Western District of Tennessee
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Memphis Man Receives over 7 Years’ Incarceration for Possession a FirearmRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Bobby Bridgeforth, 37, has been sentenced to 92 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., United States Attorney announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on April 17, 2020, a security guard at the Pendleton West Apartments advised Memphis Police officers of a man walking in front of the apartments with a handgun with a drum magazine. When the suspect saw officers, he fled but was caught moments later. While being detained, a loaded Glock 19 with 37 rounds of ammunition fell out of defendant’s pocket. Law enforcement later identified the individual as Bobby Bridgeforth.
Further investigation revealed he had felony convictions as well as misdemeanor convictions for domestic violence. As a result of his prior felony conviction history, Bridgeforth is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
On August 26, 2021, Bridgeforth pled guilty to being a felon in possession of the firearm and possessing the firearm after a misdemeanor conviction of domestic violence.
On February 8, 2022, United States District Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Bridgeforth to 92 months in federal prison to be followed by three years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Task Force. The (PSN) initiative is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our communities safer for everyone. In 2017, PSN was reinvigorated as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement.
Assistant United States Attorney Greg Wagner prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Kentucky Businessman Pleads Guilty to Decade-Long Scheme to DefraudRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Charles A. "Chuck" Jones, 51, a Kentucky businessman, has pleaded guilty to a decade-long scheme and conspiracy to defraud the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) E-Rate Program. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., United States Attorney announced the guilty plea today.
According to information presented in court and the indictment, the E-Rate Program is an FCC program that provides money to needy schools, often in rural areas of America, for internet access and telecommunications services. The program has specific rules that forbid service providers to the schools, such as Jones, from paying kickbacks to school officials and consultants. The E-Rate Program also requires participating service providers to charge participating schools at least a 10% co-pay.
For approximately 10 years, Jones paid kickbacks to an E-Rate consultant working with the Missouri and Tennessee schools involved in this case. During this 10-year conspiracy, Jones, one of his employees, and the school E-Rate consultant, made false statements and submitted fabricated documents to the E-Rate Program regarding the required co-pays and the program’s fair and open bidding process. In essence, Jones and his co-conspirators used the victim schools as vehicles to fraudulently obtain money from the E-Rate Program for Jones. The loss to the E-Rate Program was approximately $6.9 million dollars.
"The E-Rate Program was designed to assist the children in our nation’s neediest schools, and we are committed to pursuing investigations into those who would corrupt this program for personal gain." stated FCC-IG David Hunt. "The result in this case demonstrates the outstanding working relationship between the FCC Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee. We remain dedicated to our mandate to investigate fraud, waste, and abuse in FCC subsidy programs. The OIG will actively continue to support the investigation and prosecution of individuals who defraud this, and all other FCC programs established to ensure that students, school staff and library patrons have necessary access to the internet and the telecommunications tools and services they need."
"The FBI is committed to investigating allegations of fraud related to federally funded programs, especially when those egregious schemes impact programs designed to help rural schools in need," said Special Agent in Charge Douglas M. Korneski of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Memphis Field Office. "This guilty plea is the result of the focus and coordinated effort of the dedicated investigators and prosecutors involved."
Jones has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud which carries a maximum possible term of imprisonment of 20 years. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 1, 2022, before United States District Judge Mark S. Norris in Memphis.
The FCC-Office of Inspector General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigated this case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Murre Foster and Tony Arvin are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.
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Memphis Man Sentenced to 35 Years in Federal Prison for Production, Distribution and Possession of Child PornographyRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Lewis Falkner, 35, has been sentenced to 420 months in federal prison for production, distribution, and possession of child pornography. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., United States Attorney announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, in June 2019, an undercover FBI agent began chatting on an instant messaging application with a man who said he had access to two 5-year-old boys. During the chats, the man sent photographs of himself, and eventually, pornographic videos and photographs of the two children. He also invited the undercover FBI agent to meet with him to engage in the sexual abuse of one of the children.
Through the investigation, the man was identified as Lewis Falkner. The children were 4-year-old relatives of a friend of Falkner.
The FBI Crimes Against Children Task Force investigated this case.
On February 1, 2022, United States District Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. sentenced Falkner to 420 months imprisonment to be followed by lifetime supervised release. He also must register for life as a sex offender. There is no parole in the federal system.
Assistant United States Attorney Lauren J. Delery prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to over 12 Years for Unlawfully Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Mona Pryor, 38, has been sentenced to 148 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., United States Attorney announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on September 14, 2019, officers with the Memphis Police Department were called to Eglesfield Drive (New Horizon Apartments) regarding individuals loitering. Once on the scene, officers found Mona Pryor in possession of a Charco .38 Special revolver loaded with five rounds of ammunition and a Lexus that had been reported stolen in a carjacking approximately three hours prior.
After waiving his Miranda rights, Pryor admitted to possessing the firearm and obtaining the Lexus in a drug trade, not a carjacking. Two months later, on November 15, 2019, Pryor was apprehended by law enforcement in Missouri and found in possession of a stolen Taurus 9mm handgun loaded with eight rounds of ammunition. On January 29, 2021, Pryor was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm and sentenced to 78 months of imprisonment in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.
On January 27, 2022, United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Pryor to 70 months to be served consecutive to the 78-month sentence received in the Eastern District of Missouri, for a total sentence of 148 months of imprisonment. He will also serve three years of supervised release upon his release from prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Task Force. The (PSN) initiative is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In 2017, PSN was reinvigorated as part of the Department’s renewed focus on
targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Assistant United States Attorney Regina Thompson and Special Assistant United States Attorney Samuel D. Winnig prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. SAUSA Winnig was assigned from the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office for prosecuting violent crimes and firearms offenses in federal court.
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Career Criminal Sentenced to over 15 Years for Possession of Fentanyl with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Alfonzo Manning, 42, has been sentenced to 188 months in federal prison for possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., United States Attorney announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, agents with the West Tennessee Drug Task Force received an anonymous tip about a man with a Ford F-150 truck obstructing traffic and selling drugs on Hillcrest Street.
After a brief period of surveillance, agents approached the truck and noticed the defendant, Alfonzo Manning, was the only occupant. Officers could also see in plain view on the console, two bags of suspected narcotics. Manning was immediately placed into custody.
The drugs weighed approximately 67 grams and tested positive for fentanyl which was later confirmed at the TBI laboratory. Also found in the vehicle were digital scales. Manning had a significant amount of cash on his person.
Manning has an extensive criminal history, with prior felony convictions for domestic assault, felony theft, sale of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to sell, possession of heroin with intent to sell, convicted felon in possession of a handgun, criminal attempt, and possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell. As a result of these prior felony convictions, Manning is classified as a career offender under federal law sentencing guidelines.
On October 22, 2021, Manning pled guilty to possessing fentanyl with the intent to distribute.
On January 26, 2022, United States District Judge Jon P. McCalla sentenced Manning to 188 months in federal prison to be followed by four years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the West Tennessee Drug Task Force.
Assistant United States Attorney Melanie Cox prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Attorney General Merrick B. Garland Announces Justice DepartmentRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland today released the Justice Department’s new National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking pursuant to the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.
Rooted in the foundational pillars and priorities of the interagency National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking, which President Biden released on Dec. 3, 2021, the Justice Department's National Strategy is expansive in scope. It aims to enhance the department's capacity to prevent human trafficking; to prosecute human trafficking cases; and to support and protect human trafficking victims and survivors.
"Human trafficking is an insidious crime," said Attorney General Garland. "Traffickers exploit and endanger some of the most vulnerable members of our society and cause their victims unimaginable harm. The Justice Department’s new National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking will bring the full force of the Department to this fight."
Among other things, the Justice Department’s multi-year strategy to combat all forms of human trafficking will:
• Strengthen engagement, coordination, and joint efforts to combat human trafficking by prosecutors in all 94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and by federal law enforcement agents nationwide.
• Establish federally funded, locally led anti-human trafficking task forces that support sustained state law enforcement leadership and comprehensive victim assistance.
• Step up departmental efforts to end forced labor by increasing attention, resources and coordination in labor trafficking investigations and prosecutions.
• Enhance initiatives to reduce vulnerability of American Indians and Alaska Natives to violent crime, including human trafficking, and to locate missing children.
• Develop and implement new victim screening protocols to identify potential human trafficking victims during law enforcement operations and encourage victims to share important information.
• Increase capacity to provide victim-centered assistance to trafficking survivors, including by supporting efforts to deliver financial restoration to victims.
• Expand dissemination of federal human trafficking training, guidance, and expertise.
• Advance innovative demand-reduction strategies.
The department’s strategy will be implemented under the direction of the National Human Trafficking Coordinator designated by the Attorney General in accordance with the Abolish Human Trafficking Act of 2017.
If you believe that you or someone you know may be a victim of human trafficking, please contact the National Human Trafficking Resource Center Hotline at 1-888-373-7888, or Text 233733.
To read the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking click here.
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Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to over 15 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Darraill Davis has been sentenced to 188 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Joseph C. Murphy Jr., United States Attorney, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on December 15, 2019, officers with the Memphis Police Department responded to a 911 hang up call at a home in Memphis. When officers arrived at the scene, they encountered Davis behaving erratically and attempting to get into a silver sedan. As they attempted to contact him, Davis fled on foot. When he was detained a short distance away, officers recovered a silver Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol from Davis’ person. An investigation revealed Davis had been holding his girlfriend hostage and assaulting her all day. During one of the assaults, he pointed the .40 caliber pistol at her and hit her in the head. Davis is a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing a weapon.
On August 18, 2021, Davis pled guilty to being a felon in possession.
A search of his criminal history revealed, multiple Tennessee state convictions for domestic assault, aggravated burglary, illegal possession of a firearm, possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of dihydrocodeinone with intent to sell, and possession of cocaine with intent to sell. At the time of this offense, Davis was on probation with the state of Tennessee.
As a result of his felony convictions, Davis is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition and was determined to be an armed career criminal under federal sentencing guidelines and subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 188 months imprisonment.
On January 24, 2022, United States District Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Davis to 188 months in federal prison to be followed by 3 years supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Task Force. The (PSN) initiative is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our communities safer for everyone. In 2017, PSN was reinvigorated as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office - Violent Crime Unit.
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Memphis Man Sentenced to 12 Years Imprisonment for Possessing Methamphetamine with Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Henry Segura, 32, of Memphis has been sentenced to 144 months in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Joseph C. Murphy Jr., United States Attorney, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on November 13, 2019, members of the Memphis Police Department Organized Crime Unit conducted a search warrant at a residence where Segura was known to store and distribute narcotics. They found 628 grams of marijuana, 916 grams of methamphetamine, 86.93 grams of cocaine, 107 hydrocodone pills, 37 oxycodone pills, 156 alprazolam pills, 93 fentanyl pills, and two firearms.
On March 4, 2020, while executing an arrest warrant on Segura, members of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office along with the United States Marshals Service recovered an additional 2.63 grams of marijuana and 17.56 grams of cocaine.
In April 2021, a federal grand jury returned an 11-count indictment against Segura charging violations of both the narcotics and gun laws. On October 21, 2021, the defendant pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1).
