Eastern District of Tennessee
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Federal Jury Convicts Sean Christopher Williams on Three Counts of Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – Today, following a three-day trial in United States District Court, Greeneville, Tennessee, a federal jury convicted Sean Christopher Williams, 53, of Johnson City, Tennessee, on three counts of Production of Child Pornography under 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a).
Sentencing is set for February 24, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., before United States District Judge J. Ronnie Greer, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville. Williams faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years in prison as to each count.
The evidence presented at trial showed that Williams used three minor children to engage in sexually explicit conduct and took photos of the sexually explicit conduct. The conduct occurred at Williams’ apartment in Johnson City, Tennessee. The evidence showed that Williams sexually assaulted each of the victims’ mothers while they were unconscious, around the same time that he took pornographic photos of their children. The criminal conduct extended over a 12-year period. Williams took photos of the first victim in 2008 and the two other victims on separate occasions in 2020. The jury was shown explicit photos of the victims that included Williams’ hands, including a distinctive tattoo on his middle finger and a scar on his wrist.
U.S. Attorney, Francis M. Hamilton, III, of the Eastern District of Tennessee, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico made the announcement.
Law enforcement agencies participating in the joint investigation which led to the indictment and conviction of Williams included the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, First Judicial District Attorney’s Office, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the Western Carolina University Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan L. Gomez and Emily M. Swecker represented the United States at trial.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click on the tab "resources.”
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Kingsport Man Sentenced to over 17 Years for Trafficking Methamphetamine and FentanylRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On November 4, 2024, Shane Douglas Stallard, 44, of Kingsport, was sentenced to 205 months in prison by the Honorable Ronnie Greer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville. Following imprisonment, Stallard will be on supervised release for five years.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Stallard agreed to plead guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual) and conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl, in violation of the 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1).
According to filed court documents, for at least four months, Stallard sold large quantities of methamphetamine and heroin/fentanyl in the Kingsport area. Stallard and his partner regularly made trips to North Carolina, where they purchased one kilogram of methamphetamine and six to seven ounces of heroin/fentanyl at a time. Stallard, a convicted felon, carried a firearm with him while he sold drugs and possessed numerous firearms which he kept at his home and at a storage unit. During the investigation Stallard twice sold a substance described as heroin to a confidential informant. Lab testing showed that on both occasions, the drug Stallard sold contained heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. On April 1, 2022, Stallard was arrested following a traffic stop. A loaded firearm was found in the front passenger floorboard of the vehicle where Stallard had been sitting. Another loaded firearm and approximately 80 grams of fentanyl were found in the back of the vehicle. The evidence showed that Stallard was on the way to a hotel to sell the fentanyl. A few days later, police executed a search warrant at the Kingsport residence where Stallard had been staying prior to his arrest. They also searched a storage unit that Stallard used. Police found seven firearms, ammunition, and approximately $27,000 cash at the residence. In the storage unit, they found six firearms and approximately 300 grams of methamphetamine.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.
The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the Kingsport Police Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Emily M. Swecker represented the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communicates, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring results.
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Rocky Hill Pharmacy and Its Owners Indicted for Conspiring to Submit False Pharmacy Claims, Making False Statements, and Aggravated Identity TheftRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - A federal grand jury in Knoxville returned an eight (8) count indictment on October 16, 2024, against Rocky Hill Pharmacy, LLC, and its co-owners, Anne Warren (“Warren”), 44, and Tiffany Haney (“Haney”), 41, both of Knoxville, Tennessee, for Conspiracy to Commit Healthcare Fraud, False Statements in Connection with Health Care Matters, and Aggravated Identity Theft. Warren and Haney appeared in court on November 1, 2024, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jill E. McCook for an initial appearance. They were released pending trial, on a date to be set, in United States District Court, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The indictment alleges that Warren and Haney altered or forged prescriptions in support of claims for reimbursement to various drug plans. The indictment also alleges that Warren and Haney made false statements and used the names and National Provider Identification (NPI) numbers of another person without lawful authority.
If convicted of Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud (Count 1), Warren and Haney face a term of ten (10) years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and supervised release of up to three (3) years. If convicted of False Statements Relating to Health Care Matters (Counts 2 – 4), Warren and Haney face a term of five (5) years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and supervised release of up to one (1) year, and if convicted of Aggravated Identity Theft (Counts 5 – 8), Warren and Haney face a term of two (2) years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and supervised release of up to one year.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.
This indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General, the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation – Medicaid Fraud Control Division.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy S. Dykes will represent the United States.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Chattanooga Man Sentenced for Firearm and Explosives ViolationsRead the Press Release
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – On November 1, 2024, Anthony Christopher Lively, 41, of Chattanooga, was sentenced to 54 months in prison by the Honorable Travis R. McDonough, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Following imprisonment, Lively will be on supervised release for three years.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Lively agreed to plead guilty to possession of an unregistered firearm silencer and unregistered destructive devices, in violation of the National Firearms Act (“NFA”), 26 U.S.C. §§ 5841. 5861(d), and 5871.
According to filed court documents, in August of 2022, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Lively’s Chattanooga home. Investigators located and seized a Grand Power Stribog, Model SP9A1, 9-millimter, short-barrel rifle (8-inch barrel length) equipped with a foldable stock and a fully loaded magazine; multiple firearm magazines; multiple lists detailing explosive components and parts; and assorted ammunition. Further investigation revealed that prior to the execution of the warrant, Lively enlisted a family member to remove contraband from his home. From that family member’s home, law enforcement located and seized a firearm silencer; improvised explosive devices, commonly referred to as “pipe bombs” and “Molotov cocktails”, an improvised incendiary device, commonly referred to as a “Molotov cocktail”, and various fuzes, initiators, and other explosives-related components. Lively later admitted to purchasing and modifying the short-barrel rifle and firearm silencer and constructing the pipe bombs and Molotov cocktail. He also admitted that he directed his family member to remove the items from his home. The firearms and devices were not registered, to Lively or otherwise, in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, as required by the NFA.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.
The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations-Chattanooga Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Chattanooga Field Office; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Chattanooga Police Department Bomb Squad and Special Victims Unit; and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office
Assistant United States Attorney Kevin T. Brown represented the United States.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Bristol Virginia Man Convicted in Federal Court of Carjacking and Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On October 30, 2024, following a three-day trial in the United States District Court in Greeneville, Tennessee, a jury convicted Charles Nile Mixon, 48, of Bristol, Virginia, of Carjacking in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 2119; Using and Brandishing a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(ii); Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon in violation of 18. U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), and Possession of a Stolen Firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(j).
Sentencing is set for March 6, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. before the Honorable Clifton L Corker, United States District Judge, in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville. Mixon faces a minimum mandatory sentence of twenty-two years in federal prison.
According to witnesses, court documents, and evidence presented at trial, in the early morning hours of May 24, 2023, Mixon carjacked a victim at gunpoint in the parking lot of a Taco Bell restaurant in Bristol, Tennessee. Mixon forced the victim to give him the keys to the vehicle and then briefly held the victim at gunpoint inside the car. As Mixon fled the restaurant’s parking lot with the victim in the passenger seat, the victim jumped from the moving car to escape. Within minutes, the Bristol Tennessee Police Department located Mixon in the stolen car just as he arrived at the Tennessee/Virginia state line and attempted to stop him. Mixon refused to stop and fled into Virginia. Evidence showed that he later dropped the victim’s car at a gas station in Kingsport, Tennessee, before stealing an unattended vehicle at the gas station.
On May 25, 2023, Mixon woke up a relative to inform them that he had taken the relatives’ firearm and used it to carjack the victim at the Taco Bell. The relative contacted law enforcement who responded. Mixon fled, but was arrested after a brief chase from Bristol, Virginia, into Bristol, Tennessee. A search of Mixon at the time of his arrest recovered the stolen firearm.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton, III of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.
The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the Bristol Tennessee Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”).
Senior Officer Jared Patrick with the Bristol Tennessee Police Department led the investigation, along with Special Agent Jamie Jenkins of ATF.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys B. Todd Martin and Emily Swecker represented the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communicates, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring results.
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DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back DayRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. On Saturday, October 26th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) will provide the public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Location information is available from the DEA, along with items that cannot be accepted. This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
This October’s event is DEA’s 27thnationwide event since its inception 14 years ago. Last spring, Americans turned in nearly 670,136 pounds of prescription drugs at nearly 4,869 sites operated by the DEA and 4,607 from its state and local law enforcement partners.
The DEA will now accept vaping devices and cartridges at any of its drop-off locations during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. It is important to note that DEA cannot accept devices containing lithium-ion batteries. If batteries cannot be removed prior to drop-off, DEA encourages individuals to consult with stores that recycle lithium-ion batteries. Concerns have been raised across the United States over illnesses and deaths caused by vaping and the high youth vaping initiation rates. To support a healthy lifestyle and energetic population, especially among America’s youth, DEA is committed to doing all it can to help safely dispose of vaping devices and substances.
The DEA’s “Take Back” day and “Get Smart About Drugs” initiatives address the vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses because of these drugs. Synthetic opioids, such as illicit fentanyl, are the primary driver of the increase in overdose deaths. For information on DEA’s “Take Back” in Spanish, click here, or for more information on the “Get Smart About Drugs” publication, click for English or Spanish.
In addition to DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, there are many other ways to dispose of unwanted prescription drugs every day, including the 11,000 authorized collectors that are available all year long. For more information, visit DEA’s year-round collection site locator. Participating in the next DEA Take Back Day on Saturday, October 26th, simply means cleaning out your medicine cabinet or anywhere you keep unused, unwanted, or expired medications and dropping them off at your nearest collection site. For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the October 26th Take Back day event, go to DEA Drug Take Back event or by calling 800-882-9539.
The FDA also provides information on how to properly dispose of prescription drugs. More information is available here: English or Spanish.
###Chattanooga Provider Settles Allegations of Improper Billing for Electro-Acupuncture DevicesRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that Apple Corporate Wellness, Inc., now known as Bryn Medical Center and Basket Medical PLLC (collectively “Apple”), agreed to pay $1,148,598 to resolve allegations that it knowingly and improperly billed Medicare for electro-acupuncture using auricular stimulation devices in violation of the False Claims Act (“FCA”).
Apple was an outpatient clinic located in Chattanooga, Tennessee that offered medical and chiropractic services for the treatment of pain. According to the settlement agreement, the United States contends that for dates of service between June 28, 2016, and June 19, 2017, Apple presented, or caused to be presented, to Medicare false claims for payment for the placement of electro-acupuncture devices on patients. The placement of these devices was improperly billed using Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (“HCPCS”) Code L8679, which resulted in Apple receiving payments from Medicare to which it was not entitled.
HCPCS Code L8679 is a billing code for “implantable neurostimulator, pulse generator” devices that are surgically implanted into the central nervous system or targeted peripheral nerves through procedures that are typically performed by a surgeon in an operating room. However, the United States contends that Apple falsely billed Medicare using HCPCS Code L8679 for electro-acupuncture devices it knew were not surgically implanted into their patients and for procedures that did not involve anesthesia or take place in an operating room. The underlying services for which Apple submitted the HCPCS Code L8679 claims involved application of a device used for electro-acupuncture. The electro-acupuncture devices were applied by inserting needles into patients’ ears and by taping the devices behind their ears with an adhesive. Medicare does not reimburse for electro-acupuncture devices billed as neurostimulators and did not reimburse for acupuncture during the period of the covered conduct.
This investigation resulted from a coordinated effort between the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Southeastern Unified Program Integrity Contractor.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Rodriguez represented the United States.
