Summer Long STING Operation in Lowndes County Leads to Eleven Arrested

A summer long undercover investigation conducted by Lowndes County STING (Special Tactics Investigative Narcotics Group), the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, and the Drug Enforcement Administration led to multiple arrests with more expected to follow.

According to a press release from Lowndes County Sheriff's Office, the investigation was opened in response to many complaints received from Lowndes County and Columbus citizens about drug sales and trafficking.

Months long STING operation leads to multiple Lowndes County arrests.Photo byLowndes County Sheriff's Department

The investigation garnered the investigative team enough evidence to obtain arrest warrants related to sale, trafficking, and possession of illegal narcotics. Some of the suspects who received charges were already in police custody because of other charges, and were served with arrest warrants in custody. Others were served with warrants at their homes or place of work. Two were arrested and taken into custody on new charges that were unrelated to the undercover investigation.

Mississippi Department of Corrections, Mississippi Highway Patrol, and the Mississippi Alcohol and Beverage Control assisted in the arrest operations that took place.

The citizens arrested today were Jeremy Rynell Brewer, charged with conspiracy to sell a controlled substance; Jamorrow Edmonds-Robertson, charged with two counts of sale of marijuana; Travis McCoy, charged with conspiracy to sell a controlled substance; James Patman, charged with sale of methamphetamine; Andrew Robertson, charged with sale of methamphetamine; Zachary Shull, charged with possession of marijuana; Bobby Douglas Williams, charged with possession of methamphetamine; Brandon Lewis Hurley, charged with possession of a weapon by a felon; Mark Shanklin, charged with possession of cocaine; Cory McGee, charged with possession of methamphetamine; and Charles Ray Kornegay, charged with possession of cocaine.

Sheriff Eddie Hawkins said, "When we receive tips about drugs in our community, we take it very seriously. We encourage citizens to report this type of activity. Hopefully together we can stop this type of criminal conduct in Lowndes County and make our community a safer place for everyone."

As more arrests are made, more information will be released on the STING operation.