Rapper arrested in Jonesboro charged with gun and drug trafficking

JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) – An Arkansas rapper, Freddie Gladney III, known as Bankroll Freddie, was arrested in Jonesboro as part of a federal drug and gun roundup conducted across the state Wednesday morning.

According to court documents, Bankroll Freddie and his father, Freddie Gladney Junior, were arrested by U.S. Marshals as part of the roundup which netted 45 wanted people.

The court documents state the rapper and his father conspired with dozens of others to traffic drugs and guns between Arkansas, and Texas, California, Arizona, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Oklahoma and face a combined total of 16 federal charges.

In a press release, the Department of Justice said the arrests were made because of three different operations conducted by multiple agencies.

Two FBI operations focused on two rival gangs in Arkansas, including the “Every Body Killas gang” (EBK) and the “Loady Murder Mobb gang.” A third operation, which was led by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), began in 2021 when the DEA found methamphetamine and fentanyl dealers in Central Arkansas with connections to several states.

Pine Bluff Police Detective Kevin Collins was shot and killed in October 2020 while serving a warrant on an EBK member. The DOJ said Collins was assisting federal agents with an investigation into the gangs at the time of his death.

The information obtained from Collins’ work allowed federal agents to get 12 wiretaps through June of 2022, allowing law enforcement to prevent planned crimes, and leading to the arrests of Bankroll Freddie, his father, and others.

Law enforcement began their arrests early Nov. 9 by searching for 72 people indicted for federal crimes, including the Gladney’s. According to Craighead County Jail records, Bankroll Freddie was booked into the Craighead County Jail before being transferred to Pulaski County.

Court documents show the rapper is facing no less than 11 charges, including:

- Possession of cocaine

- Possession of crack cocaine

- Possession of marijuana

- two counts of intent to distribute marijuana

- Knowingly and intentionally possessing firearms

- Three counts of providing false or fictitious information on a gun purchase form

- Using guns for gun trafficking

- Using a telephone to traffic drugs

- Knowingly possessing one or more machine guns.

Bankroll Freddie’s father is facing five federal counts, including:

- Possession of cocaine

- Possession of crack cocaine

- Possession of marijuana

- Possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver

- Use of a telephone to traffic drugs

In its press release, the DOJ said the operations returned 80 indictments, with 8 of the suspects already in custody for other crimes. 45 of the 72 remaining wanted suspects were arrested early Nov 9. across the state, including Jonesboro.

According to Craighead County Jail records, Kajarvis O’Neil (aka: Flute) was also arrested in Craighead County and released to Pulaski County.