Felon faces federal charges over drugs, firearms after stop
A felon accused of possessing a sizable amount of cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana and a large cache of firearms is facing federal charges.
Jo shu a Henderson, 40, was stopped by Arkansas State Police the morning of Sept. 27 as he drove a 1995
Ford Ranger pickup in Garland County, Ark., according to a criminal complaint used to create the following account. An ASP special agent recognized Henderson and knew he had an active felony warrant for delivery of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, issued by Garland County.
Henderson was stopped by a state trooper south of Amity Road on Central Avenue. Officers reportedly saw a 9-mm pistol in a brown purse next to the seat occupied by Henderson’s female passenger.
Approximately 25 grams of suspected meth, approximately 50 grams of suspected cocaine, an unspecified amount of marijuana and an “assortment of pills” were found in the truck’s cab in different bags, according to the complaint. A loaded 40-caliber Smith & Wesson also allegedly was recovered.
In the bed of the truck, officers allegedly found a black suitcase that held more firearms and a photo album containing pictures of Henderson. The luggage allegedly contained a loaded .223-caliber rifle with an 8-inch barrel and 40-round clip, as well as a .22-caliber Walther P22 gun.
While officers were searching the pickup, Henderson allegedly claimed that all of the drugs and guns were his and that his female passenger was not to blame.
Henderson was convicted of residential burglary and a felony drug offense in Garland County in 1999 and two counts of aggravated assault in 2012.
Later the same morning, a search warrant was executed on Henderson’s apartment in Garland County. There officers allegedly discovered suspected prescription Xanax pills, a glass jar containing 1.8 grams of suspected meth and a set of digital scales.
Officers also reported finding several loaded guns, including a Remington 12-gauge shotgun, a .22-caliber Smith & Wesson, a Star SA 9-mm, a .45-caliber Smith & Wesson and a Browning 380. A plastic container with “numerous assorted rounds of ammunition and loaded magazines” also reportedly was collected.
The complaint charges Henderson with possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute, felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
Henderson made an initial court appearance Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Barry Bryant in the Texarkana Division of the Western District of Arkansas with Ryan Rainwater of the Federal Public Defenders Office. Rainwater waived the issue of detention on Henderson’s behalf.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Harris is handling the prosecution.
Henderson is being held in the Miller County jail.
llarowe@texarkanagazette.com