Charges dismissed against employee in Coast official’s federal drug case

The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District filed a motion to dismiss charges against an employee of a CBD store owned by a Biloxi councilman that is at the heart of a federal drug case.

The motion to dismiss was filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Gulfport.

The employee, Celeste “C.J.” Little, arrested in March that she did “knowingly, intentionally attempt and conspire to alter, destroy and cover up a tangible object with the intent to impede, obstruct or influence an investigation.”

Little worked for Robert Deming III, who is set to go to trial in June on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and destruction, alteration or falsification of records in federal investigations.

Little worked at a CBD and kratom store called The Candy Shop owned by Deming. She allegedly called another store in North Carolina while federal agents were executing search warrants.

While agents were in a store in North Carolina, Little allegedly called the manager and told her to “take the additive and throw them away.”

The North Carolina manager advised she could not, as the agents were already in the store.

Little was the second person to be charged, along with Deming, in the federal investigation that, according to court records, began as early as 2020.