On January 27, 2021, United States District Judge John T. Fowlkes Jr., sentenced Segura to 144 months in federal prison to be followed by five years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department Organized Crime Unit, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the United States Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Kimbril-Parks prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to 17 Years in Federal Prison for Conspiring to Distribute and Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Unlawfully Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Revosea Richardson, 27, of Selmer, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 205 months in federal prison for conspiring with others to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute over 500 grams of methamphetamine and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., United States Attorney, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on January 23, 2019, a deputy from the McNairy County Sheriff’s Office, observed a Nissan Altima heading eastbound on Hwy. 57 run a stop-sign. The driver, identified as Haleigh Amerson, did not have a driver's license. The defendant, Richardson, told the officer he had warrants and he was immediately placed into custody. Officers could also smell marijuana coming from the vehicle, so a search of the vehicle was conducted.
While searching the vehicle, officers located a Taurus 9mm handgun in Richardson's backpack. A search of Richardson’s person revealed a bag containing a white crystallized substance, which was later confirmed by DEA laboratory to be 20 grams of actual methamphetamine/ICE, a bag containing around four grams of marijuana, and one Alprazolam pill.
Richardson is a convicted felon, having been previously convicted of multiple felony offenses, including possessing over .5 grams of methamphetamine with the intent to sell, possessing over .5 ounces of marijuana with the intent to deliver, and unlawful possession of a firearm, and was thus prohibited from possessing firearms on January 23, 2019.
On August 27, 2020, during an interview with law enforcement, Richardson admitted to buying and selling methamphetamine for the past 3 to 4 years, and he provided specific amounts of methamphetamine he purchased for resale during that time. In all, Richardson was held responsible for 20 grams of actual methamphetamine/ICE and approximately 1.4 kilograms of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
On January 11, 2022, Chief United States District Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Richardson to 205 months' imprisonment to be followed by five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the McNairy County Sheriff’s Office, FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Recognition is also given to the 25th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office for their assistance in this case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Josh Morrow and Christie Hopper prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Convicted Felon Pleads Guilty to Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Demitrious Davis, 33, has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., United States Attorney announced the plea today.
According to information presented in court, on June 29, 2021, a detective with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle operated by Demitrious Davis. As the detective activated the blue lights, the vehicle stopped. When the detective approached, Davis backed up and turned his tires in a maneuver to drive away. The detective gave commands to stop. As Davis continued to accelerate, the detective shot at Davis, striking him in the arm. Davis’ front bumper struck the detective, causing leg and shoulder injuries. Davis continued to drive away and crashed into a mailbox.
A Shelby County Sheriff’s deputy observed Davis running from the vehicle with a handgun. During the foot pursuit, Davis threw the handgun into a yard, where it was later recovered by detectives. The firearm was identified as a Glock, model 19, 9mm caliber pistol – it was loaded with thirty (30) rounds of ammunition.
On January 21, 2022, the defendant pled guilty to one count of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. The sentencing is set for April 21, 2022, before United States District Judge Tommy L. Parker, where the defendant faces up to 10 years in federal prison and three years’ supervised release.
The defendant has several felony convictions. In 2014, he was convicted for violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) – for illegally possessing a firearm, he was sentenced to 34 months imprisonment and 3 years supervised release. The defendant was on supervised release when he committed this crime, and a violation is pending in this matter.
This case was investigated by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant United States Attorney Wendy K. Cornejo is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
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A Convicted Felon Sentenced to 10 Years in Federal Prison for Unlawfully Possessing a Stolen FirearmRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – John Davidson Long, 28, has been sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon unlawfully possessing a stolen firearm. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., United States Attorney, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on September 9, 2020, at approximately 10:30 p.m., Jackson Police Department’s Gang Enforcement Unit was monitoring the overt ‘Police’ cameras in the Parkway East Apartment Complex at Carver Cove in Jackson, Tennessee, because a large number of Vice Lord gang members had gathered in that area. While monitoring the cameras, Long was observed standing outside of a car with a black handgun protruding from his waistband. As a convicted felon, Long is prohibited from possessing firearms.
As officers responded to the area, Long got into the passenger seat of a black Nissan Altima and fled. JPD Officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle for a window tint violation. Jocelyn Kidd was identified as the driver of the vehicle, and Long was the front seat passenger. Ms. Kidd gave law enforcement consent to search the vehicle. During the search, officers located a black Taurus .9mm handgun hidden inside a dash panel in front of where Long had been seated. That handgun matched the description of the firearm that the officer observed protruding from Long’s waistband. The handgun was loaded with one round in the chamber and 11 rounds in the magazine. Further investigation revealed the firearm was stolen in August 2020.
On January 27, 2022, United States District Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Long to 120 months' imprisonment - the maximum sentence allowed by law for possessing a stolen firearm. He will also serve three years of supervised release upon his release from prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Jackson Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Carjacker Sentenced t0 8 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Kristopher Harris, 23, has been sentenced to 97 months in federal prison for a carjacking. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., United States Attorney announced the sentence today.
According to information provided in court, on July 17, 2019, the victim was inside his vehicle at the Pump and Munch gas station on East Shelby Drive, when Harris and his co-defendant, Kalonji Warren, 24, drove Warren’s tan Jeep SUV alongside the victim's vehicle. Harris pointed a semi-automatic handgun at the victim, firing one shot into the front passenger-side window. After the victim fled, Warren entered the victim's vehicle and drove away. One shell casing left at the scene was collected as evidence.
Video surveillance captured the suspect’s vehicle in the area and showed Warren enter the gas station prior to the carjacking. Part of the carjacking incident was also captured on video surveillance. During the investigation Harris was positively identified.
Kristopher Harris and Kalonji Warren both pled guilty to the carjacking charge on October 22, 2021. Warren is scheduled to be sentenced on March 10, 2022.
On January 21, 2022, United States District Judge Tommy L. Parker sentenced the defendant to 97 months imprisonment to be followed by three years’ supervised release.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated this case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Wendy K. Cornejo and Gregory A. Wagner prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Former Alderman Received Federal SentenceRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Former Selmer, TN Alderman, Nickolas Atkins, 42, has been sentenced to federal prison for 48 months for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr. announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, in March 2018, a joint-task force investigation was initiated into the activities of a drug trafficking organization run by Timmy Jermaine Cole, - which involved the distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine, marijuana, and cocaine from individuals in Mexico to West Tennessee.
Through the interception of the Title III wiretaps, agents learned Atkins distributed marijuana, cocaine, and pills, as well as conducted a money laundering operation surrounding a restaurant owned by Cole. Atkins would pay the bills at the Hungry Wolf Restaurant in exchange for narcotics. It was determined, through Title III intercepts, witness statements and surveillance, Atkins was responsible for 250 pounds of marijuana, 3 ounces of cocaine, over 600 pills containing hydrocodone, and 77 units of testosterone. Also, Atkins sold pills containing hydrocodone out of Moody Auto Sales, where he was employed. During one of the intercepted calls between Atkins and Cole, Atkins told Cole that he had someone complain about the quality of marijuana.
Approximately four days later, there was another call where Atkins confirmed with Cole that Atkins owed Cole for three "cuties." Testimony would have been presented at a trial that based upon training and experience of law enforcement officers a "juice" is an ounce of cocaine, a "cutie" is known to law enforcement as a quarter ounce of cocaine and "girl" is code, for cocaine.
Additionally, Atkins utilized his position in the community as a former Alderman to obtain information from law enforcement and other members of the community to share with Cole in hiding his drug trafficking activity from law enforcement. For example, on December 7, 2019, Cole and Atkins were intercepted discussing Atkins having a party at the Hungry Wolf Restaurant where there would be a Court Clerk present. The two discussed how she would be a good person to know because "she would tip you off and tell you when they are getting ready to serve." There were additional calls where the two would discuss who were "Fed Agents" and how they knew them.
On December 12, 2019, while the drug task force was conducting surveillance around the Hungry Wolf Restaurant, Atkins was intercepted telling Cole that he was being followed by a black Durango and that it was the drug task force.
On December 17, 2021, Atkins pled guilty.
This case was investigated by the Selmer Police Department, 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force, Decatur County Sheriff’s Office, Lexington Police Department, Dyersburg Police Department, McNairy County Sheriff’s Office, Hardeman County Sheriff’s Office, and the FBI.
On January 4, 2022, Chief U.S. District Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Atkins to 48 months in federal prison to be followed by three years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Lawler Parham prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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11 Indicted in Alleged Drug ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – A total of 11 individuals have been indicted for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute marijuana and fentanyl. U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr. announced the indictments today.
According to information presented in court, on July 12, 2021, eleven subjects were indicted with a second superseding indictment filed on December 14, 2021. The FBI Safe Streets Task Force investigated the distribution of marijuana and fentanyl pills coming from Washington and California into West Tennessee.
These defendants are alleged to have participated in a conspiracy to distribute narcotics throughout the Western District of Tennessee:
• Vinson Taylor, Jr.
• Alexis Ballard
• Isaiah A. Gauldin
• Ja’Quon Roberson
• Savontay Laquar Womack-Knight
• Cooper Keeling Hurt
• David LaFonta Ray, Jr.
• Quason Brent Taylor
• Jaci Rinae Neary
• Dwanyae Smith
• Daniel Michael Gutierrez
Since the original indictment, agents executed a search warrant at the residence of Womack-Knight and Neary in Lakewood, Washington, which resulted in the discovery of two firearms, $48,405 in U.S. currency, various items of jewelry, marijuana, heroin, cocaine, and numerous pills containing fentanyl. Based upon the investigation, evidence
revealed Womack-Knight would mail the narcotics to V. Taylor who then would distribute among the remaining co-conspirators. All eleven subjects have been placed in custody.
Utilizing social media, search warrants, traffic stops, search warrants in conjunction with the United States Postal Inspection Service, and search warrants from residences, the FBI, the United States Postal Service, and the Dyersburg Police Department, have seized over 44 kilograms of marijuana and over 5,000 fentanyl pills, which were being shipped via mail and then distributed in the Western District of Tennessee. Through social media search warrant returns, agents have photographs and video of the defendants in possession of additional marijuana and pills like those seized and testing for fentanyl. Furthermore, agents were able to seize numerous firearms and large amounts of cash.
"Our continued partnership with the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, and the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee, has resulted in the removal of 27 firearms, and the seizure of deadly fentanyl that has been linked to overdoses here in Dyersburg. We remain committed to the removal of this deadly drug, and illegally owned firearms from our community," said Dyersburg Police Chief Steven L. Isbell.
"The FBI and our law enforcement partners are dedicated to disrupting and dismantling drug trafficking organizations and ending the violence they bring to our communities," said Douglas M. Korneski, Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. "As exemplified by the successful combined efforts of our team, we are committed to eliminating these criminal enterprises."
If convicted, the defendants each face sentences of five years’ imprisonment up to life.
This case was investigated by the FBI, United States Postal Service, and the Dyersburg Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Parham is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Tennessee Nurse Practitioner Arrested for Unlawfully Distributing Prescription OpioidsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A Tennessee nurse practitioner was arrested today for allegedly distributing prescription drugs unlawfully from the medical clinic she owned and operated.
According to court documents, Kelly McCallum, 39, of Dyersburg, unlawfully prescribed controlled substances, including oxycodone and hydrocodone, at the Convenient Care Clinic (Clinic). Over approximately four years, McCallum prescribed more than two million opioid pills and more than 900,000 pills containing benzodiazepines. McCallum is alleged to have provided prescriptions to individuals with whom she had close personal relationships, including individuals with whom she had sexual relationships. She is also alleged to have prescribed dangerous combinations of controlled substances to her patients and, when she was out of the office, left pre-signed prescriptions for staff to distribute controlled substances in her absence. McCallum also faces health care fraud charges for allegedly billing TennCare and Medicare for fraudulent office visits on days that she was away from the Clinic.
