RANKIN COUNTY, Miss. (WJTV) – Multiple law enforcement agencies in the Jackson metro area conducted a drug bust operation on Thursday, February 1.
Rankin County Sheriff Bryan Bailey said the bust happened at a home on Carol Avenue in Florence. Investigators believe the drug operation may be connected to overdoses in fentanyl-related deaths in Rankin County.
Two months ago, officers from different agencies in the metro worked together to develop names of suspected drug dealers. The result of the operation resulted in the arrests of five adults and six juveniles.
The following suspects have been identified:
- Pedro Garcia, 18. Charged with one count of sale of fentanyl
- Jose Resendiz, 30. Charged with one count of selling cocaine within 1,500 feet of a park and one count of conspiracy to sell cocaine within 1,500 feet of a park. He is a registered sex offender.
- Richard Bryant, 51. Charged with three counts of selling methamphetamine and one count of conspiracy to sell methamphetamine
- William Vinzant, 50. Charged with one count of selling methamphetamine, one count of conspiracy to sell methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and methamphetamine and drug trafficking of ecstasy.
- Vincent Edwards, Jr., 34. Charged with two counts of conspiracy to sell cocaine within 1,500 feet of a park.
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Pedro Garcia (Courtesy: Rankin Co. Sheriff’s Office) -
Jose Resendiz (Courtesy: Rankin Co. Sheriff’s Office) -
Richard Bryant (Courtesy: Rankin Co. Sheriff’s Office) -
William Vinzant (Courtesy: Rankin Co. Sheriff’s Office) -
Vincent Edwards, Jr. (Courtesy: Rankin Co. Sheriff’s Office) -
Multiple law enforcement agencies in the Jackson metro area conducted a drug bust operation on Thursday, February 1. (Courtesy: Rankin Co. Sheriff’s Office) -
Multiple law enforcement agencies in the Jackson metro area conducted a drug bust operation on Thursday, February 1. (Courtesy: Rankin Co. Sheriff’s Office)
Bailey said the search warrant of Edwards’ home in Hinds County resulted in the discovery of a felony amount of narcotics. He said authorities also recovered a stolen 12 gauge shotgun that was stolen during a house burglary in September 2019 in Rankin County. Edwards was charged and arrested in Hinds County.
The investigation is ongoing, and additional arrests are expected.