OXFORD, MS. William C. Lamar, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Mississippi, announced today that four criminal defendants were held without bond pending trial in the Northern District of Mississippi following their arrests for drug trafficking. The defendants were among nine defendants arrested and fifteen charged in the Northern District of Mississippi for conspiracy to distribute heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and crack cocaine. The arrests were made as part of a joint, ongoing investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (MBN), United States Marshals Service, Alcorn County Sheriff’s Office, and the Marshal County Sheriff’s Office.
All nine defendants arrested are facing federal drug trafficking charges. They include:
* Richard Smith, a.k.a."Che," age 36, of Cordova
* Mardrequs McKinney, a.k.a. “Dreek," age 26, of Byhalia
* Cornelius McKinney, a.k.a. “Fruit," age 36, of Memphis
* Alvin Rhyan, age 39, of Holly Springs
* Tynisha Dennis, age 27, of Memphis
* Jerrod Kinkle, age 31;
* Herbert Luellen, age 62;
* Charles Ratliff, age 61, of Corinth
* Samuel Nathan Clark, age 43
United States Magistrate Judge Roy Percy ordered that Richard Smith, Mardrequs McKinney, Cornelius McKinney and Alvin Rhyan should all be held pending their trials without bond after a hearing in federal court on Friday morning. Judge Percy ordered the detention of the defendants after finding that each of the four defendants presented a danger to the community.
U.S. Attorney Lamar stated: “This was truly a collaborative effort between federal, state and local law enforcement officers. This is another of many operations we are conducting in our district. Under the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Taskforce and Project Safe Neighborhoods, these operations are targeted toward removing violent offenders from our communities. Working together, we will make and keep our neighborhoods safe."
This case is being prosecuted for the United States by AUSA Scott Leary and AUSA Chad Doleac.
The public is reminded that all charges are merely an accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
