|
Federal indictments filed in October allege 14 current or former
Mississippi law enforcement officers took bribes from an FBI
agent posing as a member of a Mexican drug cartel in exchange
for helping to transport 25 kilograms (55 pounds) of cocaine
through Mississippi Delta counties and into Memphis.
Six other people three in Mississippi and three in Tennessee
were also charged.
The indictments included officers from multiple law enforcement
agencies in the Mississippi Delta, which includes the western
portion of central and north Mississippi.
Chaka Gaines, who was a police officer at the Greenville Police
Department, was found not guilty by a jury on Wednesday.
Gaines had been charged with aiding and abetting the possession,
transportation and distribution of illegal narcotics and using a
firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime. During Gaines'
trial, a judge dismissed the gun charge for insufficient
evidence.
This verdict reflects a fundamental principle that the
government must prove that a crime occurred; it cannot create
one," said lawyer Bridgette Morgan, who represented Gaines.
The Greenville Police Department did not immediately respond to
The Associated Press' questions about Gaines' employment status.
Martavis Moore, Jamario Sanford, Marvin Flowers, Dequarian
Smith, Brandon Addison and Javery Howard who were employed as
law enforcement officers at the time of the alleged crimes
have since accepted plea deals. They pleaded guilty to
conspiracy to aid and abet the possession, transportation and
distribution of illegal narcotics. Sean Williams, who was also a
law enforcement officer at the time, has filed a notice of his
intent to change his plea.
The remaining law enforcement officers, including Washington
County Sheriff Milton Gaston and Humphrey's County Sheriff Bruce
Williams, and six others indicted alongside them are scheduled
to face trial this summer.
All contents © copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights
reserved |
|
