LITTLE ROCK-Cody Hiland, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and Justin C. King, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Little Rock Field Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announced the Tuesday morning arrests of 10 defendants who, along with two other defendants, were charged in a 26-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury on March 6, 2018, and unsealed today.
The overall operation, led by the DEA, was part of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) case “Wheelin’ and Dealin’," which focused on the distribution of illegal drugs, including opioids and marijuana, in the North Little Rock area. Along with the 10 arrests Tuesday morning-including one in Clarkson, Washington-one defendant was already in state custody and one defendant was issued a summons to appear in court.
“The opioid epidemic has inflicted an unprecedented toll of addiction and suffering on communities throughout our nation," Hiland said. “We recognize the Eastern District of Arkansas is not immune to this epidemic, and we will continue to work with the DEA and our law enforcement partners to aggressively pursue and prosecute those who illegally traffic these deadly substances."
During the course of the investigation law enforcement agents utilized three court-authorized wiretaps, executed three search warrants, and made nine controlled buys and seizures. Agents seized nine firearms, 189 oxycodone pills, 187 alprazolam pills, 61 ecstasy pills, and several pounds of marijuana. The defendants were charged with violations of various drug and firearms laws.
“The arrests and seizures in this investigation are the direct result of outstanding partnerships with federal, state and local law enforcement," DEA ASAC King said. “DEA, along with our law enforcement partners, will continue to pursue those who threaten our communities through the smuggling and distribution of illegal and dangerous drugs such as prescription drugs and marijuana. The abuse of these drugs can have devastating health and societal effects and these arrests strike a significant blow to the illegal drug trafficking trade in this region."
The indictment alleges that Michael B. Webb, Jr., directed a drug trafficking organization based in North Little Rock that was responsible for the distribution of marijuana, oxycodone, ecstasy, and alprazolam (Xanax) in Pulaski County and surrounding areas. The indictment further alleges that Terry W. Morrison, aka “T," supplied Webb’s organization withmarijuana by shipping it through the U.S. mail from the state of Washington to central Arkansas.
“Arresting those who abuse the nation’s mail system by using it to transport illegal narcotics is one of Postal Inspectors’ top concerns," said Thomas L. Noyes, Inspector in Charge of the Fort Worth Division, U.S. Postal Inspection Service. “We are committed to ensuring the safety of our employees and customers from the violence drug traffickers spread throughout the community. I would like to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the many agencies involved for their hard work and dedication to this case."
Those defendants arrested or served with a summons will appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia S. Harris on Wednesday, for plea and arraignment, with the exception of Morrison, who will appear before a federal magistrate judge in the Eastern District of Washington, in Spokane, on Wednesday. Webb, who is in the custody of the Arkansas Department of Corrections, will appear before a federal magistrate judge in the Eastern District of Arkansas at a later date.
These cases were investigated by the DEA Little Rock District Office Tactical Diversion Squad composed of DEA agents and local task force officers. DEA was assisted by the North Little Rock Police Department, United States Postal Inspection Service, Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, and Arkansas Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julie Peters.
An indictment contains only allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
