JONESBORO, Ark. — Fifteen arrests were made on Tuesday, as part of a police operation targeting people involved in a drug organization responsible for the distribution of Methamphetamine in Northeast Arkansas.
According to reports, the investigation first began in August 2022. Several indictments were unsealed on April 16, 2024, which revealed the names of many defendants who have been charged with several drug, money laundering, and firearm offenses.
After the indictments were unsealed, police arrested 15 people and also served an arrest warrant for three people, one of whom was in state custody, and two in federal custody.
The investigation had previously resulted in the seizure of 45 pounds of methamphetamine, 10 pounds of marijuana, a pound of cocaine, ammunition, six firearms, and about $125,000 in "drug proceeds."
During the arrests, they found more methamphetamine, three firearms, ammunition, and $28,000 in suspected drug proceeds.
The following people were arrested:
51-year-old Cesar Cortez-Rocha of Misson, Texas
55-year-old Amado Barranco, Jr. aka “Myo” of McAllen, Texas
60-year-old Bobby Franklin Barber of Jonesboro
38-year-old Misty Dawn Barber of Jonesboro
40-year-old Jamie Lynn Patterson of Jonesboro
39-year-old *Amie Dawn Eggers of Jonesboro (already in federal custody on other charges)
46-year old Carey Wayne Peden of Little Rock
56-year-old Vance Allen Brown of Hot Springs
35-year-old *Sir Edward Lee Qualls aka “Buddy” of Earle (already in federal custody on related charges)
37-year-old Reginald Bogan aka “Smooth” of Jonesboro
33-year-old **Melissa Bradley of Jonesboro (already in custody on state charges)
55-year-old Jerry Crump of Jonesboro
59-year-old Sandi Stanfill of Paragould
25-year-old Delisha Pugh of Earle
37-year-old Jennifer Jones of Brookland
28-year-old William Jones of Harrisburg
42-year-old Marcus McIntyre of Memphis, Tennessee
38-year-old Harthoner Goforth of Paragould
37-year-old Shauna Rutledge of Hughes
Charges in the unsealed indictments include conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine; distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; conspiracy to money launder, money laundering, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
The people who were arrested are set to appear in court on April 18, 2024, for plea and arraignment. Those who were already in custody will have their arraignments scheduled at a later date.
They could face a minimum penalty for drug charges of no less than a decade in prison and a $10,000,000 fine.
The minimum penalty for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime is no less than five years in prison and up to life, plus a $250,000 fine.