NASHVILLE - Eric Jenkins, 40, of Nashville, Tennessee, the final defendant in a large drug distribution conspiracy was sentenced Tuesday to 210 months in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Henry C. Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. . The federal indictment also charges 14 individuals with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana, between March 2018 and September 2019. CONTACT:Tabatha Curtis,Statewide Coordinator. In 2021, the TBI investigated 131 cases. As of the 2020 census, the population was 26,831. The court may also require you to take drug education classes or perform community service. Other agencies involved include the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service in Knoxville, the Drug Enforcement Administration in Atlanta, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Ninth Judicial Drug Task Force in Tennessee. Magana is a central figure in the alleged operation, records indicate. Thats a significant amount of meth, Timothy Shea, the DEAs acting administrator, said at a press conference on Wednesday. DEA images of the duffel bags the drugs were found in. The drugs were seized on October 2. North Memphis drug bust results in 40 indictments, 3 houses closed by: Stuart Rucker, Andrew Ellison. Pulaski caregiver charged with stealing painkillers from an elderly patient, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. So far, they have not filed charges. If you are similarly charged with drug possession or any other drug crime in Tennessee, you should take these charges seriously. Pleasant residents Brandon Willie Earl Dailey, 40, Henry Hank Davis, 42, Vincent Roe Conner, 37, Derrick Chewy" Nixon, 54, Shanika Butterball Odom, 31, Terry Goldie Mac Strayhorn, 41 and Samuel Abernathy, 44. December 23, 2020 3:54 PM. Dec 31, 2014 Updated Oct 19, 2022. Jackson, TN Seventeen individuals have been charged in federal court with operating a multiplestate drug trafficking organization. The most serious of which are pills containing Fentanyl. Hardin County Government - Hardin County, Tennessee - Official . The population was 1,423 at the 2020 census. TBI reports said a multi-agency investigation into drug overdoses in Middle Tennessee, resulted in the arrest of two individuals from California with ties to the Sinola Cartel. Narcan is an opiate antagonist that acts by blocking the effects of opiate drugs and reversing the event of an overdose. ( Drew Angerer/Getty Images), This is just another example of illegal cell phones being used by convicted felons to communicate and conspire with criminals in the free-world to proliferate criminal activity, Tennessee Department of Corrections Commissioner Tony Parker said in a statement. Oct 12, 2020 Secure .gov websites use HTTPS "Operation Thundering Justice," led by special agents with the Drug Investigation Division of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Carroll County Sheriff's Office, the Huntingdon Police Department, the McKenzie Police Department, and the Henderson County Sheriff's Office, began in January 2020. The Governors Task Force on Marijuana Eradication (GTFME) was created by Executive Order No. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney announced the unsealing of the federal criminal complaint today. As a result of the search warrant, agents located and seized 12 ounces of marijuana, three grams of heroin and 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine from the residence. Its important to know also that possession can mean anything from having the drugs in your pocket to having them in your car or even near you. These counties take in three Tennessee judicial districts. U.S. Attorney's Office, Middle District of Tennessee, Kilos of Heroin, Fentanyl & Cocaine Distributed in the Nashville Area, Lengthy Prison Sentences For Three Nashville Drug Dealers, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Last Of Gangster Disciples Sentenced In Racketeering & Drug Trafficking Conspiracy, Nashville Trio Facing Federal Human Trafficking & Drug Distribution Charges, Mid-State Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Drug Distribution And Firearms Charges. Cruz and Dominguez have a preliminary March 19. In that case, the driver, a 47-year-old Mexican citizen, was arrested and turned over to a joint federal agency investigative team, according to a US Customs and Border Protection statement. Follow him on Twitter at @MikeChristenCDH and on Instagram at @michaelmarco. This is enough dope to provide a dose of meth for every man, woman and child in the United States and Mexico, Shea said. Seeking out the eradicating/destroying marijuana which is domestically grown; Prevention and deterrence of marijuana growth in Tennessee by effecting arrests, seizure and forfeiture of, Efficient and effective collection, sharing, reporting, and utilization of intelligence information utilizing the. