Operation Return to Sender results in numerous arrests and law enforcement seizing more than 300 pounds of methamphetamine intended for Central Arkansas (DOJ)

LITTLE ROCK- A large-scale federal investigation into methamphetamine trafficking in Little Rock and North Little Rock that spanned two years and multiple states resulted in the arrest of 13 individuals in Operation Return to Sender on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. Twenty-three defendants accused of participating in an extensive methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy were charged in an indictment unsealed in conjunction with the arrests. Sixteen of those individuals are scheduled to appear today for plea and arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joe J. Volpe. Fourteen defendants are in custody, and two defendants remain fugitives.

Jonathan D. Ross, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas and Warner "Brooks" Benson, Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Little Rock District Office for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), announced the arrests that took place in Arkansas, California, and Texas. During Tuesday's arrest operation, law enforcement seized 120 pounds of methamphetamine, four firearms (two stolen), and approximately $35,000 in U.S. currency. Additional seizures include 186 pounds of methamphetamine seized from packages mailed from October through November 2025, and approximately six pounds of methamphetamine seized directly from defendants. In total, law enforcement involved in the operation recovered approximately 312 pounds of methamphetamine that conspiracy members are alleged to have attempted to distribute in central Arkansas.

"If you bring death to our streets, we will come to your doors to bring you to our courts to answer for your crimes," United States Attorney Ross said. "According to the Arkansas State Crime Lab, methamphetamine is the leading cause of death for Arkansans who die of a drug overdose. And so, in the era of fentanyl and other illicit opioid synthetics, investigating and disrupting methamphetamine trafficking remains essential. Because of the diligence of the DEA and their law enforcement partners on this investigation, 312 pounds of methamphetamine have been removed from the streets. We are grateful to these officers and Special Agents for their grit and resolve to find and remove this poison from our Arkansas communities."

Operation Return to Sender is a Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) investigation headed by the DEA Little Rock Field Office that began in 2024. The DEA Little Rock Field Office and HSTF partnered with numerous federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to dismantle the sophisticated drug-trafficking organization operating throughout central Arkansas and being sourced out of California that is alleged to be responsible for distributing hundreds of pounds of methamphetamine. Law enforcement used nine court-authorized wiretaps between December 2024 and November 2025 to investigate the drug-trafficking organization.

The indictment alleges that Christerious Wooten directed a drug-trafficking organization based in Little Rock and North Little Rock. The indictment further alleges that after members of the conspiracy transported United States currency from Arkansas to the greater Los Angeles, California, area to pay supplier Ronji Hill for the drug-trafficking organization's methamphetamine, Hill arranged for methamphetamine packages to be mailed via commercial shipping services to residential addresses in Pulaski County, Chicot County, and other locations in the Eastern District of Arkansas. The indictment further alleges that in October 2025, after members of the conspiracy traveled to Los Angeles to pay Hill, Hill sent eight packages totaling 186 pounds of methamphetamine to Wooten's drug-trafficking organization in Arkansas. These packages were intercepted by law enforcement in Arkansas between October 27, 2025, and November 3, 2025, before they reached their intended destinations. According to the indictment, members of the conspiracy maintained and purchased residential properties in Little Rock, North Little Rock, and Los Angeles for the purpose of distributing methamphetamine and to convert drug proceeds into legitimate property. On Tuesday, during the arrest operation, law enforcement seized an additional 120 pounds of methamphetamine from one of those properties in North Little Rock. Also at that residence, law enforcement seized three firearms, two of which were stolen, and more than $20,000 in U.S. currency. More than $15,000 and an additional firearm were seized in other locations. Previously and during the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized six pounds of methamphetamine.

"Operation Return to Sender is a testament to the unwavering commitment and collaboration of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in combating drug trafficking organizations that threaten the safety of our communities. This investigation successfully dismantled a significant methamphetamine distribution network by targeting every level of the organization from its California-based source of supply to its local distributors and the assets that fueled its criminal enterprise," Assistant Special Agent in Charge Benson said. "The DEA remains steadfast in its mission to identify, investigate, and dismantle organizations responsible for trafficking dangerous drugs into Arkansas while holding those responsible accountable under the law."

"Drug trafficking organizations exist for one reason-to generate illicit profits. Working alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, the women and men of IRS Criminal Investigation remain committed to tracing illicit proceeds and exposing the financial networks that support these organizations," said Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus, Jr. of IRS Criminal Investigation, Dallas Field Office. "Operation Return to Sender demonstrates how coordinated law enforcement efforts strengthen our ability to protect the safety of our communities."

"Arkansas State Police is committed to helping our local and federal partners make Arkansas communities safer," said Colonel Mike Hagar, Director of Arkansas State Police. "Operation Return to Sender is a natural extension of our mission, and we're proud to support it and other operations that prevent deadly, illegal drugs from entering our state and removing them before they cause additional harm to Arkansas families. The distribution and sale of illicit drugs is the driving force behind criminal activity in Arkansas cities. Fracturing the drug supply pipeline is one of the best ways to make our communities safer."

"With the support of our state, local, and federal partners, the Little Rock Police Department is committed to eradicating methamphetamine from our streets," said Interim Chief of Police Joe Miller, Little Rock Police Department. "We will relentlessly pursue those who traffic this drug and continue working to improve the quality of life for all who call Central Arkansas home."