The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
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Press Release by U.S. Attorney Relating to November 2024 General ElectionRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The United States Attorney’s Office announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Mac D. Heavener, III will lead the efforts of the Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, election. AUSA Heavener has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Eastern District of Tennessee, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the Office’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at (865) 544-0751.
“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election,” said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. “Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process. AUSA/DEO Mac Heavener will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone numbers: (423) 823-5009 or (423) 218-6652.”
Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.
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Dandridge Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Sexual Exploitation of A Child, Production of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On October 16, 2024, Glenn Fred Glatz, 68, currently of Dandridge, Tennessee, was sentenced to life in prison by the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville.
On July 28, 2023, a federal jury found Glatz guilty of four counts of production of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a) and (e); one count of receiving child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(2)(A); three counts of transferring obscene matter to a minor under 16 years of age in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1470; and one count of possession of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(5)(B).
According to court filed documents, this is the third conviction of Glatz for sexual crimes against children. The evidence presented at trial showed that Glatz used DeviantArt.com, a social media platform, to befriend young girls which he then groomed and sexually exploited. Witnesses testified that Glatz was on the sex offender registry for prior convictions involving the molestation of a young girl. The evidence further demonstrated that he enticed at least two girls, ages 13 and 14, to produce live sexually explicit videos and images of themselves for Glatz to view over social media. Additionally, Glatz sent the victims nude images to other young females in hopes of enticing other minors to send him sexual images of themselves.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton, III of the Eastern District of Tennessee; and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This investigation was led by FBI Special Agent Bianca L. Pearson.
Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Kolman and Suzanne H. Sullivan represented the United States at trial.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click on the tab "resources.”
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U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III Announces over $5.1M in Justice Department Grants to Address ReentryRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III today announced awards of over $5.1 Million in Department of Justice grants to help reentry in the Eastern District of Tennessee. The grants were awarded by the Department’s Office of Justice Programs.
The following organizations received funding:
- The City of Chattanooga - $1,999,187
- Hamilton County - $844,294
- Helen Ross McNabb - $825,000
- The City of Knoxville - $700,000
- The Young Women’s Christian Association – $550,000
- County of Bedford - $150,000
- The City of Johnson City - $13,657
The awards announced above are being made as part of the regular end-of-fiscal year cycle. More information about these and other OJP awards can be found on the OJP Grant Awards Page.
About the Office of Justice Programs
The Office of Justice Programs provides federal leadership, grants, training, technical assistance, and other resources to improve the nation’s capacity to prevent and reduce crime; advance equity and fairness in the administration of justice; assist victims; and uphold the rule of law. More information about OJP and its program offices – the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Institute of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office for Victims of Crime, and SMART Office – can be found at www.ojp.gov.
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Knoxville Man Sentenced to 380 Months for Drug and Firearm Offenses After Assaulting Officer and Crashing Van in Attempt to FleeRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On October 1, 2024, Michel Harris, 38, of Knoxville, TN, was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 380 months by the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. Following his imprisonment, he will be on supervised release for 10 years.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Harris pled guilty to possessing with intent to distribute nearly a kilogram of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)(A) and possessing a firearm while being a felon, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g).
According to the filed plea agreement, Harris, who is a convicted felon, illegally purchased a firearm, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and other firearm paraphernalia, including upper receivers for an AR type rifle, and 100-round, 60-round, and 50-round drum magazines for various caliber firearms, while attending the RK Gun Show in Knoxville in April 2022. After leaving the gun show, Harris, who had been under surveillance, committed a traffic violation, and was stopped at a gas station off Clinton Highway.
Officers initiated a search of Harris’ van while at the gas station. During the search, Harris ran to the driver’s side door, got in, and sped onto Clinton Highway, with a KPD officer inside. The officer attempted to restrain Harris and gain control of the van but was unsuccessful. Ultimately, the van crashed into oncoming traffic, hitting two vehicles head on. Harris, unharmed during the crash, fled on foot and was apprehended a short time later. The officer suffered a head wound and a badly broken arm. No other drivers or passengers were seriously injured.
“Harris’ conduct was dangerous and brazen. He jeopardized the lives of countless innocent bystanders and law enforcement officers during his attempt to flee, and an untold number of people were endangered by the weapons and ammunition Harris illegally purchased,” said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. “Our office is committed to uncovering and prosecuting dangerous criminals who gravely harm our communities through drug trafficking and the illegal purchase of firearms and ammunition.”
“Illegal firearm possession is a serious threat to public safety as demonstrated in this case,” said ATF Nashville Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson. “The safety of our communities and protecting the public is one of the cornerstones of what our agency seeks to accomplish every day. This sentence highlights ATF’s commitment to protecting the public through vigorous enforcement of the federal firearms laws by identifying, arresting, and presenting for prosecution the perpetrators illegally obtaining firearms and those responsible for violent crimes committed in our communities.”
“Harris’ actions were reckless and showed a complete disregard for the safety of others in our community. We are incredibly fortunate that our officer, Lieutenant Michael Geddings, was able to make a full recovery from the injuries he sustained while attempting to apprehend Harris. I appreciate the efforts of the U.S. Attorney's Office to hold him to account for his behavior,” said Knoxville Chief of Police Paul Noel.
The charges were the result of an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with the assistance of the Knoxville Police Department and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anne-Marie Svolto and Michael Deel of the Eastern District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Memphis Man Charged with Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - On September 18, 2024, a federal grand jury in Knoxville, TN, returned a one-count indictment against Antonio Fontaine, 47, of Memphis, TN. According to the indictment, the defendant is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1), stemming from offense conduct on September 11, 2024.
Fontaine had his initial appearance on September 26, 2024, before the Honorable Jill E. McCook, United States Magistrate Judge, and entered a plea of not guilty. This case has been set for trial on January 14, 2025, before the Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer, United States District Judge, in the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville.
If convicted, Fontaine faces a prison term of up to 15 years and other penalties.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.
This indictment is the result of an investigation led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with significant support from the Knoxville Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Gilmore will represent the United States.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Federal Jury Convicts Kingston Man of Attempting to Entice Minors to Engage in Unlawful Sexual Activity and Other Child Sex Crime OffensesRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On September 25, 2024, following a-three-day trial in United States District Court at Knoxville, a federal jury convicted Christopher Edward Allen, 34, of Kingston, TN, of nine counts involving child pornography and attempting to entice minors to engage in unlawful sexual activity. Specifically, Allen was convicted of three counts of attempting to entice a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity, one count of producing child pornography, two counts of attempting to produce child pornography, two counts of transporting a visual depiction of a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct, and one count of transferring obscene material.
Sentencing is set for February 6, 2025, at 2:00 pm, in front of the Honorable Judge Thomas A. Varlan, United States District Judge, United States District Court at Knoxville. Allen faces a sentence of up to life in prison.
The evidence presented at trial showed that, among other things, Allen used various social media platforms to identify minors online. Once Allen identified the minors, he enticed them over social media and texting apps to engage in unlawful sexual activity and to send nude images of themselves engaged in sexually explicit conduct. In two instances, Allen paid the minors for nude images of themselves, which Allen later emailed to himself using the minor’s name as the subject line of the emails. Allen also sent sexually explicit images of himself to minors using social media. In at least one instance, Allen met a minor in person at the restaurant where Allen worked. Allen added the minor to one of his social media accounts. Later that night, Allen communicated with the minor over social media. Law enforcement learned of those messages and, with consent from the minor’s parents, assumed the minor’s identity on social media two days later. That same day, Allen was arrested at a park in Kingston, TN, after arriving with the intent to meet the minor.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) made the announcement.
FBI and the Tennessee’s Ninth Judicial District Attorney General’s Office investigated the case that led to the indictment and subsequent conviction of Allen.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Kolman and William A. Roach, Jr., represented the United States at trial.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click on the tab "resources.”
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Nine Indicted for Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On May 15, 2024, a federal grand jury in Knoxville, Tennessee, returned a 21-count indictment against nine defendants—Jamal Witcher, 35, of Mansfield, Ohio; Taeshawn Witcher, 18, of Detroit, Michigan; Skyler Anthony Starkey Steward, 18, of Mansfield, Ohio; Ricky Lynn Coffey, 36, of Bean Station, Tennessee; Keshon Lee, 27, of Detroit, Michigan; Emani Mason, 25, of Detroit, Michigan; Gianna Ryan, 22, of New Castle, Pennsylvania; Payton English, 27, of Mooresburg, Tennessee; and Bernie Smallwood, 62, of Mooresburg, Tennessee.
The indictment charges all the defendants with a conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 846. It additionally charges Jamal Witcher, Taeshawn Witcher, Steward, Coffey, Lee, Mason, and Ryan with possession with intent to distribute or distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). The indictment charges Coffey with possession with intent to distribute cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1), possession of a firearm, including a firearm equipped with a silencer, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), and possession of an unregistered firearm in violation of 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d). It also charges Jamal Witcher, Taeshawn Witcher, and Steward with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 924(c). Jamal Witcher is charged with money laundering in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1956(a)(3). English and Smallwood are also charged with maintaining drug involved premises in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 856(a)(2).
The indictment was unsealed after the last of the defendants appeared in court on September 25, 2024, before the Honorable Debra C. Poplin, United States Magistrate Judge in the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. All have pleaded not guilty, and the trial has been set for November 19, 2024, before the Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court at Knoxville.
Upon conviction, Jamal Witcher, Taeshawn Witcher, and Steward each faces a statutory mandatory minimum term of 15 years and up to life in prison and other penalties; Coffey faces a statutory mandatory minimum term of 40 years and up to life in prison and other penalties; Lee, Mason, Ryan, and Smallwood each faces a statutory mandatory minimum term of ten years and up to life in prison and other penalties; and English faces up to 20 years in prison and other penalties.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton, III, of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.
This indictment is the result of an investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the 4th Judicial District Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the 3rd Judicial District Drug Task Force, the Grainger County Sheriff’s Office, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, the Hamblen County Sheriff’s Office, the Knoxville Police Department, the White Pine Police Department, and the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General Bureau of Narcotics Investigation.
The case is a part of the 313 Initiative, a concerted and organized effort by numerous local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to identify, target, and dismantle groups from the Detroit area that are bringing deadly drug combinations into Knox County and surrounding areas.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Hollingshead-Cook will represent the United States.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Knoxville Woman Sentenced to over Eight Years in Murder for Hire PlotRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On September 18, 2024, Melody Sasser, 48, of Knoxville, TN, was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 100 months by the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. Following her imprisonment, Sasser will be on supervised release for three years. Sasser was also ordered to pay over $5,389.31 in restitution to the victim in this case.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Sasser pled guilty to using interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1958.
According to filed court documents, Sasser admitted to using a dark web-hosted site known as the Online Killers Market for the purpose of hiring a hitman to murder an Alabama resident. In her communications with the site, Sasser provided photographs and location information of the victim. Sasser also requested that the killing appear “to seem random or accident. Or plant drugs, do not want a long investigation.” In exchange for the anticipated murder of the victim, Sasser used the internet to transmit nearly $10,000 in cryptocurrency to the would-be assassins. Ultimately, the plan was unsuccessful. Sasser was arrested, and her home searched. At her house, law enforcement uncovered a journal listing out several other hitman websites, a handwritten account of communications with the Online Killers Market, and a stack of U.S. currency underneath a sticky note listing a Bitcoin address.
United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud made the announcement.
The charges were the result of an investigation by HSI Knoxville and HSI Birmingham, with the assistance of the Knoxville Police Department and the Prattville, Alabama Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne-Marie Svolto of the Eastern District of Tennessee is prosecuting the case.
