U.S. Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation

FBI * 100 W. Capitol Street, Suite 1553 * Jackson, Mississippi 39269 * www.fbi.gov

For Immediate Release
August 8, 2007

ALLEGED DRUG TRAFFICKERS ARRESTED

On August 7, 2007, Michael T. Wallace, aka "TT", age 29, of Gautier, Mississippi, was arrested in Gautier, Mississippi. Wallace was arrested for Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine, pursuant to a federal warrant issued in United States District Court, Southern District of Mississippi.

On August 8, 2007, Loran David Gladney, age 22, of St. Martin, Mississippi, was taken into federal custody at the Adult Detention Center in Pascagoula , Mississippi, where he was being housed on a separate charge. Michael Allen Gladney, age 19, of St. Martin, Mississippi, was arrested on August 8, 2007, in Vancleave, Mississippi. The Gladneys were arrested for Conspiracy and Possession With Intent to Distribute Cocaine, pursuant to a federal warrant issued in United States District Court, Southern District of Mississippi.

These arrests are the result of separate joint investigations conducted by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force and the Narcotics Task Force of Jackson County. The arrests involved two separate large scale drug trafficking organizations operating along the Gulf Coast.

If convicted of the Possession With Intent to Distribute charges, the arrestees could face a penalty of up to 40 years in a federal prison and $4,000,000.00 in fines.

The arrestees are scheduled for an initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge Robert Walker, United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Gulfport, Mississippi, on August 8, 2007, at 2:00 p.m.

Frederick T. Brink, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Mississippi, praised the officers and agents of the law enforcement agencies which cooperated in the investigation and arrest of Wallace and the Gladneys. "Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force of Pascagoula, Mississippi, contributed to and participated in the successful investigation and apprehension of the Gladneys and Wallace, alleged drug traffickers."

The FBI Safe Streets Task Force is a Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) initiative and receives funding from the Office of National Drug Control Policy in Washington, D.C. It is made up of Special Agents from the FBI and law enforcement officers from the Pascagoula, Moss Point, Gautier, and Ocean Springs Police Departments, the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.

Brink stressed that an arrest is an accusation only and there is a presumption of innocence prior to any judicial proceeding.