Indictment served in meth trafficking case
Published 7:00 am Wednesday, September 21, 2016
A man suspected of trafficking methamphetamine in Pearl River County has been indicted by the U.S. District Court in Gulfport and is currently being detained by the U.S. Marshals Service.
Phillip Tyrone Farmer, 30, was arrested by the Picayune Police Department on Sept. 3, 2015 after a traffic stop, previous coverage states.
According to previous coverage, arresting officers searched the vehicle after smelling what was believed to be marijuana and found a large plastic bag containing a crystallized substance believed to be crystal methamphetamine, $3,285 in cash, a .45 caliber pistol and a large brown bag containing two plastic bags filled with a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana, a large plastic bag containing what was believed to be crystal methamphetamine, a set of digital scales and two prescription bottles containing a liquid believed to be codeine.
Farmer was arrested on two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute while in possession of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, possession of paraphernalia, driving with a suspended license and carless driving, according to previous coverage.
Court records show Farmer was indicted by a grand jury on Aug. 23, 2016 for conspiracy to possess, with intent to distribute, 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and two counts of aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
Deputy Clerk Wendy Duggan, from the U.S. District Court in Gulfport, said the indictment was executed on Aug. 31 in Gulfport, and Farmer was remanded to the custody of U.S. Marshals on Sept. 7 without bond.
Federal trafficking penalties dictate that anyone convicted of possession of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine will serve 10 years to life.
Farmer is scheduled to have a pre-trial hearing on Oct. 25, with a trial tentatively scheduled to begin Nov. 7, Duggan said.