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U.S. Attorney's Office to Work with Local Partners to Reduce Domestic ViolenceRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Attorney General Merrick B. Garland has approved an initial set of 78 communities across 47 states, territories, and the District of Columbia for designation under Section 1103 of the Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization Act of 2022.
The Justice Department - through its United States Attorney’s offices (USAOs) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Field Divisions - will partner with each designated jurisdiction to develop a plan to reduce intimate partner firearm violence and to prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders prohibited under 18 U.S. Code Section 922(g) from owning firearms.
In making the announcement, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland explained, “Today, I designated an initial set of 78 communities across the country, with more to follow, where we will surge Department resources to combat firearm violence against intimate partners and children.”
In the Eastern District of Tennessee, the City of Chattanooga was designated.
“The cooperation and partnership between federal and state law enforcement in Chattanooga has always been strong,” said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III, of the Eastern District of Tennessee. “Our office supports the Department of Justice’s designation of Chattanooga as a community where federal prosecutors and agents will continue to work beside our local counterparts and community stakeholders to further target the most violent individuals, including violent domestic abusers. In collaboration with our state and local partners, we will continue to hold armed domestic violence offenders accountable.”
“ATF recognizes the role firearms play in violent crimes and, more specifically, domestic violence.” ATF Special Agent in Charge, Marcus Watson stated. “We at ATF are committed to aggressively pursuing prohibited possession of firearms due to domestic violence convictions and will continue to work with our partners to remove convicted domestic abusers who possess firearms from our communities.”
Locally, the United States Attorney’s Office regularly assists with the prosecution of violent individuals who illegally possess firearms. Federal prosecutors routinely collaborate with Chattanooga-area assistant district attorneys general to evaluate strategies to maximize the effective prosecution of firearms crime in both state and federal court. Prosecutors estimate at least 50 percent of those individuals identified for federal prosecution for these offenses have a previous domestic violence arrest or conviction.
Designated areas across the country include rural areas, suburban areas, urban areas, and Tribal communities. The designation represents the partnership and coordination between the department and the local jurisdiction to ensure federal resources are being leveraged effectively to address intimate partner firearm violence.
The Justice Department anticipates additional jurisdictions to be designated as USAOs continue to coordination with their local stakeholders. All USAOs, with or without specific community designations under Section 1103, will continue to combat intimate partner firearm violence and prioritize prosecutions of domestic violence offenders as part of their Project Safe Neighborhoods strategy and in support of the Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime.
Complete List of Jurisdictions as of September 11, 2024:
Montgomery County, Alabama
Jefferson County, Alabama
Little Rock, Arkansas
Washington County, Arkansas
Fresno, California
San Diego, California
Hartford, Connecticut
Ward 7, District of Columbia
Jacksonville, Florida
Alachua County, Florida
Metro Miami-Dade County, Florida
Macon-Bibb County, Georgia
DeKalb County, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii
Ada County, Idaho
Danville, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Madison County, Illinois
Gary, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Des Moines, Iowa
Linn County, Iowa
Garden City, Kansas
Fayette County, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Rapides Parish, Louisiana
Western Maine Region: Franklin, Oxford, and Androscoggin Counties, Maine
Baltimore City, Maryland
Boston, Massachusetts
Saginaw, Michigan
Lansing, Michigan
Greenville, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Cape Girardeau County, Missouri
Greene County, Missouri
Gallatin County and Bozeman, Montana
Northeast Omaha, Nebraska
Las Vegas, Nevada
Strafford County, New Hampshire
Bernalillo County, New Mexico
Borough of Brooklyn, New York
Onondaga County, New York
Borough and County of the Bronx, New York
Monroe County, New York
Fayetteville and Cumberland County, North Carolina
Forsyth County, North Carolina
Asheville (including Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians), North Carolina
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Toledo, Ohio
Muskogee County, Oklahoma
Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Oklahoma
Portland, Oregon
Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Greenville County, South Carolina
Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota
City of Chattanooga, Tennessee
Memphis/Shelby County, Tennessee
Gregg County, Texas
Amarillo, Texas
Houston, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
Salt Lake County, Utah
South Hampton Roads (Chesapeake/Norfolk/Portsmouth/Virginia Beach), Virginia
Oswald Harris Court Housing Community, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Chittenden County, Vermont
Spokane County, Washington
King County, Washington
Wheeling Area (Ohio/Brooke/Hancock Counties), West Virginia
Kanawha County, West Virginia
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Dane County, Wisconsin
Fremont County, Wyoming
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Cody Andrew Seals Sentenced to Thirty Years in Prison for Drug Trafficking and Attempted Murder of Law Enforcement OfficersRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On September 13, 2024, Cody Andrew Seals, 27, currently of Luttrell, Tennessee, was sentenced to 30 years in prison by the Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville.
On April 16, 2024, pursuant to a filed plea agreement, Seals pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(b)(1)(A); discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c); and the attempted murder of two Tennessee Highway Patrol Troopers who were assisting federal law enforcement agents, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1114.
According to filed court documents, federal law enforcement agents and task force officers were investigating a Mexican drug trafficking cartel that was distributing hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine into the Eastern District of Tennessee and elsewhere. On January 9, 2020, law enforcement officials conducting surveillance observed Seals driving up to a hotel to purchase large quantities of methamphetamine and heroin. Law enforcement followed Seals and requested assistance from the Tennessee Highway Patrol (“THP”) to stop Seal’s vehicle. As two THP Troopers attempted to conduct a traffic stop of Seals’ pick up on Highway 27 north of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Seals fled at a high rate of speed and fired a handgun at the Troopers. After a chase lasting several minutes, THP Troopers were able to force Seals’ truck to a stop on the highway. Seals got out of his truck and began rapidly firing a rifle at both THP Troopers, striking one of the Troopers in the leg. The Troopers returned fire, striking Seals non-fatally. Seals stopped shooting and was arrested. A subsequent search of Seal’s truck resulted in the seizure of 1.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, 500 grams of heroin, and several firearms.
United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud made the announcement.
Law enforcement agencies participating in the joint investigation which led to the indictment and subsequent conviction of Seals include Homeland Security Investigations, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee’s 9th Judicial District Drug Task Force, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia State Patrol, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Quencer represented the United States.
This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
###Jamaican Man Sentenced to 63 Months for His Role in Conspiracy to Defraud Elderly WomanRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On September 4, 2024, Morice Armani Brown, 24 years old, a Jamaican national, currently of Florida, was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of 63 months by the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. Following his imprisonment, he will be on supervised release for a period of one year. The defendant was also ordered to repay nearly $700,000 in restitution to the victim in this case.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Brown pled guilty to conspiracy to commit mail fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1349 and 1341. Brown’s co-conspirators, Marklyn Antonio Forrester, Jamali Jermaine Ramsay, and Jahmarley Kiboki McFarlane, were sentenced to 63 months, 36 months, and 57 months in prison, respectively. A fifth individual, Tessa Nicole Hines, is scheduled to be sentenced in October 2024, for her role in laundering money related to this scheme.
According to court documents, Brown conspired to defraud a 76-year-old Lenoir City resident out of nearly $700,000 by tricking her into believing she had won millions of dollars in a sweepstakes’ competition through the mail. Brown and the co-conspirators convinced the victim to pay various fees and taxes to claim the winnings and traveled to Lenoir City to collect funds from the victim. The conspirators then split the proceeds between themselves and others.
United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton, III, of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.
The charges were the result of an investigation by the Lenoir City Police Department and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anne-Marie Svolto and Michael Deel of the Eastern District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.
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Ooltewah Man Sentenced to 32 Years Imprisonment for Exploitation of A Minor, Receipt of Child Pornography, and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Today, Dewayne Douglas Price, Jr., 42, of Ooltewah, Tennessee, was sentenced to 384 months by the Honorable Travis R. McDonough, Chief United States District Court Judge, in the United States District Court at Chattanooga, to a term of imprisonment of 32 years. Following his incarceration, Price will be on a term of supervised release for life, and he will be required to register with state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions.
Pursuant to the filed plea agreement, Price pled guilty to four counts, two counts of Exploitation of a Minor, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a), receipt of Child Pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2), and Possession of Child Pornography, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(4)(b), on February 23, 2024.
According to filed court documents, Price solicited women throughout the United States to molest their children and then send him images of the abuse. Price confessed to law enforcement, and some of the women throughout the U.S. have also been charged by federal or state authorities.
“As the court records show, Price’s conduct was depraved and outrageous,” said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. “Our office is committed to pursuing, uncovering, and prosecuting to the full extent of the law the criminals who sexually victimize children.”
“Children are among the most vulnerable members of our community, and we must protect them in any way we can. This case is a great example of the work that can be done when state, federal, and local law enforcement agencies collaborate across state lines. We will continue to work diligently with our partners to identify and investigate those who engage in this predatory behavior to ensure the safety of our children,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Law enforcement agencies participating in the joint investigation which led to the conviction of Price included the FBI and the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney James Brooks prosecuted the case in coordination with Special Assistant United States Attorney Charles D. Minor, who is assigned to the United States Department of Justice to combat child sex offenses in partnership with the Hamilton County District Attorney General’s Office.
This case was investigated as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, click on the link for “Publications & Resources.”
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Tennessee Man and Company Plead Guilty to Violating the Clean Water ActRead the Press Release
On Aug. 20, Christopher Domermuth, 49, and Domermuth Environmental Services LLC (DES), based in Knoxville, Tennessee, both pleaded guilty today to violating the Clean Water Act by knowingly discharging pollutants into a navigable waterway without a permit. Sentencing has been set for Dec. 12 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville.
Domermuth faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison, followed by a term of supervised release of up to one year. The parties have recommended to the Court that DES pay a $50,000 fine and be placed on probation for three years.
According to court documents, Domermuth operated DES, which was engaged in the business of processing petroleum-contaminated soil and water in Knoxville. On July 26, 2018, DES workers rolled over a previously exhumed underground storage tank, which spilled a mixture of petroleum and water onto a concrete pad at the facility. DES employees and Domermuth threw absorbent pads into the spilled mixture and then used a portable pump to pump the petroleum-contaminated mixture over a retaining wall at DES. The oily mixture flowed over a neighboring property and into a culvert leading to the Holston River.
“Domermuth Environmental Services and Christopher Domermuth were supposed to be cleaning up contaminated water and soil to protect the environment, but instead caused the discharge of pollutants. These felony guilty pleas demonstrate our commitment to enforcing the Clean Water Act,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division.
“Our office is committed to protecting our natural resources in East Tennessee,” said U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee. “I applaud the collaborative efforts of the federal and state law enforcement agencies that brought these violators to justice.”
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division, EPA Office of Inspector General (OIG), Tennessee Valley Authority-OIG, FBI and Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation investigated the case.
Senior Trial Attorney Matthew T. Morris of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy S. Dykes for the Eastern District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.
Tennessee Man and Company Plead Guilty to Violating the Clean Water ActRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On August 20, 2024, Christopher Domermuth, 49, and Domermuth Environmental Services, LLC (“DES”), based in Knoxville, both pleaded guilty today to violating the Clean Water Act by knowingly discharging pollutants into a navigable waterway without a permit, in violation of 33 U.S.C. §§ 1311 and 1319(c), in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. Mr. Domermuth faces a maximum term of up to three years in Federal prison, followed by a term of supervised release of up to one year.
According to court documents, Mr. Domermuth operated DES, which was engaged in the business of processing petroleum-contaminated soil and water in Knoxville. On July 26, 2018, DES workers rolled over a previously exhumed underground storage tank which spilled a mixture of petroleum and water onto a concrete pad at the facility. DES employees and Mr. Domermuth threw absorbent pads into the spilled mixture and then used a portable pump to pump the petroleum-contaminated mixture over a retaining wall at DES. The oily mixture flowed over a neighboring property and into a culvert leading to the Holston River.
