According to Sheriff Kenny Dickerson, one of the largest takedowns of crystal methamphetamine distribution in Marshall County occurred on Wednesday, yielding substantial amounts of drugs, cash, and equipment.
He said four men were detained in Marshall County as part of the sting operation on May 4.
He stated that thousands of dollars of cash were taken during the raid, which followed a two-year investigation.
Four people were charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with the intent to distribute crystal methamphetamine and cocaine, he stated. Over four pounds of crystal methamphetamine, two pounds of cocaine, and two pounds of marijuana were seized, as well as a big stockpile of shotguns and over $72,000 in cash, during the operation. He also retrieved a Harley Davidson motorcycle, vehicles, and a number of late-model zero-turn John Deere lawnmowers, four-wheelers, and pickup trucks, one of which was worth $90,000.
Dickerson believes that a major percentage of the seized equipment was purchased with revenues from drug operations.
Forty firearms, including handguns and mostly pricey Browning and Remington shotguns, were recovered, some from a safe at one of the subjects’ homes.
The serial numbers of all firearms were checked with the NCIC (National Crime Information Center) to see whether any had been stolen. We will return any discovered stolen firearms to their rightful owners.
The sheriff’s department targeted these four people as major methamphetamine distributors, Dickerson said.
“We targeted these four individuals as well as others about two years ago in an effort to try to prevent this illegal drug activity from going on in our county,” the sheriff said. “This investigation has been ongoing for about two years and continues. The arrest of several other individuals connected to this operation are expected soon.”
Circuit Judge Gray Tollison executed the arrest and search warrants for four individuals on Tuesday, according to Dickerson.
Those arrested included the following:
• Gregory Eugene Guy, 37, of the 2200 block of Rabbit Ridge Road in Byhalia. Guy was charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, namely the possession of an illegal controlled substance with intent to distribute (crystal methamphetamine) in the Marshall County, Miss., area. Guy was ordered held without bond by judge Tollison.
• Tavoris M. Tunstall, 40, of the booking address 140 block of French Road, Victoria/Byhalia, and the 200 block of Deer Lane in Marshall County area, the actual residence. He also faced the same charge and is being held without bond.
• Felix Richmond Jr., 45, of the 1500 block of French Road, Byhalia, facing the same charge. Bond was set at $500,000.
• Melvin B. Sykes, 53, of the 1700 block of Cayce Road, Byhalia, facing the same charge. Bond was set at $500,000.
The suspects can request a preliminary hearing, or the court can schedule one within three weeks of the initial appearance, which will take place Friday, June 6, at 11 a.m. at the Marshall County Courthouse.
According to Dickerson, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department received assistance in apprehending these four suspects from the United States Marshal Service, Gulf Coast Fugitive Task Force, and DeSoto County SWAT squad.