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Criminal enterprises that distribute harmful drugs into West Tennessee can no longer hide. Demographic conditions of the Appalachia HIDTA, including relatively high unemployment and low median family income, create an environment where illegal activities and corruption can flourish. We are taking the fight to the gangs in order to dismantle their drug trafficking organizations and remove them from our streets. She lived 30-40 minutes from the house, according to the government. Federal officials say late Monday and early Tuesday they served a search warrant on a "stash house" in Conyers, Ga., that Magana had frequently visited. Morales used contraband cellphones that were smuggled into the prison to orchestrate the drug distribution network, which flowed between Tennessee and Mexico, according to the DOJ. The seizure was part of the DEAs ongoing initiative Operation Crystal Shield, which is targeting cities where meth is often trafficked in bulk. Updated: Aug 11, 2021 / 10:08 PM CDT. Special Agents assigned to the Drug Investigation Division cooperate with local, state, and especially federal law enforcement agencies, such as the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Tennessees United States Attorneys offices. Your email address will not be published. While we continue to make progress reducing prescription drug issues, illicit opioid drug use continues to spawn the proliferation of heroin/fentanyl. A second indictment charges seven individuals with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances, including heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, crack . Those indicted included Juan Carlos Brown, 34, of Muncie, who was charged with: The massive operation was led by 29-year-old Humberto Morales of Tennessee who has been incarcerated at the Tennessee State Prison since 2014. The TBI/TDDTF is an integral member of this task force by operating as the Program Director. Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect. The operation included more than 40 agents, deputies and officers from the West Tennessee Drug Task Force, Dyer and Lake County Sheriff's Departments, and . The drugs were found packed inside 25 duffel bags and ready for distribution, according to authorities. The six were arrested Tuesday in northern Georgia. This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. He added that treatment options for addicts and people struggling have been limited due to restrictions in place because of the coronavirus. The investigation began in March 2020 and focused on drug trafficking in the Knoxville area in eastern Tennessee. They're charged in a complaint with taking part in a meth distribution ring. He went into the building, and when he came back out he was carrying a Doritos bag, according to records. The 29 individuals were arrested on a combined total of 221 charges for distribution of drugs such as heroin, methamphetamine, and prescription medications. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Lawler Parham is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. Narcan Please considersupportinghis work and that of other Daily Herald journalists by subscribing to the publication. Established in 1998, the Appalachia HIDTA is comprised of sixty-five, predominately rural counties located within the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia. according to a US Customs and Border Protection statement. Protecting children by combating the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes. The Daily Caller | 1775 Eye Street NW | Suite 1150-290 | Washington, DC 20006, (RELATED: I Want To Shove The Drugs Right Up The Noses Of The Gringos: Honduran President Accused By US Prosecutors Of Trafficking Drugs). Your email address will not be published. This operation should be a message to the bad guys that if theyre thinking they can come out to the rural areas of West Tennessee to sell their drugs, commit violent crimes or hide out, it wont be tolerated, Carter said. Agents became suspicious after questioning the two men in the vehicle both from California and utilized a narcotics detection dog, Harper, to conduct a free-air sniff around the car. In response to the threat of overdose to law enforcement and lab personnel, the TBI has issued its agents Narcan dispensers for emergency use to assist in the lifesaving efforts of personnel and public. Bomb threat draws in police, fire departments, Jackson man gets life in prison for 2019 murder, Selmer police respond to shots fired call, All Tennessee counties to receive funds from lawsuit, Woman demands answers after dog was euthanized, VIDEO/PHOTOS: Heavy winds leave damage across West Tennessee. The increase of heroin abuse has created an epidemic rate increase of overdoses and deaths. The massive operation was led by 29-year-old Humberto Morales of Tennessee who has been incarcerated at the Tennessee State Prison since 2014. During the search, law enforcement recovered more than five kilograms of heroin; more than 3 kilograms of a heroin and fentanyl mixture; approximately 1 kilogram of fentanyl, and more than 32 grams of cocaine base. Among those with ties to the alleged meth ring is a Knox County man named Cody Seals, 22, who in January got into a shootout with Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers in Hamilton County while carrying meth he'd just gotten from Magana, according to records and previous reports. I 100% recommend Adrian H. Altshuler and Associates!! Shelby County Jail records confirmed Cruz and Aguiarviera were booked into the Shelby County Jail on Friday and charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture or sell. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) - January 28, 2020 - Nine people have been indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with conspiracies to . He utilized a large distribution network that ranged from Western Kentucky to Northwest Mississippi. 