LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Federal authorities have charged 23 people in connection with a methamphetamine trafficking operation that funneled hundreds of pounds of the drug from Southern California into central Arkansas, capping a two-year investigation that relied on nine court-authorized wiretaps.
Thirteen people were arrested Tuesday, July 14, in a coordinated sweep dubbed “Operation Return to Sender,” with arrests spanning Arkansas, California, and Texas, U.S. Attorney Jonathan D. Ross announced alongside DEA Little Rock officials. Fourteen defendants are now in custody. Two men — David Ellis, 42, of Malvern, and Corey Lucas, 48, of Little Rock — remain fugitives.
In all, investigators say they recovered approximately 312 pounds of methamphetamine tied to the organization, including 120 pounds seized Tuesday from a North Little Rock residence, 186 pounds intercepted from mailed packages in late 2025, and roughly six pounds seized over the course of the investigation. Agents also recovered four firearms — two of them stolen — and about $35,000 in cash.
“If you bring death to our streets, we will come to your doors to bring you to our courts to answer for your crimes,” Ross said, noting that the Arkansas State Crime Lab identifies methamphetamine as the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in the state.
How the operation allegedly worked
According to the indictment, Christerious “CJ” Wooten, 34, of North Little Rock, directed a drug-trafficking organization based in Little Rock and North Little Rock. Members allegedly drove cash from Arkansas to the Los Angeles area to pay supplier Ronji Hill, 57, who then arranged for methamphetamine to be shipped via commercial carriers to residential addresses in Pulaski County, Chicot County, and elsewhere in the Eastern District of Arkansas.
In October 2025, prosecutors allege, Hill sent eight packages containing 186 pounds of methamphetamine to Wooten’s organization after conspiracy members traveled to Los Angeles to pay him. Law enforcement intercepted all eight packages between Oct. 27 and Nov. 3, 2025, before they reached their destinations — the seizure that gave the operation its name.
The indictment also alleges the organization bought and maintained homes in Little Rock, North Little Rock, and Los Angeles to distribute methamphetamine and launder drug proceeds into real estate. Tuesday’s raid on one of those North Little Rock properties turned up 120 pounds of methamphetamine, three firearms, and more than $20,000 in cash.
The investigation, which began in 2024, was led by the DEA Little Rock Field Office under the Homeland Security Task Force, with IRS Criminal Investigation, Arkansas State Police, and the Little Rock and North Little Rock police departments as core partners. Assisting agencies included the FBI, ATF, HSI, U.S. Marshals, Arkansas Highway Police, the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, the Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force, and police departments in Benton, Hot Springs, Malvern, Sherwood, and Los Angeles.
Sixteen defendants were scheduled to appear Thursday for plea and arraignment before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joe J. Volpe. Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Peters is prosecuting the case.
The defendants
Conspiracy to distribute/possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine — 500 grams or more (10 years to life in prison):
- Allysia Brown, aka “Lisa”/”Liss,” 29, Alexander
- Sergio Burgueno, 51, North Little Rock
- Jeremie Calvin, 22, North Little Rock
- Shandreckqualin Chatman, aka “Shandra”/”Shan,” 34, Little Rock
- David Ellis, 42, Malvern — fugitive
- Charnice Frazier, aka “Dookie,” 29, Fort Worth, Texas
- Ronji Hill, 57, Los Angeles
- Nicolette Jones, aka “Trip,” 35, North Little Rock
- Timothy Jones, 47, Sherwood
- Robert Raper, aka “Bobby,” 49, Jacksonville
- Desmond Rowe Jr., aka “Junior,” 19, North Little Rock
- Tristen Taylor, aka “Bag,” 28, Little Rock
- Grealin Thomas, aka “Maine,” 47, Hot Springs
- Scott Vest, aka “Scotty,” 47, Little Rock
- Santadius Wilbarger, aka “G,” 44, Little Rock
- Christerious Wooten, aka “CJ,” 34, North Little Rock
Conspiracy — 50 to 500 grams (5 to 40 years):
- Christopher Chambers, 35, Morrilton
- Clay Glasco, 46, Lonoke
- Jacki Hogue, aka Jacki Wylie, 41, Redfield
- Otis Kelly, 44, Greenbrier
- Daniella Pruitt, 40, Morrilton
Conspiracy — less than 50 grams (up to 20 years):
- Alexander Cruz, 54, North Little Rock
- Corey Lucas, 48, Little Rock — fugitive
Several defendants face additional counts, including distribution and possession-with-intent charges. Wooten, Burgueno, and Wilbarger are also charged with maintaining a drug-involved premises, and Wooten and Hill each face an additional attempt count involving 500 grams or more.
An indictment contains only allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
Photo credit if using seizure images: Courtesy DEA
