MS Coast man convicted of heading up drug trafficking ring from Texas prison
A federal jury in January convicted a Gulfport convict in a drug-trafficking case for arranging bulk drug sales from a Texas prison for his drug stash house in South Mississippi.
After a three-day trial in federal court in Gulfport, the jury convicted Marcus “Spurt” Agee of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and two counts of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
He is facing a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years up to life in prison at his sentencing in May.
The investigation that began with a traffic stop in January 2025 culminated in the recovery of nearly two pounds of fentanyl and 15,556 pressed pills, many laced with fentanyl, at Agee’s stash house.
In addition to Agee, the investigation resulted in the arrests of two Gulfport co-defendants, Jermiya Spears, who lived at the stash house on 23rd Street in Gulfport, and his drug courier, Marcus “JayBird” Taneal Lloyd. Both lived in Gulfport.
According to federal authorities, Agee ran the drug-trafficking business from prison by arranging the shipment of the drugs to the stash house and directing his co-conspirators to make the fentanyl sales.
A federal agent detailed the drug-trafficking scheme in a criminal affidavit, saying Agee instructed his dealers on where to send the drug proceeds through text messages, on video calls and through messaging applications.
Spears has since pleaded guilty to the drug conspiracy, admitting to federal agents that she and Agee kept the drugs hidden behind an air conditioner vent in the stash house. She is currently serving just over 4 ½ years in prison for her involvement in the crime.
In addition, Lloyd pleaded guilty to his role in the drug trafficking network and is now serving a sentence of just over 11 ½ years in prison for the crime.
According to the federal agent investigating the case, the details of the crime started to unravel after an informant agreed to allow federal authorities to listen in on a call to Agee in prison to ask him to arrange the purchase of two ounces of fentanyl.
Agee then called his drug courier, identified as Lloyd, and asked him if he wanted to “make a play,” meaning a drug deal, for a buyer who wanted to buy fentanyl that Agee referred to on the call as “juices.”
Lloyd agreed to do so, and federal authorities listened in on the call to confirm the alleged drug activity.
The arrests occurred shortly after Agee arranged for Lloyd to pick up two ounces of fentanyl from the stash house in Gulfport to sell it to the buyer for $2,000.
Lloyd, the investigator said, made $500 for picking up the drugs at the stash house and delivering them to the buyer.
Gulfport police, Harrison County sheriff’s deputies and DEA agents investigated the case.