“Domermuth Environmental Services and Christopher Domermuth were engaged in a business that was supposed to be cleaning up contaminated water and soil to protect the environment,” said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim. “Their actions instead led to the discharge of pollutants into the environment they were supposed to help protect. These felony guilty pleas represent our commitment to enforcing the Clean Water Act.”
“Our office is committed to protecting our natural resources in East Tennessee,” said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. “I applaud the collaborative efforts of the federal and state law enforcement agencies that brought these violators to justice.”
This prosecution was the result of a joint investigation between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Criminal Investigation Division, EPA - Office of Inspector General (OIG), the Tennessee Valley Authority-OIG, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation conducted the investigation. Senior Trial Attorney Matthew T. Morris of the Department of Justice’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy S. Dykes are prosecuting the case on behalf of the United States.
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Sevierville Man Sentenced to over 12 Years Imprisonment for Receipt of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On August 21, 2024, Ronnie Joe Maples, 47, currently of Sevierville, Tennessee was sentenced to 151 months by the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. Following his incarceration, Maples will be on lifetime supervised release and will be required to register with state sex offender registries and to comply with special sex offender conditions.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Maples pled guilty to one count of receipt of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(2).
According to documents filed in the case, Maples and another individual discussed actively molesting children and producing child pornography on the internet. During these discussions, Maples received child pornography from this individual. In November 2022, the individual with whom Maples was communicating began cooperating with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the United States Secret Service (USSS). Law enforcement subsequently obtained a search warrant for Maples’ Facebook account and cellular phone, which confirmed that Maples received child pornography.
U.S. Attorney of the Eastern District of Tennessee, Francis M. Hamilton III, and FBI Special Agent in Charge, Joseph E. Carrico made the announcement.
The criminal information was the result of an investigation by the FBI and the USSS.
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Kolman represented the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click on the tab "resources.”
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Knoxville Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Enticement of A ChildRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On August 22, 2024, Dominique J. Starr, 29, currently of Knoxville, Tennessee, was sentenced to 180 months imprisonment by the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. Following his incarceration, Starr will be on supervised release for twenty years and will be required to register with state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions during his supervised release.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Starr agreed to plead guilty to an information charging him with one count of enticement of a child in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2422(b).
According to documents filed with the court, in October 2022, Starr began communicating online with a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) undercover agent in Portland, Oregon, whom Starr believed to be a 13-year-old female. Starr solicited nude photos and sex from the purported minor on several occasions over a period of many months. Starr also threatened to stalk, kidnap, and rape the purported minor. During the investigation, undercover agents from two other FBI offices reported contact with Starr after he solicited nude photos and discussed meeting them for sex. The FBI obtained search warrants for social media accounts associated with Starr which showed Starr was in contact with approximately 47 other purported minors ranging in age from 9 years old to 17 years old.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee and FBI Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico made the announcement.
The criminal information was the result of an investigation by the FBI. This investigation was led by FBI Special Agent Jason Stewart.
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Kolman represented the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click on the tab "resources.”
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Former Knox County Teacher Sentenced to Twenty Years for Attempted Production and Production of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE Tenn. – Today, Zachariah Luaie Albaba, 33, a former teacher with the Knox County School system, currently of Rocky Top, Tennessee, was sentenced to two hundred and forty months in prison by the Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. Following his incarceration, Albaba will be on supervised release for his lifetime and will be required to register with state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions during his supervised release.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Albaba agreed to plead guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of production of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2251(a) and one count of attempted production of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. 2251(a).
According to the filed plea agreement, on September 11, 2022, in the Eastern District of Tennessee, in two separate communications, Albaba contacted two minor boys in different locations via OMEGLE, an internet application which provides real-time video communications. The real-time video communications with the two boys were located on Albaba’s cell phone. In each of the two videos, Albaba appears in the right-hand corner of the video requesting a male child to engage in sexual conduct and Albaba promises he will do likewise when the child is finished. One video shows a child engaging in sexual conduct, the other video does not. Neither boy has been identified.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee; Special Agent in Charge, Rana Saoud of the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); and Acting Resident Agent in Charge, Lesley Cochran of the United States Secret Service (USSS) - Knoxville and Kentucky made the announcement.
The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the HSI; USSS; Knoxville Police Department-Internet Crimes Against Children Unit; Tennessee Internet Crimes Against Children; Kentucky Office of Attorney General; Campbell County Sheriff’s Office; and Rocky Top Police Department. This investigation was led by HSI Task Force Agent Thomas Evans.
Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Kolman represented the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click on the tab "resources.”
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Husband and Wife Arrested for Fraud, Money Laundering, and Tax OffensesRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On August 8, 2024, a federal grand jury in Knoxville returned a 14-count indictment against Kenneth Francis Lee, 53, and Susan Amie Lee, 54, of Knoxville, TN. Kenneth Lee was indicted on seven counts of wire fraud, one count of money laundering, and three counts of tax offenses, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1343; 1956(h), 26 U.S.C. §§ 7201 and 7203. Susan Lee was indicted on three counts of money laundering offenses, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §§ 1956/1957. Kenneth and Susan Lee appeared in court today before the Honorable Judge Debra C. Poplin, United States Magistrate Judge and entered pleas of not guilty to the charges in the indictment. Trial has been set for October 22, 2024, before the Honorable Judge Thomas A. Varlan, United States District Court Judge in United States District Court, in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The filed indictment alleges that from March 2019 through August 8, 2024, Kenneth Francis Lee executed a scheme to defraud investors and obtain funds by falsely claiming that Lee was in litigation to sell a company to a large U.S. based investment firm. Victims wired funds to Kenny Lee for “legal fees” to help procure the settlement funds. In exchange, the victims were promised a percentage of the sale proceeds. The indictment alleges that there was no settlement and Lee used the funds for personal expenses, including funding his gambling habit. It is further alleged that Kenneth Lee did not report any of this income to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), despite being required to do so. Susan Lee, for her part, is alleged to have assisted in collecting the fraud proceeds into accounts in her name and then spending those funds.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee, IRS Supervisory Special Agent Meredith Louden, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico made the announcement.
If convicted, Kenneth Lee faces a maximum term of 20 years in prison, a fine, restitution, forfeiture, and a maximum five-year term of supervised release for the fraud and money laundering offenses, and a maximum term of five years imprisonment, a fine, a term of supervised release and restitution. Susan Lee faces a maximum of 20 years in prison, a fine, or twice the amount involved in the money laundering transactions, forfeiture, and a maximum term of supervised release of three years.
This indictment is the result of an investigation by IRS Knoxville and FBI Knoxville.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Anne-Marie Svolto will represent the United States.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Four Charged with Drug Trafficking and Firearms OffensesRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On July 18, 2024, a federal grand jury in Knoxville, Tennessee, returned an eight-count indictment against four defendants—Mark O’Neil Robinson, 41, of Atlanta, Georgia; Christopher Harold Roberts, 57, of Knoxville, Tennessee; Brian Kirksey, 44, of Knoxville, Tennessee; and Donnie Lee Oliver, 55, of Powell, Tennessee.
According to the indictment filed with the court, all defendants are charged with a conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and 40 grams or more of fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(A). Robinson is also charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, including a firearm equipped with a silencer, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). Roberts is also charged with possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(B), and 18 U.S.C. § 924(c).
Robinson had his initial appearance on July 22, 2024; Oliver and Kirksey had their initial appearances on August 5, 2024; and Roberts had his initial appearance on August 6, 2024. Each defendant’s initial appearance in this case was in the United States District Court at Knoxville, before the Honorable Judge Debra C. Poplin, United States Magistrate Judge, and each defendant entered a plea of not guilty. This case has been set for trial on September 24, 2024, before the Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court at Knoxville.
If convicted, Robinson faces a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 60 years and up to life, as well as other penalties; Kirksey and Oliver each face a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 10 years and up to life in prison and other penalties; Roberts faces a mandatory minimum term of incarceration of 15 years and up to life in prison and other penalties.
United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton, III, of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.
This indictment is the result of an investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Quencer and Caroline Poore will represent the United States.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (“OCDETF”) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Evelyn Blevins Sentenced to 51 Months in Prison for COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
Chattanooga, Tenn. – On August 7, 2024, Evelyn Blevins, 48, of South Pittsburg, Tennessee, was sentenced to 51 months’ imprisonment by the Honorable Curtis L. Collier, United States District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Following her incarceration, she will be on 5 years of supervised release.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Blevins pled guilty to Wire Fraud and Aggravated Identity Theft, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. §§ 1343 and 1028A, for her involvement in a scheme to defraud COVID-19 unemployment programs in several states. In addition, Blevins was ordered to pay $109,683 in restitution to the Tennessee and California Departments of Labor, and to forfeit to the United States $109,683 as part of a money judgment.
According to court documents, from June 2020 through August 2021, Blevins conspired with others to devise a scheme in which she defrauded the United States government and the governments of Tennessee, Alabama, Pennsylvania, and California to obtain money from the states’ COVID relief programs in the form of unemployment insurance proceeds funded by the United States government. Specifically, Blevins acquired personal information from others and used it to fraudulently make mass online applications for money earmarked by the states to provide unemployment insurance relief for those affected by the national pandemic. She falsely claimed in the applications that the individuals whose personal information was reflected on the applications worked in those states. The states then mailed debit cards to addresses in the Eastern District of Tennessee, and Blevins would receive a percentage of the payout of the fraudulent claim. The defendant was personally responsible for the fraudulent distribution of nearly $110,000 of unemployment protection insurance funds. The scheme itself involved the fraudulent distribution of over $550,000 in unemployment protection insurance funds.
“The defendant selfishly sought to take advantage of federal and state efforts to provide relief to those most harmed by the COVID pandemic,” said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton, III. “We remain committed to partnering with all law enforcement agencies to identify and prosecute those who steal from federal relief plan programs, depriving others who are most in need.”
“The defendant’s actions cheated a program designed to assist people who were suffering as a result of the COVID pandemic,” said FBI Special Agent in Charge, Joseph E. Carrico. “Today’s sentencing exemplifies the continued commitment of the FBI and our federal and state law enforcement partners to hold those who engage in COVID relief fraud accountable for their actions.”
Assistant United States Attorney Steven Neff represented the United States.
The investigation was conducted by the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and the FBI as part of the Smoky Mountains Financial Crimes Task Force.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Two Knoxville Men Convicted of Methamphetamine Conspiracy and DistributionRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On August 2, 2024, following a five-day jury trial in United States District Court in the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville, a jury convicted Cumecus Cates, 48, and Grady Chandler, 43, both of Knoxville, Tennessee, of Conspiracy to Distribute over 50 grams of Methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841()(1)(A) and multiple counts of Distribution of over 50 grams of Methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1), 841(b)(1)(A) and 18 U.S.C. § 2.
The sentencing date for Cates and Chandler will be set later this year before the Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court at Knoxville. Cates and Chandler both face sentences of up to life in prison.
The evidence presented at trial included FBI recorded drug transactions, witness testimony, and seized narcotics, and showed that Cates and Chandler were distributing large quantities of methamphetamine in the Knoxville area throughout 2022 and 2023.
United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton, III of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.
Law enforcement agencies participating in the joint investigation which led to indictment and subsequent conviction of Cates and Chandler included the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) HIDTA Task Force. The FBI HIDTA Task Force includes the Roane County Sheriff’s Office, Knoxville Police Department, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Blount County Sheriff’s Office, and Sevier County Sheriff’s Office. The Drug Enforcement Administration also assisted in this investigation by conducting drug analysis on seized narcotics in the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cynthia Davidson and Michael Gilmore represented the United States at trial.
