Federal indictment lists more charges against alleged drug trafficker
By By Suzanne Monk / managing editor
Feb. 28, 2003
The U.S. Attorney's Office has enlarged its case against Michael Lee Hodges one of six people indicted in September for allegedly conspiring to transport methamphetamine from California for sale in Lauderdale County.
That indictment was issued by a federal grand jury in U.S. District Court.
A new federal indictment issued Wednesday adds charges of money-laundering and conspiracy to transport and sell cocaine in Lauderdale County.
Hodges' trial is set for March 3, but the additional charges are expected to result in a delay.
In additional to jail time, U.S. Attorney Dunn Lampton is seeking, at a minimum: 1) a judgment of $700,000, the amount he says Hodges made from drug-trafficking; 2) property used to "facilitate" the illegal enterprise at 5706 Topton Road in Toomsuba; 3) a house in San Diego; 4) 19 cars, trucks and other vehicles; 5) about $21,000 seized from the Toomsuba property and accounts at Trustmark National Bank and Citizens National Bank.
Additional money and property in California could also be involved in a forfeiture.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sandra Moses said Hodges is originally from San Diego, and allegedly set up a drug trafficking operation in Lauderdale County because he had family here.
An IRS spokesman who helped investigate the case said Hodges' five alleged co-conspirators are from East Central Mississippi. All initially pleaded not guilty, but three have since changed their minds.
James Floyd Thompson pleaded guilty Jan. 17. Sentencing is set for April 11;
Kimberly R. Hancock pleaded guilty Jan. 27. Sentencing is set for April 11; and
Angela Michelle Route, who at one time reportedly had a romantic attachment to Hodges, changed her plea to guilty on Monday. Her sentencing hearing is set for May 16.
So far, the final two co-defendants Johnny D. Brewster and Vivian C. Tingle are sticking to their not guilty pleas. Like Hodges, their trials are currently set for March 3.
