Operation "Rey Ban" nets multiple arrests of Latin Kings street gang members
Pearl River County Sheriff David Allison released the following press release.
For the past year, the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department’s Narcotics unit, Criminal Investigative Division, and Patrol Division along with the Picayune Police Department’s Narcotics Unit, Mississippi Department of Corrections, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) have been investigating members of the Latin Kings street gang, operating within Pearl River County, Mississippi.
The Latin Kings are a street gang based out of Chicago, Il. The gang is nationwide, with members scattered across various parts of the United States, including Mississippi. As part of Operation “Rey Ban”, approximately thirty active members of the gang were identified as operating in Pearl River County.
Through various operations, investigations, and contacts, investigators were able to obtain evidence on a large portion of the gang operating in Pearl River County, leading to arrests and or indictments of the most active members, or their associates, including the top three gang leaders of the Pearl River County Chapter that were not incarcerated.
The following individuals were arrested as part of Operation Rey Ban.
Kyle Kathman AKA King Coreleone – age 23, of 1016 Timber Lane, Picayune, MS - highest ranking Latin King member in Pearl River County outside of prison. Known as the “Inca” or leader of the local chapter. Kathman has been indicted for Trafficking Methamphetamine while in possession of a firearm, Possession of Marijuana with the intent to distribute while in possession of a firearm, and criminal street gang activity stemming from his arrest on 09/29/18. Kathman is also being currently held without bond on the charges of Possession of a Marijuana with the Intent to Distribute while in possession of a firearm, and possession of a stolen firearm stemming from his arrest on 03/09/2017.
Dominick Bertucci AKA King Tucci – age 23, of 3 Jenkins Rd., Carriere, MS - Bertucci was an enforcer for the gang, and held the second in command spot for the Pearl River County chapter, just below Kathman. Bertucci has been indicted on three counts of sale of a controlled substance, three counts of conspiracy to sell a controlled substance, four counts of criminal street gang activity, and two counts of possession of a weapon by a felon. Bertucci also has two additional sale of methamphetamine charges pending from his arrest on 02/22/19. A hold has been placed on Bertucci by the Mississippi Department of Corrections for probation violation.
Kolby Dragon AKA King Kash – age 24, of 129 Rovira Rd., Carriere, MS - Kolby Dragon was the third in command of the gang alongside Dominick Bertucci, and underneath Kyle Kathman. Dragon was the secretary and also an enforcer for the gang. Dragon has been indicted on one count of conspiracy to sell a controlled substance, one count of sale of Methamphetamine, one count of possession of Xanax with intent to distribute while in possession of a firearm, two counts of criminal street gang activity, and two counts of possession of a weapon by a felon stemming from his arrest on 09/29/18. Dragon is currently serving time with the Mississippi Department of Corrections for conspiracy and sale of marijuana, and will be served his new indictments in prison.
Kyle Lacoste – age 23, of Shorty Burgess, Picayune, MS - arrested for three counts of sale of heroin. A hold has been placed on Lacoste by the Mississippi Department of Corrections for probation violation.
Skylar Davis – age 21, of 3 Joyce Lumpkin Lane, Picayune – Former girlfriend of Kolby Dragon, current girlfriend of Kyle Lacoste, and known associate of the Latin Kings, indicted for possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute and tampering with evidence. Davis was also arrested on warrants for three counts of sale of heroin.
Charlie “CJ” Walters AKA King Yolo – age 25, of 1549 Section Line Rd, Picayune - arrested for one count of sale of methamphetamine.
Skylar Branton AKA Queen Bout It – age 28, of 910 Cayten St. Apt 2, Picayune, MS – arrested on 02/28/19 for one count of sale of suboxone, and on 10/01/18 by Picayune Police Department for burglary of a residence. A hold has been placed on Branton by the Mississippi Department of Corrections for probation violation.
James Brueggert AKA King Ruger – age 26, of 910 Cayten St. Apt 2, Picayune, MS - arrested 02/28/19 for one count of sale of a controlled substance, and on 10/01/18 by Picayune Police Department for burglary of a residence.