719 Church St., Suite 3300 in Local News. Another phenomenon is the introduction of counterfeit pills. "An extensive search of the vehicle disclosed a natural void located within the vehicle that had been converted into a compartment to transport contraband," the task force said. TheTennessee Dangerous Drugs Task Force(TDDTF) is a partnership of federal, state, and local agencies collaborating to reduce the availability and illegal use of harmful scheduled drugs. During the same time frame, the number of DEA arrests related to meth rose nearly 20%. NEW YORK, NY FEBRUARY 04: A sign is posted outside the Metropolitan Detention Center on February 4, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Acting DEA Administrator Timothy Shea announced the bust at a press conference Wednesday. According to Washington County Sheriff Ed Graybeal, an ongoing collaboration between area law enforcement officials has resulted in the conviction in a methamphetamine conspiracy of nearly 57 defendants with the possible subsequent federal sentence of more than 300 . TBI reports said officers made a seizure of drugs totaling approximately 47 kilograms, which included combinations of methamphetamine laced with fentanyl, cocaine laced with fentanyl, and pure fentanyl. Michael Sowell and Antonio Sowell also faces charges for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Last month, Attorney General William Barr and Shea announced that in six months of the operation, agents seized more than 28,000 pounds of meth, $43.3 million in drug proceeds and 284 firearms. So these are high-level individuals.. James Edwin Perry, 95, of Tennessee Veterans Home in Clarksville, TN died at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020.A native of Ashland City, TN, he was born May 18, 1924 the son of the late James Franklin Perry and Louise Girard Perry. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Drug possession charges can be difficult to get dismissed because, unlike most crimes, the state does not have to prove your mental state or intent. First and second convictions for drug possession are a class A misdemeanor and the penalties include a jail term of up to one year, a fine of up to $2,500, or both. A Warner Bros. Undeterred by the loss, or the possibility that law enforcement was aware of the illegal drug activity, during the undercover investigation Jenkins also agreed to purchase 10 kilograms of cocaine for $240,000. The arrests and drug seizure was made possible after agents developed information about a shipment of drugs being sent to Murfreesboro from California. Lock Phone: (615) 510-6404, 604 N High St The TDDTF educates the public about the dangers of all scheduled drugs and works to support law enforcement and other stakeholders by supplying equipment, training, intelligence, and investigative tools to assist in strategically identifying, targeting, and prosecuting drug offenders. ROGERSVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) - Three Hawkins County deputies were injured while conducting a drug investigation according to Sheriff Ronnie Lawson. The organization allegedly has ties to MS-13, Sur-13 and a host of other street gangs that distributed thousands of illegal narcotics, according to the DOJ. I am quite pleased with the end result. Facing those charges are Columbia residents Charles White Chaz Lowe-Kelley, 30, and Hohenwald residents Michael Mac Black Sowell, 37, Frank Chucky Sparkman, 40, Antonio Premo Sowell, 37, Tanasha Nesha" Vaughn,22, in addition to Nashville residents Darron Snype Lucas Weakley, 35, and Antonio Lil Memphis Laster, 31. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has announced a major drug bust in Middle Tennessee. The drugs were seized at an alleged stash house east of Los Angeles in Perris, California, on October 2. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Mike Christen. "It takes us a long time from the time we first know someone is dealing drugs, to. June 24, 2020 Authorities charged 47 people and seized more than $1.7 million worth of methamphetamine following a nine-month drug investigation across the state, officials said Wednesday.. by Larcom Web Design 7:33 PM EDT, Wed October 14, 2020. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. Six people from Mexico are in federal custody in East Tennessee after a bust led to the discovery of more than 900 kilograms of methamphetamine with an estimated value of. During the press conference, Shea mentioned last weeks second-largest border seizure of meth in which federal agents confiscated more than 3,000 pounds of meth, heroin, fentanyl powder, and pills laced with fentanyl. Harper alerted the agents "to the presence of a narcotic containing odor coming from the vehicle," task force officials said in a news release. Authorities say around 90 arrests are expected in the end of a methamphetamine drug investigation. Reach Mike Christenat mchristen@c-dh.net. The Department of Justice emphasizes that an indictment is merely an accusation. An official website of the United States government. Shea said that the capture of the drug kingpin Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, interrupted the Sinaloa Cartels operations, making room for rival Jalisco Cartel to rise and clash. of methamphetamine (ice), 500 fentanyl pills, and an additional 1.25 lbs. Nashville, Tennessee 37203, Telephone: 615-736-5151 Have a question about Government Services? Jenkins then called another individual and directed him to turn over $230,030 to law enforcement. Assistant U.S. . 2023 Cable News Network. In 2020, Allen said the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation saw 17 cases fatal and non-fatal involving nitazenes. Please use another browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge) to view. Hidden on the property in various vehicles, including a bus, they found a total of 864 kilograms of meth, according to records. In the fight against contraband cell phones, we run into a brick wall time and time again, Parker said. To access the data used to build this dashboard, please visit the CBP Data Portal. The primary objective and mission of the GTFME remains to provide public safety for the citizens of Tennesseethrough: Go to Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). On May 4, 2021, Jacob Mosely was sentenced to 210 months in prison and Howard Dowell was sentenced to 135 months in prison. