Two Face Trafficking Charges After 20-Pound Meth Package Seized in Jonesboro

JONESBORO, Ark. — Two people are facing serious Class Y felony charges after authorities reported finding over 20 pounds of meth mailed to their home in Jonesboro.

The probable cause affidavit says on October 2, 2024, a special agent with the Second Judicial District Drug Task Force and Homeland Security Investigation was notified of a package shipped through a major carrier containing a large amount of methamphetamine. The meth weighed over 9.32 kilos or 20.54 pounds. The package was addressed to “Jessica Carter” at the 1600 block of Crepe Myrtle Drive from a subject in Rancho Santa Margarita, California.

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Agents rerouted the package to their location and conducted a controlled delivery of the package to the address on Crepe Myrtle. The package was left at the front door of the residence, which appeared to be vacant and listed for sale through a realtor. Agents reported that the female who had lived at the address, Veronica Scales, had moved to an address down the road at the 1100 block of Gregory Court.

Agents conducted covert surveillance of the location for about two hours before a white Ford Explorer pulled up to the residence. Both Malik Cason and Veronica Scales exited the vehicle and walked to the front of the residence. They reportedly observed Cason make a video phone call, where he appeared to show someone the labels and package on his phone. Then, Cason was viewed picking the package up and carrying it to the vehicle where he placed the package in the rear seat area and then removed it and placed it in the rear hatch area.

Both Cason and Scales were then observed covering the package up with items that were in the rear of the vehicle, the affidavit says.

The two suspects then drove back to the 1100 block of Gregory Court where they were viewed removing the package from the vehicle and bringing it into the residence. Both then reportedly left the residence in the same vehicle, which was stopped about a block away.

Scales was driving the vehicle with a suspended driver’s license. Both subjects were arrested for the package of methamphetamine. Authorities reportedly found a loaded 9mm Glock handgun in the vehicle.

A search warrant was conducted at the Gregory Court address. The package of drugs was found and recovered from Scales’ locked bedroom. Five children were also found in the home, ages 10, 11, 13, 15, and 17.

Veronica Gloria Scales, 37, and Malik Juan’e Cason, 27, are presently facing two charges each: trafficking a controlled substance and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms. Both are Class Y felonies punishable by 10 to 40 years or life in prison. Both subjects were in court Friday for their probable cause hearing, where Judge Tommy Fowler noted child endangerment charges were possible, given the presence of juveniles.

Bail for Scales was set at $250,000 cash or surety.

Bail for Cason was set at $150,000 cash-only. The judge noted he was already out on bond from a July charge in Mississippi County for simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.