Picayune man accused of trafficking five kilos of cocaine, distributing methamphetamine with four accomplices in Pearl River County
Published 7:00 am Friday, June 23, 2017
Dennis Smith
Paul Simmons, Jr.
Patrick Johns
Timothy Jackson
Antonio Irwin
Five men, all from Picayune, were arraigned Monday on a 16-count indictment from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi Southern Division.
One man, Patrick “Puppy” Johns, 45, was accused of trafficking more than five kilos of cocaine and distributing 50 grams or more of crystal methamphetamine in Pearl River County, a federal indictment states.
Antonio Irwin, 28; Timothy Jackson, 41; and Dennis Smith, 48 were also indicted for distributing 50 grams or more of crystal methamphetamine, while Paul “Soulja P” Simmons Jr., 32, was indicted for distributing five grams of crystal methamphetamine, according to the federal indictment.
All suspects were arrested June 13, and arraigned Monday. If convicted, each suspect faces 10 years to life in prison. Each was denied bond. Every suspect is set for trial starting July 17 where they will face a conspiracy charge involving the distribution of cocaine and methamphetamine over a three-year span, the U.S. District Court indictment release states.
Johns faces individual charges as the only one accused of distributing cocaine. He also faces two counts of cocaine and methamphetamine distribution.
Irwin is charged with five counts of meth distribution. Simmons is also charged with four counts of methamphetamine distribution, while co-defendants Jackson and Smith are charged with one count each of the drug violation, the federal indictment states.
These arrests are the result of a two-year investigation in conjunction with the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department, Picayune Police Department, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Drug Enforcement Agency and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, MBN Director John Dowdy said in a release.
Each suspect has been arrested by the Picayune Police Department for drug violations in the past and believed to be part of a drug-trafficking organization with gang affiliations, according to previous Item coverage.