McCallum is charged with maintaining a drug-involved premises, unlawful distribution of controlled substances, and health care fraud. If convicted, McCallum faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the drug charges, and a maximum of 10 years in prison for health care fraud. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy of the Western District of Tennessee; Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Louisville Division; Special Agent in Charge Douglas Korneski of the FBI Memphis Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Derrick L. Jackson of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Atlanta Regional Office; and Special Agent in Charge Terry L. Reed Sr. of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) made the announcement.
The DEA, FBI, HHS-OIG, and TBI are investigating the case.
Assistant Chief Jillian Willis of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christie Hopper of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (ARPO) Strike Force. Since its inception in October 2018, the ARPO Strike Force, which operates in 10 districts, has charged more than 90 defendants who are collectively responsible for distributing more than 105 million pills. The ARPO Strike Force is part of the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, which since March 2007 has charged more than 4,200 defendants who collectively have billed the Medicare program for more than $19 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at: https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
indictment
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Tennessee Nurse Practitioner Arrested for Unlawfully Distributing Prescription OpioidsRead the Press Release
A Tennessee nurse practitioner was arrested today for allegedly distributing prescription drugs unlawfully from the medical clinic she owned and operated.
According to court documents, Kelly McCallum, 39, of Dyersburg, unlawfully prescribed controlled substances, including oxycodone and hydrocodone, at the Convenient Care Clinic (Clinic). Over approximately four years, McCallum prescribed more than two million opioid pills and more than 900,000 pills containing benzodiazepines. McCallum is alleged to have provided prescriptions to individuals with whom she had close personal relationships, including individuals with whom she had sexual relationships. She is also alleged to have prescribed dangerous combinations of controlled substances to her patients and, when she was out of the office, left pre-signed prescriptions for staff to distribute controlled substances in her absence. McCallum also faces health care fraud charges for allegedly billing TennCare and Medicare for fraudulent office visits on days that she was away from the Clinic.
McCallum is charged with maintaining a drug-involved premises, unlawful distribution of controlled substances, and health care fraud. If convicted, McCallum faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the drug charges, and a maximum of 10 years in prison for health care fraud. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy of the Western District of Tennessee; Special Agent in Charge J. Todd Scott of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Louisville Division; Acting Assistant Director Jay Greenberg of the FBI’s Criminal Investigative Division; Special Agent in Charge Douglas Korneski of the FBI Memphis Field Office; Special Agent in Charge Derrick L. Jackson of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) Atlanta Regional Office; and Special Agent in Charge Terry L. Reed Sr. of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) made the announcement.
The DEA, FBI, HHS-OIG and TBI are investigating the case.
Assistant Chief Jillian Willis of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Christie Hopper of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.
The Fraud Section leads the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (ARPO) Strike Force. Since its inception in October 2018, the ARPO Strike Force, which operates in 10 districts, has charged more than 90 defendants who are collectively responsible for distributing more than 105 million pills. The ARPO Strike Force is part of the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, which since March 2007 has charged more than 4,200 defendants who collectively have billed the Medicare program for more than $19 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at: https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
Mississippi Man Pleads Guilty to Aiming Laser Pointer at AircraftRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Eugene Conrad, 52, of Michigan City, Mississippi, has pleaded guilty to aiming a laser pointer at aircraft. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the guilty plea today.
According to information presented in court, on July 15, 2021, agents with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) notified the FBI Memphis Field Office of reports indicating that planes flying into the Memphis Airport from the east were consistently being struck in the cockpit and cabin by a green laser coming from the Hardeman County, Tennessee and Benton County, Mississippi area. From January 1, 2021 to July 15, 2021 there were 49 strikes by a green laser on aircraft, mainly Federal Express Planes flying at various altitudes.
On July 16, 2021, agents conducted surveillance in Saulsbury, Tennessee, during which time agents received reports from Memphis International Airport’s Air Traffic Control relaying that aircraft in the vicinity were being struck by a laser. Agents could see a general originating location but the lasering ceased before a specific origin could be determined.
On August 11, 2021, surveillance was again established near Saulsbury, Tennessee with an aircraft from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), with a camera affixed for surveillance. At approximately 9:30 pm, the TBI aircraft entered the area over Hardeman County, TN and almost immediately began reporting laser strikes originating from the south and southwest of their position.
The TBI plane circled the area several times, surveillance equipment pinpointed an individual standing in front of a residence located at the intersection of Whippoorwill Road and Hamer Road in Benton County, Mississippi near the TN/MS border.
When agents arrived on the scene, they observed a male, later identified as Eugene Conrad, walking around a house while lasering the plane. A green laser pointer was found in an outdoor trashcan. Conrad admitted to law enforcement to intentionally striking planes flying near his residence with the green laser for several months.
Conrad pled guilty on December 14, 2021.
Sentencing is set for March 10, 2022, before U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Parker where Conrad faces up to five years in federal prison to be followed by three years supervised release and a $250,000 fine. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the FBI – Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the Federal Aviation Administration.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hall is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to 7 Years Imprisonment for Possession of a Firearm, Drug Trafficking and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of a Drug Trafficking CrimeRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Dell Dickerson, 24, has been sentenced to 84 months in federal prison for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on May 11, 2020, officers with the Memphis Police Department observed Dell Dickerson in the passenger seat of a vehicle. He was immediately placed into custody for outstanding felony warrants. Dickerson had a small handbag on the passenger side floorboard which contained a loaded Glock .40 caliber pistol. Also recovered from the handbag, were a marijuana cigarette and a brown pill bottle with 56 multicolored pills. The marijuana cigarette tested positive for THC and the multicolored pills contained methamphetamine.
Dickerson is a prohibited person with a prior felony conviction for aggravated assault. As a result, he is prohibited by federal law from the possession of firearms or ammunition.
On September 9, 2021, the defendant pled guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, drug trafficking and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
On December 15, 2021, U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Dickerson to 84 months in federal prison to be followed by four years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Wendy K. Cornejo prosected this case on behalf of the government.
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Pair of Armed Carjackers Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Ramone Ervin, 21, and Jaquarious Douglas, 22, have been sentenced to federal prison for carjacking and using a firearm during a crime of violence. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on February 26, 2020, at 2:41 pm, the victim had taken her 2017 BMW 330 to Gateway Tires in Memphis for repairs. As the victim proceeded to leave, Jaquarious Douglas approached the victim's car, pointed a handgun, and told her to get out of the car. The victim got out and ran into the business.
Douglas drove off in victim’s car and Ervin followed in a black Infinity. When law enforcement arrived, they retrieved video surveillance from Gateway which showed the carjacking and captured the images of Douglas getting out of the Infinity. About an hour later, officers located both cars and a chase ensued. Ervin, who drove the Infinity, wrecked the car, and was placed into custody. Ervin admitted to his participation in the carjacking. Although Douglas evaded law enforcement during the chase while driving the victim’s BMW, he was later located and placed into custody.
On October 6, 2021, U.S. District Judge Jon P. McCalla sentenced Douglas to 130 months imprisonment to be followed by three years supervised release. Ervin was sentenced on December 10, 2021, to 125 months in federal prison to be followed by three years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Memphis Police Department – Violent Crime Unit investigated this case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Two Armed Robbers Sentenced to a Total of 40 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Corey Ray, 37, and Rodriguez Jones, 27, have been sentenced to a total of 40 years in federal prison for using a firearm during a crime of violence and interference with commerce by robbery. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, the victim posted a firearm for sale on Armslist.com and began corresponding with Corey Ray. The victim, along with his roommate, and Ray agreed to conduct the sale at Jesse Turner Park in Memphis, Tennessee.
On June 12, 2019, the victim met Ray in the parking lot of the park. After agreeing to purchase the firearm for $620, Ray then walked into the park to retrieve some cash for the transaction and did not return for several minutes. The victim eventually called Ray to ask if he was planning to return to purchase the firearm. A short time later, Ray returned with Rodriguez Jones and a second suspect. The two new subjects were armed with handguns and approached the victim’s vehicle. The victim was forced at gun point to the trunk to remove the pistol box and the two magazines. The victim's roommate then exited the vehicle and fired his own personal firearm. During the shootout, one of the robbers was killed. The victim’s roommate was shot in the left leg.
The victim and other witnesses identified the defendants as the armed suspects responsible for the robbery. Both Jones and Ray admitted to their participation in the robbery. The defendants later pled guilty.
On November 30, 2021, U.S. District Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Ray to 240 months imprisonment to be followed by three years supervised release. Jones was sentenced on December 3, 2021, to 240 months in federal prison to be followed by three years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Memphis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Rogers and Marques Young prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Mississippi Man Sentenced to 28 Years in Federal Prison for 4 Business RobberiesRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Jacobly Whitehead, 27, of Greenwood, Mississippi, has been sentenced to 336 months in federal prison for Hobbs Act robbery and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on February 10, 2020, Whitehead, an unknown suspect at the time, entered Cricket Wireless on S. Third Street at approximately 5:50 p.m., pointed a black handgun at employees, and demanded money from the cash registers. Taking approximately $1,700, he then fled the scene.
On February 22, 2020, Whitehead, an unknown suspect at the time, entered the Metro PCS on S. Third Street at approximately 6:30 p.m., where he struck an employee with a black handgun and demanded money from the cash registers. He stole a firearm from an employee and approximately $2,000 and fled on foot. The suspect matched the description of the suspect of the robbery on February 10, 2020. The businesses were located within walking distance.
On March 17, 2020, Whitehead, an unknown suspect at the time, entered the Cricket Wireless on S. Third Street at approximately 9:30 a.m., pointed a black handgun at employees, and demanded cash from the register. While leaving the store, Whitehead struck an employee in the head with his pistol. He fled in a red Chevrolet Equinox which had several unique markings and visible features.
On March 31, 2020, Whitehead, an unknown suspect at the time, entered the Metro PCS on E. Shelby Drive at approximately 4:00 p.m., wearing a facemask and the same clothing as the suspect in the March 17, 2020 robbery. He pointed a black handgun at the employees, took approximately $800 from the register, and fled the scene in a red Chevrolet Equinox, with several similar unique markings. Prior to the robbery, the suspect entered the Dollar General behind the Metro PCS with his face uncovered and was captured on surveillance video.
Officers with MPD's Safe Streets Task Force located a possible suspect vehicle owned by a woman who lived on Court Street. This address was within walking distance of the first two robberies. Investigators researched the woman’s husband, identified as Jacolby Whitehead who also matched the description given by many of the robbery victims.
Surveillance conducted at their residence showed Whitehead driving the red Equinox. Further, law enforcement executed a search warrant for the vehicle and the residence. They recovered clothing similar to that described by the witnesses and seen on surveillance video. Whitehead was Mirandized and admitted to all four of the robberies.
Whitehead pled guilty on July 21, 2021.
On December 3, 2021, U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman, sentenced Whitehead to 336 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel D. Winnig prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. SAUSA Winnig is currently assigned from the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office for the purpose of prosecuting violent crimes and firearms offenses in federal court.
