In a significant development on Thursday, federal authorities revealed indictments against 20 individuals, including 14 who are current or former law enforcement officers from the Mississippi Delta. These indictments accuse the officers of accepting bribes to allow what they believed were drug traffickers to pass through safely.

The investigation, which spanned several years, covered various counties within the Mississippi Delta region, extending into Tennessee. Among those arrested were two Mississippi sheriffs: Milton Gaston of Washington County and Bruce Williams of Humphreys County.

During a news briefing, officials disclosed that some of the bribes reached amounts as high as $20,000 and $37,000.

“This represents a colossal breach of public trust,” remarked U.S. Attorney Clay Joyner.

According to the indictments, these law enforcement officers allegedly provided armed escort services on several occasions to an undercover FBI agent who was pretending to be linked to a Mexican drug cartel. The officers reportedly believed they were aiding in the transportation of 25 kilograms (about 55 pounds) of cocaine through the Mississippi Delta and into Memphis. Additionally, some officers are accused of protecting the movement of drug money.

Gaston and Williams are specifically alleged to have accepted bribes in return for endorsing these operations, as detailed in one of the indictments. The indictment further claims that Gaston tried to mask these payments as campaign contributions without properly reporting them, as required by law.

Federal officials said the investigation began when people who had been arrested complained about having to pay bribes to various individuals.

“Law enforcement is only effective when the community they protect can trust the law enforcement officers are honestly serving the community’s interests,” said Robert Eikhoff, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Jackson Field Office. “This type of corruption strikes at the heart of the community.”

Nineteen of the 20 people indicted are also charged with violating federal gun laws.

In addition to the two sheriffs, those charged include: Brandon Addison, Javery Howard, Truron Grayson, Sean Williams, Dexture Franklin, Wendell Johnson, Marcus Nolan, Aasahn Roach, Jeremy Sallis, Torio Chaz Wiseman, Pierre Lakes, Derrik Wallace, Marquivious Bankhead, Chaka Gaines, Martavis Moore, Jamario Sanford, Marvin Flowers and Dequarian Smith.

Court records show that the federal defender’s office is representing 16 of the 20 people charged, including the two sheriffs. The federal defender’s office said it does not comment on pending matters. Attempts to reach the other four at phone numbers listed for them were unsuccessful.

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said in a statement that he was disappointed to learn of the allegations.

“The law must apply equally to everyone regardless of the title or position they hold,” he wrote. “Know that if you betray the people’s trust in Mississippi, you will face consequences.”

Multiple Mississippi law enforcement agencies and sheriffs have faced federal scrutiny in recent years.

In 2024, the former Hinds County Sheriff Marshand Crisler was convicted of accepting $9,500 in bribes and knowingly providing ammunition to a convicted felon. The same year, former Noxubee County Sheriff Terry Grassaree pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI while being questioned about requesting and receiving nude photos from a female inmate.

William Brewer, a former Tallahatchie County sheriff, was sentenced to six years in prison in 2019 for extorting bribes from a drug dealer.

In 2023, six law enforcement officers pleaded guilty to state and federal charges for torturing two Black men, a case that sparked a Department of Justice investigation into the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office. A similar DOJ probe concluded last year that officers of the Lexington Police Department discriminated against Black people.

Associated Press writers Kate Brumback in Atlanta, Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu and Hannah Schoenbaum in Salt Lake City contributed to this report.