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. It's still an "ongoing investigation," according to Overbey's release. Convictions for third and subsequent possessions are class E felonies, and they will land you one to six years in prison, a fine of up to $3,000, or both. Court appearanceshave yet to beset for the 14suspects who will go before US District Court in Nashville. The individuals in question now face charges ranging from possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia to promotion of methamphetamine manufacture and felony evading arrest. During the press conference, Shea pointed to the pandemic for the rise in drug use and overdoses. "The drugs are getting more and more. Reducingviolent crime by networking withlocal programs that targetviolent crime and providing these programs with tools to be successful. The technology would essentially jam the signals of cellphones smuggled into prisons. Tennessee Drug Offender Registry Disclaimer The information contained in the Tennessee Drug Offender Registry is provided to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation by the appropriate clerk in each county. These seizures are significant not just because of the sheer volume, but because its a sign of a deeply concerning trend meth is pouring into the United States through our southern border and is destroying too many communities and more importantly, too many lives, said Shea. of fentanyl, and 3.5 grams of heroin. Less than a quarter of a milligram of fentanyl could kill the average person, and the amount seized here is enough for every person in Shelby County to overdose more than nine times over. Drug Investigation Division Special Agents assigned to the Appalachia High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area focus their efforts on drug trafficking in counties throughout East and Upper East Tennessee. Individuals seeking prescription drugs like Hydrocodone have found that heroin is cheaper and more accessible on the street. In August 2010, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) designated Shelby County to be included in the Gulf Coast HIDTA. While the agency was given a grant to conduct a pilot program, the Communications Act of 1934 prevents the technology from being used, according to Parker. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - The University of Tennessee's campus police and Knoxville Police Department executed a search warrant for narcotics 1618 Forest Avenue in Knoxville on August 19 around 1 p.m. Savannah Padgett and Sophia Featherstone, both UT college students, lived at the same residence and were also on the search warrants as suspects. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has announced a major drug bust in Middle Tennessee. February 8, 2023 The organization allegedly has ties to MS-13, Sur-13 and a host of other street gangs that distributed thousands of illegal narcotics, according to the DOJ. The night of Jan. 9, Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers tried to pull Seals over in Hamilton County on Highway 27. Mosley and Jenkins were charged with committing these crimes following a conviction for a serious drug felony. tennessee narcotic drug bust in which has been filed a felony counts of!. First and second convictions for drug possession are a class A misdemeanor and the penalties include a jail term of up to one year, a fine of up to $2,500, or both. They were discovered hidden in a truck delivering medical supplies from Mexico. Federal authorities have indicted 27 individuals in a massive, violent drug-trafficking scheme that operated out of a Tennessee state prison for years. The DEAs focus is to interrupt the drug transportation chain in the cities that account for 75% distribution of all meth distributed in the country, Shea said. Marshals Service while in TDOC custody at the West Tennessee State Penitentiary, and transferred to federal pre-trial custody. A second indictment charges seven individuals with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances, including heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, oxycodone, and marijuana, between October 2017 and November 2020. Counterfeit Pills If youve been charged with drug possession, you face serious repercussions if you are convicted. A traffic stop on Interstate 40 in Shelby County last week led to a large drug bust,theWest Tennessee Judicial Violent Crime andDrug Task Force said Wednesday. The operation included more than 40 agents, deputies and officers from the West Tennessee Drug Task Force, Dyer and Lake County Sheriffs Departments, and police from Newbern, Tiptonville and Ridgely. Marshals Service (USMS). amy . Morales also instructed hitman Magdiel Pina Ramirez of Mexico to cut off part of his pinky finger to prove his loyalty, the DOJ said. July 13, 2020. An investigation involving an alleged drug overdose at the Super 8 motel on East Andrew Johnson Highway Monday morning resulted in the arrest of four women, including three on heroin December 22, 2020 Utilization of the latest methods and technology to dismantle, eliminate and/or disrupt these illegal actions. Main Office: Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Announces