Pine Bluff Police Officer Dante Nicholson has been recognized by the FBI for his work in Operation Viper, a multi-agency initiative that recently targeted violent offenders across Arkansas, including in Pine Bluff.
Operation Viper resulted in 39 arrests, dozens of firearms seized and nine federal indictments.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas and the FBI’s Little Rock Field Office, the operation led to the execution of 26 warrants and the seizure of 33 firearms, approximately 100 pounds of marijuana, large quantities of fentanyl and other illicit pills and $74,400 in suspected illegal proceeds.
Indicted individuals are:
Werrick Baines, 19, of Jacksonville
Kenny Lamar Branson, 41, of Little Rock
Ynohtna W. Carroll, 25, of North Little Rock
Leon Harris, 20, of Little Rock
Charles Edward Layton, III, 40, of North Little Rock
Jeffery Wayne Murdock, 41, of Little Rock
Terjun Tramaine Parker, 49, of Alexander
Zavier Marqise Rhodes, 23, of North Little Rock
Kaylon Roshon Robinson, 27, of Little Rock
“Together with our law enforcement partners, our office seeks to remove as many violent and repeat offenders from our communities as possible,” said U.S. Attorney Jonathan D. Ross, U.S.
Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas. “The success of this collaboration reflects the ongoing commitment of our office, law enforcement, and first responder partnerships to lower violent crime and the consistent pursuit of violent offenders across Arkansas.”
In addition to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the FBI, agencies participating in Operation Viper include the ATF, DEA, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service, Arkansas State Police, Pulaski and White County sheriff’s offices, the Little Rock, North Little Rock and Pine Bluff police departments, Arkansas Community Correction and MEMS’ STAR Team.
