NEWS

3 Hattiesburg residents indicted in drug trafficking

Therese Apel
The Clarion-Ledger

Three Hattiesburg residents are among eight suspects indicted by a federal grand jury in connection with an extensive multi-state heroin and cocaine trafficking network.

Dueling lawsuits over $1.5 million home in the Bridgewater subdivision in Ridgeland.

Local and federal authorities out of Hattiesburg were among several agencies involved with the Middle District Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking Task Force which unearthed alleged offenses involving the trafficking of cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin by a network based in Louisiana that also spanned Texas and Mississippi.

Arthur Johnson Jr., 40; Lashucklan Martin, 39; and Everett D. Ramsey, 30; all of Hattiesburg, were among the accused. They are facing multiple distribution and possession charges each, among other counts. Authorities identified the three Hattiesburg residents as member or associates of the Gangster Disciples street gang.

“This investigation and indictments are the result of multiple law enforcement agencies working together to keep our communities safe. The FBI will continue to work with our federal, state and local partners to combat violent gangs and illegal drug traffickers,” said Jeffrey S. Sallet, the Special Agent-in-Charge of the New Orleans Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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Louisiana Middle District United States Attorney Walt Green released a list of the defendants on Wednesday. They are as follows:

  • Arthur Johnson, Jr. , a.k.a. “Nelson Howard,” “Wood,” and “Dread,” age 40, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, CEO of “Ruff-n-Rugged Entertainment” in Geismar, Louisiana, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, crack cocaine, and 100 grams or more of heroin; distribution of 100 grams or more of heroin; unlawful use of a communication facility; and forfeiture.

  • Lorenza Benitez Alday , a.k.a. “Old Woman,” “Old Lady,” and “Old Girl,” age 51, of Gonzales, Louisiana, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin; possession with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; unlawful use of a communication facility; and forfeiture.

  • Tom Christmas III , a.k.a. “Bald Head” and “Tom Jr.,” age 40, of Geismar, Louisiana, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, crack cocaine, and 100 grams or more of heroin; distribution of 100 grams or more of heroin; unlawful use of a communication facility; and forfeiture.

  • Rodolfo De La Cruz Alday , age 43, of Gonzales, Louisiana, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin; possession with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine; unlawful use of a communication facility; and forfeiture.

  • Norberto Aaron Bejarano , age 30, of Houston, Texas, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin; distribution of five kilograms or more of cocaine; unlawful use of a communication facility; and forfeiture.

  • Reginald Jackson , a.k.a. “Lemonhead,” age 44, of Geismar, Louisiana, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, 28 grams or more of crack cocaine, and heroin; distribution of cocaine; distribution of crack cocaine; distribution of 28 grams or more of crack cocaine; and forfeiture.

  • Lashucklan Martin , a.k.a. “Fat,” age 39, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin; unlawful use of a communication facility; and forfeiture.

  • Everett D. Ramsey , a.k.a. “Ram,” age 30, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, and heroin; unlawful use of a communication facility; and forfeiture.

“Our office will continue to aggressively pursue drug traffickers using all legal means available," Green said in a release.

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According to the U.S. Attorney, the joint operation is being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Louisiana; the FBI Baton Rouge Capitol Area Gang Task Force, which is an FBI Safe Street Task Force that includes the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office and Baton Rouge Police Department; the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office; the FBI Hattiesburg Resident Agency; and Hattiesburg Police Department.

“We partnered with the FBI on this case several years ago. We will continue to work together to keep our streets safe from drugs and other criminal activity,” Ascension Parish Sheriff Jeff Wiley said.

The investigation is another effort by the OCDETF Program which was established in 1982 to mount a comprehensive attack against organized drug traffickers. It is used by the United States Attorney General’s drug strategy to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations, money laundering organizations, and related criminal enterprises.

The OCDETF Program operates nationwide and combines the resources and unique expertise of numerous federal, state, and local agencies in a coordinated attack against major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations.

Contact Therese Apel at 601-961-7236 or tapel@gannett.com. Follow her on Facebook and Twitter.