The U.S. Attorney's office filed a criminal complaint against JPD officer Bryan Jones for extortion yesterday. An FBI Special Agent spelled out the details of this alleged goon with a badge in an affidavit filed with the complaint. The agent alleged:
Individuals (From the Washington Addition area) reported that Jones was known in the community to be a corrupt officer, associated with certain drug dealers in the Jackson area. When dealing with the drug community, Jones would use the alias "Red."
Jones directly assisted these drug dealers with their drug trafficking enterprise and collected fees in exchange for law enforcement protection. Jones also gave these drug dealers concerning police intelligence, specifically which officers may be assigned to patrol a specific area at a specific time, or the identity of specific officers assigned to law enforcement task forces in the Jackson area. Jones also assisted these drug dealers by conducting illegal traffic stops, searches, and seizures on competitors or rival drug dealers. Jones conducted illegal traffic stops in his police uniform, using his marked JPD vehicle, and carrying his JPD service weapon. Sources have stated that Jones would steal any money and/or drugs in the rival dealer's possession and would give his associates the illegally seized contraband, keeping the illegally seized money.
To further aid the drug trafficking enterprises, Jones would also use his authority as a Jackson Police Officer to conduct NCIC checks on vehicle plates and guns which may have been stolen. Reports of illegal stops, searches and seizures, and other nefarious practices propmpted the following investigation by the FBI Jackson division.
The FBI apparently conducted a little sting on young Captain McCluskey. An undercover employee and an FBI agent set him up by telling himm a "fictitious associate was coming to Jackson to buy $5,000 in drugs." Jones played along. The team gave him the location of the car and other information. Jones showed up in his JPD cruiser with his blue lights flashing away. He searched the vehicle and took $5,500 in cash. Jones kept $4,000 and gave the remainder to the undercover employee. The money was never submitted or recorded as evidence.
The FBI conducted the same operation with another undercover employee. Jones took the bait and this time took $5,000 from the phony drug buyer. Rinse, Repeat, Rinse. Jones was more genersous this time around as he gave $2,500 to the undercover employee.
U.S. Attorney Greg Davis's office stated in a press release:
United States Attorney Gregory K. Davis praised the efforts of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and would like to thank Chief Lee Vance and the Jackson Police Department for their assistance in this matter.
Jones will appear in federal court for an initial appearance today at 2:00 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Linda R. Anderson. The offense charged in the complaint carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, and up to a $250,000 fine.
This case will be prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mary Helen Wall and Erin Chalk
28 comments:
With so much corruption in J.P.D. only 1 was arrested?
This sort of thing has been going on in Jackson, for DECADES. More than anything else, the sanctioning of the drug trade by those in authority, is the reason why so many of us finally gave up and left Jackson.
But you Jackson lovin fools are always on here screaming about how great JPD is. Like the City, JPD is full of incompetent, uneducated thugs.
#TheyAREJackson
I have lived here since the late 90's and never heard of a major Drug dealer busted. Every area of Jackson has a main dealer. They are all known to their community. No one complains and nothing gets done about it. Notice not even the news media brings this up ever. It's easy to conclude why none of the major players have been arrested as evident of the latest arrest.
Frank Melton.
Love the Godfather reference...
Ten years ago, Starsky Darnell Redd,a black businessman and rapper, was successfully prosecuted for drag trafficking and money laundering. He was a big time dealer and a partner to the airport security chief, Billy Tucker, was also got time. Now the big corporate players who also used the very same airport connection like WorldCom and Halter Marine escaped. You are correct that white businessmen got off. I suspect that corruption goes deep into the social fabric of this town. The Sanders and Spencer business families (Poets Restaurant) were named in earlier federal investigations.
In the middle of several posts, Kingfish posts the name 'Frank Melton'. Was that post in reference to some other comment or does it have some sort of importance in this investigation. Just wondering.
Get your own blog in 3...2...1...
