Crowder woman is latest defendant convicted in large-scale drug trafficking ring

Oxford, MS – A Crowder woman was sentenced Tuesday to 23 years in prison for selling methamphetamine.

According to court documents, Linda Hunt, 49, of Crowder, Mississippi, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi to distribution of methamphetamine. Hunt was sentenced Tuesday afternoon by U.S. District Court Judge Sharion Aycock to 276 months in prison on drug charges. She was also sentenced to 5 years of supervised release after her release from prison. Hunt agreed to a final forfeiture order in the amount of $20,000.00 and is currently in custody.

Hunt oversaw the drug trafficking organization of other defendants charged with conspiracy to distribute drugs and drug distribution. The investigation into this drug trafficking organization and its participants lasted several years.

“Criminal actions have consequences, and the sentences handed down against this trafficking organization demonstrate that the full force of the law will be used to bring those consequences to bear on drug traffickers who bring poison into our communities,” the U.S. Attorney said. Clay Joyner. “Our federal and state law enforcement partners worked together seamlessly to bring this organization down, and AUSA Clyde McGee’s efforts in leading the prosecution of these defendants were also exceptional. “

“I am proud to see the successful partnership between the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Drug Enforcement Agency and all other assisting agencies who have worked together to ensure these criminals are held accountable for their actions,” said Sean , commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. Tindell. “Thank you to everyone involved for playing a role in keeping our state and communities safe.”

“The Drug Enforcement Administration, alongside the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and dedicated local partners, applauds the conviction of the final defendant in a multi-year investigation targeting a major drug trafficking ring,” said Agent Steven Hofer. special in charge of the DEA division in New Orleans. “This individual, who oversaw the illicit activities of others, was held accountable through a collaborative effort through Project Safe Neighborhoods and the OCDETF. This case illustrates the power of combined forces to dismantle drug trafficking organizations and keep our communities safe.

Below are the traffickers' charges and convictions, made possible through the initiatives of the OCDETF and Project Safe Neighborhood:

• Lucas Smith pleaded guilty on October 17, 2022, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and conspiracy to commit money laundering. U.S. District Judge Neal B. Biggers, Jr. sentenced Smith to 240 months of imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release. Smith agreed to a final forfeiture order in the amount of $100,000.00.
• Preston Cross pleaded guilty on October 17, 2022, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Neal B. Biggers, Jr. sentenced Cross to 120 months of imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
• Terence Lomax pleaded guilty on November 9, 2022, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Lomax to 150 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
• Domonique Cross pleaded guilty on October 17, 2022 to conspiracy to commit money laundering. U.S. District Judge Neal B. Biggers, Jr. sentenced Cross to 30 months of imprisonment, followed by 3 years of supervised release. Cross agreed to a final forfeiture order in the amount of $30,000.00.
• James Taylor pleaded guilty on June 7, 2022, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Taylor to 219 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
• Genise Cox pleaded guilty on November 29, 2022 to distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Cox to 26 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release.
• Alvin Johnson pleaded guilty on November 29, 2022 to distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Johnson to 130 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release.
• Brenda Hunt pleaded guilty on November 29, 2022 to distribution of methamphetamine and possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Hunt to 60 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release.
• Dexter Ray pleaded guilty on December 2, 2022 to distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Ray to 78 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release.
• Demandrick Hayes pleaded guilty on March 8, 2022, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Hayes to 46 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release.
• Aaron Prince pleaded guilty on March 29, 2022, to distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Prince to 46 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
• Dana Smith pleaded guilty on June 7, 2022, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Smith to 125 months in prison, followed by 4 years of supervised release.
• Anterion Wiley pleaded guilty on June 15, 2022 to distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Debra Brown sentenced her to prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
• Antonio Wiley pleaded guilty on March 29, 2022, to distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Debra Brown sentenced Wiley to 70 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
• William Garner pleaded guilty on October 4, 2022 to distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Garner to 78 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
• Contreal Bolden pleaded guilty on October 11, 2022 to distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Bolden to 43 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
• Damion Jones pleaded guilty on September 22, 2022 to distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Michael P. Mills sentenced Jones to 36 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
• Tommie Peoples pleaded guilty on August 1, 2022 to distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Neal B. Biggers, Jr. sentenced Peoples to 18 months of imprisonment, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
• Markell Crossgrove pleaded guilty on January 5, 2022, to distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Debra Brown sentenced Crossgrove to 60 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.
• James Woods pleaded guilty on December 16, 2022 to distribution of methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock sentenced Woods to 120 months in prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release.

The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics investigated the case as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, in partnership with law enforcement agencies from state and local. Agencies assisting in the investigation included the United States Marshal Service, United States Postal Inspector Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Patrol Mississippi Highway Patrol, the Panola County Sheriff's Office, the Desoto County Sheriff's Office and the Tallahatchie County Sheriff's Department. , the Batesville Police Department, the Charleston Police Department and the Leflore County Sheriff's Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Clyde McGee prosecuted the case.

This investigation and resulting case are part of an operation by the Drug and Organized Crime Task Forces (OCDETF). The OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF program can be found at

This case is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for all. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening the PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community organizations that help prevent violence in the first place , define targeted and strategic priorities. law enforcement priorities and measuring results.