18 people arrested following drug bust in Arkansas

ARKANSAS — Federal and state authorities arrested 17 individuals Tuesday morning in connection with a large-scale drug trafficking investigation in northeast Arkansas. Another defendant was already in state custody.

The arrests were announced by Jonathan Ross, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, and Alicia D. Corder, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Little Rock Field Office.

The arrests stem from a federal indictment unsealed Tuesday, charging 21 individuals, 20 of whom are accused of conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.

Three additional suspects, who live outside the area, have been indicted but not yet apprehended.

According to the indictment, the drug operation was led by Jack Brown, 58, of Marked Tree; Reginald Hendrix, 53, of Trumann; and Dewayne Morris, 36, of Trumann.

Most defendants named in the indictment are from Trumann and Marked Tree, making this the first large-scale federal drug investigation in this part of the state.

The investigation, which began in July 2023 as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation, was led by the FBI and involved multiple controlled purchases of methamphetamine.

Authorities also intercepted phone calls in which suspects allegedly discussed trafficking several pounds of methamphetamine.

“The arrests of these defendants continue to show the commitment of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office to focus on making our communities better,” Ross stated.

“Through the collaborative efforts of these law enforcement agencies, we were able to make a significant impact in getting these violent drug traffickers out of the community.”

Corder echoed that sentiment, emphasizing the importance of targeting drug-related crime. “Ridding Arkansas communities of dangerous narcotics and violent criminals is a top priority for law enforcement across the state,” she said.

“Today’s arrests demonstrate the FBI’s commitment to fostering safer communities for the citizens of Arkansas, and we will continue to collaborate with our federal, state, and local partners on this shared goal.”

The OCDETF program focuses on dismantling high-level criminal organizations using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. More information about OCDETF is available at www.justice.gov/OCDETF.