rock Court on Tuesday, January 4, 2022. If convicted of conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine each defendant will face a sentence of not less than 10 years to life imprisonment. Rain: 7am to 7am: .00 Month: 0.00 Year: 20.21 Recorded temps: High: 63 Low: 45, By: U.S. Attorney Eastern District of Arkansas. The investigation revealed drug trafficking and travel between Arkansas and Texas, California, Arizona, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. Rhodes and Fordson are just two of the nine people indicted as part of the Monterrio "Money" Fuller fentanyl distribution ring. North Little police arrest man carrying over $175,000 worth of drugs, guns Authorities arrested 33-year-old Michael Hall for outstanding warrants. Little Rock police arrested a woman on drug-trafficking charges Thursday afternoon after finding more than 1,000 tablets of Xanax at a West Markham Street residence, according to an arrest report. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. This organization used the mail system to evade detection in order to facilitate their operation. (Prince Williams/Wireimage). [], Sounds to me like this is bullshit. Police executed a search warrant at 2:30 p.m. at 10520 W. Markham St. and reported finding the Xanax, along with methamphetamine and assorted drug paraphernalia, the report said. Conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 50 kilograms but less than 100 kilograms of marijuana 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 three years supervised release. Law enforcement discovered that the gangs were funding their violent activity primarily through the sale of large quantities of high-grade marijuana. Kevin Collins, who was shot to death Oct. 5, 2020 as he attempted to serve an arrest warrant on a known member of the EBK street gang. Example video title will go here for this video. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 | MH Magazine WordPress Theme by MH Themes, Report: Armed suspects enter residence, assault, and steal from woman, Suspect arrested after allegedly choking, threatening victim with knife, First-Ever LOTTO Jackpot Hit for $2.338 Million, A-State Spring Commencement has Approximately 2,100 Candidates, Greene County deputies injured during arrest, Registration to Adopt USPS Operation Santa Letters is Available, Officer wrecks patrol car in front of police station, Underwater robot competition coming to Arkansas, $200,000 bond set for kidnapping, robbery suspect, West Memphis Three still seek justice 11 years after their release from prison, Burglars clean out north Jonesboro residence, report says. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Chris Givens. The 80 individuals sought were charged with various federal firearms and drug trafficking charges. The Brewster DTO was based out of Brewsters Used Auto and Detail shop on Forbing Road in southwest Little Rock. Two of the three investigations were conducted by the FBI and focused on rival gangs. As a part of his guilty plea Wednesday, Gioelli admitted the amount of fentanyl he distributed was between eight and 16 grams. This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at. This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available online at. A multiagency sweep early Wednesday involving 14 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies netted the arrests of 45 people, Assistant U.S. Attorney Allison Bragg announced at a press conference Wednesday afternoon that 45 people had been arrested on charges involved drug trafficking, weapons violations and gang activity. Detectives arrested Krystal Bolen, 37, the report said. Hobbs said the announcement of Wednesday's arrests was particularly meaningful to both him and Collins' mother because of the credit Collins received from federal authorities for the part he played in the investigations.