A Texarkana man and a Houston man were arrested by FBI agents in Texarkana for allegedly conspiring to distribute cocaine, ecstasy and Xanax in the Texarkana region.
James Manuel of Houston and Fredrico Bradley of Texarkana are named in a criminal complaint filed last week in the Texarkana Division of the Western District of Arkansas. Both men were arrested Oct. 3.
Manuel was stopped for traffic violations by a Texarkana, Ark., police officer at 8:37 a.m. that morning driving a silver Dodge truck with Texas plates, according to the criminal complaint. Texarkana, Ark., Officer Tanner Freeman made a sweep of the truck with a drug sniffing dog which alerted to the presence of drugs.
Whle conducting a search of the pickup, Freeman discovered hundreds of pills which appeared to be methylenedioxymethamphetamine, commonly referred to as MDMA or ecstasy and Xanax, a prescription drug used to treat anxiety. The pills were found in bags inside a “Honey Bun food container” in a tan and black backpack. A later search of the seized bags revealed one bag which allegedly contained approximately two ounces of powder cocaine. Cash totaling about $9,000 bundled and wrapped in rubber bands was also found.
Later that morning, Fredrico Bradley was arrested in a separate traffic stop. Bradley allegedly confessed to buying “pills” from Manuel since March and that he also bought cocaine from him. Bradley allegedly told investigators that he would deposit money into a bank account for Manuel and that he would transfer money to him from Western Union and Walmart. Bradley allegedly admitted to buying cocaine, ecstasy and Xanax from Bradley since meeting him in a nightclub in Miller County, Ark.
The night of the two men’s arrests, a federal search warrant was executed on a house where Bradley regularly spent the night on Pearl Street in Texarkana, Ark.
“Recovered during the search warrant were miscellaneous documents toinclude money orders and wire receipts, over $26,000 in cash, and drug ledgers,” the complaint states.
The complaint charges the two men with conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Manuel is also charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute and with possession of MDMA with intent to distribute.
Manuel was released from custody Tuesday following a detention hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Bryant. He is represented by Texarkana lawyer Craig Henry. Bradley remains in custody though court records do not reflect where he is being held. Bradley is represented by Federal Public Defender Bruce Eddy.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Graham Jones is representing the government.