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Justice Department Awards More Than $17.5 Million to Support Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – The Department of Justice announced today that it has awarded more than $17.5 million in grants to support the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program. Funding will support efforts across the country to address violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. The Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration was awarded $ 172,929, to administer PSN grant funds in the Western District of Tennessee.
The Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), part of the department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), will administer the 88 grant awards, which are being made to designated fiscal agents to support local PSN projects that work in partnership with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices.
"This latest Project Safe Neighborhoods grant is critical to addressing the violent crime threatening cities and towns all across our country," said Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco. "Ensuring the safety of all Americans is the highest priority for the Department of Justice, but when it comes to violent crime, there is not a one-size-fits-all solution. We have to work closely with local public safety agencies as well as community organizations to craft individual strategies unique to each community’s needs. Programs like Project Safe Neighborhoods and the funding it provides allow us to do just that."
"The Project Safe Neighborhood Program" said Joe Murphy, the Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, is a proven strategy to reduce gun violence. Violent crime, especially violent crime involving firearms, extracts a tremendous toll on the victims of that crime and the communities where it occurs. This grant, along with the continued cooperation of our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, will help make West Tennessee a safer and better place to live. Our office will continue to support the PSN program as part of the office’s efforts to reduce violent crime."
The "Project Safe Neighborhood West Tennessee (PSN West)" model will continue implementation in both Shelby County and Madison County during the October 1, 2021 -September 30, 2024 period. PSN West is a collaborative local and federal effort to reduce violent gun crime by focusing on Crime Drivers - a small proportion of individuals who drive violent crime. The PSN West believes better integration of research evidence and human intelligence will enhance criminal justice efforts to address the ongoing issue of violent crime.
"Investing in our communities, supporting victims and building a justice system that both keeps people safe and earns their trust – these are mutually reinforcing goals that stand at the heart of Project Safe Neighborhoods," said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Amy L. Solomon for OJP. "The Office of Justice Programs is pleased to join with our U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, and with jurisdictions across the country, as we work together to meet the challenges of crime and violence and achieve our shared aspirations of public safety and community trust."
In May 2021, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced a new effort to reduce violent crime, including the gun violence that is often at its core. Integral to that effort was the reinvigoration of PSN, a two-decade old evidence-based and community-oriented program focused on reducing violent crime. The updated PSN approach, outlined in the department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime issued by Deputy Attorney General Monaco, is guided by four key principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities and measuring the results of our efforts. The fundamental goal is to reduce violent crime, not simply to increase the number of arrests or prosecutions.
This fall, U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country have enhanced their violent crime reduction efforts to ensure alignment with the department’s comprehensive violent crime reduction strategy. U.S. Attorneys’ Offices have engaged in outreach to law enforcement and other agencies and organizations serving communities to identify the most significant drivers of violence in their districts. Working together with a broad coalition of stakeholders, the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are addressing the most pressing violent crime issues in their district to make our neighborhoods safer for all.
PSN programs are led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in collaboration with local public safety agencies, community stakeholders and other agencies and organizations that work to reduce violent crime.
For a list of all grantees, please visit: https://www.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh241/files/media/document/FY21-Project-Safe-Neighborhoods-Awards.pdf
Information about these and other FY 2021 grant awards from the Office of Justice Programs can be found online at the OJP Grant Awards Page.
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 racial equity in the administration of justice, assist victims and enhance the rule of law. More information about OJP and its components can be found at www.ojp.gov.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to 105 Months for Possessing a Firearm During a Domestic Violence IncidentRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Jenico Burrus, 29, has been sentenced to 105 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm after a misdemeanor conviction for domestic violence. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on June 13, 2020, Memphis Police officers responded to an aggravated assault on Eastwind Drive. The victim advised that she and Jenico Burrus were in an argument when he pulled a black handgun from his waistband, pointed it at her and threatened to kill her. When law enforcement arrived, Burrus fled the scene through an apartment complex, jumped over a fence and threw the gun in the parking lot. Burrus was later found hiding behind a building near W. Foronia Square. The gun recovered was a Glock .45 caliber pistol, loaded with one live round in the chamber and 6 rounds in the magazine.
Prior to his arrest, Burrus had an outstanding warrant for domestic assault with bodily harm, two prior felony convictions for aggravated assault in 2015, and two prior convictions for misdemeanor domestic violence in 2013. As a result of his prior felony convictions, the defendant is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
On December 3, 2021, U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Burrus to 105 months in federal prison to be followed by three years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Task Force. The Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In 2017, PSN was reinvigorated as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Raney Irwin prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 15 Years in Federal Prison for Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Nicholas Marshall, 36, has been sentenced to 188 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on October 4, 2020, Memphis Police officers were notified about an unconscious man who had a gun in his lap in a Silver Volvo parked on Spottswood Avenue. Upon arrival, officers observed Nicholas Marshall slumped over the steering wheel with the horn blaring. Officers seized the gun and assisted until he became alert and responsive. Marshall was treated by paramedics on the scene.
The gun was determined to be a Rossi .357 revolver, loaded with five live rounds of ammunition. Further search revealed Marshall had 91 Xanax pills and two bags of cocaine weighing 3.9 grams on his person.
Marshall had multiple felony drug convictions, including 7 prior convictions for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. As a result of his felony convictions, he is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition. Under the federal sentencing guidelines, Marshall was determined to be an armed career criminal and subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 180 months.
On December 2, 2021, U.S. District Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Marshall to 188 months in federal prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Explosives (ATF) and Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force. The Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In 2017, PSN was reinvigorated as part of the Justice Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Raney Irwin prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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20-Year-Old Felon Sentenced to 57 Months for Possessing RifleRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Ay’rhogunce Miller, 20, has been sentenced to federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm while under indictment. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on May 22, 2020, the Memphis Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the United States Marshals Service, were working on a fugitive investigation of Ay’rhogunce Miller, also known as "Jacolbi Miller," and another individual who was a relative of Miller. The agents received information that Miller, and the other individual were in an apartment on East Barbara Circle, which belonged to Miller’s girlfriend.
While inside the residence, agents located and detained the other individual, along with Miller. A search of the bedroom revealed an American Tactical MK22 .22 caliber rifle; the serial number had been obliterated and it was equipped with an extended capacity magazine.
Further investigation disclosed that Miller had previously been convicted of felony breaking and entering in the State of Arkansas and was currently on probation. Miller also had outstanding warrants for 1st degree battery in Arkansas. Further, Miller was facing a pending indictment for theft of property – firearm, and possession of a firearm by a felon in Crittenden County Circuit Court, Marion, Arkansas. While in custody in Arkansas, Miller waived his Miranda rights and admitted to possessing the rifle which he purchased the previous week.
As a result of his criminal history, Miller is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
On August 17, 2021, the defendant entered a guilty plea to both counts of the indictment; being a felon in possession of a firearm and receiving a firearm while under indictment for a felony.
On December 1, 2021, U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Miller to 57 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. This incarceration is consecutive to his criminal offenses in Arkansas. There is no parole in the federal system.
The Memphis Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the United States Marshals Service investigated this case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel D. Winnig prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. SAUSA Winnig is currently assigned from the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office for prosecuting violent crimes and firearms offenses in federal court.
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Crossroads Hospice Agrees to Pay $5.5 Million to Settle False Claims Act LiabilityRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Carrefour Associates LLC; Crossroads Hospice of Cincinnati LLC; Crossroads Hospice of Cleveland LLC; Crossroads Hospice of Dayton LLC; Crossroads Hospice of Northeast Ohio LLC; and Crossroads Hospice of Tennessee LLC ("Crossroads Hospice"), operating in Ohio and Tennessee, have agreed to pay $5.5 million to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting claims to Medicare for non-covered hospice services.
Hospice care is special end-of-life care intended to comfort terminally ill patients. Patients admitted to hospice care generally stop receiving coverage for traditional medical care designed to cure their terminal condition and instead receive medical care focused on providing them with relief from the symptoms, pain and stress of a terminal illness. Medicare patients are terminally ill and hospice eligible when they have a life expectancy of six months or less if their illness runs its normal course.
This settlement resolves allegations that Crossroads Hospice knowingly submitted false claims to Medicare for hospice services for patients who were not terminally ill. According to the settlement agreement, the United States alleged that from Jan. 1, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2014, Crossroads Hospice billed Medicare for hospice care for certain patients with a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease at its Ohio and Tennessee locations who were not terminally ill for at least a portion of the more than three years that the patients received care at these locations.
"Medicare’s hospice benefit provides critical end of life services that focus on palliative rather than curative care," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian M. Boynton of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. "Today’s settlement demonstrates our continuing commitment to ensure that hospice services are provided to patients who truly need this care and that patients who are not terminally ill receive appropriate curative care."
"This Office is committed to pursuing providers who put profits ahead of patients," said Acting U.S. Attorney Vipal J. Patel for the Southern District of Ohio. "We will continue to hold accountable those who abuse federal healthcare programs at the expense of the taxpayers."
"The Medicare program provides older Americans with access to health," said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr. for the Western District of Tennessee. "When frauds like this are committed by serviced providers, it effectively deprives older Americans of health care resources. Our office will continue to take steps to prevent frauds like this from taking place in order to ensure that the Medicare program’s resources are used effectively."
"The decision to provide hospice services should be prompted by a patient’s terminally ill medical diagnosis and desire for palliative care, not a hospice provider’s desire to boost its profits," said Special Agent in Charge Lamont Pugh III, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General. "Our agency is dedicated to safeguarding both the Medicare program and Medicare patients. This settlement reaffirms HHS-OIG’s commitment to holding accountable providers who knowingly submit false claims to Medicare."
The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by Leanne Malone, Jackie Burns and Angela Heck, former employees of Crossroads Hospice, as well as Dr. David Weber, a home health physician in Tennessee. Under those provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam cases are United States ex rel. Leanne Malone et al. v. Carrefour Associates LLC et al., No. 1:15-cv-460 (S.D. Ohio) and United States ex rel. David Weber v. Crossroads Hospice of Tennessee, LLC, No. 2:16-cv-02684 (W.D. Tenn.). Under today’s settlement, the whistleblowers in the Malone action will receive approximately $1,045,000.
The resolution obtained in this matter was the result of a coordinated effort between the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Commercial Litigation Branch, Fraud Section; the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio; and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee. The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General, assisted in the investigation.
The investigation and resolution of this matter illustrates the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement, can be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).
The matter was investigated by Fraud Section Trial Attorney Jonathan Hoerner, Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Malek of the Southern District of Ohio and Assistant U.S. Attorney Eileen Kuo of the Western District of Tennessee.
The claims resolved by the settlement are allegations only and there has been no determination of liability.
Two Men Sentenced to a Total of 22 Years in Federal Prison for Armed CarjackingsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Tyshjohn Jones, 20 and Jayln Gray, 19 have been sentenced to a total of 264 months in federal prison for carjacking, aiding and abetting, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on April 29, 2020, victim J.W. reported to the Memphis Police Department that he noticed two males walking toward his home on Winway Drive. As the victim parked his 1999 Ford Explorer in his driveway, he was approached by two males, one of whom was armed with a handgun. The male with the handgun demanded money from the victim's wallet and the keys to his vehicle. The suspects had trouble unlocking the vehicle, threatened to shoot the victim, and demanded he unlock his phone. When the suspects fled in the vehicle, the victim notified law enforcement. The gunman was later identified as Tyshjohn Jones, and the other suspect was a juvenile.