This case was part of the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and the HIDTA programs. OCDETF is the primary weapon of the United States against the highest-level drug trafficking organizations operating within the United States, importing drugs into the United States, or laundering the proceeds of drug trafficking. The HIDTA program enhances and coordinates drug control efforts among local, State, and Federal law enforcement agencies. The program provides agencies with coordination, equipment, technology, and additional resources to combat drug trafficking and its harmful consequences in critical regions of the United States.
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Federal Jury Convicts Sean Christopher Williams of EscapeRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – Today, following a four-day trial in United States District Court, Greeneville, Tenn, a federal jury convicted Sean Christopher Williams, 52, of Johnson City, Tennessee, of Escape, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §751(a).
Sentencing is set for November 18, 2024, at 1:30 p.m., in front of the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, United States District Judge, in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee in Greeneville. Williams faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
The evidence presented at trial highlighted the multi-state manhunt that led to the capture of Williams in Pinellas County, Florida, on November 21, 2023, after he escaped from a transport van en route to the Greeneville Federal Courthouse on October 18, 2023.
United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton, III, of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.
Law enforcement agencies participating in the joint investigation which led to the apprehension, indictment and subsequent conviction of Williams included the Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, First Judicial District Attorney’s Office, Jackson County Sherriff’s Department, Sylva Police Department, and Pinellas County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Meghan L. Gomez and J. Gregory Bowman represented the United States at trial.
Williams is facing additional federal charges in the Eastern District of Tennessee and that trial is currently set for August 27, 2024, in front of Judge Greer.
The public is reminded that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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John Bragg Sentenced to Six Years for Wire FraudRead the Press Release
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – On July 24, 2024, John Bragg, II, 47, formerly of West Virginia, was sentenced to 72 months by the Honorable Curtis L. Collier, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Following his release from imprisonment, Bragg will be on supervised release for three years.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Bragg agreed to plead guilty to one count of an indictment charging him with wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1343. As a component of his sentence, Bragg was ordered to pay a money judgment of $79,500 and over $300,000 in restitution to his victims.
According to court documents, Bragg owned a business involved in the restoration and sale of classic and rare Volkswagen vehicles. The business – known as “JB Bugs Trick Truck N Rod” – maintained operations in various locations, including Tennessee and Indiana. Bragg held himself and his business out to be specialists in Volkswagen restoration, including by participating in online communities of Volkswagen enthusiasts and appearing at functions such as automobile conventions. Using that presence, he became acquainted with his victims and defrauded them. As identified in his plea agreement, one instance of such fraud included “selling” a vintage 23-window Volkswagen Microbus to various investors, despite the fact that another person owned the vehicle and Bragg was never entitled to offer it for sale.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.
The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation led by the United States Secret Service in conjunction with state and local law enforcement partners in Indiana and Tennessee.
Assistant United States Attorney Kyle J. Wilson represented the United States.
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Alabama Woman Sentenced to 18 Months’ Imprisonment for COVID-19 Unemployment Insurance Fraud SchemeRead the Press Release
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - On July 24, 2024, Meghan Pittman, 29, of Stevenson, Alabama, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment by the Honorable Curtis L. Collier, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Following her imprisonment, she will be on supervised release for five years.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Pittman pled guilty to wire fraud, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1343 for her involvement in a scheme to defraud COVID-19 unemployment programs in several states. In addition, Pittman was ordered to pay $85,011 in restitution to the Pennsylvania and California Departments of Labor, and to forfeit to the United States $85,011 as part of a money judgment.
According to court documents, from June 2020 through June 2021, Pittman conspired with others to devise a scheme in which she defrauded the United States government and the governments of Tennessee, Alabama, Pennsylvania, and California to obtain money from the states’ COVID relief programs in the form of unemployment insurance proceeds funded by the United States government. Specifically, Pittman acquired personal information from others and used it to fraudulently make mass online applications for money earmarked by the states to provide unemployment insurance relief for those affected by the national pandemic. She falsely claimed in the applications that the individuals whose personal information was reflected on the applications worked in those states. The states then mailed debit cards to addresses in the Eastern District of Tennessee, and Pittman would receive a percentage of the payout of the fraudulent claim. The defendant was personally responsible for the fraudulent distribution of over $85,000 of unemployment protection insurance funds. The scheme itself involved the fraudulent distribution of over $550,000 in unemployment protection insurance funds.
United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III, of the Eastern District of Tennessee, Mathew Broadhurst, Special Agent-in-Charge, Southeast Region, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.
Assistant United States Attorney Steven Neff represented the United States.
The conviction was the result of an investigation conducted by the Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and the FBI as part of the Smoky Mountains Financial Crimes Task Force.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across the government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
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Kingsport Man Sentenced to over 21 Years in Prison After Jury Trial ConvictionRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On July 22, 2024, Eric Eugene Robinson, 55, of Kingsport, Tennessee, was sentenced to 262 months imprisonment by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville. Following his incarceration, Robinson will be on supervised release for a period of five years.
Robinson was convicted by a federal jury of being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of 18 U.S.C. §922(g)(1), following a two-day trial in April 2024.
The evidence and testimony presented during the trial showed that in early September 2020, surveillance was conducted at the Dorothy Street residence, which determined that Robinson, a convicted felon, was in possession of a firearm. A search warrant was executed at the residence by the Kingsport Police Department and, during the search, a 9mm pistol, with a loaded magazine, was located beneath a couch in the living room of the residence. An agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) testified that the firearm was manufactured in Brazil and imported into Bainbridge, Georgia, before ultimately arriving in Tennessee.
United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton, III of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.
Kingsport Police Department officer Mike Slater, formerly a Task Force Officer assigned to the ATF, led the investigation with assistance from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the ATF.
Assistant United States Attorney B. Todd Martin and Special Assistant United States Attorney AnCharlene Davis represented the United States at trial.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a comprehensive national strategy that creates local partnerships with law enforcement agencies to effectively enforce existing gun laws. It provides more options for prosecutors, allowing them to utilize local, state, and federal laws to ensure that criminals who commit gun crimes face tough sentences. PSN gives each federal district the flexibility it needs to focus on individual challenges that a specific community face.
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Tennessee Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
Benjamin Carpenter, also known as Abu Hamza, 34, of Knoxville, Tennessee, was sentenced today to 20 years in prison followed by 20 years of supervised release for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) in connection with providing translation services to ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization.
“For years, this defendant led a global digital media operation to distribute pro-ISIS propaganda, promoting the group’s radical message of terror and pushing it to every corner of the world,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of this defendant’s conduct and the Justice Department’s commitment to identifying and holding accountable those who would provide material support to foreign terrorist organizations.”
“Combating terrorism and keeping our communities safe are the highest priorities of the United States Attorney’s Office,” said U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee. “This case deals a serious blow to the expansion of ISIS and its broken message of hatred and senseless violence.”
“With today’s sentencing, Carpenter is being held accountable for betraying his country and helping ISIS terrorists,” said Executive Assistant Director Robert Wells of the FBI's National Security Branch. “He led a propaganda machine which called for war against U.S. and allied forces through suicide bombings and other means. The FBI and our partners will relentlessly pursue and bring to justice terrorists who devote their lives to hurting American citizens.”
According to court documents, on Oct. 19, 2023, following an eight-day trial in U.S. District Court, a jury convicted Carpenter of attempting to provide material support to ISIS. The evidence presented at trial demonstrated that Carpenter served as the leader of Ahlut-Tawhid Publications, an international organization of pro-ISIS “munasirin” (i.e., supporters), dedicated to translating, producing and distributing ISIS propaganda throughout the world. For years, Carpenter, using his alias Abu Hamza, published a large body of ISIS media, including his weekly newsletter entitled From Dabiq to Rome, a periodical that celebrated the deaths of American soldiers, glorified suicide bombers and called for open war against the United States and its Western allies, among other pro-ISIS propaganda themes. In 2020 and 2021, Carpenter contacted an individual he believed to be affiliated with ISIS’ central media bureau and provided translation services for a project intended to relaunch Al-Hayat Media Center, ISIS’ official foreign-language media arm. Unbeknownst to him, that individual was an FBI undercover employee who had infiltrated Carpenter’s group.
The FBI Knoxville Field Office is investigating the case, with assistance from FBI Field Offices from across the country.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle J. Wilson and Casey T. Arrowood for the Eastern District of Tennessee and Trial Attorney Charles J. Kovats Jr. of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case.
Knoxville Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISISRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - On July 17, 2024, Benjamin Carpenter, 34, of Knoxville, Tennessee, was sentenced to 240 months in prison by the Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. Following his incarceration, Carpenter will be on supervised release for 20 years.
On October 19, 2023, following an eight-day trial in United States District Court, a jury convicted Benjamin Carpenter, also known as “Abu Hamza,” of attempting to provide material support to ISIS, a foreign terrorist organization, in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. § 2339B.
The evidence presented at trial demonstrated that Carpenter served as the leader of Ahlut-Tawhid Publications, an international organization of pro-ISIS “munasirin” (i.e., supporters), dedicated to translating, producing, and distributing ISIS propaganda throughout the world. For years, Carpenter, using his alias “Abu Hamza,” published a large body of ISIS media, including his weekly newsletter entitled From Dabiq to Rome, a periodical that, among other pro-ISIS propaganda themes, celebrated the deaths of American soldiers, glorified suicide bombers, and called for open war against the United States and its Western allies. In 2020 and 2021, Carpenter contacted an individual he believed to be affiliated with ISIS’s central media bureau and provided translation services for a project intended to relaunch Al-Hayat Media Center, ISIS’s official foreign-language media arm. Unbeknownst to him, that individual was an FBI undercover employee who had infiltrated Carpenter’s group.
“For years, this defendant led a global digital media operation to distribute pro-ISIS propaganda, promoting the group’s radical message of terror and pushing it to every corner of the world,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division. “Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of this defendant’s conduct and the Justice Department’s commitment to identifying and holding accountable those who would provide material support to foreign terrorist organizations.”
“Combatting terrorism and keeping our communities safe are the highest priorities of the United States Attorney’s Office,” said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. “This case deals a serious blow to the expansion of ISIS and its broken message of hatred and senseless violence.”
“All across the country, the FBI is working fervently to identify and defeat those who support terrorist organizations. The protection of our citizens will remain a priority for our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The case was investigated by the Knoxville Joint Terrorism Task Force, which is composed of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. It was led by the Knoxville FBI Field Office and involved the assistance of FBI offices from across the country.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle J. Wilson and Casey T. Arrowood of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Trial Attorney Charles J. Kovats, Jr. of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section represented the United States at trial.
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Pain Clinic Owners Sentenced for Role in Operating Pill Mills in Tennessee and FloridaRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On July 8, 2024, Clyde Christopher Tipton, 63, of Tazewell, Tennessee, was sentenced to 50 months in prison by the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. Tipton was the final defendant to be sentenced in a sprawling pill mill case that resulted in the federal criminal convictions of approximately 140 defendants. Following his incarceration, Tipton will be on supervised release for 3 years.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Tipton pleaded guilty to three counts in the superseding indictment: one count of conspiracy to launder money in violation of 18 § U.S.C. 1956(h), and two counts of conspiracy to defraud the United States and pay healthcare kickbacks in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371. In February 2020, four co-defendants were found guilty at trial for their roles in operating or using pill mills to distribute opioids: Sylvia Hofstetter, 60, of Miami, Florida, Cynthia Clemons, 52, Courtney Newman, 48, and Holli Womack, 51, all of Knoxville. Three other co-defendants, Luigi “Jimmy” Palma, 61, of Miami, Florida, Luca Sartini, 64, also of Miami, Florida, and Benjamin Rodriguez, 49, of Delray, Florida, have previously pleaded guilty to various counts of the superseding indictment and been sentenced for their roles in operating pill mills in Tennessee and Florida.
