JACKSON, Miss. ( WJTV ) – Five suspects were arrested on Tuesday, July 30 after a federal indictment was filed in the Southern District of Mississippi.

The charges against the suspects stem from a multi-year federal investigation of a drug trafficking operation distributing methamphetamine, cocaine, and other illegal drugs in the Jackson area and elsewhere.

The following defendants were arrested on Tuesday:

• James Naylor, 59, of Jackson
• Donald Jordan, 49, of Jackson
• Cedrick Barber, 48, of Jackson
• Aron Brown, 53, of Madison
• Danita Wheeler, 58, of Jackson

Initial court appearances were held Wednesday morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge LaKeysha Greer Isaac in U.S. District Court in Jackson.

The indictment charges nine individuals with various drug trafficking crimes, including, but not limited, to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and conspiracy to do so.  Several defendants face mandatory minimum sentences because of the significant quantities of illegal drugs. Additionally, some defendants have been charged with firearms-related crimes.

“The Department of Justice is working hard with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to help make the Jackson area safer by conducting major investigations, like this one, that dismantle drug trafficking and violent organizations,” said U.S. Attorney Todd Gee. “Criminals in Jackson should be on notice that committing crimes as part of a large group is a one-way ticket to federal prison.”

The cases are being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, Hinds County Sheriff’s Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Jackson Police Department.

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