Meth Ring Busted: 26 Facing Federal Charges

TEXARKANA, Texas – The I-30 corridor just got a little cleaner, but it took a two-year takedown to get there. Federal and state agents today announced the culmination of “Operation M-Pact,” a massive investigation into a methamphetamine trafficking ring that pumped over 250 kilograms of the poison into Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Tennessee. Forget small-time dealers; this operation dealt in volume, and the indictment list reads like a who’s who of local hustlers and out-of-state suppliers.

The list of those facing federal charges is extensive: Calvin Avery, 41, Texarkana, TX; Darrin Betts, 34, Texarkana, TX; Robert Clark, 29, Diaz, AR; Marcus Floyd, 25, Texarkana, TX; Rodrick Grimes, 40, Coppell, TX; Keith Harris, 44, Texarkana, TX; Danny Hill, 33, Texarkana, TX; Abdul Hopkins, 40, Texarkana, TX; Sonya Hopkins, 37, Texarkana, TX; Jamaine Hunt, 40, Texarkana, TX; Johnny Hunt, 40, Dallas, TX; William Irby, 43, Wynne, AR; Ashton Jackson, 24, Texarkana, TX; Michael Jackson, 38, Texarkana, TX; Keith Jones, 32, Texarkana, TX; Lloyd Jones, 29, Texarkana, TX; Santigie (Fred) Kabia, 32, Texarkana, TX; Anthony Bryan Krebs, 34, Texarkana, TX; Jonathan Lee, 32, St. Louis, MO; Gary Lindsay, 32, Texarkana, TX; Jason Martin, 36, Texarkana, TX; Kenneth McCoy, 43, Dallas, TX; Aaron Meeks, 35, Texarkana, TX; Everett Moore, 35, Texarkana, TX; Patrick O’Guinn, 40, Ashdown, AR; Kelvin Ragland, 34, Texarkana, TX; Robert Sanders, 36, Texarkana, TX; Cornell Thomas, 42, Texarkana, TX; Roderick Thurman, 34, Texarkana, TX; Kenneth Walker, 28, Texarkana, TX; Jeremy Wilson, 26, Texarkana, TX; and Clarence Willis, 41, Texarkana, TX. These aren’t just names on a page – they’re the people flooding our communities with misery.

The operation wasn’t just about rounding up bodies. Agents seized a mountain of evidence: approximately 23 pounds of methamphetamine, over 3 pounds of cocaine, a significant quantity of marijuana, and a staggering $50,000 in cash. They also confiscated 31 vehicles (including 6 stolen), 45 firearms (with 3 stolen), over 10,000 rounds of ammunition, and seven properties valued at over $400,000. This wasn’t a side hustle; it was a fully-fledged criminal enterprise, complete with assets to protect.

The reach of this operation extended beyond Texarkana. Investigators uncovered additional arrests in the Dallas area, adding more than 16 defendants and seizing over 2 kilograms of methamphetamine. This demonstrates the wide network this group had established, moving product and money across state lines with alarming ease. The collaborative effort involved the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigation Division, Bi-State Narcotics Task Force, Texarkana Police, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Marshals, DEA, and numerous local sheriff’s offices and district attorney’s offices across Texas and Arkansas.

“Today’s announcement signals the dismantlement of a destructive criminal enterprise,” stated FBI Special Agent in Charge Diego Rodriguez. A nice soundbite, but the real work is keeping these networks from rebuilding. While this bust is a victory, the demand for methamphetamine doesn’t disappear with the arrest of a few dealers. It simply creates a vacuum for the next crew to fill.

The investigation continues, and authorities are urging anyone with information about drug trafficking to come forward. The streets of Texarkana, and beyond, may be a little quieter tonight, but Grimy Times will be watching to see who steps up to take the place of these newly-indicted traffickers. This isn’t a cure, it’s a temporary reprieve – and we’ll be here to report when the next wave hits.

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