HERNANDO, Miss. – A Memphis man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after pleading guilty to trafficking fentanyl in DeSoto County, District Attorney Matthew Barton announced Thursday.
Odie Ratchford entered his guilty plea in open court before Circuit Judge Celeste Wilson, who handed down the 18-year prison term followed by 22 years of post-release supervision.
Ratchford was arrested in July 2022 during a traffic stop on Goodman Road, where officers discovered 957 fentanyl pills hidden in his possession. Investigators said Ratchford admitted to selling the drugs directly on the streets of DeSoto County.
Barton said the case illustrates the impact of Memphis crime spilling across the state line.
“What happens in Memphis affects us here every single day,” Barton said. “The fight continues, but this conviction marks another battlefield victory for my office against Memphis’ crime crisis and their lawlessness.”
The case also highlighted a statewide challenge with delays in drug prosecutions due to slow evidence processing at the Mississippi crime lab.
“Every day we wait on lab results is another day drug dealers remain on our streets or sit in county jail at the expense of taxpayers,” Barton said. “If the state can’t deliver timely results, then DeSoto County must step up with its own crime lab.”
Barton further linked the case to the national fentanyl crisis, criticizing federal border policies while commending local law enforcement and prosecutors.
“Our families are safer today because of the tireless dedication of local law enforcement and the prosecutors in my office,” he said. “This conviction should send a clear message to drug traffickers: if you profit from poisoning our residents and bringing death to DeSoto County, you will be held accountable, unlike in Memphis.”
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ben Weathers and investigated by the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office.
Bob Bakken provides content for DeSoto County News and its social media channels. He is an award-winning broadcaster, along with being a reporter and photographer, and has done sports media relations work with junior and minor league hockey teams. Along with his reports on this website, you will find this veteran media member providing sports updates and high school football play-by-play on Rebel 95.3 FM Radio.
