2 Mississippi Delta sheriffs, 12 officers Taking Cash to Traffic Cocaine, Meth to Miami

By SyndicatedNews | SNN.BZ

Case Summary: Federal Indictments in Mississippi Drug Trafficking Bribery Scheme:

On October 30, 2025, federal authorities unsealed indictments charging 20 individuals—14 of whom are current or former law enforcement officers from the Mississippi Delta region—with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, bribery, and related offenses. The scheme allegedly involved officers accepting bribes to allow drug shipments to pass through their jurisdictions without interference, effectively providing “safe passage” to undercover informants posing as traffickers. The investigation, led by the FBI and spanning multiple counties in Mississippi and parts of Tennessee, uncovered a network that exploited law enforcement authority to facilitate narcotics trafficking over several years.

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Key details from court documents and official statements include:

• Charged Law Enforcement Officials:
  
  • Washington County Sheriff Milton Gaston (age 55, Greenville, MS) – Charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana, and bribery.
    
  • Humphreys County Sheriff Bruce Williams (age 62, Belzoni, MS) – Similar charges, including accepting bribes in cash and goods.
    
  • 12 deputies and officers from agencies in Washington, Humphreys, Sunflower, and Leflore Counties, including Deputy Marvin Flowers (Sunflower County Sheriff’s Office), who was arrested early Thursday.
    
  • Among the 20 people indicted in the conspiracy include Brandon Addison, who was employed with the Hollandale Police Department and the Humphries County Sheriff’s Office; Javery Howard, who was with the Metcalf Police Department and the Hollandale Police Department; Milton Gaston, who is the Washington County sheriff; Truron Grayson, who worked for the Humphries County Sheriff’s Office; Bruce Williams, who is the Humphries County sheriff; Sean Williams, who worked for the Yazoo City Police Department; Dexture Franklin, who worked for the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Wendell Johnson, who worked for the Bolivar County Sheriff’s Office.
    
• Non-Law Enforcement Defendants: Six additional individuals, believed to be associates or low-level traffickers, face conspiracy charges.
  
• Alleged Activities: Officers reportedly received bribes ranging from $500 to $5,000 per shipment, plus items like vehicles and electronics. Undercover operations involved simulated drug transports (using fake narcotics) where officers escorted loads or tipped off participants to avoid patrols. The scheme targeted routes along U.S. Highway 82 and Interstate 20, key corridors for Delta drug flows.
  
• Investigation Timeline: Began in 2022 as part of a broader DEA/FBI task force on Delta narcotics. Wiretaps, surveillance, and controlled buys yielded evidence, including recorded conversations where officers discussed “protecting the load.”
  
• Arrests and Current Status: All 20 were arrested Thursday morning in coordinated raids across Mississippi and Tennessee. They appeared in U.S. District Court in Oxford, MS, for initial hearings. The Federal Public Defender’s Office represents 16 defendants (including both sheriffs) and has declined comment. Bonds range from $50,000 to $250,000; most were released on conditions pending trial.
  
• Broader Context: This case echoes recent Mississippi scandals, including the 2023 “Goon Squad” convictions (six Rankin County deputies for torturing Black men) and a 2024 DOJ probe into Lexington PD racial discrimination. Governor Tate Reeves issued a statement: “The law must apply equally to everyone… If you betray the people’s trust, you will face consequences.” The arrests have prompted internal reviews in affected counties, with Sunflower County Sheriff James Haywood confirming Flowers’ suspension.

Defendant Role	County/Agency	Key Charges	Notable Details
Sheriff Milton Gaston	Washington County	Conspiracy (cocaine/marijuana), Bribery	Allegedly coordinated escorts for 15+ shipments; received $20,000+ in bribes.
Sheriff Bruce Williams	Humphreys County	Conspiracy, Bribery	Accepted bribes in exchange for disabling traffic cams; involved in 10 documented instances.
Deputy Marvin Flowers	Sunflower County	Conspiracy, Aiding/Abetting	Tipped off “traffickers” via text; arrested at home.
10 Other Deputies/Officers	Various (Washington, Humphreys, Leflore)	Bribery, Misprision of Felony	Roles included lookout duty and false reports; some former employees.
6 Associates	Multiple Counties	Conspiracy to Distribute	Low-level roles; one from Tennessee faced interstate transport charges.