Several days later, on May 2, 2020, Jones, Gray, and a juvenile suspect, were driving the stolen Ford Explorer on Florida Avenue. The Explorer was not working when a good Samaritan, victim P.F., stopped to help. P.F. was driving a 2004 Cadillac Deville. He opened the hood of his vehicle to give the suspects a "boost" and as he turned around Jones was pointing a gun at his head. As the victim tried to stop them, one of them got out of the vehicle, striking him with a pistol in the head, face, and ribs. The suspects fled in the Cadillac.
On May 6, 2020, officers went to 1800 block of New Gate Drive, regarding a previous unrelated burglary at an automobile dealership. Officers searched the home and found multiple keys determined to be related to multiple vehicle thefts. Officers located personal property belonging to victim J.W. and keys to his vehicle. Jones and Gray were present at the residence, as well as other suspects. Further investigation revealed Gray's fingerprints were found on the recovered Ford Explorer.
Gray waived Miranda rights and admitted to carjacking the Cadillac. Jones waived Miranda rights and admitted to carjacking the Ford and the Cadillac.
On August 13, 2021, Jones entered a guilty plea to counts involving both carjackings and brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime. Gray entered a guilty plea to the May 2, 2020, carjacking as well as brandishing a firearm in furtherance of a violent crime.
On November 29, 2021, U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced both defendants. Jones was sentenced to 168 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release. Gray was sentenced to 96 months in federal prison to be followed by three years of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department’s Violent Crime Unit and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Explosives (ATF).
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel D. Winnig and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth J. Rogers prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. SAUSA Winnig is currently assigned from the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office for prosecuting violent crimes and firearms offenses in federal court.
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20-Year-Old Sentenced to Nine Years in Federal Prison for CarjackingRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Marcus Burton, 20, has been sentenced to 117 months in federal prison for carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on November 15, 2020, at approximately 2:30 a.m., officers from the Memphis Police Department responded to a carjacking at Western Park Drive and Deerland Street. The victim informed the officers that while parking his vehicle, a brown 2014 Mercedes-Benz E350, he was confronted by an individual armed with a silver handgun. Burton pointed the handgun at the back of the victim’s head and demanded everything he had. He then took the keys to the Mercedes Benz and drove away in the victim's vehicle.
Several hours later, as the victim and his friends searched for his stolen vehicle, they located the car and immediately notified law enforcement. On November 15, 2020, Memphis Police officers recovered the carjacked vehicle, unoccupied. The victim positively identified Burton, on November 17, 2020, as the person responsible for the carjacking.
Burton pled guilty to the carjacking and brandishing a firearm on August 20, 2021.
On November 22, 2021, U.S. District Judge Sheryl L. Lipman sentenced Burton to 117 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Memphis Police Department investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Wendy K. Cornejo and SAUSA Samuel D. Winnig prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. SAUSA Winnig is currently assigned from the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office for prosecuting violent crimes and firearms offenses in federal court.
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Former Memphis Attorney Sentenced in Scheme to Defraud ClientsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Former Memphis Attorney George E. Skouteris, Jr. 59, was sentenced to 30 months imprisonment in a scheme to defraud clients. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, in April of this year, a jury found Skouteris guilty of seven counts of bank fraud following a four-day trial. Between 2007 and March 2013, Skouteris engaged in a scheme to defraud his clients by settling cases without notifying them and forging their endorsements on settlement checks made jointly payable to him and the client. Skouteris then deposited the checks to bank accounts he maintained at TrustOne Bank.
On November 18, 2021, United States District Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. sentenced Skouteris to 30 months imprisonment to be followed by three years supervised release. Judge Fowlkes also ordered the parties to appear in court on November 30, 2021, to provide further information about the amount of restitution to be awarded to the victims. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carroll L. André III and David N. Pritchard prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
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Felon Sentenced to 12 Years in Federal Prison for Armed Carjacking’sRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Cowan Hill, 44, has been sentenced to 151 months in federal prison for carjacking’s and for brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on December 8, 2019, the Memphis Police Department responded to a carjacking on Cherry Road. The victim advised that while warming his 2004 Lincoln Aviator a male approached and pointed a gun at him and told him to get out of the car. The suspect struck the victim several times in the head and neck. The victim blew the horn to alert his wife who called 911. As the victim ran into the house, the suspect fled the scene in the car.
On December 15, 2019, officers with the Memphis Police Department responded to a carjacking at Shell gas station on Winchester Road. The victim reported as he was pumping gas, an older male pulled him from the driver’s seat of his 2011 Kia Sorento and threatened to kill him. The victim attempted to fight off the suspect who repeatedly struck him and yelled, "I’ll kill you. I'll kill you." The suspect eventually gained control of the car and sped off, dragging the victim twenty-five to thirty feet across the lot. The victim had visible injuries to his head, neck, arms, and legs and had to be treated by paramedics. The violent assault and theft were caught on the store's surveillance video.
During the investigation, both victims identified Cowan Hill as the male who assaulted them.
On July 13, 2021, Hill pled guilty to committing both crimes. As a result of his criminal history, including a 2016 conviction for carjacking, Hill is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition. He was on parole at the time of these offenses.
On November 18, 2021, U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Hill to 151 months incarceration to be followed by 5 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Memphis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Raney Irwin and Wendy Cornejo prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Firearms PossessionRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Joshua Whitfield, 30, has been sentenced to 103 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Acting United States Attorney Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on August 10, 2019, officers with the Memphis Police Department responded to a 911 domestic violence call on Ridgestone Drive. The victim's daughter called 911 from her bedroom and told the operator that "Joshua" put his hands on her mother. When police arrived, the victim stated that her live-in boyfriend, Whitfield, became physical after a verbal dispute. The victim said the defendant struck and choked her and threatened to shoot her and her daughter. Officers observed visible bruises on the victim. Whitfield was placed in custody and a loaded Black Glock pistol with a 17-round magazine was recovered from the scene. The gun had one live round in the chamber and 10 live rounds in the magazine. Officers also found a 50 round magazine drum with an unknown number of live rounds in it. Further investigation revealed the gun was stolen.
While out on bond, Whitfield, was again arrested in possession of a firearm. On December 12, 2019, officers with the Memphis Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a White Chevrolet Malibu on Tillman Street and Princeton Avenue. The driver of the Malibu, later identified as Joshua Whitfield, sped off at a high rate of speed. Officers pursued the vehicle for several city blocks until it stopped, and Whitfield jumped out of the car carrying a blue backpack. Officers gave chase and caught Whitfield hiding in a shed. Inside of the blue backpack was a Glock .43 9mm pistol and a large plastic bag with 10 individually wrapped bags of suspected marijuana. Whitfield’s driver’s license had been revoked since 2014. Whitfield also had an active warrant for unlawful possession of a weapon.
On May 18, 2021, Whitfield pled guilty to committing both crimes. Whitfield had previously been convicted for domestic assault with bodily harm in 2014 and aggravated assault in 2015.
On October 19, 2021, U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Whitfield to 103 months in federal prison to be followed by 3 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Task Force and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our communities safer for everyone. In 2017, PSN was reinvigorated as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Raney Irwin prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Justice Department Announces $139 Million for Law Enforcement Hiring to Advance Community PolicingRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – The Department of Justice today announced more than $139 million in grant funding through the department’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) COPS Hiring Program (CHP). The awards provide direct funding to 183 law enforcement agencies across the nation, allowing those agencies to hire 1,066 additional full-time law enforcement professionals. In the Western District of Tennessee, the City of Ripley was awarded funding totaling $316,620.
"We are committed to providing police departments with the resources needed to help ensure community safety and build community trust," said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. "The grants we are announcing today will enable law enforcement agencies across the country to hire more than 1,000 additional officers to support vitally important community oriented policing programs."
"The COPS grant programs" said Joe Murphy, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, "provides support to local law enforcement agencies that allows them to hire additional officers. The grant award to the Ripley, Tennessee Police Department funds three additional police officers. This will help reduce crime in Ripley and make that community safer."
CHP is a competitive award program intended to reduce crime and advance public safety through community policing. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new or rehire additional career law enforcement officers, thereby increasing their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Of the 183 agencies awarded grants today, approximately half will use the funding to focus on building legitimacy and trust between law enforcement and communities; 41 agencies will seek to address high rates of gun violence; 21 will focus on other areas of violence; and 19 will focus CHP resources on combating hate anddomestic extremism or supporting police-based responses to persons in crisis. The complete list of awards can be found here.
Since its creation in 1994, COPS has invested more than $14 billion to advance community policing, including grants awarded to more than 13,000 state, local and Tribal law enforcement agencies to fund the hiring and redeployment of more than 135,000 officers. CHP, COPS’ flagship program, continues to be in demand today: In FY21, COPS received 590 applicationsrequesting nearly 3,000 law enforcement positions. For FY22, President Biden has requested $537 million for CHP, an increase of $300 million.
To learn more about CHP, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/chp-award. For additional information about the COPS Office, please visit https://cops.usdoj.gov/.
The COPS Office is the federal component of the Department of Justice responsible for advancing community policing nationwide. The only Department of Justice agency with policing in its name, the COPS Office was established in 1994 and has been the cornerstone of the nation’s crime fighting strategy with grants, a variety of knowledge resource products, and training and technical assistance. Through the years, the COPS Office has become the go-to organization for law enforcement agencies across the country and continues to listen to the field and provide the resources that are needed to reduce crime and build trust between law enforcement and the communities served.
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Felon Pleads Guilty to Gun Possession After Domestic DisturbanceRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Donya Davis, 27, has pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a weapon during a domestic disturbance. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the guilty plea today.
According to information presented in court, on October 11, 2020, officers with the Memphis Police Department responded to an armed party domestic disturbance call in the 2300 block of Ketchum Road. The 911 caller advised that her daughter was locked in a bedroom with the defendant, who was threatening her with a weapon. As the officers arrived on the scene, they could hear the disturbance coming from inside the apartment. They entered the apartment and spoke with the alleged victim, B.C., who is the mother of Davis' children. B.C. allowed the officers to search the apartment, where they found a Mossberg rifle in a Nike backpack, loaded with 1 round in the chamber and 20 rounds in the magazine.
Further investigation revealed, Davis had outstanding warrants for domestic assault and violation of probation, as well as previous convictions for domestic assault involving bodily injury and felony aggravated assault. Davis waived Miranda rights, and admitted to possessing the weapon. As a result of his prior convictions, Davis is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
Sentencing is scheduled for March 10, 2022, before U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman. Davis faces up to ten years imprisonment, to be followed by three years supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Task Force. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our communities safer for everyone. In 2017, PSN was reinvigorated as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel D. Winnig prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. SAUSA Winnig is currently assigned from the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office for prosecuting violent crimes and firearms offenses in federal court.
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Veterans Affairs Hospital Employee Sentenced to Jail Time After Assaulting OfficersRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Tiffany Lewis, 39, a former employee of the Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center in Memphis, has been sentenced to 10 months in federal prison for assaulting two VA Police Officers. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in Court, on November 20, 2020, officers of VA Police Services responded to the scene of a disturbance on VA property. Officers observed employee Tiffany Lewis striking another individual. VA police attempted to detain Lewis, but she resisted arrest and struck the arresting officer. After being escorted to a police holding room on VA property, Lewis assaulted another officer by punching the officer in the face.
