LITTLE ROCK– 2 offenders just recently prosecuted as part of an examination into gang violence and drug trafficking appeared for bail hearings prior to a federal magistrate judge Tuesday, with one bought to report to inpatient drug rehab and the other bought to stay in jail till his case is fixed.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Joe Volpe permitted Jay Massacre, 31, of Blytheville, to leave jail Tuesday and bought him to report to the Northeast Arkansas Regional Recovery Center in Jonesboro on Dec. 28. Massacre was prosecuted Nov. 1 along with 34 other people thought to be members or partners of the street gang called “EBK,”– Every Body Killas– that is active in Pine Bluff and Little Rock. He is charged with conspiracy to disperse marijuana and use of an interactions facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking criminal activity.
Donell Lakeith Reed, 49, of Pine Bluff, was called in a 2nd indictment calling 26 people believed of drug trafficking activity linked to a competing gang called Lodi Murder Mobb in addition to the EBK indictment. Volpe bought Reed to stay in jail after figuring out that his criminal history made release too dangerous. Reed was charged in the EBK indictment with conspiracy to disperse marijuana and in the Lodi Murder Mobb indictment with conspiracy to disperse marijuana and fentanyl, ownership with intent to disperse fentanyl, ownership with intent to disperse marijuana and use of an interactions facility in furtherance of a drug trafficking criminal activity.
Massacre’s lawyer, Toney Baker Brasuell of Little Rock, argued that in spite of a number of arrests on his customer’s record, Massacre had no felony convictions. However Assistant U.S. Lawyer Amanda Fields argued that one of those arrests was for a murder in Blytheville in 2010 and another in 2017 for bring a weapon. Charges were dismissed in both cases.
FBI Unique Representative Jeff Highfill, one of the detectives, stated that numerous eyewitnesses informed Blytheville authorities they had actually seen Massacre escaping from the scene where Leon Henderson III was shot late in the night on June 15, 2010. Highfill stated it was thought the shooting belonged to gang activity in the location however the case was nolle prossed (dismissed) after authorities were not able to find an eyewitness to the shooting who police later on figured out had actually provided an incorrect name.
On another event, in March 2017, Highfill stated that Massacre was pulled over by Blytheville authorities for a stressed out license plate light however pulled into a driveway of a house and attempted to stroll into your house. Highfill stated he was discovered to have 3 failure to appear warrants, was driving on a suspended license and was in ownership of a set of brass knuckles.
Highfill stated Massacre was likewise examined for another shooting event in October 2018 and was stopped in Dec. 2018 on suspicion of driving under the impact of narcotics in which authorities discovered a Glock.45-caliber handgun in the back seat of his automobile. In addition, in February 2019, Massacre’s sweetheart reported him for striking her “various times in the face,” https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/”with both open and closed fists” while she was holding their kid, however Highfill stated there was no record of the lady following up on the report.
Highfill stated that Massacre was obstructed on a number of wiretaps that suggested his participation in the conspiracy and in gang activity.
Brasuell recommended an alternative release plan that would need Massacre to go to inpatient drug rehab to be followed by chemical-free living under the guidance of the treatment facility.
” According to the pretrial services report,” Volpe stated, “it does appear like he would gain from rehab.”
Fields argued that in spite of no criminal convictions, Massacre had a history of violence and rejection to comply with orders from police or other authorities.
” Even when he does not have to break the law he picks to,” she stated. “Like driving on a suspended license, ridiculous things like that. … I seem like his history is the very best sign of future efficiency, and I do not have much self-confidence he will comply.”
However Brasuell argued that Massacre might end up costs considerably more time behind bars waiting for trial than he would be most likely to be sentenced to if he were to be condemned.
” Let’s offer him a possibility,” Brasuell argued. “He’s looking at a five-year cap on the marijuana charge and 4 years on the phone.”
Volpe cautioned Massacre that if he were to break the terms of his release, he would likely go back to jail for a duration that might end up being numerous years.
” There’s people who would stroll on cinders or do back turns to enter rehab,” Volpe informed Massacre. “If you blow it you will not get a 2nd possibility.”
Reed’s lawyer, Jordan Tinsley of Little Rock, provided 2 options for third-party custodian for his customer; Reed’s long time buddy and barber or his sis. Both Lawrence Polk of Redfield and Yolanda Scott of Pine Bluff concurred to serve as 3rd party custodian for Reed. Both stated they understood of his arrests for marijuana, however neither knew of his arrest for fentanyl, which Scott stated she didn’t think her bro was included in.
” Now that appears off,” she stated. “That does not sound best at all.”
” You suggest you do not think your bro did it?” Fields asked.
” No,” Scott responded. “Not at all.”
Highfill affirmed that Reed was obstructed on various wiretaps associated to both indictments, that more than 250 pounds of marijuana had actually been taken from him in numerous locations and that he was believed of providing tablets including fentanyl for Anthony Rogers, the reputed leader in the Lodi Murder Mobb indictment.
Volpe stated the proof suggested that Reed, who has actually been founded guilty two times previously in federal court for marijuana trafficking, would likely continue breaking the law if permitted to stay out of jail.
” What I can’t surpass is Mr. Reed is nearly 50 … and this will be his 3rd federal case,” he stated. “These wire cases are ravaging and the proof that unfolds from them is really informing. … We have several search warrants carried out and big amounts of marijuana that are discovered. “
Concerning the tablets including fentanyl, Volpe took a tough line.
” You understand people, I understand people, people in this space understand people that have kids that have actually simply dropped dead from taking one of these,” he stated. “They believed it was an oxy, they believed it was a roxy or whatever, and they’re never ever coming back.”