Impacts include disrupted local policing (temporary staffing shortages in Delta counties) and heightened community distrust, with civil rights groups calling for DOJ oversight. Trial is set for early 2026 in the Northern District of Mississippi; maximum penalties include 20+ years per count.

Sources for this summary include unsealed indictments from the U.S. Attorney’s Office (Northern District of MS), FBI press releases, and reporting from AP, CNN, and PBS.

BREAKING NEWS: SHOCKING BETRAYAL IN THE DELTA – TWO SHERIFFS, DOZEN DEPUTIES INDICTED IN MASSIVE DRUG BRIBERY SCANDAL

JACKSON, Miss. (October 30, 2025) – In a stunning blow to public trust, federal prosecutors today unveiled a sprawling indictment exposing a corrupt underbelly within Mississippi’s law enforcement: two county sheriffs and 12 deputies accused of pocketing bribes to shield drug traffickers from justice.

The arrests, announced by U.S. Attorney Brandon Ogburn and FBI Special Agent in Charge Jermicha Fomby, ripped through the impoverished Mississippi Delta like a thunderclap. Dubbed “Operation Safe Passage” by investigators, the probe revealed how top cops in Washington and Humphreys Counties allegedly turned a blind eye – and worse, provided armed escorts – to loads of cocaine and marijuana barreling down rural highways.

“These defendants swore an oath to protect their communities,” Ogburn declared at a packed press conference outside the federal courthouse in Oxford. “Instead, they lined their pockets while poison flowed into neighborhoods already ravaged by addiction and violence.”

At the heart of the scheme: Washington County Sheriff Milton Gaston, 55, a 20-year veteran once hailed as a crime-fighter, and Humphreys County Sheriff Bruce Williams, 62, whose office oversaw one of the Delta’s most volatile stretches. Court filings paint a damning picture: undercover agents posing as cartel runners handed over envelopes stuffed with cash – up to $5,000 a pop – in exchange for “protection.” In return, officers disabled cameras, falsified logs, and even tailed fake shipments to ensure no rival busts interrupted the flow.

Wiretap transcripts, released in the indictment, capture the casual rot: One deputy jokes about “earning overtime for babysitting the brick,” slang for a kilo of coke. Another text chain shows Williams allegedly negotiating a $2,000 “consulting fee” for clearing a route near Belzoni.

The fallout was swift. Dawn raids Thursday netted all 20 defendants, including Sunflower County Deputy Marvin Flowers, caught red-handed after texting a tip to an undercover operative. Families in Greenville and Belzoni – towns where poverty hovers at 40% and opioid deaths have tripled since 2020 – reeled in disbelief. “These were the folks we called when things got bad,” said resident Latoya Jenkins, 38, whose brother died of a fentanyl-laced overdose last year. “Now we know who let it in.”

This isn’t Mississippi’s first brush with badge-wearing villains. Just two years ago, the infamous “Goon Squad” – six Rankin County deputies – drew 10-20 year sentences for torturing Black men in a home raid gone sadistic. A DOJ probe into Lexington PD wrapped last year, slamming officers for racial profiling. “It’s a pattern,” said NAACP Mississippi President Derrick Johnson. “The Delta deserves better than guardians who guard the wrong side.”

Governor Tate Reeves, flanked by state troopers, vowed zero tolerance: “No title shields you from accountability. Mississippians deserve leaders who serve, not sell out.” Immediate suspensions hit the implicated agencies, with interim chiefs tapped amid fears of retaliatory violence from exposed traffickers.

As the defendants shuffle into court – bonds as high as $250,000, public defenders scrambling – questions loom. How deep does this go? Were higher-ups tipped? And in a region where sheriffs often wield unchecked power, will this finally spark reform?

For now, the Delta holds its breath. The thin blue line just got a whole lot thinner – and a lot more crooked.

This is a developing story. Stay tuned for updates on trials, potential additional charges, and community impacts.