Western District of Tennessee
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Convicted Felon Receives 55 Month Sentence for Illegal Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Christopher Holmes, 31, has been sentenced to 55 months for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on February 6, 2018, around noon, Memphis police saw a silver Infiniti I30 west bound on Chelsea Avenue with very dark tinted windows that appeared to be beyond the legal limit. As officers executed a traffic stop, Holmes exited the vehicle and attempted to run from officers. He was apprehended a short distance later and struggled with officers while being handcuffed. Law enforcement located on his person a prescription bottle prescribed for someone else containing 43 alprazolam pills.
While searching the vehicle, law enforcement located a loaded Browning 9mm pistol in the front driver’s seat. Holmes has a prior felony conviction for aggravated assault, and a misdemeanor conviction for domestic violence.
On October 10, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes Jr., sentenced Holmes to 55 months in federal prison followed by 2 years supervised release.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Convicted felons who possess firearms are an inherent danger to the community, and in this case, Holmes was a violent offender who continued to possess a firearm despite his prior felony conviction history. There is and ought to be a significant consequence for such recidivist criminal behavior, and this is one more gun-toter that will be removed from our streets."
The Memphis Police Department investigated this case.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam 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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Memphis Man Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin Resulting in Fatal OverdoseRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – David Mitchell Murray, 39, of Memphis has been sentenced to 188 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute heroin resulting in death. Also indicted as a co-defendant in this case was Glenda Aldape, 48, of Cordova. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on the evening of March 28, 2016, the victim Sean Heywood agreed over the phone to buy half a gram of heroin from Aldape for $75. Aldape texted Sean that she was sending "Mitch" (later identified as 39-year-old David Mitchell Murray) to deliver the heroin. Sean lived with his father, mother and grandmother at the time.
At 10 p.m., Sean told his father he was going to a nearby Huey’s location to have a beer. Surveillance tape showed Sean entering the bar area of the restaurant a few minutes after 10 p.m. and having one beer. During this period, he spoke on the phone with Mitch at least twice. The tape then shows him leaving the restaurant. After a few minutes, he left the bar and got into a car with Mitch, who then sold the heroin to Sean. Mitch then drove Sean home.
At approximately 12:30 p.m., Sean’s father found Sean unresponsive on the bathroom floor. Memphis emergency personnel arrived at the house and pronounced Sean dead at 1:02 a.m. Law enforcement responded and tagged all of the items as evidence – a plastic bag of heroin in his pocket, syringe, spoon and 0.19 grams of heroin, and Sean’s cell phone. The autopsy results concluded the cause of Sean’s death was a lethal dose of heroin.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Under our district-specific opioid strategy, heroin distribution cases resulting in death receive top priority for investigation and federal prosecution, regardless of quantity of heroin involved or the prior criminal record of the offender. Our Heroin Initiative also provides time-sensitive case coordination between law enforcement agencies and medical examiners, to ensure that opioid overdose death cases are investigated quickly and thoroughly to identify the nature and source of the drug distribution. Finally, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will aggressively prosecute and seek the maximum guidelines sentences in these cases in order to disrupt trafficking organizations, hold the distributor accountable for the death of the victim, and to deter others from selling poison to our citizens."
On October 4, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes Jr. sentenced Murray to 188 months in federal prison followed by 3 years supervised release. Judge Fowlkes Jr. sentenced Glenda Aldape, to 240 months imprisonment followed by 3 years supervised release on May 14, 2019.
This case was investigated the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Memphis Police Department Organized Crime Unit (OCU).
Assistant U.S. Attorney J. William Crow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Jury Finds Lauderdale County Man Guilty of Being a Convicted Felon in Possession of Firearms Used in the Murder of a Pregnant WomanRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – After a three-day jury trial, Sequna Copeland a/k/a "Cutthroat", 30, of Ripley, Tennessee has been found guilty of two counts of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the guilty verdict today.
