Two Vardaman men were among eight arrested Tuesday afternoon in a regional drug round-up involving federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
Deanta Ewing and Terry Lynn McKinney, both of Vardaman, were among those arrested on warrants stemming from an indictment returned by the federal grand jury for the Northern District of Mississippi which charged conspiracy to possess and distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and money laundering.
United States Attorney Felicia C. Adams and Daniel Comeaux, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, Mississippi, released the names of those arrested late Tuesday.
Others included Jennifer Criddle of Houston, Robert Bailey of Ecru, Trent Montgomery of Ecru, Paul Marcus Jackson of Cedarbluff (an 8th grade teacher at Columbus Middle School), Contessa Gates of Eupora, and Christopher McKinney of Pheba. Others previously arrested for similar or related charges include: Christopher Graham of Una, Miss., Morickus Davidson of Una, George Fields of Una, and Akida Williams of Fresno, California.
Calhoun Sheriff Gregg Pollan said, "We were already working a case against two countians on the list. As we got into the investigation, federal agents got involved and we worked the case alongside them."
The case was investigated by agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. Other law enforcement agencies who provided assistance include the U. S. Marshal Service, Calhoun County Sheriff's Department, Calhoun City, Bruce and Vardaman Police Department, sheriff’s departments in Clay, Chickasaw and Webster counties, Houston and Pontotoc police departments.