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Authorities bust major meth ring
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| By: THERESE APEL, DAILY LEADER Staff Writer |
June 25, 2009 |
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"Operation Batman," a locally based raid involving federal, state and area officials netted five people booked on federal charges and 13 on state charges, all involving conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, through the Lincoln County Jail Tuesday.
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More arrests are possible in what law enforcement officials are saying was the largest identified methamphetamine distribution ring in Mississippi.
"Operation Batman" was the Southwest Mississippi arm of a larger investigation, "Operation Rankin Ice." Eighteen people are listed on a federal indictment on charges of conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine and more than 30 others face state violations in the stings, Mississippi's acting U.S. Attorney Stan Harris said at a press conference Tuesday.
Officials said the bust, which brought in seven Lincoln County residents, is more than just a routine roundup.
"This investigation and subsequent arrests of these individuals resulted in the complete dismantlement of a sophisticated drug trafficking organization responsible for the distribution of significant quantities of methamphetamine into Mississippi," said Joel Reece, Drug Enforcement Agency Special Agent in Charge of Mississippi.
Lincoln County Sheriff Steve Rushing and District 14 District Attorney Dee Bates said the investigation into the group, which officials believe were transporting an average of 50 pounds of methamphetamine a month, has been ongoing for about 16 months and involves counties across south Mississippi, as well as potentially into Alabama and Florida.
"This is the largest methamphetamine trafficking group known in the state," Bates said. "And a large percentage of that was being brought into Lincoln, Walthall and Pike counties."
Rushing said the raid was a multi-faceted attack, with the southern part based out of Lincoln County and another branch based out of Rankin County. The raids Tuesday took place in Walthall, Lincoln, Pike, Marion, Hinds and Rankin counties, with related operations going on in Alabama and Florida.
Officials said the group has been operating for quite some time.
"(They are) responsible for distributing multi-pound quantities of Mexican methamphetamine over a significant period of time," Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics Director Marshall Fisher said. "We believe the arrests and successful prosecution of this entire organization will significantly impact the availability of this highly addictive illicit narcotic in the state of Mississippi."
Bates agreed, saying the positive impact should be felt locally as well.
"We hope this will make a significant reduction in the amount of methamphetamine that comes into Lincoln County," he said.
Officials from the U.S. Department of Justice said the group is a highly structured criminal organization that has demonstrated a history of violence to upkeep its drug trade. Rushing and Bates said the group's alleged kingpin, Christopher M. Stewart, who also goes by the nickname "Batman," is believed to have ties to white supremacy organizations.
"They are believed to be loosely associated with the Aryan Brotherhood, though I haven't seen any evidence to that," Bates said.
Stewart, 26, of Walthall County, was the leader of the operation, Bates said, but his father, Gary M. Stewart, and his uncle, Gavin Stewart, were also involved.
Stewart was arraigned Tuesday and is expected to appear in U.S. District Court in Hattiesburg on Wednesday.
Rushing said the suspects were booked through Lincoln County because parts of the case originated in Lincoln County.
"A lot of that is based on information in the original case," Rushing said. "Some of the original state charges were filed here."
Officials recovered a significant haul of stolen items, as well as seizing $1.5 million in methamphetamine, five vehicles, two stolen motorcycles, two stolen all-terrain vehicles, three silencers and more than 86 firearms, one of which was an AK-47.
The investigation involved more than 20 federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Bates said the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Game and Fisheries and the Mississippi Department of Agriculture also deserve some special credit, as they were needed on scene to deal with some unlikely pets.
"They were called in to handle some exotic animals, in particular, they were called in to assist with a pet albino cobra," he said.
Bates said the departments also were able to assist with an iguana and an alligator.
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©The Daily Leader 2009
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Jennifer White |
Oct, 16 2009 |
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does anyone know how to go visit these people? what prison are they located in? i actually know some of them and would go like to see them
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SHIRLEY |
Jun, 26 2009 |
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GOOD TO KNOW THAT SOME OF THIS IS OFF THE STREETS. BUT EVERYONE IS SOMEONES CHILD SO I'M THINKING OF THE PARENTS PRAY THAT THIS WILL OPEN THEIR EYES AND SEE THE LIGHT.
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