A Homeland Security Task Force investigation has led to the arrests of 14 people on federal drug distribution and firearms-related charges across North Mississippi, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced at a press conference Wednesday in Oxford.
The effort comprised three separate operations: investigations into two drug trafficking organizations operating in North Mississippi, and an investigation into the importation and distribution of Glock-type conversion devices used to convert pistols into illegal machine guns.
The coordinated enforcement actions were carried out in late September as a spin-off from an investigation that ran from November through February. Federal officials say the investigation remains active and is expanding across northern Mississippi — a region that includes DeSoto County.
Those arrested and the charges they face:
Joshua Alexander, 30, of Greenville — charged with drug distribution
Craig Baker, 60, of Tupelo — charged with drug distribution
Trevion Bernard, 20, of Leland — charged with possession of a machine gun
Jackie Brunson, 54, of Tupelo — charged with drug distribution
Kabriyen Clark, 23, of Tupelo — charged with illegal possession of a machine gun
Lucas Davis, 43, of Greenville — charged with drug distribution
Otheno English, 42, of Tupelo — charged with drug distribution
George Jefferson, 43, of Greenville — charged with drug distribution
Raymond Long, 52, of Tupelo — charged with drug distribution
Floyd Milton, 41, of Greenville — charged with drug distribution
La’Jayvion Moy, 21, of Greenville — charged with carjacking and felon in possession of a firearm
Rana Owens, 44, of Tupelo — charged with drug distribution
Marquez Palmer, 38, of Greenville — charged with drug distribution
Dajuante Rancifer, 34, of Greenville — charged with drug distribution
Each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, a federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assisting agencies included the ATF, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshals Service, Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, North Mississippi Narcotics Unit, and police departments in Greenville and Tupelo.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chad Doleac, John Herzog, Clyde McGee, Sam Stringfellow, and Feleica Wilson.
The operation falls under the Homeland Security Task Force initiative established by Executive Order 14159, a whole-of-government effort targeting criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings. HSTF Jackson includes agents and officers from the FBI, HSI, DEA, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, Customs and Border Protection, ATF, U.S. Marshals Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