Major Drug Bust Involving Fentanyl and Fentanyl Laced Drugs, Union City Boys Knock Off 5th Ranked Gibson County; Girls Fall to Lady Pioneers, Kolitsch named acting provost and senior vice chancellor, Stewart County Dispatch Breaks Record During Storm, Suspected Tornado Touchdown Damages Homes, Band Students Represent Districts Best At All West, Weakley County Students Celebrate Reading In Unique Ways, Speakers remember Martin Luther King, Jr. during annual celebration. During the course of the undercover investigation, Jenkins indicated that he and his co-conspirators had used the Overhill apartment as a stash house and that fentanyl valued at $700,000 had been taken by robbers or law enforcement. These districts include Fentress County in the 8th Judicial District, Jackson County in the 15th Judicial District, and Overton, Pickett, Putnam, and Cumberland counties in the 13th Judicial District. WASHINGTON COUNTY -- More than $400,000 worth of illegal drugs and $250,000 cash were seized in a major drug bust in Washington County, part of a 20-month investigation into an alleged. Example video title will go here for this video. Individuals indicted could face a minimum of 10 years in jail or a maximum of life in prison, according to the DOJ. Thats worth repeating. At about 4:20 a.m. Thursday, deputies with the HCSO narcotics and tactical units along with agents of the Third Judicial Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force and officers with the Rogersville. The Middle Tennessee HIDTA Task Force is in the counties of Middle Tennessee as identified by the Appalachia HIDTA. The Gulf Coast HIDTA encompasses designated counties/parishes across the six states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. An additional 8 individuals were charged in separate indictments throughout March, according to the DOJ. The defendants appeared Tuesday in federal court in Knoxville. Phone: (931) 380-8837, 1616 Westgate Cir #363 In March 2019, a DEA investigation was initiated in the Jackson, Tennessee area. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Fentanyl A sworn statement from the passenger riding with then Nolensville commissioner Lisa Garramone in October 2020 claims she was driving just before an officer suspected she was drunk. 219 3rd Ave N Individuals seeking prescription drugs like Hydrocodone have found that heroin is cheaper and more accessible on the street. Seals started firing a pistol at them. Note: Internet Explorer has problems displaying the following charts. But police found a pelican case they'd left behind that had about 500 grams of suspected methamphetamine, according to records. - [Google Review], What to Do if You are Pulled Over for DUI, Finding the Right Criminal Defense Lawyer, Drug Bust in West Tennessee Yields Drug Crime Charges Against Nine. If youve been arrested but didnt have enough of the controlled substance in your possession to be charged with manufacturing or distributing the drug, you will be charged with possession. oxycodone, and marijuana, between October 2017 and November 2020. . A locked padlock "Seals emerged from his vehicle with an assault rifle and fired a very large number of shots at the troopers," according to an affidavit from Ted Francisco, a task force officer with Homeland Security Investigations. Each charged defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and convicted through due process of law. Acting DEA Administrator Timothy Shea announced the bust at a press conference Wednesday. ORDER REPRINT . U.S. Attorney Mark H. Wildasin, joined byFBI Special Agent in charge of the Memphis Division Douglas Korneski and DEA Special Agent in Charge of the Louisville Division J. Todd Scott, commended the investigative work of the agencies involved. Memphis Commercial Appeal 0:04 0:45 A traffic stop on Interstate 40 in Shelby County last week led to a large drug bust, the West Tennessee Judicial Violent Crime and Drug Task Force said. Established in 1998, the Appalachia HIDTA is comprised of sixty-five, predominately rural counties located within the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia. After the crash, the people in the vehicle ran away. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Columbia, TN 38401 Task Force Director Johnie Carter said he was ecstatic with the coordinated operation. CA houses for rent. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. Class E Felony: 1 to 6 years. It just wouldnt happen. Frontiersman Davy Crockett was in attendance when the town was platted. Consultation with an experienced drug crime lawyer will get you the best possible outcome for your case. Franklin, TN 37064 Inside the Doritos bag in his vehicle, authorities found 1.5 kilos of meth and about 500 grams of heroin, the affidavit states. Drug Investigation Division Special Agents assigned to the Appalachia High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area focus their efforts on drug trafficking in counties throughout East and Upper East Tennessee. Meth ring bust yields nearly 60 indictments. Elsewhere they found another 52 kilos of meth. In one incident, the organization kidnapped a woman who lost drug proceeds and used a hatchet to chop off one of her hands, before leaving her lying on the street, the DOJ said. This was a seriously deadly load, he said. JACKSON, Ga. - A big drug investigation that law enforcement dubbed Crystal Web in 12 Georgia . In total, the task force officers foundfive pounds of fentanyl, one pound of black tar heroin and approximately 2,500 unidentified pills.
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