On August 2, 2021, Lewis pled guilty to two counts of assaulting federal officers.
On November 5, 2021, U.S. Senior District Judge Jon P. McCalla sentenced Lewis to 10 months imprisonment to be followed by one year of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
Kim Lampkins, Special Agent in Charge of the VA Office of Inspector General’s Mid-Atlantic Field Office stated, "This sentence demonstrates the VA Office of Inspector General’s commitment to ensuring of a safe work environment for all VA employees. We will continue to work jointly with the VA Police Service to investigate and prosecute anyone who threatens or assaults VA employees."
This case was investigated by Veterans Affairs Police Services and the Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Scott Smith prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Memphis Man Sentenced to Federal Prison in Mail Fraud and Identity Theft SchemeRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Shamari Johnson, 42, has been sentenced to 75 months in federal prison for conspiracy to commit mail fraud and aggravated identity theft. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on April 18, 2019, Johnson was charged in a two-count information with theft of mail and identity theft. The charges arose out of an incident in which the defendant was stopped by Collierville police after a Collierville resident observed him stealing mail out of his mailbox.
Listed below is a summary of Johnson’s activities:
• On August 27, 2019, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service received a mail theft complaint from victim K.M., who stated that he had mailed a check earlier in the month which had never made it to its destination. K.M. later learned that the check had been altered and passed at a Wal-Mart in Ashland City, TN. Law enforcement contacted Wal-Mart, which sent photos of a male suspect, later identified as Shamari Johnson.
• On December 23, 2019, the U.S. Postal Inspectors Office received a report from Collierville, TN police regarding a suspect driving a BMW taking mail from mailboxes. Collierville detective said that victim R.B. had witnessed a male suspect driving a white BMW removing mail from his mailbox. Law enforcement captured the license plate of the BMW 530I using a license plate reader, which revealed that the BMW was registered to Hertz Rental Car.
• On January 3, 2020, investigators in Collierville received information from Hertz Corporate Security documents indicating that the BMW was currently being rented by Shamari Johnson.
• On January 23, 2020, investigators learned of a mail theft from the Arlington Crime Facebook page showing a suspect driving a white BMW pulling up to a mailbox and removing the contents on January 21, 2020. The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office was informed and aware of this post regarding the incident in Arlington. Law enforcement discovered that Johnson had utilities at an address on Morning Hill Dr. Cordova, TN. Hertz Rental Car Investigator provided documentation that Johnson was still in possession of the BMW.
• That same day, law enforcement also learned of an investigation by Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) involving the fraudulent purchase of a Porsche valued at $45,998 from CarMax. Johnson was identified as the subject because he used his driver’s license photo on the fraudulent ID.
• On January 29, 2020, investigators conducted surveillance at the Morning Hill Dr. address and discovered the white BMW 530I parked in front of the address. A search warrant was obtained.
• That same day, law enforcement discovered hundreds of pieces of opened stolen mail containing personal identifying information of over 100 individuals, check stock, counterfeit checks, and fake IDs in the Morning Hill Dr. residence. Investigators further discovered a debit card in the name of victim R.S., in whose name the Porsche was purchased, as well as an ID and paperwork from CarMax. Investigators found a receipt for a certain storage unit located at Sentry Self Storage in Cordova, TN.
• That same day, Johnson agreed to speak with investigators and admitted to purchasing the Porsche using the identity of victim R.S. Johnson stated that he obtained the driver’s license through mail theft and he was also able to obtain a credit card in victim R.S.’s name.
• On January 30, 2020, investigators executed a search warrant at Johnson’s rented storage unit at Sentry Self Storage and discovered additional pieces of stolen mail, counterfeit checks, and fake IDs. That same day, investigators also executed a search warrant on the white BMW 530I and discovered materials used to make fake IDs and several counterfeit checks.
• Additional evidence seized included approximately 140 counterfeit checks drawn on 35 different banks, which appeared to have been passed at Wal-Mart stores. The total for the 140 checks was $59,247.
• On March 3, 2020, investigators received security camera footage from Wal-Mart Corporate Security from several Wal-Mart locations on January 18, and 19, 2020 which showed Johnson making purchases using checks which were identified as being counterfeit.
"A large part of the Postal Inspection Service’s mission is to ensure the public’s trust and the sanctity of the U.S. Mail. These types of crimes against postal customers compromise that trust. This sentence reflects the serious nature of the offense and will hopefully be a deterrent to others," said Tommy D. Coke, Postal Inspector in Charge of the Atlanta Division.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Collierville Police Department.
On October 28, 2021, U.S. District Judge John T. Fowlkes Jr., sentenced Johnson to 75 months in federal prison; three years supervised release; and restitution and criminal forfeiture of $105,245. There is no parole in the federal system.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Chris Cotten prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Twenty-Year Old Sentenced to 9 Years in Federal Prison for Attempted Carjacking and Brandishing a Firearm During a Crime of ViolenceRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Terrion Jones, 20, has been sentenced to 111 months in federal prison for attempted carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on December 28, 2019, co-defendant Demetrius Williams and Terrion Jones contacted a third-party to take them to the mall. As the vehicle arrived, Jones got in the back seat of the vehicle. Williams asked the victim to pick up an additional female passenger behind the apartment building. Upon arriving to the back of the building, Jones got out of the car under the guise of getting another passenger.
As Jones opened the door, Williams brandished a handgun and told the victim "Get out of the car, so I don't have to shoot you." The victim resisted and Jones punched her. Williams eventually gave Jones the gun and told Jones to shoot the victim. Jones pointed the gun at the victim, and she ran away. An armed citizen intervened, and the suspects fled the scene. Jones and Williams were identified as the suspects and placed in custody several days later.
Jones pled guilty to attempted carjacking and brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence on August 5, 2021.
On September 15, 2021, Williams pled guilty to attempted carjacking and brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. Sentencing is set for December 15, 2021.
On November 3, 2021, U.S. Senior District Judge Jon P. McCalla sentenced Jones to 111 months in federal prison to be followed by three years’ supervised release, and a $2,000 fine. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elizabeth Rogers and Gregory Wagner are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Drug Trafficking and Possession of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug TraffickingRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Jeremy Edwards, 32, a convicted felon, has been sentenced to 97 months in federal prison for drug trafficking and possession of a firearm. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on September 30, 2020, detectives with the Organized Crime Unit of the Memphis Police executed a search warrant at Jeremy Edwards' apartment. Pursuant to that search warrant, officers recovered two firearms, a Sig-Sauer P250C 9mm handgun and a Canik TP9 9 mm handgun, both of which were reported as stolen. The Sig-Sauer handgun was loaded with live rounds in a backpack belonging to Edwards. In that same backpack, in addition to the gun, officers found 166.6 grams of marijuana (total gross weight), two digital scales, mail in the name of Jeremy Edwards, and a silver pill press. The marijuana was submitted to TBI for testing and analysis. The substance tested positive for 77.90 grams of marijuana.
Upon further search of the apartment, officers recovered approximately $484 in U.S. currency from a pair of jeans, along with fentanyl powder inside two-dollar bills in the pockets. An additional scale and two additional pill presses were found in the apartment, along with a bottle of lactose, which is commonly used as a cutting agent for drugs.
Edwards had been previously convicted of aggravated robbery. As a result of his prior conviction, he is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
On October 7, 2020, officers with the Organized Crime Unit of the Memphis Police Department, executed a second narcotics search warrant at the Edwards residence. Detectives found a clear bag along with other individual bags that contained a white powder and a brown powder inside of a Kleenex box on the headboard in the master bedroom. In addition, officers located a black digital scale in the headboard and approximately $834 in United States Currency. The recovered narcotics were submitted to TBI for testing and analysis. The brown powder tested positive for .31 grams Heroin. The white powder tested positive for 11.45 grams Fentanyl.
Edwards pled guilty to the above charges on June 9, 2021.
On October 29, 2021, U.S. District Judge Jon P. McCalla sentenced Edwards to 97 months imprisonment to be followed by three years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department, Organized Crime Unit.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Wendy K. Cornejo prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Repeat Gun Offender Sentenced to over 10 Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Tavious Richards, 30, has been sentenced to 123 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, Tavious Richards had previously been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release. While on release, Richards committed several violations, including unlawfully possessing yet another firearm.
On August 12, 2020, Memphis Police Officers identified Richards driving a black 2020 Chevrolet Camaro. Officers knew Richards had active arrest warrants. The Airways Task Force was contacted and responded to the scene. Officers initiated a traffic stop at Airways and I-240 where Richards was captured. While removing him from the vehicle, a handgun was visible. Also found in the vehicle was a backpack containing marijuana, pills, and a bottle of promethazine. The firearm, a Glock .40 caliber pistol, had previously been reported stolen in 2018.
Richards had been previously convicted of aggravated assault, as well as other charges. As a result of his prior convictions, Richards is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition.
On April 15, 2021, a Federal Grand Jury sitting in the Western District of Tennessee returned a one-count indictment against Richards for his August 12, 2020, gun possession charge. Richards entered a guilty plea to that indictment on June 16, 2021.
On October 8, 2021, U.S. District Judge Jon P. McCalla sentenced Richards to 108 months in federal prison. His total sentence of 123 months incarceration will be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
On October 14, 2021, U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Richards to 15 months incarceration for his supervised release violations, to be served consecutively to his sentence on his new indictment of 123 months in federal prison.
The Memphis Police Department and Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force investigated this case. The Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In 2017, PSN was reinvigorated as part of the Justice Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel D. Winnig and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Rogers prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. SAUSA Winnig is currently assigned from the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office for the purpose of prosecuting violent crimes and firearms offenses in federal court.
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Chief Executive Officer Pleads Guilty to Submitting Hundreds of False Monitoring ReportsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A Tennessee woman pleaded guilty today to fabricating discharge monitoring reports required under the Clean Water Act and submitting those fraudulent documents to state regulators in Tennessee and Mississippi.
According to court documents and information in the public record, DiAne Gordon, 61, of Memphis, Tennessee, was the co-owner and chief executive officer of Environmental Compliance and Testing (ECT). ECT held itself out to the public as a full-service environmental consulting firm and offered, among other things, sampling and testing of stormwater, process water, and wastewater.
Customers, typically concrete companies, hired ECT to take samples and analyze them in a manner consistent with Clean Water Act permit requirements. Gordon claimed to gather and send the samples to a full-service environmental testing laboratory. The alleged results were memorialized in lab reports and chain of custody forms submitted to two state agencies, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), to satisfy permit requirements. In reality, Gordon fabricated the test results and related reports. She even forged documents from a reputable testing laboratory in furtherance of her crime. Gordon then billed her clients for the sampling and analysis. Law enforcement and regulators quickly determined that Gordon created and submitted, or caused to be submitted, at least 405 false lab reports and chain of custody forms from her company in Memphis to state regulators since 2017.
Pursuant to the terms of her plea agreement, Gordon will pay $201,388.88 in restitution to the victims of her crime.
"By fabricating these reports, Gordon betrayed her position of trust and violated her responsibility to provide information critical to evaluating water quality for residents in Tennessee and Mississippi," said Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment
and Natural Resources Division. "This prosecution shows the value of state and federal partnerships in investigating and prosecuting fraud and upholding the nation’s environmental laws for the good of public health."
