Gulfport, Miss. – Howard Lee Walker, 30, of Pearl, Mississippi, was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to 60 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised releas,e for conspiring with others to possess with intent to distribute heroin, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Derryle Smith. Walker was also ordered to pay a $3,000 fine.

On July 6, 2018, Biloxi police responded to a call about a female attempting to pass a $100.00 counterfeit bill at Walmart. When officers arrived, they stopped a van driven by Erica Wooldridge of Jackson. Walker was a passenger in the vehicle. Both individuals had warrants for their arrest. Upon searching the vehicle, officers found a loaded 9mm pistol under the front console and numerous pills. Walker admitted to riding with Wooldridge from Jackson to Biloxi to sell the pills. Wooldridge and Walker thought they were selling Percocet or Oxycodone. However, after testing, analysts determined the pills actually contained 295 grams of heroin.

Walker pled guilty on December 4, 2018. Wooldridge was sentenced on January 14, 2019, to 51 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a fine of $7,500.00.

The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Biloxi Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn R. Van Buskirk.

Gulfport, Miss – Erica Leigh Wooldridge, 44, of Jackson, Mississippi, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden to 51 months in federal prison for conspiring to possess with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl, followed by a consecutive sentence of 60 months for possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Derryle Smith.  Wooldridge was also ordered to pay a $7,500.00 fine.

On July 6, 2018, Biloxi police responded to a call regarding Wooldridge attempting to pass a $100.00 counterfeit bill at Walmart.  When officers arrived, they stopped the van driven by Wooldridge.  Another individual, Howard Lee Walker III, was in the passenger seat of the vehicle.  Wooldridge agreed to let officers search the van, and upon searching it, officers located a loaded 9mm pistol under the front console.  They also located 2 grams of methamphetamine and over 500 pills concealed in various locations in the van.  A cooperating source notified agents that Wooldridge drove to Biloxi to sell the pills.  The investigation revealed text messages between Wooldridge and several individuals discussing selling the pills.  Wooldridge admitted to owning the gun and possessing it for protection.  The pills looked exactly like Percocet pills. However, after sending the pills to the Mississippi Crime Laboratory, analysts discovered the pills were manufactured on the street and pressed with various drugs, including heroin and trace amounts of fentanyl. 

Wooldridge pled guilty on October 4, 2018.  Walker pled guilty on December 4, 2018, and will be sentenced on March 7, 2019.

This case was investigated by the Biloxi Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn R. Van Buskirk.

 

Gulfport, Miss – Howard Lee Walker, 30, of Pearl, Mississippi, pled guilty today, before U.S. District Judge Sul Ozerden, to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute heroin, announced U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Derryle Smith with the Drug Enforcement Administration.

On July 6, 2018, Biloxi police responded to a call about a female attempting to pass a $100 counterfeit bill at Walmart. When officers arrived, they stopped a van driven by the female, who they identified as Erica Wooldridge of Jackson, Mississippi. Walker was a passenger in Wooldridge’s vehicle. Officers were notified that both individuals had warrants for their arrest.

Upon receiving consent to search Wooldridge’s vehicle, officers located a loaded 9mm pistol under the front console and numerous pills throughout the vehicle. Walker admitted to riding with Wooldridge from Jackson to Biloxi to sell the pills. Wooldridge and Walker thought they were selling Percocet, or Oxycodone; however, after testing, analysts determined the pills actually contained heroin and aspirin.

Walker will be sentenced by Judge Ozerden on March 7, 2019, and faces a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

Wooldridge pled guilty on October 4, 2018, and will be sentenced on January 10, 2019. She faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and a $1,000,000 fine.

The case was investigated by DEA and the Biloxi Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathlyn R. Van Buskirk.