MAGNOLIA - Law enforcement officials from more than a dozen agencies said Thursday that they had crippled one of the largest pipelines used to funnel methamphetamine from Mexico, through Texas and into southwest Arkansas, resulting in the indictment of 24 people on federal and state drug-trafficking charges.
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Operation Crystal Clear documents
Conner Eldridge, U.S. attorney for the Western District of Arkansas, made the announcement about Operation Crystal Clear on Thursday afternoon at the Columbia County Courthouse in Magnolia, calling it a significant drug bust.
He also vowed that his office will “continue to work to ensure that those who choose to traffic in drugs and participate in associated illegal activity are held accountable so that Arkansans can have confidence that our streets are safe.”
Authorities arrested 16 people Thursday - six face federal drug-trafficking charges and 10 face state drug-trafficking charges. Eight suspects connected to Operation Crystal Clear remain at large, authorities said.
Law enforcement agencies involved in the operation include the FBI’s Little Rock Division; the El Dorado, Magnolia, Crossett and Camden police departments; the Columbia, Ouachita and Union county sheriff’s offices; the Arkansas State Police; and the Southern Arkansas University Police Department.
Combined, the agencies served five search warrants Thursday, netting more than 3 pounds of methamphetamine, $150,000 in cash, five firearms and several automobiles, Eldridge said.
The investigation leading up to Operation Crystal Clear has been ongoing for more than a year, he said, adding that those indicted were “involved in distributing pound quantities of methamphetamine in southwest Arkansas and Texas.”
Federal defendants arrested Thursday were: Curtis Cole, 45, of Waldo; Courtney Loudermill, 34, of Waldo; Jamie Martin, 33, of Waldo; Claudie Miller Jr., 40, of Dallas; Lee Williams, 40, of Magnolia; and Eric Wyrick, 34, of Texarkana, Texas. All face charges of methamphetamine distribution.
State defendants arrested Thursday were: Steven Atkinson, 53, of Waldo, charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance-methamphetamine; Johnny Carter, 45, of Magnolia, charged with two counts of delivery of a controlled substance-methamphetamine; Brandon Chambliss, 33, of Magnolia, charged with delivery of a controlled substance-methamphetamine; Samuel Cogbill, 29, of Waldo, charged with delivery of a controlled substance-methamphetamine; Michael Hunter, 36, of Waldo, charged with engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise; Mario Meadows, 23, of Magnolia, charged with delivery of a controlled substance-methamphetamine; Sammy Otwell Jr., 39, of Magnolia, charged with delivery of a controlled substance-methamphetamine; Ricardo Walker, 21, of Waldo, charged with delivery of a controlled substance-methamphetamine; Jarrod Wilson, 26, of Magnolia, charged with delivery of a controlled substance-cocaine; and John Woodward, 41, of Magnolia, charged with delivery of a controlled substance methamphetamine.
State defendants will be prosecuted through the office of Columbia County Prosecuting Attorney David Butler, who said Thursday that the operation will “put a big dent in the amount of methamphetamine being distributed into Camden, Magnolia and El Dorado.”
Ian Vickery, the 13th Judicial District prosecuting attorney, said eradicating drug activity in southern Arkansas is vital for the area’s future.
“We all know the damage from drugs is suffered locally by our families and communities,” Vickery said. “But the business of drug trafficking is national, if not international. We are grateful today for the multi-state leadership and support … in our fight against drug crimes.”
Arkansas, Pages 9 on 03/22/2013