"The Clean Water Act ensures that water quality is maintained throughout the United States," said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr. for the Western District of Tennessee. "Correct and accurate test results of discharges into rivers and stream and the honest reporting of those results to regulatory authorities are important parts of the Act’s regulatory framework. Without accurate test results and reporting of those results, the Clean Water Act will not work as Congress intended. Because honest reporting of this data is so important to the functioning of the Act, our office will vigorously prosecute individuals who falsely report test results."
"The defendant’s job was to help her clients remain in compliance with the Clean Water Act but instead she chose to falsify the required analytical testing under the Act for financial gain," said Special Agent in Charge Charles Carfagno of the Environmental Protection Agency – Criminal Investigation Division’s (EPA-CID’s) Southeast Area Branch. "Today’s guilty plea illustrates the consequences of such criminal behavior and that EPA-CID will continue to vigorously investigate those that choose to violate our environmental laws."
Gordon pleaded guilty to knowingly and willfully making and using false writings and documents in a matter within the jurisdiction of EPA. She is scheduled to be sentenced on March 22, 2022 and faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
EPA-CID is investigating the case. MDEQ and TDEC provided invaluable assistance to federal law enforcement officers.
Trial Attorney Banumathi Rangarajan of the Justice Department’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Dean DeCandia of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.
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2 Men Plead Guilty to CarjackingRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Kolonji Warren, 24, and Kristopher Harris, 23, have pled guilty to carjacking. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Acting U.S. Attorney announced the plea today.
According to information provided in court, on July 17, 2019, the victim was seated inside his vehicle at the Pump and Munch gas station on East Shelby Drive in Memphis, TN. Warren and Harris drove Warren’s tan Jeep SUV to the gas station and pulled alongside the victim's vehicle.
One of the men pointed a semi-automatic handgun at the victim, firing one shot into the front passenger-side window of the vehicle. After the victim fled, Warren entered the victim's vehicle and drove away. One shell casing left at the scene was collected as evidence.
Video surveillance captured the suspect’s vehicle in the area and showed Warren enter the gas station prior to the carjacking. Part of the carjacking incident was also captured on video surveillance. During the investigation the defendants were all positively identified.
On October 22, 2021, both Warren and Harris pled guilty to the carjacking charge. Sentencing is set before U.S. District Judge Tommy L. Parker on January 21, 2022, where the defendants face up to 15 years in federal prison, followed by three years supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wendy K. Cornejo and Greg Wagner are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government
Tennessee State Senator and Nashville Social Club Owner Indicted for Alleged Campaign Finance SchemeRead the Press Release
Indictment MEMPHIS – A federal grand jury in Nashville, Tennessee, returned an indictment Friday charging Tennessee State Senator Brian Kelsey and a Nashville social club owner with violating campaign finance laws as part of an alleged scheme to benefit Kelsey’s 2016 campaign for U.S. Congress.
According to court documents, Kelsey, 43, of Germantown, and Joshua Smith, 44, of Nashville, conspired to and did secretly and unlawfully funnel what is commonly referred to as "soft money" from Kelsey’s Tennessee State Senate campaign committee to his authorized federal campaign committee. Kelsey and others also caused a national political organization to make illegal, excessive contributions to Kelsey’s federal campaign committee by secretly coordinating with the organization on advertisements supporting Kelsey’s federal candidacy and to cause false reports of contributions and expenditures to be filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
The indictment alleges that Kelsey, Smith, and others orchestrated the concealed movement of $91,000 to a national political organization for the purpose of funding advertisements that urged voters to support Kelsey in the August 2016 primary election, and that the conspirators caused the political organization to make $80,000 worth of contributions to Kelsey’s federal campaign committee in the form of coordinated expenditures.
Kelsey and Smith are charged with conspiracy to defraud the FEC, illegally transferring "soft money" as a federal candidate and his agent, and illegally transferring "soft money" as a state officeholder and his agent. Kelsey is also charged with making excessive contributions to a federal campaign and accepting excessive contributions. The defendants are scheduled to make their initial court appearances on Nov. 5 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffery S. Frensley of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Acting U.S. Attorneys Mary Jane Stewart for the Middle District of Tennessee and Joseph C. Murphy Jr. for the Western District of Tennessee made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Trial Attorney John Taddei of the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Klopf of the Middle District of Tennessee and David Pritchard of Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Justice Department Announces New Initiative to Combat RedliningRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Today the Department of Justice, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) announced an agreement to resolve allegations that Trustmark National Bank engaged in lending discrimination by redlining predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in Memphis, Tennessee. "Redlining" is an illegal practice in which lenders avoid providing services to individuals living in communities of color because of the race or national origin of the people who live in those communities.
"Enforcement of fair lending laws is a priority for the Civil Rights Division. Our fair lending laws enable us to hold banks and lenders accountable when they fail to serve communities of color in our country. Having fair access to mortgage lending opportunities is the cornerstone on which families and communities can build wealth," said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Civil Rights Division. "This settlement makes clear our commitment to ensuring equal access to lending opportunities for all communities, regardless of race or national origin."
"Home ownership," said Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, "is the foundation of economic success for most American families. Fair lending practices required by federal law - and the enforcement of those laws - ensure a better future for all Americans. Our office believes that enforcement actions of this type are essential to fair lending system that benefits everyone, and we will continue to prioritize these cases."
The parties’ proposed consent order was filed today in conjunction with a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee. The complaint alleges that Trustmark National Bank violated the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which prohibit financial institutions from discriminating on the basis of race, color, or national origin in their mortgage lending services. The complaint also alleges that Trustmark National Bank violated the Consumer Financial Protection Act, which prohibits offering or providing to a consumer any financial product or service not in conformity with federal consumer financial law.
Specifically, the complaint alleges that, from 2014 to 2018, Trustmark engaged in unlawful redlining in Memphis by avoiding predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhoods because of the race, color, and national origin of the people living in, or seeking credit for properties in, those neighborhoods. The complaint also alleges that Trustmark’s branches were concentrated in majority-white neighborhoods, that the bank’s loan officers did not serve the credit needs of majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods, that Trustmark’s outreach and marketing avoided those neighborhoods, and that Trustmark’s internal fair-lending policies and procedures were inadequate to ensure that the bank provided equal access to credit to communities of color.
The department opened its investigation after one of Trustmark’s regulators, the OCC, referred the matter. Trustmark has fully cooperated in this investigation and amicably resolved the allegations.
"Trustmark purposely excluded and discriminated against Black and Hispanic communities," said Director Rohit Chopra of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). "The federal government will be working to rid the market of racist business practices, including those by discriminatory algorithms."
"The OCC has had a long history of strong partnership with the Justice Department’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section of the Civil Rights Division, referring potential fair lending violations and sharing our extensive examiner, economist and legal findings, as we did in the Trustmark matter," said Acting Comptroller of the Currency Michael J. Hsu. "Today’s announcement is important because it signifies the unified and unmitigated focus that each of our agencies has placed on the enforcement of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. Our collective efforts are critical to addressing the discriminatory lending practices that create and reinforce racial inequity in the financial system."
Under the proposed consent order:
• Trustmark will invest $3.85 million in a loan subsidy fund to increase credit opportunities for current and future residents of predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in the Memphis area; dedicate at least four mortgage loan officers or community lending specialists to these neighborhoods; and open a loan production office in a majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhood in Memphis.
• Trustmark will devote $400,000 to developing community partnerships to provide services to residents of majority-Black and Hispanic neighborhoods in Memphis that increase access to residential mortgage credit.
• Trustmark will devote at least $200,000 per year to advertising, outreach, consumer financial education, and credit repair initiatives in and around Memphis.
• Trustmark will pay a total civil money penalty of $5 million to the OCC and CFPB.
• Trustmark already has established a Fair Lending Oversight Committee and designated a Community Lending Manager who will oversee these efforts and work in close consultation with the Bank’s leadership.
The Justice Department’s enforcement of fair lending laws is conducted by the Civil Rights Division’s Housing and Civil Enforcement Section. Additional information about the Section’s fair lending enforcement can be found at www.justice.gov/fairhousing. Individuals may report lending discrimination by calling the Justice Department’s Housing Discrimination Tip Line at 1-833-591-0291, or submitting a report online.
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Tennessee Physician Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Hydrocodone Distribution Resulting in DeathRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A Tennessee physician was sentenced today in the Western District of Tennessee to 20 years in prison for his unlawful prescribing of opioids that caused the death of one of his patients.
According to court documents, Thomas K. Ballard III, 63, of Jackson, a medical doctor, owned and operated the Ballard Clinic, where he prescribed controlled substances outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. Among other things, Ballard engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with several female patients while he ignored red flags that they were abusing the medications he prescribed. These abuses were often reflected in Ballard’s own medical records.
Ballard’s unlawful prescribing to one patient led to her death. Ballard’s treatment records indicated that he believed the patient had psychiatric issues, overutilized medication, had engaged in manipulation, and fabricated personal trauma. The records also reflected that the patient had been incarcerated, received prescriptions elsewhere for Suboxone, a drug used to treat opioid dependency disorder, and that she had abnormal drug testing results, including because of what Ballard believed was tampering. Nevertheless, Ballard prescribed the patient hydrocodone repeatedly, including on May 28, 2015. She fatally overdosed on the prescription drug the following day. On June 23, 2021, Ballard pleaded guilty to one count of illegal drug distribution resulting in death.
"Today’s sentence reflects the gravity of physicians causing death by illegally prescribing opioids," said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. "Loss of life is a tragic outcome of physicians like Ballard acting as drug dealers instead of doctors. Those responsible for fatal overdoses – especially those who are in positions of trust like Ballard – must be held accountable for their roles in the opioid epidemic. This serious criminal conduct requires serious consequences."
"With blatant disregard for the Hippocratic Oath, Ballard endangered his patients’ lives through illegitimate and reckless prescribing," said Administrator Anne Milgram of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). "DEA tirelessly pursues the people responsible for flooding our nation with illegal drugs, to include doctors who misuse their positions for personal gain. Those who supply opioids illegally have one thing in common: they demonstrate total disregard for the lives and safety of those who live in our communities. DEA will continue to battle the U.S. opioid epidemic one case at a time, and today’s sentencing demonstrates our commitment to justice."
"Physicians are entrusted to care for patients and prescribe medically necessary medications. The death of a vulnerable woman exemplifies the devastating impact of Ballard’s disregard for his patients and profession," said Special Agent in Charge Derrick L. Jackson with the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). "Working closely with our law enforcement partners, HHS-OIG will continue to hold accountable medical professionals whose illicit activities endanger the lives of patients in their care."
"It’s extremely disappointing to see a member of the medical community totally disregard his Hippocratic Oath," said Special Agent in Charge Terry Reed of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), Medicaid Fraud Division. "Ballard put his patients at risk in order to satisfy his greed and will now spend time in federal prison for recklessly prescribing highly addictive and powerful opioids. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and its law enforcement partners will continue to expose the greed and deceit taking precedence over patient care."
The DEA, HHS-OIG, and TBI investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Drew Pennebaker and Emily Petro of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section prosecuted the case.
The Fraud Section leads the department’s Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid (ARPO) Strike Force. Since its inception in October 2018, the ARPO Strike Force, which operates in 10 federal districts, has charged more than 85 defendants who collectively are responsible for distributing more than 65 million pills. The ARPO Strike Force is part of the Health Care Fraud Strike Force Program, which since March 2007 has charged more than 4,200 defendants who collectively have billed the Medicare program for more than $19 billion. In addition, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, working in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services, are taking steps to hold providers accountable for their involvement in health care fraud schemes. More information can be found at https://www.justice.gov/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit.
