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Press Release

Gulf Coast Men Indicted on Federal Drug Trafficking Charges

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Mississippi

 

Gulfport, Miss. – Keith Lavell Brown and Jaycie Mario Thomas have been arrested and charged in a three-count federal indictment with drug trafficking offenses, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst, DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Derryle Smith and FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Freeze.

Brown and Thomas will appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge John C. Gargiulo today in Gulfport at 2:00 p.m. for their intial appearances and arraignments on the charges.

The indictment charges Brown, 46, of Moss Point, Mississippi, with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distibute cocaine and two counts of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Thomas, 35, of Ocean Springs, Misssissippi, is charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine.

The indictment alleges that beginning in 2009 until March 20, 2018, the defendants conspired with each other and others to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine in the Southern Division of the Southern District of Mississippi.

If convicted, the defendants face up to life in prison and fines of up to $10,000,000.

The case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The public is reminded that an indictment is merely an allegation and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Updated April 3, 2018