Eight people have been indicted and apprehended on federal drug distribution charges as part of a multi-agency investigation in North Mississippi, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi.
On March 25, US Attorney Scott Leary announced that the indictments had been returned by a federal grand jury. One of the accused is also charged with felony possession of a handgun.
Indicted are Gary “Rooster” Ransom, 49, of Clarksdale; Daniel Baker, 40, Madeline Tonos, 31, Patrick Smith, 34, Valerie Ingram, 42, Joshua Fulton, 40, and Londyn Todd, 23, all of Cleveland; and Merrick Smith, 47, of Dallas, Texas.
According to authorities, all eight accused have been brought into jail.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation handled the investigation, with support from the US Marshals Service and the Cleveland Police Department.
Officials stated that the arrests are part of a Homeland Security Task Force attempt to dismantle drug trafficking organizations and reduce violent crime in the region.
Authorities stated the indictments are allegations, and all accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. If convicted, a federal judge will use U.S. sentencing guidelines to establish the appropriate sentence.
Chad Doleac and Sam Stringfellow, assistant US Attorneys, are prosecuting the case.