More arrests made in federal drug distribution case

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Law enforcement is working to put nine people behind bars in relation to a drug operation in Jackson.

Right now, eight of the nine people on a federal indictment have been arrested.

“We’re trying to send a message to criminals here in Jackson that if you work together in large groups, it’s a one-way ticket to federal prison,” said Todd Gee, United States Attorney for the Southern District.

James Naylor, Donald Jordan, Tony Butler, Cedrick Barber, Aron Brown, and Danita Wheeler were arrested Tuesday. The U.S. Attorney’s office confirmed on Friday that two more, Courtney Parhm and Marcus Naylor, have since been arrested. They are still searching for Charles Guise.

Courtney Parhm and Marcus Naylor both made their initial appearances in court on Friday, August 2. Naylor’s was continued to Monday, August 5, due to inability to establish competency. Parhm pleaded not guilty. His bond hearing is set for Wednesday, August 7.

This investigation has been ongoing for years and is a collaboration between local, state, and federal agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Jackson Police Department, and the Hinds County Sheriff’s Department. The Department of Justice is working continuously to get large drug operations off the street to make Jackson and Mississippi safer.

“There are nine individuals who have been indicted and will be taken off the street, who were armed [and] dangerous narcotics traffickers, moving kilogram quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine. Taking those nine individuals off the street makes Jackson safer,” Gee said.

Law enforcement is working hard to stay one step ahead of criminals, but social media makes it easy for anyone to buy or sell drugs.

“What is being used now by these drug traffickers is social media... Snapchat. You have all of these different emojis where if you want a pill, there’s a pill emoji. If you want a meth pill, there is a pill emoji with the needle… It’s a thin line, you can either be on the good side, or you can be on the bad side,” said Anessa Daniels-McCaw, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the DEA.

Gee and Daniels-McCaw encourage the younger generation to stay away from these situations because it’s not worth it in the end.

Gee said, “When you factor in how much time you’re going to spend in jail, the people at the bottom end of a narcotics conspiracy, they’re not making that much money in the end. Our message to young people is you’re not going to make it to the top of the corporate ladder of a narcotics organization. Don’t join in the first place. Choose a different career path.”

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