"The North Little Rock Police Department is committed to utilizing all possible resources to protect our neighborhoods from drug traffickers and other criminal organizations," said Chief of Police Hayward Finks, North Little Rock Police Department. "Operation Return to Sender is a significant example of what can be accomplished when local, state, and federal partners work together to combat criminal activity. Special thanks to all law enforcement personnel that participated in this operation."

This operation is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Little Rock comprises agents and officers from the DEA, IRS Criminal Investigation, Arkansas State Police, Little Rock Police Department, and the North Little Rock Police Department with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas.

Those arrested and their respective charge(s) are listed below. David Ellis and Corey Lucas remain fugitives.

Conspiracy to Distribute/Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine - 500 Grams or More

Penalties: Not less than 10 years, not more than life imprisonment, a fine of not more than $10,000,000, five years to life supervised release

Allysia Brown, aka Lisa, aka Liss, 29, Alexander, Arkansas

Sergio Burgueno, 51, North Little Rock, Arkansas

Jeremie Calvin, 22, North Little Rock, Arkansas

Shandreckqualin Chatman, aka Shandra, aka Shan, 34, Little Rock, Arkansas

David Ellis, 42, Malvern, Arkansas *fugitive

Charnice Frazier, aka Dookie, 29, Fort Worth, Texas

Ronji Hill, 57, Los Angeles, California

Nicolette Jones, aka Trip, 35, North Little Rock, Arkansas

Timothy Jones, 47, Sherwood, Arkansas

Robert Raper, aka Bobby, 49, Jacksonville, Arkansas

Desmond Rowe, Jr., aka Junior, 19, North Little Rock, Arkansas

Tristen Taylor, aka Bag, 28, Little Rock, Arkansas

Grealin Thomas, aka Maine, 47, Hot Springs, Arkansas

Scott Vest, aka Scotty, 47, Little Rock, Arkansas

Santadius Wilbarger, aka G, 44, Little Rock, Arkansas

Christerious Wooten, aka CJ, 34, North Little Rock, Arkansas

Conspiracy to Distribute/Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine - 50-500 Grams

Penalties: Not less than 5 years, not more than 40 years' imprisonment, a fine of not more than $5,000,000, four years to life supervised release

Christopher Chambers, 35, Morrilton, Arkansas

Clay Glasco, 46, Lonoke, Arkansas

Jacki Hogue, aka Jacki Wylie, 41, Redfield, Arkansas

Otis Kelly, 44, Greenbrier, Arkansas

Daniella Pruitt, 40, Morrilton, Arkansas

Conspiracy to Distribute/Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine - Less Than 50 Grams

Penalties: Not more than 20 years' imprisonment, a fine of not more than $1,000,000, three years to life supervised release

Alexander Cruz, 54, North Little Rock, Arkansas

Corey Lucas, 48, Little Rock, Arkansas *fugitive

Distribution of Methamphetamine - 50 Grams or More

Penalties: Not less than 5 years, not more than 40 years' imprisonment, a fine of not more than $5,000,000, four years to life supervised release

Sergio Burgueno, 51, North Little Rock, Arkansas

Jeremie Calvin, 22, North Little Rock, Arkansas

Desmond Rowe, Jr., aka Junior, 19, North Little Rock, Arkansas

Christerious Wooten, aka CJ, 34, North Little Rock, Arkansas

Santadius Wilbarger, aka G, 44, Little Rock, Arkansas

Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine - 50 Grams or More

Penalties: Not less than 5 years, not more than 40 years' imprisonment, a fine of not more than $5,000,000, four years to life supervised release

Christopher Chambers, 35, Morrilton, Arkansas

David Ellis, 42, Malvern, Arkansas *fugitive

Daniella Pruitt, 40, Morrilton, Arkansas

Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine - Less Than 50 Grams

Penalties: Not more than 20 years' imprisonment, a fine of not more than $1,000,000, three years to life supervised release

Alexander Cruz, 54, North Little Rock, Arkansas

Corey Lucas, 48, Little Rock, Arkansas *fugitive

Scott Vest, aka Scotty, 47, Little Rock, Arkansas

Attempt to Distribute Methamphetamine - 500 Grams or More

Penalties: Not less than 10 years, not more than life imprisonment, a fine of not more than $10,000,000, five years to life supervised release

Ronji Hill, 57, Los Angeles, California

Attempt to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine - 500 Grams or More

Penalties: Not less than 10 years, not more than life imprisonment, a fine of not more than $10,000,000, five years to life supervised release

Christerious Wooten, aka CJ, 34, North Little Rock, Arkansas

Maintaining a Drug-Involved Premises

Penalties: Not more than 20 years' imprisonment, a fine of not more than $500,000, not more than three years supervised release

Sergio Burgueno, 51, North Little Rock, Arkansas

Christerious Wooten, aka CJ, 34, North Little Rock, Arkansas

Santadius Wilbarger, aka G, 44, Little Rock, Arkansas

Law enforcement partners who worked with the DEA Little Rock District Office and Homeland Security Task Force program, were:

IRS Criminal Investigation, Little Rock POD/Dallas Field Office,

Arkansas State Police,

Little Rock Police Department, and,

North Little Rock Police Department.

Assisting law enforcement agencies include:

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives,

Federal Bureau of Investigation,

Homeland Security Investigations,

U.S. Marshals Service,

Arkansas National Guard Counterdrug Task Force,

Arkansas Highway Police,

Pulaski County Sheriff's Office,

Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force,

Benton Police Department,

Hot Springs Police Department,

Malvern Police Department,

Sherwood Police Department, and,

Los Angeles, California, Police Department

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Julie Peters.

An Indictment contains only allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

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