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DEA and Partners hold National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on October 23rdRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Acting United States Attorney Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., joins the Drug Enforcement Administration in announcing that on October 23rd, DEA will hold its 20th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. The biannual event will be held at thousands of collection sites around the country. The event is an effort to rid homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. The service is free and anonymous.
With robust public participation, the National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Initiative continues to remove ever-higher amounts of opioids and other medicines from the nation’s homes, where they are vulnerable to misuse, theft or abuse by family members and visitors, including children and teens.
Last October, DEA’s Take Back Day brought in a record-high amount of expired, unused prescription medications, with the public turning in close to 500 tons of unwanted drugs. Over the 19-year span of Take Back Day, DEA has brought in more than 6,800 tons of prescription drugs. With studies indicating most abused prescription drugs come from family and friends, including from home medicine cabinets, clearing out unused medicine is essential.
"With more Americans dying from drug overdoses than ever before, DEA’s Drug Take-Back Day is one way that folks can help make their communities safer, simply by disposing of their unneeded or expired medications," said Special Agent in Charge Todd Scott, who heads the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s Louisville Division. "We’re providing a safe and convenient way to help keep potentially harmful medications out of the wrong hands."
Rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States continue to be alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Most prescription drug abusers say they get their drugs free from friends and family, including from the home medicine cabinet. Take Back Day is a unique opportunity for Americans to protect their homes and medicine cabinets from theft and abuse.
Helping people dispose of potentially harmful prescription drugs is just one-way DEA is working to reduce addiction and stem overdose deaths.
Learn more about the event at www.deatakeback.com or by calling 800-882-9539.
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The United States Attorney’s Office, Memphis Police Department, Faith Based Leaders and Community Stakeholders Announce Efforts to Reduce Violent CrimeRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., along with stake holders in the Frayser Community announced the “Better Community Summit” effort to reduce violent crime throughout our city. Organizers and participants in initial summit include the Memphis Police Department, represented by Deputy Chief Paul Wright, Pursuit of God Transformation Center, represented by Pastor Ricky Floyd, and Charles Caswell, Executive Director of Legacy of Legends, CDC.
The U.S. Department of Justice is committed to work with law enforcement and other stakeholders to reduce violent crime in Memphis and West Tennessee. To achieve this goal, the department has directed every U.S. Attorney’s Office to formulate a strategic plan designed to reduce violent crime. To that end, our office convened meetings with over 40 clergy leaders across the greater Memphis area to discuss violent crime and recommend possible solutions.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Memphis Police Department, non-profit organizations, clergy leaders, and other community stakeholders are pleased to announce the first of five “Better Community Summits” will be held at The Pursuit of God Transformation Center, 3759 North Watkins Street beginning on Saturday, November 6, 2021, at 10 a.m. The summit is tailored to address the needs of parents and children. Topics covered will include domestic violence prevention, gang talk, community conflict resolution, and de-escalation training.
Beginning in 2022, the remaining four workshops will be held quarterly in the areas of North Memphis; Whitehaven/Westwood; Hickory Hill/East Memphis and Orange Mound/South Memphis.###
Felon Receives 57-Month Sentence for Firearm PossessionRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Deeric Walton, 25, has been sentenced to 57 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the sentenced today.
According to information presented in court, on December 8, 2018, Memphis Police Department officers were searching for Deeric Walton at his residence on East Trophy Way. As officers announced their presence, they heard someone running throughout the apartment. Walton eventually answered the door, advising investigators that he was hiding guns. Law enforcement then transported the defendant to the MPD Homicide Office for a statement regarding a homicide.
A search warrant for his apartment revealed in the living room, a Lorcin .380 caliber handgun; in a bedroom, a Zastava Arms 7.62x39mm caliber firearm with a 30-round magazine, and a stolen Charles Daly 1911 .45 ACP caliber handgun; in another bedroom, an FNH USA 9mm handgun and a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun. Walton was Mirandized and admitted to owning several of the handguns, having purchased all the guns "off the streets."
As a juvenile, Walton was previously convicted of a robbery and was prosecuted as an adult. As a result of his prior conviction, Walton is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms or ammunition. On November 19, 2020, a Federal Grand Jury in the Western District of Tennessee indicted the defendant for this offense. Walton pled guilty, May 20, 2021.
On October 5, 2021, U.S. District Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Walton to 57 months imprisonment, to be followed by three years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
The Memphis Police Department and Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force investigated this case. The Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. In 2017, PSN was reinvigorated as part of the Justice Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel D. Winnig and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Rogers prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. SAUSA Winnig is currently assigned from the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office for the purpose of prosecuting violent crimes and firearms offenses in federal court.
###Bank Robbers Who Tracked and Kidnapped Bank Employees Sentenced in Federal CourtRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – After a four-day federal jury trial in June 2021, Antonio Johnson 44, Travis Jackson 37, and Shalundra Johnson, 39 were found guilty of kidnapping and multiple bank robberies. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the sentencing today.
According to information presented in court, on September 14, 2018, at approximately 2:15 a.m., an employee of Trustmark Bank on Elvis Presley Blvd., got off work from her second job and arrived home. As the victim walked into her home, a male with a firearm grabbed her and pushed her inside of the residence. The victim was zip-tied and taken to the bank to complete the robbery where approximately, $73,400 was taken. Travis Jackson’s DNA was recovered from the zip-ties used to restrain the victim.
On December 7, 2018, at approximately 7:18 p.m., an employee of the First Tennessee Bank on Elvis Presley Blvd arrived home from work. While in her driveway, an unknown male wearing a mask approached her vehicle. The unknown male forced the victim at gunpoint to the passenger seat of her vehicle and drove her to a location near the bank. The victim was then zip-tied and taken to the bank to complete the robbery; approximately, $110,435 was taken. Again, Travis Jackson’s DNA was recovered from the zip-ties used to restrain the victim and from other zip-ties recovered from the scene. Travis Jackson’s cell phone records placed him at the bank at the time of the robbery. Cell phone records also placed Antonio Johnson at the scene of the victim’s house and at the bank at the time of the kidnapping and the robbery. A tracking device was placed on the victim's vehicle for the gunman to determine where she lived.
On April 4, 2019, at approximately 6:15 p.m., an employee of First South Financial Credit Union on East Shelby Drive, arrived at her home in Horn Lake, Mississippi. Armed men entered the victim’s home, zip-tied the victim’s hands, and demanded keys to the bank.
The victim, along with her three-year-old child, were then forced into her personal car and driven away. Eventually, the victim was taken to the bank for the robbery.
Approximately, $425,000 was taken in the robbery. Shalundra Johnson placed a tracking device on the victim's vehicle for the gunmen to determine where the victim lived. Cell phone records, tracking device information, and evidence recovered from the respective defendant’s residences proved the involvement of the defendants in the robbery.
United States District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced each defendant. Travis Jackson was sentenced on September 3, 2021, to a total of 544 months (45.3 years) in federal prison to be followed by three years’ supervised release. Antonio Johnson was sentenced on September 24, 2021, to 432 months (36 years) to be followed by three years supervised release. Shalundra Johnson was sentenced on September 1, 2021 to 140 months (11.6 years) imprisonment to be followed by three years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
"These sentences should send a clear message that the FBI and our law enforcement partners make it a priority to bring to justice those who resort to bank robbery and kidnapping for ill-gotten financial gains," said Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Douglas M. Korneski. "Violent crimes will not be tolerated, and law enforcement will not rest, until offenders are caught, prosecuted and held accountable for their actions."
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Memphis Police Department, Desoto County (MS) Sheriff’s Department and Horn Lake, MS Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Marques Young and Kevin Whitmore prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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20-Year-Old Sentenced to Federal Prison for Armed Carjacking CrimeRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Carlos Jones, 20, has been sentenced to 90 months in federal prison for his role in a carjacking, committing the carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the sentenced today.
According to information presented in court, on July 13, 2018, at approximately 9 p.m., the victim J.M. was washing his 2013 Volkswagen Passat at a local carwash on Holmes Road when approached by two suspects, both of whom pointed firearms and demanded his vehicle. The victim said one of the suspects pointed a gun at him from behind and said, "Get the hell away from the car and go."
Surveillance video showed the suspects entered the carwash in a white vehicle, exited the vehicle and approached the victim. Footage captured the victim's vehicle leaving the carwash, followed by the suspect's vehicle. The victim's vehicle was tracked by GPS and later recovered from an apartment complex in Southaven, Mississippi.
Fingerprints belonging to co-defendant Angelo Bunting, 22, were recovered from the interior of the vehicle. The victim positively identified both co-defendants as the suspects responsible for the carjacking. Bunting was previously sentenced to 20 years for this carjacking, as well as others.
On September 23, 2020, Jones entered a guilty plea to the charges of carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
On September 23, 2021, U.S. District Court Judge Mark Norris sentenced Jones to 90 months in federal prison to be followed by five years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
The Memphis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated this case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel D. Winnig and Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Rogers prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. SAUSA Winnig is currently assigned from the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office for prosecuting violent crimes and firearms offenses in federal court.
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Felon Pleads Guilty to Being a Convicted Felon in Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Kelvin Seymour, 36, has pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the guilty plea today.
According to information presented in court, on December 15, 2018, Memphis Police Officers responded to an aggravated assault on Jones Road. The victim informed law enforcement of the recent assault by Kelvin Seymour. Further, the victim stated that Seymour borrowed her car and refused to return it. Upon entering the car, the victim was forced to drive around for hours as Seymour became irate. He pulled an unknown black handgun from his waistband and made multiple threats to kill her, while striking her several times in her face.
Officers located Seymour in the passenger seat of the victim's car. The victim advised officers Seymour hid the gun under the center console, subsequently, where officers recovered a black Ruger .380 caliber pistol.
Seymour is a convicted felon, having previously been convicted of four felonies and several misdemeanor convictions. The defendant was on probation for a 2016 conviction of aggravated assault to a police officer when this crime occurred.
On September 7, 2021 the defendant pled guilty.
This case is set for sentencing on January 5, 2022, before U.S. District Judge Mark S. Norris where he faces up to 10 years imprisonment, to be followed by no more than three years supervised release and a fine of $250,000. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Task Force. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our communities safer for everyone. In 2017, PSN was reinvigorated as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement, and the local community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Wendy K. Cornejo is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
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Federal Inmate Sentenced for Additional Offenses of Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Possession of Contraband in PrisonRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Israel Urbina, 26, a convicted felon, has been sentenced to 51 months in federal prison for assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a contraband. Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr., announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, Urbina, an inmate at the Federal Correctional Institution in Memphis, Tennessee, was serving a 51-month sentence for possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell.
On June 23, 2019, Urbina stabbed two fellow inmates. Both victims sustained injuries and were transported to Regional One Hospital. The weapon used in the assault, half of a broken pair of scissors measuring 7 inches, was recovered from the inside of a trash can located outside of Urbina’s cell.
On March 16, 2021, Urbina pled guilty to the charges in the indictment.
On August 30, 2021, U.S. District Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced the defendant to 51 months imprisonment to be followed by three years’ supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Wendy K. Cornejo prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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