OXFORD — A federal grand jury has indicted eight individuals on drug distribution charges following a months-long, multi-agency investigation in north Mississippi, authorities said.
U.S. Attorney Scott Leary announced that the indictments were returned March 25, 2026, in the Northern District of Mississippi. All eight defendants were arrested Monday. One of the individuals also faces a charge of being a felon in possession of firearms.
According to court documents the following individuals were indicted by a federal grand jury in the Northern District of Mississippi:
• Gary “Rooster” Ransom, 49, of Clarksdale, Mississippi, indicted for drug distribution and felon in possession of firearms
• Daniel Baker, 40, of Cleveland, Mississippi, indicted for drug distribution
• Madeline Tonos, 31, of Cleveland, Mississippi, indicted for drug distribution
• Patrick Smith, 34, of Cleveland, Mississippi, indicted for drug distribution
• Valerie Ingram, 42, of Cleveland, Mississippi, indicted for drug distribution
• Joshua Fulton, 40, of Cleveland, Mississippi, indicted for drug distribution
• Londyn Todd, 23, of Cleveland, Mississippi, indicted for drug distribution
• Merrick Smith, 47, of Dallas, Texas, indicted for drug distribution
Leary said the case is tied to the Homeland Security Task Force, a partnership of federal and state law enforcement agencies focused on combating drug trafficking and related violent crime.
“This HSTF operation stemmed from a months-long multi-agency investigation,” Leary said, crediting cooperation between agencies, including the Cleveland Police Department and the FBI.
The FBI is leading the investigation, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service and Cleveland Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Chad Doleac and Sam Stringfellow are prosecuting the case.
Authorities emphasized that indictments are allegations and not proof of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