Justin Stephens AKA King Q – age 36, of 812 Lake Borngne Ct, Slidell, LA - arrested on 12/02/18 for MDOC probation violation warrant. Stephens is currently serving his sentence with the Mississippi Department of Corrections for a conviction of Possession of Methamphetamine.
Michael Shane Penton – age 39, of 20 Davis Dawsey Rd, Picayune, MS - arrested on 09/26/18 for Possession of Heroin with the intent to distribute, possession of Meth with the intent to distribute, possession of Marijuana with intent to distribute, Possession of pharmaceuticals with intent to distribute, and tampering with physical evidence. Penton is currently serving his sentence with the Mississippi Department of Corrections for convictions of Possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, conspiracy to commit a crime, and escape.
Eric Stockstill AKA King E or BIG E – age 37, of 138 Shore Crest Circle, Carriere, MS - arrested on 08/04/18 and 01/08/2019 for two separate counts of possession of methamphetamine stemming from different incidents. A hold has been placed on Stockstill by the Mississippi Department of Corrections for probation violation.
Kyle Watts AKA King Titan – age 21, of 3128 Jackson Landing Rd, Picayune, MS - arrested on 08/13/18 for a drug court violation warrant on a previous conviction for grand larceny.
Richard “Rick” Steen – age 43, of 27 Sunny Acres Rd, Carriere - arrested on 06/01/2018 for aggravated assault and possession of a weapon by a felon. Steen is currently incarcerated by the Mississippi Department of Corrections for a conviction of Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Distribute.
Stephan Brooks Raby AKA King Brotherman – age 33, of 56 Shorty Burgess Rd. Picayune – Raby was arrested on 12/12/2018 for a warrant out of New Orleans on the charge of Cruelty to Juveniles. Raby also had an MDOC hold placed upon him to detain him for the Mississippi Department of Corrections. Raby was extradited to Louisiana where he was released on his own recognizance, and was not held for the Department of Corrections. Raby was subsequently re-arrested on 01/31/2019 by the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department and the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
Tiffany Bertucci – age 41, of 3 Jenkins Rd., Carriere, MS - Dominick Bertucci’s mother. Indicted for attempted hindering prosecution, arrested on 02/28/19.
Aaron Scott Hume AKA King Mojo – age 36, of 27 Althea Dr, Carriere, MS – Hume was arrested for an MDOC probation violation on 02/28/19.
Gauge Hannon Normand AKA King Buck – age 24, of Cary Byrd Rd. – Normand was arrested for an MDOC probation violation on 02/28/19.
George Austin Jones – age 33, of 6 Easy St., Picayune, MS – Jones was arrested for an MDOC probation violation on 02/28/19.
Alisha Lauren Craft – age 28, of 122 Curlie Seal Rd. in Picayune, MS – was located during the arrest of Latin Kings suspects and taken into custody on 02/28/19 for probation violation.
Taylor Sanford – age 25, of 99 Lake Lane, Picayune, MS – Known associate of the Latin Kings, arrested on 01/12/19 for possession of drug paraphernalia and traffic related offenses.
Devin Brousse AKA King GI – age 27, of 15A Division Street, Picayune, MS - Devin Brousse is currently wanted for two counts of sale of Methamphetamine, one count of sale of heroin, and indictments for conspiracy to sell a controlled substance, sale of a controlled substance, and criminal street gang activity. A hold has been placed on Brousse by the Mississippi Department of Corrections for probation violation.
Patty Dragon – age 55, of 129 Rovira Rd., Carriere, MS - Kolby Dragon’s mother. Dragon is currently wanted for and indictment for attempted hindering prosecution. Dragon has agreed to turn herself in with through her lawyer, but as of this press release has not yet done so.
This is still an ongoing investigation, and additional arrests or charges may follow at a later date. Criminal street gang activity, further fueled by the narcotics trade is a problem that is taken very seriously by the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Office, along with their counterparts from other agencies.
The Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department wishes to thank our Federal, State, and Local law enforcement partners for working with the Sheriff’s Department to battle drug and gang activity in Pearl River County.
