18 face drug and weapons charges

Fourteen months of investigation by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies came to a head on Tuesday morning with the arrest of 18 people on federal firearms and drug distribution charges.

More than 100 law enforcement officers from nearly a dozen local and state agencies joined with agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Marshals Service to serve arrest warrants on 25 Southeast Missouri men suspected of possessing firearms and trafficking narcotics. Officials said arrests on the remaining seven warrants are expected.

Although all of the 18 arrests made Tuesday involved suspects from the Bootheel region no further north than Sikeston, officials emphasized that similar efforts are being made throughout Southeast Missouri.

Most of the suspects are being held in the Cape Girardeau County Jail. Those taken into custody and the charges they face are:

Eddie Taylor Sr. of Caruthersville, Mo., distribution of marijuana, distribution of cocaine, aiding and abetting the manufacture of cocaine base, distribution of cocaine base and forfeiture allegations.

Aaron Woods of Caruthersville, distribution of five grams or more of cocaine base.

Garnett Fisher of Hayti, Mo., distribution of five grams or more of cocaine base.

Otis Jones of Blytheville, Ark., conspiracy to distribute five grams or more of cocaine base, interstate travel in aid of racketeering, aiding and abetting interstate travel in aid of racketeering, manufacturing five grams or more of cocaine base, felon in possession of a gun, forfeiture allegations.

Jimmy Caldwell of Portageville, Mo., distribution of five grams or more of cocaine base, felon in possession.

Ezell Vaughn, address unknown, felon in possession.

Antjuan Ruff of Hayti Heights, Mo., felon in possession, possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

Steve Lott of Sikeston, Mo., felon in possession.

Michael Robinson of Sikeston, felon in possession.

Deundra Davis of Kennett, Mo., felon in possession, possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

Jermaine Battles of Caruthersville, selling firearm to a felon.

Steve McClendon of Blytheville, felon in possession.

Ray Rodgers of Caruthersville, felon in possession.

Marcus Taylor of Caruthersville, distribution of cocaine.

Eddie Taylor Jr. of Caruthersville, distribution of cocaine.

Shaun Woods, currently in prison, felon in possession.

Cedrick Rogers, currently in prison, felon in possession, using and carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.

Claude Taylor of Pemiscot County, felon in possession.