9 Suspects Arrested in Multi-Agency Drug, Firearm Trafficking Bust

Nine Mississippi men face decades in prison after a massive multi-agency bust led to the seizure of thousands of fentanyl pills, pounds of methamphetamine, and a cache of illegal firearms from a major drug and weapons trafficking operation in Stone County.

Quick Takes

Federal authorities arrested nine men in Stone County, Mississippi, following a major gun and drug trafficking investigation that involved 30 undercover operations.
The operation seized nearly 4 pounds of methamphetamine, over 4,000 fentanyl pills, 18 grams of powder fentanyl, and more than 20 illegal firearms.
The suspects face charges carrying penalties ranging from 10 years to life in prison for crimes including drug distribution and illegal weapons trafficking.
The arrests are part of “Operation Take Back America,” which targets illegal immigration, cartels, and transnational criminal organizations.
The DEA’s New Orleans Division seized over 20 million deadly doses of fentanyl in 2022, highlighting the scale of the regional drug crisis.

Multi-Agency Operation Nets Major Drug and Gun Traffickers

A federal grand jury has indicted nine Mississippi men following an extensive joint law enforcement investigation into gun and drug trafficking in Stone County. The operation involved 30 separate undercover activities and resulted in significant seizures of illegal narcotics and weapons. Law enforcement confiscated nearly 4 pounds of methamphetamine, more than 4,000 fentanyl pills, 18 grams of powder fentanyl, and over 20 firearms during the coordinated effort. The indictments represent a substantial blow to narcotics distribution and illegal weapons circulation in the region.

The operation was a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the US Postal Service, and the Stone County Sheriff’s Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Hunter McCreight as part of the broader “Operation Take Back America” initiative, which targets illegal immigration, cartels, and transnational criminal organizations operating within the United States.

9 arrested in major gun & drug-trafficking bust in South MS after undercover investigation https://t.co/OLfyAIBl87

— Sun Herald (@sunherald) April 1, 2025

Defendants Face Severe Penalties for Trafficking Offenses

The nine indicted individuals face substantial prison time if convicted of their respective charges. Alvonta Demarcus McCray faces conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, which could result in a life sentence. Melvin McCray has been charged with firearm trafficking and possession by a convicted felon, potentially resulting in up to 15 years imprisonment. Cameron Fairley and Christopher Chase Brown both face firearm trafficking charges, with Fairley also charged with drug distribution that could bring a life sentence.

Additional defendants include Nathaniel Jackson and Jeremy Young, both charged with fentanyl distribution and facing up to 20 years in prison. Cleon Johnson has been charged with possession of a short-barreled shotgun, which carries a maximum 10-year sentence. Roderick Victor Minter and Tracy Antoine McCall face methamphetamine distribution charges that could result in life imprisonment if they are convicted.

Part of Larger Effort to Combat Fentanyl Crisis

This operation comes amid alarming statistics about the fentanyl epidemic in the region. The DEA’s New Orleans Division, which covers Mississippi, seized over 20 million potentially deadly doses of fentanyl in 2022 alone. This included 501,761 counterfeit prescription pills laced with the dangerous synthetic opioid. The Stone County operation’s seizure of more than 4,000 fentanyl pills represents a significant public safety achievement, as even tiny amounts of fentanyl can be lethal.

The indictments were announced by Acting US Attorney Patrick A. Lemon along with other law enforcement officials, highlighting the priority federal authorities are placing on dismantling drug trafficking networks. Operation Take Back America specifically targets criminal organizations with connections to cartels and transnational criminal groups that facilitate the movement of dangerous narcotics and illegal firearms through American communities.