25 people arrested in Lowndes County drug bust

A 15 month sting operation comes to an end

August 20, 2021

Joey Barnes,

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)- The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department arrest 25 suspects during a drug bust.

Here is a press release of the investigation sent to WCBI by the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department: Clean Sweep

“Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office

527 MLK Jr. Drive South Columbus, MS 39701

Phone: 662-328-6788 Fax: 662-328-1136

Media Release from Sheriff Eddie Hawkins

“Clean Sweep”

Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics STING Unit (Special Tactics Investigative Narcotic Group) charges suspects during operation “Clean Sweep,” a 15-month investigation of illegal drug trafficking in response to complaints received from citizens about illegal drug activity in Columbus and Lowndes County.

Following the 15-month undercover investigation, Lowndes County STING Unit, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and the HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) task force, and made 25 arrests in the Columbus / Lowndes County area and obtained 31 arrest warrants related to the trafficking, sale, and possession of illegal narcotics. Through these strong law enforcement partnerships and great investigative work, our community is safer because these poisonous drugs – and drug traffickers – have been removed from the streets of our community.

Agents filed 31 total felony charges against the suspects during the investigation.

Altogether, the suspects have 304 previous charges, including 45 prior felonies and 259 prior misdemeanors. These suspects are career criminals.

These arrests are the result from an ongoing operation which targeted drug traffickers alleged to be responsible for the distribution of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and marijuana throughout Lowndes County.

Nearly every town and municipality in Lowndes County was negatively affected by the criminal activity of these suspects.

The Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office will work with our District Attorney’s Office to make sure these drug violators are prosecuted and brought to justice. The STING Unit’s mission is to disrupt and dismantle these targeted criminal organizations trafficking this poison in our community and bring them to justice.

“Our Agents did an outstanding job of removing these drug traffickers from the streets and ridding our community of these illegal drugs. The suspects that commit crimes must be held accountable and stopped from causing future misery, violence, and death. Without question, lives have been saved as a result of this investigation.”– Sheriff Eddie Hawkins.

Investigation Summary:

*8 firearms seized (one of which is reported stolen.)
*Approximately 2802 grams of marijuana seized

*Approximately 149.67grams of methamphetamine seized

*Approximately 212.07 grams of cocaine seized

*Approximately 1.0 grams of heroin
*Approximately 330 Dosage units of various controlled substances seized

Those arrested are as follows (in alphabetical order):

Andrew R. Barksdale: Sale of Methamphetamine.
Antonio L. Hill: Possession of Cocaine, Possession of Controlled Substance.
Braylin C. Edinburgh: Possession of Marijuana with intent.
David R. Keating: Possession of Methamphetamine.
Debra D. Young: Possession of Methamphetamine.
Jeffery S. Lewis: Possession of Heroin.
Johnathon A. Lovato: Possession of Cocaine.
Joshua D. Wofford: Possession of a controlled Substance.
Kabrea S. Sparks: Conspiracy to Possess Marijuana
Letavis J. Murry: Possession of Cocaine.
Jervarkis Gardner: Sale of Marijuana.
Rebbie S. Windham: Conspiracy to Possess Marijuana, Conspiracy to traffic Meth
Shelia K. Finch: 2 Counts of sale of Methamphetamine.
Wesley D. Marrow: Sale of Marijuana.
Roger D. Phinizee: Possession of Marijuana.
Ernest Williams: Possession of Methamphetamine
Jeremiah Ratliff: 2 counts of assault on LEO
Damian Griffin: Possession of a controlled substance in correctional Facility.
Charles Fisher: Felony Fleeing.
Whitney Franks: Burglary
Tobie Krohe: Possession of Methamphetamine with intent.
Tony Carter: Possession of Methamphetamine with intent
Marcus Longstreet: Possession of Cocaine.
Lindsey Parker: Possession of Weapon by felon X 3.
James Langley: Trafficking Methamphetamine and Possession of Meth.