Tipton’s filed plea agreement, as well as the evidence presented at trial against Hofstetter, Clemons, Newman, and Womack, established that the pill mills owned and operated by Tipton and various co-defendants distributed over 11 million tablets of oxycodone, oxymorphone, and morphine that generated over $21 million in revenue, with a corresponding street value of $360 million. The conspiracy involved four separate clinics in or near Knoxville, Tennessee, each of which was a pill mill. A pill mill owned by Sartini, Palma, and Rodriguez, operating in Hollywood, Florida, gave rise to the Tennessee pill mills. The stipulations and evidence demonstrated that, as law enforcement shut down hundreds of pill mills in South Florida, the Florida co-codefendants planned the move to East Tennessee where a large percentage of these clinics’ opioid-addicted customers lived. The three tabbed Hofstetter to run the Tennessee pill mills. She and Tipton later opened competing pill mills in Knoxville.
Palma and Sartini were sentenced on December 14, 2023, to 120 and 130 months in prison, respectively. Rodriguez was sentenced on January 22, 2024, to 65 months in prison.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) made the announcement.
This sweeping prosecution is the result of an investigation by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, the Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, U.S. Department of Justice, and the FBI High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA), comprised of investigators assigned to the task force by the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office, Knoxville Police Department, Blount County Sheriff’s Office, Roane County Sheriff’s Office, Harriman Police Department, and Clinton Police Department. Other agencies provided invaluable assistance, including the Rome Attaché of the Office of International Affairs, the U.S. Department of Justice, FBI’s liaison in Rome, the FBI’s Miami Field Office, the Hollywood, Florida, Police Department, the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the Tennessee Department of Health, and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Knoxville Diversion Group.
Deputy Criminal Chief Tracy L. Stone, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, and Deputy Chief Kelly Pearson, Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, U.S. Department of Justice, represent the United States in the prosecution of this case.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (“OCDETF”) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Tellico Village Property Owners' Association Agrees to Pay $1.3M Following Receipt of PPP LoanRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tellico Village Property Owners Association, Inc. (TVPOA) has agreed to pay $1,361,992.22 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by applying for, receiving, and obtaining forgiveness of a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for which it was not eligible.
Congress created the PPP in March 2020, as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to provide relief to small businesses experiencing economic hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although certain nonprofit organizations were eligible to receive PPP Loans at various times throughout the program, 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations have never been eligible.
In April 2020, TVPOA, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, applied for and received a PPP loan. The PPP application required applicants to identify their business type from a list of eligible options or, alternatively, to select “Other.” The application also required applicants to certify that they were eligible to receive a PPP loan. On the application it submitted, “C-Corp” was selected as TVPOA’s entity type. In submitting its application, TVPOA represented that it was eligible to receive the applied-for loan. TVPOA later applied for and received forgiveness of its PPP loan. TVPOA cooperated fully with the United States’ investigation and contends that any misstatements in its application were inadvertent. The settlement amount reflects TVPOA’s cooperation.
This Settlement resolves a lawsuit filed under the qui tam, or whistleblower, provisions of the False Claims Act, which permits private parties to sue on behalf of the government for false claims and receive a share of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned United States ex rel. GNGH2, Inc. v. Tellico Village Property Owners Association, Inc., No. 3:23-cv-199 (E.D. Tenn.).
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Alexa Ortiz Hadley and Ben Cunningham represented the United States, with assistance from the Small Business Administration.
On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Department of Justice in partnership with agencies across the government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The Task Force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by, among other methods, augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the Department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.
Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline at 866-720-5721 or via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at: https://www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.
The claims resolved by this settlement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
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National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action Results in 193 Defendants Charged and over $2.75 Billion in False ClaimsRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Today, U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III announced criminal charges against six defendants in connection with alleged schemes to defraud the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Worker’s Compensation Program, Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation (“DOL-DEEOIC”). The charges filed in federal court are part of the Justice Department’s 2024 National Health Care Fraud Enforcement Action. The charges stem from the submission, or causing the submission, of fraudulent claims for home health services that were not actually rendered.
The charges announced today by U.S. Attorney Hamilton are part of a strategically coordinated, two-week nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in criminal charges against 193 defendants for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes that, in the aggregate, resulted in the submission of over $2.75 billion in alleged false billings.
The DOJ Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, Northeast, and Texas Strike Forces; U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Southern District of Alabama, District of Arizona, Central District of California, Northern District of California, Southern District of California, District of Connecticut, Middle District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern District of Kentucky, Western District to Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, Western District of Louisiana, Eastern District of Michigan, Western District of Michigan, Southern District of Mississippi, District of Montana, District of New Jersey, Eastern District of New York, Eastern District of North Carolina, Western District of Oklahoma, District of Rhode Island, Eastern District of Tennessee, Middle District of Tennessee, Eastern District of Texas, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Eastern District of Virginia, Western District of Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia, and Eastern District of Wisconsin; and State Attorney Generals’ Offices for Arizona, California, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, and South Dakota are prosecuting the cases in the National Enforcement Action, with assistance from the Health Care Fraud Unit’s Data Analytics Team. Descriptions of each case involved in today’s enforcement action are available on the Department’s website at Case Descriptions.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, in particular, worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General, and the Tennessee Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.
In the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, Caleb Mullins, 40, Megan Mullins, 37, both of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and CAMM Care, LLC doing business as Patriot Homecare (“CAMM Care”), were charged by indictment in connection with an alleged scheme to defraud the DOL-DEEOIC. DOL-DEEOIC administers the health care benefit program designed to compensate current or former Department of Energy employees, vendors, contractors, and subcontractors diagnosed with occupational illnesses causally linked to toxic exposures during their employment. Among other health care benefits, this program provides home health benefits to qualifying beneficiaries, including skilled nursing care and non-skilled care. As alleged in the indictment, Caleb Mullins, the owner and President of CAMM Care, and Megan Mullins, the Executive Vice President of CAMM Care, conspired with each other and others not named in the indictment to create and submit fraudulent payment claims for homecare services that were not actually rendered.
Samantha Seiber (“Seiber”), 35, of Wartburg, Tennessee, Apryl Hard (“Hard”), 46, of Louisville, Tennessee, and Lois Hamby (“Hamby”), 62, of Oliver Springs, Tennessee, were also charged in separate indictments with defrauding the DOL-DEEOIC. As alleged in the respective indictments, Seiber, Hard, and Hamby each had her own DOL-DEEOIC provider number, and each billed the DOL-DEEOIC for skilled nursing services that were not actually rendered.
The cases in the Eastern District of Tennessee are being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys William A. Roach, Jr., and Jeremy S. Dykes of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee.
A complaint, information, or indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Ricco Saine Sentenced to 262 Months for Firearms OffenseRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On June 24, 2024, Ricco Lashawn Saine, 44, currently of Kingsport, Tennessee, formerly of Memphis, Tennessee, was sentenced to 262 months by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville. Following his incarceration, he will be on supervision for five years.
Ricco Saine was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm, in violation of 18 U.S.C. §922(g)(1) by a federal jury on November 8, 2023. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Greer determined that Ricco Saine was an Armed Career Criminal. His spouse and co-defendant, Tonya Rae Saine, was previously sentenced to 21 months incarceration and a term of three years supervised release.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on August 27, 2021, an officer with the Kingsport Police Department observed Ricco Saine standing near his vehicle at the office of the Westside Inn in Kingsport, Tennessee. After a police canine alerted on the vehicle, officers conducted a search of the vehicle and recovered a loaded firearm inside a bag on the passenger seat. The bag also contained Ricco Saine’s Tennessee identification card. Agents subsequently learned of firearms purchased by Tonya Saine from a federal firearm licensee (“FFL”) in Sevierville. Store surveillance video was obtained which showed Ricco Saine and Tonya Saine shopping for firearms at the gun counter in October 2021. After consultation with Ricco Saine, Tonya Saine ultimately selected a pistol and a laser-dot sight for the pistol, an AR15-style rifle, and ammunition. Tonya Saine, who was not prohibited from purchasing a firearm, completed the required paperwork using her information and paid for the items. Ricco Saine was observed carrying the AR15 box away from the store.
Agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) eventually recovered a pistol with a laser sight from Tonya Saine. Law enforcement also recovered a text message from a cell phone that Tonya Saine sent Ricco Saine after the purchase of the firearms that said, “I’ve got your gun and stuff in the house.” A cooperating witness testified that they saw Ricco Saine with the pistol and were able to recognize the firearm because of the attached laser aiming device and distinctive markings on the firearm.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee, and ATF Special Agent in Charge Marcus S. Watson made the announcement.
The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the Kingsport Police Department and ATF. Kingsport Police Department officer Mike Slater, formerly a Task Force Officer assigned to the ATF led the investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney B. Todd Martin and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Blackwell represented the United States.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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Chattanooga Man Sentenced to More Than 6 Years’ Imprisonment for Possessing “Glock Switch” and Fentanyl PillsRead the Press Release
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – June 20, 2024, Christian J. Williams, 22, was sentenced to 75 months in prison by the Honorable Charles E. Atchley, Jr., United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Following his incarceration, Williams will be on supervised release for three years.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Williams agreed to plead guilty to one count of possession a machinegun in violation of Title 18, U.S.C. § 922(o) and one count of possession of fentanyl with the intent to distribute, in violation of Title 21, U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C).
According to filed court documents, in December 2021, Chattanooga Police Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a stolen vehicle. The vehicle fled and ultimately crashed. Williams exited the passenger-side door and fled on foot. Officers gave chase, caught Williams, and found him in possession of fentanyl pills and a Glock, Model 27, .40 caliber pistol with an installed machinegun conversion device, colloquially known as a “switch.”
The “switch” enabled the pistol to fire “fully automatic,” that is, fire multiple rounds by a single pull of the trigger. Possession of a “switch” is illegal under Federal law, as the National Firearms Act classifies the “switch” itself as a machine gun.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) made the announcement.
The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the ATF Chattanooga Field Office, the ATF Firearms Technology Branch, and the Chattanooga Police Department.
Assistant United States Attorney Kevin T. Brown represented the United States.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee Recognizes World Elder Abuse Awareness DayRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Francis M. Hamilton III, U.S. Attorney for the District of Eastern Tennessee, joins national, state, and local leaders in recognizing World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15th. Since 2006, WEAAD has been commemorated to promote awareness and increase the understanding of the many forms of elder abuse as well as the resources available to those at risk.
Highlighting the partnership between law enforcement and the public, U.S. Attorney Hamilton emphasized the importance of awareness and education.
“Our office joins our national, federal, state, and local partners in renewing our commitment to raise awareness to protect our elders from abuse, exploitation, neglect, and crime,” said U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee. “Our office will continue to strengthen existing law enforcement and community relationships and foster new ones to combat crime directed at the elderly.”
Elder abuse is an act that knowingly, intentionally, or negligently causes or creates a serious risk of harm to an older person by a family member, caregiver, or other person in a trusted relationship. Such harm may be financial, physical, sexual, or psychological. The Justice Department maintains a variety of programs and initiatives to combat elder abuse.
