U.S. Department
of Justice
Press Release
20 Individuals Indicted On Federal Drug Charges
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Mississippi
Jackson, Miss - Twenty (20) individuals are facing drug charges in three (3) separate federal indictments unsealed today, announced U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis, DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Floyd Baker, Director Sam Owens of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and US Postal Service Houston Division Inspector in Charge Robert Wemyss.
Sixteen (16) of the twenty (20) charged were arrested this morning in central Mississippi and in California. As a result of those arrests four (4) firearms and numerous rounds of ammunition were seized.
The indictments are the result of an extensive Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, dubbed AOperation Yeti Ice@, which began as an operation targeting illegal narcotics distribution in central Mississippi. This drug network involved the distribution of over 100 Kilograms of Methamphetamine and encompasses the states of California and Mississippi.
Charged in the first indictment:
Age | City of Residence | Charges | Maximum penalty | |
Rodney Gerald Henderson | 69 | Newton, MS/ Rialto, CA | Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fifty grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine, Distribution of Actual Methamphetamine that resulted in the death of another, and Distribution of 50 grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine. | Life in prison and a |
Kafien Kidd | 35 | Newton, MS | Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine. | Life in prison and a |
Jennifer Toole Kidd | 30 | Newton, MS | Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine. | Twenty years in prison and |
Marcos Jones | 35 | Newton, MS | Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. | Life in prison and a |
Walter Pernillo | 42 | San Bernardino, CA | Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine | Life in prison a |
Cliff Williams | 36 | Meridian, MS | Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine | Twenty years in prison and a |
Stacy Shelwood | 32 | Ocean Springs, MS | Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine and Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine | Twenty years in prison and a |
Angelina Fortenberry | 38 | Decatur, MS | Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine | Twenty years in prison and a |
Princess Grace | 35 | Meridian, MS | Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine and Possession with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine. | Forty years in prison and a |
Terry Garth | 24 | Newton, MS | Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine and Felon in Possession of a Firearm. | Fifty years in prison and a |
Charged in the second indictment:
Name | Age | City of Residence | Charges | Maximum penalty |
Rodney Gerald Henderson | 69 | Newton, MS/ Rialto, CA | Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine | Life in prison and a |
Steven Elias Ochoa | 29 | San Bernardino, CA | Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine and Distribution of 50 grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine | Life in prison and a |
Michael Thomas McLemore | 38 | Pearl, MS | Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fifty grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine and Distribution of Fifty grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine. | Life in prison and a |
Jennifer Higgins McLemore | 35 | Pearl, MS | Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fifty grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine and Distribution of Fifty grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine. | Life in prison and a |
Kenneth Waggoner | 46 | Forest, MS | Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine | Twenty years in prison and a |
Charged in the third indictment:
Name | Age | City of Residence | Charges | Maximum Penalty |
Rodney Gerald Henderson | 69 | Newton, MS, Rialto, CA | Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fifty grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine and Distribution of Fifty grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine | Life in prison and a |
Christopher Raynard Kidd | 26 | Rialto, CA | Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Fifty grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine and Distribution of Fifty grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine | Life in prison and a |
Ronnie Round | 45 | Conehatta, MS | Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine and Distribution of Actual Methamphetamine | Forty years in prison and a |
Thomas Odell Mason | 55 | Little Rock, MS | Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine and Distribution of Actual Methamphetamine. | Life in prison and a |
Jakeivia Fairley | 24 | Rialto, CA | Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine and Distribution of Actual Methamphetamine. | Forty years in prison and a |
Beatrice Williams McEntee | 56 | Forest, MS | Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine and Possession with Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine | Forty years in prison and a |
Jamie Tavare Thames | 40 | Forest, MS | Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Actual Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Distribute Five Grams or more of Actual Methamphetamine and Distribution of Actual Methamphetamine | One hundred forty years in prison |
“The unlawful distribution of controlled substances violates federal law and constitutes a danger to our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Gregory K. Davis. “This operation evidences the commitment of federal law enforcement to aggressively investigate and prosecute those who, through violation of federal criminal laws, pose a threat to the safety of our communities. Through joint law enforcement efforts such as this one, we can make our cities safer for our children and every law abiding citizen. Our thanks go out to the federal, state and local law enforcement officers who contributed to the investigation that led to this prosecution.”
DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Floyd Baker stated: “This investigation demonstrates the effectiveness of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and how cooperation between federal, state and local agencies is an essential component of efforts by law enforcement to disrupt drug trafficking organizations that operate in our area. The successful indictments/arrest of these defendants should put others who engage in this type of activity on notice: if you sell drugs you will face federal charges and a lengthy prison sentence. These combined law enforcement efforts send a message of our unending resolve to pursue drug traffickers who wreak havoc in our communities.”
MBN Director Sam Owens stated: “The arrest of these suspects, the dismantling of their organization, and the seizure of drugs and assets valued at more than $1 million do much to impede the drug trade in Mississippi.”
USPS Inspector in Charge, Houston Division, Robert Wemyss added: "These indictments are merely the latest in a long tradition of Postal Inspectors relentlessly pursuing anyone who misuses the nation's mail system to distribute illegal, dangerous drugs. I'm proud of the work done by all the agents involved in this investigation, and look forward to their continued enforcement."
This OCDETF operation was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics with assistance from the U.S. Marshal Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Postal Service, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Leake County Sherriff’s Office, Madison County Sherriff’s Office, Carthage Police Department, Forest Police Department, Newton County Sherriff’s Office, Lauderdale County Sherriff’s Office, Decatur Police Department, Richland Police Department, Pearl Police Department, Ridgeland Police Department, and the Jackson Police Department. It will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Erin Chalk.
The OCDETF program is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
The defendants will be arraigned on September 11, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. before United States Magistrate Judge Linda R. Anderson.
Terry Garth of Newton, Princess Grace of Meridian, Kenneth Waggoner of Forest, and Christopher Raynard Kidd of Rialto, California have not been arrested. Anyone with information on their whereabouts please contact your local police department.
The public is reminded that a criminal indictment is a formal charge against a defendant. It is merely an accusation and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at:
(866) 720-5721
You can also fax information to:
(225) 334-4707
or e-mail it to:
Updated January 7, 2015
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