Three federal investigations focusing on Arkansas’ drug and firearm pipeline came to a halt on Wednesday morning. 80 indictments were unsealed, and 45 arrests were made. This included Bankroll Freddie (real name Freddie Gladney III).
The federal firearms and drug trafficking offenses were both brought against the 80 suspects.
Two of the three investigations were by the FBI. They focused on rival gangs.
One FBI investigation was focused on Every Body Killas or EBK gang and resulted with 35 indictments. The other FBI investigation was focused on Loady Murder Mobb Gang which resulted a total of 26 indictments.
TWO MALE MEN BUSTED FOR ATTENDING TO SELL FENTANYL IN BOSTON VA SUBSTANCES ABUSE PROGRAM
Rapper Bankroll Freddie is at the 1st Party Of The Year at Gold Room in Atlanta on January 1, 2022. (Prince Williams/Wireimage)
According to a press release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District Arkansas, three other defendants were indicted in separate indictments.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (or DEA) led the third investigation. It began in August 2021, after North Little Rock Police Department and the agency identified street-level methamphetamine dealers and fentanyl sellers in central Arkansas who were connected with the same supply source as rival gangs.
According to a press release, the DEA investigation revealed that drugs were sent from California to Arkansas in shipments that contained thousands of pressed fentanyl tablets and kilograms of methamphetamine. The drugs were then distributed in Little Rock, Pine Bluff, Arkansas and Houston, Texas.
The DEA investigation led to the indictment of 18 individuals.
GEORGIA MAN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY STEALING $50K FROM ELDERLY WOMAN, POSSESSION OF GUNS AND MARIJUANA
Rapper Bankroll Freddie attends his Birthday Party, Onyx Nightclub, April 7, 2021 in Atlanta. (Prince Williams/Wireimage)
Gladney was named as a defendant in an indictment. This was due to the FBI focusing their attention on the EBK gang, along with his father Freddie Gladney, Jr.
According to the indictment Freddie Gladney III and 34 others allegedly knowingly and deliberately distributed and possessed cocaine crack-cocaine methamphetamine and methamphetamine.
Gladney, his father, were indicted on charges of possessing between 500 and 5 kilograms cocaine, between 28 to 280 grams crack-cocaine and between 100 and 1,000 kilograms marijuana.
Gladney is accused of selling marijuana and possessing firearms such as 9mm handguns (am15 multi-caliber rifle), 5.56 NATO rifle and SKS rifle.
In addition to being accused of purchasing these guns from a licensed firearms dealer, making false statements during the purchase, possessing one or two machine guns, and possessing multiple guns without serial numbers among other things, he is also charged in the indictment.
HOUSTON RAPER ‘THE BREADMAN’ GETS 23 YEARS FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Bankroll Freddie, a rapper, attends his birthday party at Onyx Nightclub in Atlanta on April 7, 2021. (Prince Williams/Wireimage)
After Pine Bluff Police Detective Kevin Collins was killed in an attack on an EBK member in Georgia, the investigation into rival gangs and their involvement with the Arkansas drug and firearms pipeline gained momentum in October 2020.
According to the press release, Collins was providing intelligence for the FBI regarding the criminal activities of the gangs as well as surveillance, interviews, and arrests of those involved with criminal activity in Pine Bluff.
The FBI used 12 wiretaps between March 2021 to June 2022 to obtain real-time information. This allowed them to intervene in order to stop violence in Pine Bluff, Little Rock, and other areas of the state.
The release stated that law enforcement had discovered that the gangs were financing their violence primarily through the sale and distribution of large amounts of high-grade marijuana. “The investigation revealed drug trafficking between Arkansas, Texas, Texas, California and Arizona, Georgia and Mississippi, Tennessee, and Oklahoma.”
Eight of the 80 defendants indicted Wednesday were already in custody when the roundup began.
NORTH CAROLINA MAN SENTED TO 40 YEARS FOR RUNNING DRUG TRAFFICKING OPTION OUT OF DAYCARE
A seal from the FBI is seen on a wall in Omaha, Nebraska, on Aug. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
On Wednesday morning, four firearms were also confiscated by authorities, including an AR-style pistol and 2 ounces cocaine. Also, crack-cocaine was found in 1 ounce. $30,000 was also found.
As of Wednesday morning, 27 fugitives were not yet in custody. Those who were arrested were due to appear before U.S. Magistrate Joe for arraignment. J. Volpe later.
Click Here To Get FOX NEWS App
The FBI was assisted by the Arkansas State Police, Arkansas Department of Community Corrections and Little Rock Police Department.
The DEA Little Rock Office was supported by the DEA Riverside office in California, United States Postal Inspection Service and North Little Rock Police Department. Sherwood Police Department and Benton Police Department also assisted.