The Transnational Elder Fraud Task Force, marshals, federal, and state agencies working collaboratively to investigate and prosecute foreign-based schemes that target older Americans. In addition to aggressively investigating the individuals, organizations, and networks responsible for these crimes, this initiative provides the public with information to guard against both traditional scams, like tech support fraud, and trending schemes, such as romance scams.
Using one scam to perpetrate or conceal another, some fraudsters rely on money mules to move the proceeds of their illegal activity. Preying on the good will or financial vulnerability of their targets, scammers recruit people, many times older victims, to participate in schemes to move money in ways that avoid notice. The Money Mule Initiative identifies and addresses money mule activity to disrupt these fraud schemes, and helps people to recognize and avoid participation in perpetuating fraud.
To help older individuals and their families identify and avoid fraudulent activity, the Justice Department provides Senior Scam Alerts with information about the tactics used in specific schemes. For example, in Social Security Administration Impostor schemes, scammers impersonate government administrators and falsely report suspicious activity to request that the victims provide their Social Security number for confirmation. In Tech Support scams, fraudsters contact victims, sometimes through internet pop-up messages, to warn about non-existent computer problems, ask that the victim give them remote access to their computer, and identify a non-existent problem, then demand large sums of money for unnecessary services. In lottery scams, telemarketers falsely notify victims that they have won a sweepstakes and tell them they must first pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes.
To learn more about the department’s elder justice efforts, please visit the Elder Justice Initiative page.
The Eastern District of Tennessee continues to work with federal, state, local, and law enforcement partners to investigate and prosecute elder abuse crimes.
- U.S. v. Henry: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtn/pr/nigel-john-ross-henry-sentenced-75-months-prison-conspiracy-commit-wire-and-mail-fraud
- U.S. v. Miller: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtn/pr/kentucky-woman-sentenced-two-years-forgery-federal-judges-signature
- U.S. v. Meyers: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtn/pr/lenoir-city-woman-sentenced-five-years-imprisonment-elder-fraud-scheme
To report elder fraud, contact the dedicated National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-FRAUD-11 or 1-833-372-8311 and visit the FBI’s IC3 Elder Fraud Complaint Center at IC3.gov.
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Justice Department Secures Agreement with Tennessee School District to Protect Students from Racial HarassmentRead the Press Release
The Justice Department announced today a settlement agreement with Hawkins County Schools in Tennessee to resolve its investigation into allegations of race-based harassment and other discrimination targeting Black students.
The investigation, conducted jointly by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee, found that the incidents of harassment — including a mock “slave auction” to sell Black students to their white counterparts, white students’ repeated and open use of the N-word and a “monkey of the month” campaign to ridicule Black students — collectively created a racially hostile environment. Although the district took steps to acknowledge some of the harassment, their response was not sufficient to protect the Constitutional rights of Black students.
“No student should endure mock slave auctions or racial slurs meant to invoke a shameful period in our country’s history when Black people were treated as subhuman,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “Racial harassment undermines a student's ability to feel safe, eliminates any hope for fostering a supportive educational environment and violates the Constitution’s most basic promise of equal protection. The Justice Department remains committed to protecting the civil rights of all students and will ensure that Hawkins County Schools takes all actions necessary to end racial discrimination in its schools.”
“To protect our children and cultivate a successful learning environment, our schools must take complaints of racial harassment and discrimination with the utmost seriousness and address them promptly and effectively,” said U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office commends the Hawkins County Board of Education for cooperating in the department’s investigation and working to improve its response to complaints of racial harassment and discrimination by reaching a resolution that enhances protections for both students’ constitutional rights and their dignity.”
The department opened its investigation in March 2023 under Titles IV and VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The district fully cooperated during the investigation and readily pursued an agreement to address the department’s findings. Under the agreement, Hawkins County Schools will implement significant reforms, including:
- Hiring a compliance officer to oversee the effective resolution of race discrimination and harassment complaints;
- Retaining a consultant to support the school district in implementing the agreement and creating a discrimination-free learning environment for all;
- Creating a new electronic reporting portal to track and manage complaints and the district’s response to complaints;
- Updating its racial harassment and school discipline policies to more accurately track and consistently respond to complaints of race-based harassment;
- Training staff on how to identify, investigate and respond to complaints of racial harassment and discriminatory discipline practices;
- Informing students and parents of how to report harassment and discrimination;
- Implementing listening sessions, school climate surveys, training and educational events on identifying and preventing race discrimination, including discriminatory harassment; and
- Analyzing discipline data and amending policies to ensure non-discriminatory enforcement of discipline policies.
Protecting students from harassment and other discrimination is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available at www.justice.gov/crt, and additional information about the work of the Educational Opportunities Section is available at www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section.
Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov/.
Justice Department Secures Agreement with Tennessee School District to Protect Students from Racial HarassmentRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – The Justice Department announced today a settlement agreement with Hawkins County Schools in Tennessee to resolve its investigation into reports of race-based discrimination targeting Black students.
The department’s investigation focused on several instances of peer harassment, including a mock “slave auction” to sell Black students to their white counterparts, repeated and open use of the N-word, and a “monkey of the month” campaign to ridicule Black students. Although the district took steps to acknowledge the harassment, their response was not sufficient to protect the constitutional rights of Black students.
“No student should endure mock slave auctions or racial slurs meant to invoke a shameful period in our country’s history when Black people were treated as subhuman,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Racial harassment undermines a student’s ability to feel safe, eliminates any hope for fostering a supportive educational environment and violates the Constitution’s most basic promise of equal protection. The Justice Department remains committed to protecting the civil rights of all students and will ensure that Hawkins County Schools takes all actions necessary to end racial discrimination in its schools.”
“To protect our children and cultivate a successful learning environment, our schools must take complaints of racial harassment and discrimination with the utmost seriousness and address them promptly and effectively,” said U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III for the Eastern District of Tennessee. “The United States Attorney’s Office commends the Hawkins County Board of Education for cooperating in the department’s investigation and working to improve its response to complaints of racial harassment and discrimination by reaching a resolution that enhances protections for both students’ constitutional rights and their dignity,” said U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III.
The department opened its investigation in March 2023 under Titles IV and VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The district fully cooperated during the investigation and readily pursued an agreement to address the department’s findings. Under the agreement, Hawkins County Schools will implement significant reforms, including:
- Hiring an Anti-Harassment Coordinator to oversee the effective handling of race discrimination and harassment complaints;
- Retaining a consultant to support the school district in implementing the agreement and creating a discrimination-free learning environment for all;
- Creating a new electronic reporting portal to track and manage complaints and the district’s response to complaints;
- Updating its racial harassment and school discipline policies to more accurately track and consistently respond to complaints of race-based harassment;
- Training staff on how to identify, investigate and respond to complaints of racial harassment and discriminatory discipline practices;
- Informing students and parents of how to report harassment and discrimination;
- Implementing focus groups, surveys, training, and educational events on identifying and preventing race discrimination, including discriminatory harassment; and
- Analyzing discipline data and amending policies to ensure non-discriminatory enforcement of discipline policies.
Protecting students from harassment and other discrimination is a top priority of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available on its website at www.justice.gov/crt, and additional information about the work of the Educational Opportunities Section is available at www.justice.gov/crt/educational-opportunities-section.
Members of the public may report possible civil rights violations at www.civilrights.justice.gov/.
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Lookout Mountain Man Indicted for Sexual Exploitation of ChildrenRead the Press Release
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - On June 5, 2024, a federal grand jury in Knoxville returned a three-count indictment against James C. Thompson, 71, of Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, for transporting minors with the intent to engage in sexual activity. Thompson appeared in court today before the Honorable United States Magistrate Judge Christopher H. Steger and entered a plea of not guilty to the charges in the indictment. He is in custody pending trial, which has been set for August 12, 2024, in United States District Court, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, before the Honorable Travis R. McDonough, United States District Judge.
The indictment alleges that Thompson transported minors in interstate commerce intending to engage in sexual activity with them in November and September 2000.
If convicted, Thompson faces a maximum term of 15 years in prison, up to a $350,000 fine, and 3 years on supervised release.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.
The FBI believes there may be additional victims and is attempting to identify them. Potential victims most likely include males who were between the ages of 10 and 15 and may have been involved in various youth wrestling programs or youth hunting organizations. They or anyone else who believes that they were victimized by Thompson, or anyone who may have information about potential victims fitting this description can contact the Chattanooga FBI Office at 423-265-3601 or report it at tips.fbi.gov.
This indictment is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Jackson County, Alabama Sheriff’s Office, and the Lookout Mountain, Tennessee Police Department.Assistant U.S. Attorney James Brooks represents the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc or for more information about Internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the tab "resources."
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Former State Employee and Her Husband Sentenced to Prison for Conspiring to Unlawfully Produce Tennessee Driver's LicensesRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On May 24, 2024, Cheryl Huff, 49, of Knoxville, and Mario Paz-Mejia (“Paz”), 51, of Knoxville, who are married, were sentenced by the Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court at Knoxville. Huff was sentenced to 37 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release. Paz was sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by one year of supervised release.
As part of their plea agreements filed with the court, Huff and Paz agreed to plead guilty for conspiring to produce over one hundred false Tennessee driver’s licenses and identification cards for individuals who were not lawfully qualified to receive them, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028(f).
As set forth in the filed plea agreements, Huff was a District Manager for the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security (TDSHS), which issues Tennessee driver’s licenses and identification cards at various Driver Service Centers (DSC) across Tennessee. Huff managed and supervised DSC employees in the Greater Knoxville area and had authority to issue driver’s licenses and application cards.
Paz recruited individuals who were neither citizens of the United States nor residents of Tennessee who wanted to acquire a Tennessee driver’s license or identification card. Using his association with Huff, Paz represented to his customers that, in return for $2,500, he could obtain for them a Tennessee driver’s license or identification card. Paz also assisted his customers in obtaining false citizenship and residency documents—two requirements to obtain a Tennessee driver’s license—including fraudulent lease agreements to establish proof of Tennessee residency, and false birth certificates, Social Security cards, and driver’s licenses from other states and U.S. territories to establish proof of citizenship or legal residency in the United States.
Huff knew, or deliberately ignored a high probability, that Paz was helping his customers obtain false citizenship and residency documents and that Paz charged his customers money to obtain a Tennessee driver’s license or identification card.
Huff used her access to TDSHS’s internal software to confirm that the names and information on the false citizenship and residency documents used by Paz’s customers could be used to obtain a Tennessee driver’s license or identification card. For example, on June 23, 2021, Paz-Mejia texted Huff the name, date of birth, and personal information used on false identification documents, asking Huff to “check that please.” Huff responded, “All of these are not on file. They’re good.”
After Paz’s customers acquired false citizenship and residency documents, Paz arranged to meet them at a Knoxville-area DSC before business hours. With Huff’s assistance, Paz escorted his customers into DSCs before business hours, including through a backdoor employee-only entrance. Once Paz and his customers were inside, Huff initiated driver’s license applications using TDSHS software. Huff also instructed subordinate DSC employees to complete applications and issue driver’s licenses to many of Paz’s customers.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.
This prosecution was the result of an ongoing investigation by the Tennessee Highway Patrol’s Criminal Investigation Division, the United States Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Postal Inspection Service, and the United States Secret Service.
William A. Roach, Jr., Assistant United States Attorney, represented the United States.
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United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee Recognizes National Police WeekRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. In honor of National Police Week, U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III recognizes the service and sacrifice of federal, state, and local law enforcement. This year, the National Police Week is observed from Saturday, May 11 through Friday, May 17. During this week, communities across the United States will honor and remember those law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as the family members, friends, and fellow officers left behind.
