A Meridian resident has entered a guilty plea in federal court to charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Jimmy Hodges, 40, was identified by the East Mississippi Drug Task Force as a narcotics distributor in Lauderdale County. Law enforcement officials reported that Hodges sold methamphetamine on several occasions within the district.
During a search of his residence on April 28, 2023, officers found the home equipped with an internal barricade, surveillance system, and a delivery door used for drug sales. Authorities also seized quantities of methamphetamine and other drugs from the property.
Hodges is scheduled for sentencing on January 5, 2026. He faces up to 20 years in prison. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
"Acting United States Attorney Patrick A. Lemon of the Southern District of Mississippi and ATF Special Agent in Charge Joshua Jackson made the announcement."
The investigation is being conducted by the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with support from the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office and the East Mississippi Drug Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney C. Brett Grantham is prosecuting the case.
This prosecution falls under Operation Take Back America (https://www.justice.gov/dag/media/1393746/dl?inline), an initiative that brings together resources from across the Department of Justice to address illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and protect communities from violent crime through efforts such as OCDETFs and Project Safe Neighborhood.