Why does the Federal Govt. (FBI) always have to ferret these bad apples out?
1.)Doesn't JPD have an internal investigation department?
2.)Doesn't the state attorney general have a corruption department?
You never, never every hear of a bust like this by them.
Catch up @1:59 PM. Use the search engine.
1:59 The first year Melton was Mayor the city of Jackson reported ZERO arrests for drug dealing. Even the JFP noticed the connection.
However involved Melton may have been then, we have had three mayors since then. Unless Frank has powers beyond the grave it's a little late to blame him for today's sorry situation.
The people that are going to do it are going to do it.
Legalize it. Tax it.
As Melton's term in office continued, there were some arrests. Those of his competitors. Red probably learned at the knee of Frank (no, not a reference to a lot of the 'teaching' that Frank gave to other 'young men' slightly above his knees) how to rip off the competitors while protecting your own.
Melton's drug fighting (billboards, TV commentary) was aimed at getting rid of half of the city's drug culture. Now that he's no longer with us, guess Red decided to continue the business.
WLBT is reporting a $10k bond.... What crook set that? And how do we get them off the bench
How can this be, kingfish? Just yesterday you were on here telling us that JPD isn't the problem. You honestly believe the other officers were unaware of this? This behavior is rampant at JPD.
Fine, arrest him, and arrest the dealers he was working with. They will only be replaced by others. As long as drugs are illegal, nothing will change. The same thing happened during alcohol prohibition. It's time to legalize it and get rid of this corruption once and for all.
Hey drughead at 4:11 -- Legalizing drugs will not make a crooked cop honest. This douchbag would just start selling his badge for other protections.
I'm with 3:20 - a $10k bond for someone that misuses his official office this way? Hell, put in him the prison with his buddies and don't let him out on bond at all. Might as well get used to being the favorite con on the block. While you are at it, put the judge that gave him a $10k get-out-of-jail card in the cell with him.
There's more experts on here than turds in the world's largest punchbowl.
Not sure what judge, but this was in Federal Court.
What a joke! All he had to do was hand over $100. I paid more for an expired Tag! Loved the TV interview with the innocent purple hair lady who was surprised by his arrest. She acted so very innocent and surprised. Every resident in that area knew exactly what was happening.
Just because he was indicted federally doesn't mean JPD or the Attorney General knew nothing about it. It is likely that complaints were made to JPD. It is common however for local police agencies to ask the Feds to initiate an investigation after several complaints are made. It is also common for joint task forces made up of local, state and federal officers to be involved in an investigation and the Feds lead prosecution if its hard to get a conviction in a certain county. Im not sure if the Attorney General's Office would have known anything since members of the community are more likely to come into contact with local officers and the AG doesn't have patrolling officers that speak daily with members of the community.
What a relief! Up until this point, I thought crooked cops were everywhere, but the first three (genius) posters on this thread reveal that it's only in Jackson. How great it is that I can escape police corruption by something as simple as moving to New Jersey. Thanks guys!
By the way, I'm sure your (first three commenters') town has crooked cops as well. They just haven't been caught yet.
@5:57; You're 'sure', are ya? HOW sure? This site has its share of people like you who will always jump up and down and claim 'No big deal. It happens everywhere. Crime in Jacktown is the same as everywhere else. Every street in every town has crime. Every town has crooked cops and bad schools and shit drive-thrus'.
I'm 'sure' too. 'Sure' you're wrong.
#JacksonIsLOST
Crime, like an insidious disease, thrives on a host that has either given up or one that couldn't compete to begin with.
Melton was Jackson's biggest dealer, plain and simple. He preached against drug dealers while he in fact was the biggest one, great cover. The devil's best lie is that he doesn't exist.
For anyone talking about billy tucker who was chief of security at the jackson airport being involved with the kingpin starsky darnell redd back in 2000 get your shit straight before talking about my uncle billy tucker yall dont know jack shit
Post a Comment