Mississippi, Tennessee Sheriffs, Officers Indicted in Mexican Cartel Drug Bribery Scheme

Federal authorities have indicted 20 individuals in the Mississippi Delta region, including 14 current or former law enforcement officers and two elected sheriffs, for allegedly accepting bribes from what they believed were Mexican drug cartel members to aid drug trafficking operations. The officers, including Washington County Sheriff Milton Gaston and Humphreys County Sheriff Bruce Williams, are accused of providing armed escort services and safe passage for large quantities of cocaine and drug proceeds in exchange for bribes ranging from $20,000 to $37,000. The extensive investigation, led by the FBI Jackson Field Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Mississippi, revealed a network of corruption spanning multiple counties in Mississippi and Tennessee. The charges also include violations of federal gun laws related to the drug trafficking conspiracy. Officials emphasized the betrayal of public trust by those sworn to protect the community and pledged to hold the accused accountable. The case highlights the ongoing challenges of corruption within law enforcement and the efforts to combat drug cartel influence in the region.