Ellington

JACKSON — The FBI just released this statement following up their earlier announcement of five federal drug indictments. The indictments include at least two members of what some have called the "Grayhead gang": Terrence Womack and now Aundra Mason, whose nickname is Grayhead. Here is the follow-up statement, verbatim:

Jackson, Miss. - On Wednesday, August 1, 2012, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force (FBI) arrested five (5) individuals as the culmination of a multi-agency narcotics investigation. The Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, and Louisiana Air National Guard assisted in the arrests.

The FBI is requesting the public’s assistance in locating two (2) individuals who remain at large following Wednesday's round-up:

Aundra Mason, age 35, Jackson, MS (aka "Gray Head"); and

Julian Michael (“Mike”) Thompson, age 31, Jackson, MS.

“If anyone has information concerning the location of these individuals, we are asking them to contact the FBI, at 601/948-5000, or their local police or sheriff’s office,” stated Daniel McMullen, Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the FBI in Mississippi.

The U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (MBN), Jackson Police Department (JPD), Canton Police Department (CPD), and Pearl Police Department (PPD) participated with the FBI in this multi-state, multi-jurisdictional narcotics investigation, known as “Operation Paperchase.”

As the result of this investigation, five (5) subjects, including fugitive Julian Michael Thompson, were indicted in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. Three (3) subjects, Columbus Bentley, age 43, of Durant, MS, Sederick Ledbetter, age 42, of Jackson, MS, and fugitive Aundra Mason, were indicted in Texas federal court, in coordination with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas. All three are charged with conspiracy with intent to distribute cocaine and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. Columbus Bentley was arrested on Wednesday in Memphis, TN, by FBI Special Agents, and Sederick Ledbetter is also in custody.

SAC McMullen stated: "The FBI is committed to working with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to address threats to our local communities. The investigation and disruption of groups which sustain and enrich themselves through drug trafficking is a responsibility we take very seriously.”

The public is reminded that indictments and arrest warrants contain only charges and are not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial, at which the government has, at which the government has the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Also see: "What's In a Gang?"