Jury Convicts Armstrong Of Drug Trafficking
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Calvin Armstrong
WATER VALLEY – A Water Valley man was found guilty of drug trafficking and drug possession Monday afternoon in a trial that stemmed from one of the largest cocaine seizures in city history. A jury deliberated less than an hour before handing down the verdict for Calvin Armstrong, age 23, in Yalobusha County Circuit Court.
Armstrong was arrested in June, 2022, after Water Valley police officers executed a search warrant at a residence at 308 Lee Street and discovered 45 grams of crack cocaine, 179 grams of cocaine and over $5,000 located in a safe.
Water Valley Police Chief Jason Mangrum told the Herald that his department launched the investigation after receiving notification from the Tate County Sheriff’s Department about a possible rape at the Lee Street residence. Officers executed the search warrant in connection with the rape investigation and discovered the narcotics.
Mangrum said officers immediately vacated the residence and obtained a second search warrant for the drug investigation that led to the multiple charges.
Armstrong was also indicted for sexual battery. The charge was remanded after the alleged victim did not cooperate with authorities, according to multiple sources.
The trial started Monday morning and a jury was empaneled just after noon. After a break for lunch, the trial resumed at 1:30 and multiple witnesses testified for the prosecution and one for the defense before closing arguments. The jury’s guilty verdict for trafficking cocaine (more than 30 grams) and possession of methamphetamine (more than two dosage units but less than 10 dosage units) was read just after 5 p.m.
Evidence presented in the trial included a filing by the defendant objecting to the seizure of the money found inside the house. Mangrum explained that an asset forfeiture warrant to seize the money was filed because the money was found in the safe, the same location as the drugs.
“He filed an answer to the petition saying he was the only person who had rights to that money and he wanted it back,” the chief explained.
Attendees at the trial reported that the defendant’s request to reclaim the cash was the most incriminating evidence presented.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Marvell Gordon. Armstrong was represented by Meltory Fondren and Rodgrick Hickman with Hickman Fondren, PLLC. Armstrong is scheduled to be sentenced on October 1.