In 1962, President Kennedy issued the first proclamation for Peace Officers Memorial Day and National Police Week to remember and honor law enforcement officers for their service and sacrifices. Peace Officers Memorial Day, which every year falls on May 15, specifically honors law enforcement officers killed or disabled in the line of duty.
This year, the names of more than 280 officers killed in the line of duty are being added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC. These 282 officers include 118 officers who were killed during 2023, plus 164 officers who died in previous years, but whose stories of sacrifice had been lost to history until now. For more information, go to https://nleomf.org.
For more information about National Police Week, please visit https://nleomf.org/policeweek.
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Reference to any specific organization or service(s) offered by an organization is for the information and convenience of the public, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Department of Justice.
Eric Lee Bagley Sentenced to Twenty Years for Distribution of Child Pornography and Distribution of a Crush VideoRead the Press Release
Chattanooga, Tenn. – Today, Eric Lee Bagley, 44, of Lookout Mountain, Georgia, was sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Honorable Charles Atchley, United States District Court Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Following his incarceration, Bagley will be on a term of supervised release for 10 years, and he will be required to register with state sex offender registries and comply with special sex offender conditions. In addition, he was ordered not to own, possess, or have access to animals.
As part of the plea agreement filed with the court, Bagley agreed to plead guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of distribution of child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252(a)(2); and one count of distribution of a crush video in violation of 18 U.S.C. 48(a)(3).
In the plea agreement filed with court, Bagley admitted that, in February 2023, he contacted an undercover officer on an online platform known as Kik, believing the officer was as an adult female who had access to her 8-year-old niece. The defendant wrote that he was interested in sexual contact with both the notional adult female, the notional 8-year-old, and wanted to include a dog in the sexual contact with them both.
While communicating with the person he believed was an adult female, and, to entice her and the notional 8-year-old, the defendant distributed several videos depicting minors and dogs engaging in sexually explicit conduct. A sexually explicit image of a non-human animal is defined as a “crush video.” On July 27, 2023, Bagley traveled to Athens, Tennessee intending to engage in sexual contact with the notional adult female and the notional 8-year-old, and he was arrested.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) made the announcement.
This case arose out of a crimes against children undercover operation which was part of the FBI’s annual Operation Cross Country. Law enforcement agencies participating in the joint investigation included the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Shelbyville Police Department, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Red Bank Police Department, Chattanooga Police Department, and the McMinn County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant United States Attorney James T. Brooks and Special Assistant United States Attorney Charles D. Minor represented the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006, by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorney’s Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click on the tab "resources.”
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State of Franklin Healthcare Associates Agrees to Resolve Potential Controlled Substances Act ClaimsRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On May 2, 2024, United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III announced that State of Franklin Healthcare Associates, PLLC (SOFHA), which operates a multi-specialty physician-led medical group consisting of more than 30 clinics in Tennessee and Virginia, has agreed to pay civil monetary penalties to resolve allegations that the company violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) by failing to make, keep, and furnish essential documents and records pertaining to the acquisition, transfer, and disposition of Schedule III and Schedule IV controlled substances.
Pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement, SOFHA agreed to pay $200,000 to resolve allegations that from October 2020 to January 2023, SOFHA violated 21 U.S.C. ' 842(a)(5) by failing to create or retain and could not furnish required documentation and information. The United States contends that during this time SOFHA did not make and could not produce records pertaining to: the transfers of Schedule III and Schedule IV controlled substances from SOFHA physicians to an unregistered SOFHA supply warehouse; the transfers of Schedule III and Schedule IV controlled substances from SOFHA physicians to other SOFHA physicians; the transfers of Schedule III and Schedule IV controlled substances from the SOFHA supply warehouse to unregistered SOFHA clinics for dispensing by registered SOFHA physicians; and the loss or theft of a Schedule III controlled substance.
The CSA requires that DEA registrants make and retain documents and records detailing the acquisition, dispensing, and disposition of controlled substances. The investigation revealed that SOFHA failed to implement procedures for making and preserving crucial records itemizing controlled substances acquired by SOFHA physicians and transferred to and from unregistered SOFHA clinics and a warehouse and could not provide required information to DEA when requested.
“When medical providers fail to follow the record-keeping requirements of the CSA, it significantly contributes to the risk of diversion of controlled substances from legitimate purposes to improper usage, causing harm to our citizens and communities,” said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. “This settlement agreement demonstrates that the United States Attorney’s Office, the DEA, federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, are using all tools available to enforce the requirements of the CSA and degrade the diversion of controlled substances.”
“DEA registrants have an obligation to adhere to the strict recordkeeping rules in accordance with the Controlled Substances Act in order to reduce the potential for the diversion of licit drugs with a high potential for abuse,” said Erek Davodowich, acting special agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Louisville Division. “State of Franklin Health Care failed to meet their obligation, resulting in a substantial financial penalty in this case.”
The DEA conducted the investigation of this matter. SOFHA cooperated with the DEA inquiry.
Assistant United States Attorney Alan G. McGonigal and Ben D. Cunningham represented the United States.
The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.
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Michael Wayne Bentley Sentenced to over 23 Years Imprisonment for Firearm and Drug OffensesRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On April 29, 2024, Michael Wayne Bentley, III, 28, of Gray, Tennessee, was sentenced to 284 months of imprisonment by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville. Following his incarceration, Bentley will be on supervised release for five years.
On December 14, 2023, following a three-day jury trial, Bentley was found guilty of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and attempting to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and (b)(1)A); and using, carrying, and/or brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking offense, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c)(1)(A)(ii).
The evidence presented at trial demonstrated that Bentley arranged to receive deliveries of methamphetamine to the Kingsport area via the U.S. Postal Service from a source of supply located in Mexico. Law enforcement intercepted one postal package containing more than 894 grams of methamphetamine. Approximately three weeks later, another package was intercepted, containing more than 839 grams of methamphetamine. That package was addressed to Bentley’s grandparent’s residence. Agents replaced the methamphetamine in the second package with items of a similar weight and the package was delivered. Agents testified they observed Bentley’s grandmother accept the package and, shortly thereafter, Bentley arrived at the residence. Once Bentley left the residence, agents approached Bentley and attempted to arrest him. Bentley pointed a firearm at the agents and fled on foot, with agents in pursuit. During the chase, Bentley again pointed his firearm at the agents and two agents discharged their firearms at Bentley, who was not injured. He was then taken into custody.
During a post-arrest interview, Bentley admitted to agents that he had been receiving methamphetamine through the U.S. mail and distributing it. He also admitted that he had acquired the firearm for protection from other drug dealers.
U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee, Special Agent in Charge, Rana M. Saoud, of the United States Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”), and Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division, Tommy D. Coke, of the United States Postal Inspection Service (“USPIS”) made the announcement.
The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by HSI, USPIS, and the Second Judicial Drug Task Force. This investigation was led by HSI Special Agent John Bulla.
Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Swecker and B. Todd Martin represented the United States.
This prosecution is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (“OCDETF”) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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Kingsport Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Role in Fentanyl Overdose DeathRead the Press Release
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On April 29, 2024, Terrance Lamont Hines, 42, of Kingsport, Tennessee, was sentenced to life in prison by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville. During the sentencing hearing, Judge Greer determined that Hines was both an armed career criminal under the applicable federal statutory law and a career offender under the federal sentencing guidelines. Following his incarceration, Hines will be on supervised release for 10 years.
Following a five-day trial, on June 26, 2023, a federal jury in Greeneville found Hines guilty of conspiring to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl with a resulting death in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1), and 841(b)(1)(A), multiple counts of distributing fentanyl in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(C), possessing with intent to distribute more than 40 grams of fentanyl in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and 841(b)(1)(B), possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c), and possessing firearms by a convicted felon in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g).
According to the evidence presented at trial, on December 3, 2020, the victim, a 52-year-old Kingsport woman, died in her home in Sullivan County. The victim’s husband located her unresponsive body. A subsequent autopsy and toxicology tests revealed that the victim had overdosed on fentanyl. After a lengthy battle with chronic pain, the victim had begun self-medicating with controlled substances she purchased from others.
Following a lengthy investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), investigators were able to establish that Hines had supplied the fentanyl that resulted in the victim’s death and had distributed the fentanyl through a series of lower-level dealers and users. Three codefendants, Shaina K. Langford, 34, of Jonesborough, Tennessee, Adam Presnell, 37, of Knoxville, Tennessee, and Robin Hutchins, 63, of Kingsport, Tennessee, were part of the chain of distribution. Hines sold the fentanyl to Hutchins, who sold it to Presnell, who sold it to Lanford, who supplied it directly to the victim. Hutchins, Presnell, and Lanford previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl.
After identifying Hines, investigators coordinated three controlled purchases of fentanyl from Hines. Investigators also obtained search warrants for Hines’ business, OD Records, and his apartment, both located in Kingsport. When executing those search warrants on July 20, 2021, investigators located evidence that was introduced at trial, including a 9mm pistol, over 100 grams of fentanyl with a street value exceeding $116,000, $1,400 in cash, an assault rifle, and other drug paraphernalia.
The jury specifically found that Hines had conspired to supply the mixture of fentanyl that caused the victim’s death.
Hines’ codefendants have been sentenced or are awaiting sentencing. Lanford was sentenced on November 20, 2023, to 120 months in prison. Presnell was sentenced on January 3, 2024, to 84 months in prison. Hutchins entered a plea of guilty on June 12, 2023, and she is scheduled to be sentenced on August 19, 2024.
“Fentanyl is an exceedingly dangerous drug, and overdose deaths from fentanyl have become all too common across Tennessee and the nation,” said United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. “The United States Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners will continue to use every available resource to prosecute those who traffic fentanyl to provide justice to the victims and to deter others who might be considering trafficking in fentanyl.”
The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Kingsport Police Department. This investigation was led by TBI Special Agent Scott Lott.
Assistant United States Attorneys Emily Swecker and Mac Heavener represented the United States.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communication, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring results.
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DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back DayRead the Press Release
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. On Saturday, April 27th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) will provide the public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Location information is available from the DEA, along with items that cannot be accepted. This service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.
This April’s event is DEA’s 26th nationwide event since its inception 14 years ago. Last spring, Americans turned in nearly 599,897 pounds of prescription drugs at nearly 4,675 sites operated by the DEA and 4,383 from its state and local law enforcement partners.
The DEA will now accept vaping devices and cartridges at any of its drop-off locations during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. It is important to note that DEA cannot accept devices containing lithium-ion batteries. If batteries cannot be removed prior to drop-off, DEA encourages individuals to consult with stores that recycle lithium-ion batteries. Concerns have been raised across the United States over illnesses and deaths caused by vaping and the high youth vaping initiation rates. To support a healthy lifestyle and energetic population, especially among America’s youth, DEA is committed to doing all it can to help safely dispose of vaping devices and substances.
The DEA’s “Take Back” day and “Get Smart About Drugs” initiatives address the vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses because of these drugs. Synthetic opioids, such as illicit fentanyl, are the primary driver of the increase in overdose deaths. For information on DEA’s “Take Back” in Spanish, click here, or for more information on the “Get Smart About Drugs” publication, click for English or Spanish.
In addition to DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, there are many other ways to dispose of unwanted prescription drugs every day, including the 11,000 authorized collectors that are available all year long. For more information, visit DEA’s year-round collection site locator. Participating in the next DEA Take Back Day on Saturday, April 27th, simply means cleaning out your medicine cabinet or anywhere you keep unused, unwanted, or expired medications and dropping them off at your nearest collection site. For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or about the April 27th Take Back day event, go to DEA Drug Take Back event or by calling 800-882-9539.
The FDA also provides information on how to properly dispose of prescription drugs. More information is available here: English or Spanish.
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