A Pike County jury on Tuesday convicted Charles Pittman of aggravated trafficking of cocaine, and Circuit Judge Michael M. Taylor sentenced him to 30 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
Under Mississippi’s aggravated trafficking statute, the sentence must be served day-for-day without eligibility for early release, court officials said.
Prosecutors said evidence at trial showed Pittman and a co-defendant who previously pleaded guilty traveled to Texas to obtain cocaine and transport it back to Pike County for distribution.
The case stemmed from a joint investigation by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Pike County Sheriff’s Department, the Mississippi Highway Patrol and the Mississippi Forensics Laboratory. Assistant District Attorney Sebastian Harrell prosecuted the case.
District Attorney Adams praised the officers and jurors involved. “This conviction demonstrates the commitment of law enforcement and prosecutors across our district to seek justice and accountability as they aggressively combat drug trafficking,” Adams said in a statement. “Let this serve as a clear message to drug dealers: we will continue to work together, one case at a time, to stop drugs from being brought into and distributed within the 14th Circuit Court District.”
The Office of the District Attorney also thanked jurors and officers for their work in the investigation. This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.
