A four month long investigation led to the discovery of 31 suspects believed to have participated in illicit drug activity. Most of those suspects have been arrested.

Picayune Police investigators conducted much of the investigation at a local unnamed quick stop where it was suspected that pay phones were used to carry out the drug deals. Other arrests were the products of undercover work. Arrests were made between Dec. 4, 2007 to Feb. 4.

Picayune Police Department Investigators Jeremy Magri and Mike Odom, along with the rest of the Picayune Police Department’s investigative team, performed Operation Winter Storm in an effort to catch suspected drug dealers. They also worked undercover with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics to net some suspects.

One suspect is considered to be one of the larger dealers caught in the operation. Mary Flinn, 46, of 1116 York St., was taken into custody after an MBN agent allegedly purchased prescription medication from her. Investigators and agents arrested her after the alleged sale and conducted a search of the residence where they found a large amount of prescription medication and cash in a safe.

“We’ve been trying to get her for a while,” Magri said.

Flinn was charged with sale of controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school or church, Magri said.

Another undercover operation not only lead to the charge of a suspected drug dealer but caught a suspected illegal immigrant allegedly participating in identity theft. A traffic stop on an individual using the alias “Remy Berry” lead investigators to discover her true identity was Karla Edith Flores-Robles, 31, of 151 Shorty Burgess Rd. Through the investigation it was discovered that apparently Flores-Robles had acquired another person’s social security card and had been using it to receive Mississippi welfare benefits, gain employment at a local fast food chain and secure a number of credit cards. An investigation into her home also lead to the discovery of narcotics. Flores-Robles is being charged with the sale of controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a park. Magri said once she faces the narcotics charges, and any further charges that may be pressed against her, she will be deported to Mexico. According to press realize from the police department Flores-Robles was already a felony deportee and had returned to the U.S.

In a separate incident investigator Mike Odom said an operation under the newly formed Street Crimes Unit lead to the seizure of about 31 bags of marijuana some LSD and some ecstasy found at a home on Herrin Drive. According to the press release during a surveillance of 896 Herrin Dr., officers observed suspected drug transactions. When officers acted on those suspicions by securing the home and its occupants they saw a large duffel bag in plain view outside the home. In the bag officers found 31 large bags of marijuana. A consent search of the home also turned up suspected LSD and ecstasy, the press release states. According to the press release the street value of the confiscated narcotics is $4,000. Lester Robinson, 21, of 861 Herrin Dr., was charged with the possession of the 31 bags of marijuana with intent to distribute. Charges on the LSD and the ecstasy are still pending further investigation, Magri said.

Also arrested at the scene of 896 Herrin Dr. were Henry Holleman, 46, of 896 Herrin Dr., Kennis Bullock, 43, of 2116 Morris St. and Jeanette Bolden, 38, of 825 Herrin Dr. All three were charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

In another effort late last year a convicted felon was found in possession of a firearm when investigators served a search warrant on his house for suspected narcotic dealing.

Robert Jefferson 41, 1107 Rosa St., who had a prior conviction, was found in possession of an assault rifle after investigators served the search warrant on his home. During the search investigators found crack cocaine and marijuana. Jefferson was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of marijuana and possession of crack cocaine.

A number of other suspects were arrested for various other drug related charges in the operation conducted near the unnamed quick stop. The following suspects were charged with sale of controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school or church; Sabrina Varnado, 37, of 122 Elmer Jackson Rd., Carriere; Walter Jenkins, 50, of 551 Walkiah Bluff Rd.; Derrion A. Pittman, 20, of 1309 Nutter Dr.; Fernell M. Richmond Sr., 31, of 201 Forrest St., Apt. 5; Aaron Whitehead, 25, of 809 Jarrell St.; Jimmie Graves, 30, of 108 Zion Church Lane, McNeill; Roderick E. Hall, 37, of 841 Herrin Dr.; Jacob C. McMurrin, 20, of 404 Peach St., Lot 32; Douglas R. Hawkins, 35, of 1019 E. Canal St. and David Michael Mitchell, 36, of 611 Lewis Circle.

The following suspects were charged with two counts of sale of controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school or church; Tadarres A. McKee, 24, of 215 N. Green Ave.; Alphonso Thompson, 30, of 1209 Fern Dr. and William Trey Jones, 22, of 1004 Clover Circle.

Chris D. Nixon, 34, of 213 S. Abrams Ave., and Kevin M. Causey, 38, of 1400 Jackson Landing Rd., were both charged with sale of controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school or church and both had holds with MDOC. Contina Pittman, 35, of 201 Telly Rd., Apt. 101, was charged with two counts of sale of controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school or church, conspiracy to sell a controlled substance and probation violation with MDOC.

The following suspects were charged with conspiracy to sell a controlled substance; Heidi Wilkinson-Braddy, 23, of 71 Magnolia Dr.; Caleb A. Brewer, 20, of 1116 York St. and May E. Hutto, 44, of 1116 York St. Ozzy Manton, 20, of 127 Sheila Dr., was charged with the sale of controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school or church and conspiracy to sell a controlled substance.

Other suspects include Andrew Tyson, 39, of 1406 Bender St., charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute; Anthony Addison, 43, of 409 N. Beech St., charged with conspiracy to possess a controlled substance and tampering with evidence and Brainon E. Bryant, 26, of 10 Cheetah Lane Lot 10, charged with possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest by fighting and disorderly conduct.

Luke praised the efforts of the investigators and agents for working to keep drugs out of the community and out of the hands of children.

“We have zero tolerance on these individuals selling or distributing drugs in the City of Picayune,” Police Chief Jim Luke said.