Former Greenwood officer gets 7.5 years for cocaine conspiracy

A Greenwood police officer’s federal sentence has put a sharp dollar-and-years figure on a betrayal that reached well beyond one department. Jamario Sanford, 38, was ordered to serve 90 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to aid and abet, and to attempt to aid and abet, the possession, transportation and distribution of illegal narcotics.

For Cleveland County readers, the case lands close to home because the drug routes, patrol responsibilities and public trust at issue do not stop at county lines. Prosecutors said Sanford took multiple bribes while working for the Greenwood Police Department, and the investigation tied the cocaine conspiracy to Leflore, Sunflower and Washington counties, all part of the same Delta network of roads and agencies that local residents depend on every day.

Court records show Sanford was arrested on October 30, 2025, the same day federal authorities announced a sweeping Mississippi Delta crackdown that led to 20 arrests in Mississippi and Tennessee. Fourteen of those charged were current or former local law enforcement officials, a sign of how deeply the case cut into agencies that are supposed to protect the public. Sanford was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service after sentencing on May 27, 2026.

The broader case has continued to expose how widespread the alleged corruption was. Mississippi Today reported that Sanford was indicted for accepting a $5,000 bribe from an FBI agent posing as a Mexican drug cartel member on June 22, 2022, and that he later received another $7,800 in bribes, partly for future jobs. Federal prosecutors dropped firearm-related charges as part of the plea agreement. The case exposed Sanford to a potential federal guideline range of 10 years to life in prison and up to a $10 million fine.

U.S. Attorney Scott Leary said the case resulted from FBI work, and FBI Jackson Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff said Sanford “betrayed his oath to protect and serve.” Eikhoff added that the bureau will keep working to rebuild public trust in law enforcement, a task that has become even harder as the investigation reached at least eight Mississippi Delta agencies and touched officers from Greenwood, Greenville, Humphreys County and Hollandale. Former Humphreys County deputy Dequarian Smith, former Greenville officer Martavis Moore and former Hollandale officer Javery Howard have all pleaded guilty in related cases, while former Greenville sergeant Chaka Gaines was acquitted in April 2026.