TEXARKANA, Texas -- Twelve Arkansans were arrested Tuesday in a drug trafficking investigation in the Eastern District of Texas, an FBI news release said.
U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced the arrests as part of Operation Flashback, a two-year federal and state investigation into mid- and high-level trafficking and distribution of methamphetamine through Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee.
The defendants are accused of trafficking and distributing more than 1,000 kilograms of methamphetamine through the I-30 corridor to northeast Texas, southwest Arkansas and beyond.
A federal grand jury returned a sealed 43-count indictment on Sept. 16.
Arkansans charged with drug trafficking violations in the case are: Joshua Thompson, 35, of Hot Springs; Kyle Davis, 29, of Texarkana; James Neal Byrd, 25, of Texarkana; Stacy Childs, 25, of Hot Springs; Stephanie Martinez, 33, of Hot Springs; Pablo Martinez, 39, of Royal; Dondrail Parks, 31, of Texarkana; Billy Krimmel, 36, of Gould; Mica Crumpton-Smith, 35, of Texarkana; Kenneth Wayne Milner, 42, of Texarkana; Matthew Ray Thompson, 28, of Texarkana; and Daniel Garrett, 27, of Texarkana.
Texans charged in the case are: Jeffrey George, Jr., 29, of Texarkana; Demetrice Dornell Mullens, 25, of Texarkana; Shawna Marie Seifert, 34, of Texarkana; Lloyd Guedel Jones, Jr., 30, of Texarkana; Jay Dee Doolin, 53, of Hooks; Whitney Ann Smith, 52, of Texarkana; Eliasar Mata, 31, of Dallas; Gary Don Sandlin, 58, of Texarkana; Roddis Faust, 28, of Texarkana; Michael Shane Spencer, 42, of Texarkana; Veronica Zuniga Rodriguez, 32, of Texarkana; April Michaelle Wright, 24, of Texarkana; Charles Randall Porter, 59, of Wake Village; Jamilu Whiteside, 38, of Nash; Shauna Michelle Erwin, 37, of Wake Village; Sam Rich, 47, of Tyler; Kimberly Denise Unholz, 46, of Texarkana; Jeanna Renea Watson-Patterson, 30, of Nash; and Sheena Geneene McClendon, 30, of Texarkana.
During the course of the operation, agents arrested about 75 people and seized about 6 pounds of methamphetamine, large amounts of marijuana, more than $35,000, a vehicle, about 45 firearms and more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition, the FBI release said.
The investigation has led to additional arrests in the Dallas area of Northern District of Texas, including more than 16 additional defendants and the seizure of more than 2 kilograms of methamphetamine.
Metro on 10/28/2015