Press Release

Eleven Defendants Facing Federal Drug And Firearms Charges In North Little Rock

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

For Immediate Release

U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Arkansas

North Little Rock, Ark.—Christopher R. Thyer, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, David T. Resch, Special Agent in Charge of the Little Rock Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and North Little Rock Police Department (NLRPD) Chief Mike Davis, announced today the unsealing of three federal indictments charging 11 defendants with federal drug and firearms offenses in North Little Rock, and in particular in the Dixie Addition neighborhood. The indictments were returned by the Grand Jury on December 2, 2015, and were unsealed today following a coordinated roundup of the charged defendants.

The arrests resulted from an Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, Operation Dixie Days, worked jointly with the FBI and NLRPD Narcotics Unit. During the course of the investigation in 2014 and 2015, law enforcement utilized three Title III court-authorized wiretaps, intercepting hundreds of drug-trafficking calls. Law enforcement agents conducted controlled buys totaling almost one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of crack cocaine. During the roundup, agents seized several ounces of crack cocaine, two stolen firearms, and more than $10,000 in cash.

Agents also executed a search warrant today at 924 E Street in the Dixie Addition, where they recovered some of the crack cocaine and cash. Based on the investigation, it is alleged that during 2014 and 2015, Harold Barbee, Byron Leavy, Yvette Foster, and others utilized 924 E Street as a “trap house,” meaning a location for storing and selling cocaine and crack cocaine. During the daytime hours, customers entered the front door of the house to buy cocaine and crack cocaine. During the evening hours, customers purchased cocaine and crack cocaine by knocking on a back bedroom window. On one occasion in October 2015, after midnight, officers observed 14 individuals approach the window of 924 E Street to buy drugs in the span of an hour.

“The Dixie Addition area of North Little Rock is filled with hard-working, law-abiding citizens; unfortunately, crack cocaine and drugs have plagued this area for a long time,” Thyer said. “Through Operation Dixie Days, the FBI and NLRPD have worked to rid that community of the violent drug distributors that plague that neighborhood. We hope the peaceful neighbors of the Dixie Addition will rest better tonight knowing both that their community is safer and that federal and state authorities will continue their law enforcement efforts in Dixie Addition and throughout North Little Rock. Let today’s arrests be a sharp warning to drug dealers in the area—we will not tolerate you poisoning the streets where our children and law abiding, hard-working citizens reside.”

The defendants arrested today will appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joe J. Volpe on December 9, 2015, at 3:00 p.m. for plea and arraignment. One defendant was already in state custody, and will appear before Judge Volpe at 2:00 p.m. on December 15, 2015. Two defendants, Dexter Mack and Adrion Crawford, are now fugitives. Most of the defendants are residents of North Little Rock (see below for complete list of defendants and charges).

“Today’s arrests are confirmation of our dedication to make an impact on drug crime in the state of Arkansas, specifically today, in the Dixie area,” stated David Shepard, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Little Rock FBI. “We appreciate the determined efforts of the United States Attorney’s Office and the North Little Rock Police Department.”

“North Little Rock Police Department is grateful for the spirit of cooperation with the FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring closure to drug sales in the Dixie community,” Chief Davis said. “North Little Rock Police will remain proactive in this community to ensure a peaceful lifestyle for its residents.”

The counts in today’s unsealed indictments include conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and crack cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and use of a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking crime.

The investigation was conducted by FBI and NLRPD. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Julie Peters and Hunter Bridges. An indictment contains only allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. See Attachment 1 for potential penalties. The defendants charged include:

Case No. 4:15CR00302 BRW:

HAROLD BARBEE, aka BOP, age 50, of North Little Rock

Conspiracy to Distribute/Possess with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine and Cocaine

Distribution of Crack Cocaine