Florida woman admits role in drug conspiracy

GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) – One of four Florida residents accused in a conspiracy to move cocaine and marijuana from Florida to Texas has pleaded guilty in Mississippi to a charge of interstate travel in aid of racketeering.

The Sun Herald reports (http://bit.ly/1zfJwsb) Jaylyn Holland, 20, of Jacksonville, entered the plea Tuesday in Gulfport before District Judge Sul Ozerden. She’s facing up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine at her July 28 sentencing.

As part of the plea, Holland admitted she and Kerriyae Simmons, 20, served as drug couriers for $500 per trip.

A federal grand jury indicted Holland, Herman McGee Jr., 27; Simmons, 20; and Michael Lamar Ricks, all of Jacksonville, on one count each of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance; possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance; and interstate travel in aid of racketeering.

Ricks and McGee also face two counts of conspiracy to carry a firearm during a drug-trafficking scheme.

In exchange for Holland’s plea, the remaining charges against her were dropped.

McGee, Simmons and Holland were taken into custody after a Jan. 9 traffic stop in Harrison County, when 4 kilos of cocaine were seized.

Deputies made the arrests after they realized they had stopped McGee in one vehicle, and the women in another, though both vehicles were registered to McGee.

Deputies found an empty hidden compartment and a .45-caliber handgun in the trunk of one car, and 4 kilos of cocaine in the back seat.

Holland and Simmons later told DEA agents McGee coordinated the trips and packed the vehicles.

Ricks was arrested March 5 in Jacksonville.