DRUGS
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fice, Poinsett County Sheriff’s Office and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
The charges in today’s 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 minimum penalty for the drug charges is not less than 10 years’ imprisonment and a $10,000,000 fine. The minimum penalty for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime is not less than five years in prison and up to life imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.
This investigation is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation.
OCDETF identifies, disrupts and dismantles the highestlevel drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence- driven, multiagency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The defendants arrested on Tuesday will appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Benecia B. Moore on April 18, 2024, for plea and arraignment. Defendants who were already in custody will have arraignments scheduled later.
Trial dates will be announced at plea and arraignment. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Erin O’Leary. The defendants charged and in custody include:
• Cesar Cortez-Rocha, 51, Misson, Texas.
• Amado Barranco, Jr. aka “Myo,” 55, McAllen, Texas.
• Bobby Franklin Barber, 60, Jonesboro.
• Misty Dawn Barber, 38, Jonesboro.
• Jamie Lynn Patterson, 40, Jonesboro.
• Amie Dawn Eggers, 39, Jonesboro (already in federal custody on other charges).
• Carey Wayne Peden, 46, Little Rock.
• Vance Allen Brown, 56, Hot Springs.
• Sir Edward Lee Qualls aka “Buddy,” 35, Earle (already in federal custody on related charges).
• Reginald Bogan aka “Smooth”, 37, Jonesboro.
• Melissa Bradley, 33, Jonesboro (already in custody on state charges).
• Jerry Crump, 55, Jonesboro.
• Sandi Stanfill, 59, Paragould.
• Delisha Pugh, 25, Earle.
• Jennifer Jones, 37, Brookland.
• William Jones, 28, Harrisburg.
• Marcus McIntyre, 42, Memphis, Tennessee.
• Harthoner Goforth, 38, Paragould.
• Shauna Rutledge, 37, Hughes.