According to information presented in court, on June 18, 2018 in Lauderdale County, Tennessee a white minivan crashed on Highway 19. Two men emerged from the vehicle and ran in the direction of Maple Hill Circle. Multiple people identified these men as Sequna Copeland and Bryson Bonds. The Tennessee Highway Patrol investigated the wreck and found a Canik 9mm pistol and a Harrington & Richardson .22 revolver in the minivan. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation lab tests, codefendant statements, and circumstantial evidence revealed that these two handguns were used to kill Jessica Hunt and her unborn child on Berry Morrow Road earlier that same morning.
In 2016, Copeland, along with three other members of the Gangster Disciples, robbed the Ripley Express convenience store. He along with another defendant evaded law enforcement for eight months and was subsequently placed on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s "Top 10 Most Wanted" list. On July 30, 2015, Copeland, while under oath and testifying as a witness in a proceeding before a Federal Grand Jury, made a false statement to prevent the punishment of two co-defendants. In July 2016, Copeland pleaded guilty to one count of perjury, and was sentenced to 27 months imprisonment followed by 3 years supervised release. In 2009, Copeland was convicted in Lauderdale County of Facilitation of the Second Degree Murder of Brian Bond, son of then Haywood County Sheriff Melvin Bond.
On October 1, 2018, the Lauderdale County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Copeland with two counts of Premeditated First Degree Murder, two counts of Felony First Degree Murder, one count of Especially Aggravated Kidnapping, one count of
Tampering with Evidence, one count of Felony Possession of a Firearm, one count of Employing a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony, one count of Abuse of a Corpse, one count of Theft of Property, and one count of Leaving the Scene of an Accident. https://tbinewsroom.com/2018/10/06/tbi-top-ten-fugitive-captured-charged-in-lauderdale-county-homicide/
Sentencing for the federal firearms convictions is scheduled for November 22, 2019 before U.S. District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker, where Copeland faces a possible sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "As his nickname indicates, ‘Cutthroat’ has a long criminal history of felony convictions involving violence, and has now been found guilty of possessing firearms that were used in the murder of Jessica Hunt and her unborn child, and while he was still on a period of supervised release from a prior felony conviction. Copeland has devoted his entire adult life to a career of criminal conduct in Lauderdale County, and that prior history has finally caught up with him. This federal conviction will remove this violent recidivist from the community for up to 10 years, will hopefully deliver justice for his victims, and will make Lauderdale County and West Tennessee a safer place."
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Tennessee Highway Patrol, The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office, and the Ripley Police Department investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Neal Oldham is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
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Operation “Crime Driver” Targets Violent Criminals in Tipton CountyRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant and 25th Judicial District Attorney General Mark Davidson announced today that the first phase of a joint federal, state and local law enforcement anti-violence initiative has resulted in the federal indictments of six individuals from Tipton County, TN. The agencies participating in the initiative include the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee, the District Attorney General’s Office for the 25th Judicial District, the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Tennessee Department of Correction, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to information presented in court, between February and May 2019, law enforcement targeted offenders wanted on arrest warrants for violent criminal offenses in Tipton County, Tennessee. Officials from the participating agencies announced the results of Operation "Crime Driver" at a press conference on May 3, 2019, in Covington, Tennessee.
On February 20, 2019, Danny Muex, Jr., 31, of Atoka, Tennessee, led Tipton County Sheriff’s deputies on a high-speed pursuit, wrecking his vehicle. As deputies apprehended him, he threw a handgun from the vehicle. At the time, he was on probation in the state of Florida as a convicted felon in possession of a handgun. Muex Jr., has been charged in federal court in Memphis with being a felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted, he faces up to 120 months in federal prison.
On March 3, 2019, Atoka officers encountered Ramell Jackson, 23, of Millington, Tennessee, during a traffic stop and found him in possession of a handgun. At the time, he was under indictment for delivering drugs, and was an admitted drug user. In addition, Jackson was found in possession of ammunition on May 3, 2019, after being convicted of a drug felony. He is currently in state custody awaiting to be arraigned on federal charges. He is charged in federal court in Memphis with possession of a firearm while under felony indictment, possession of a firearm while being an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance, and being a felon in possession of ammunition. If convicted, Jackson faces up to 120 months in federal prison.
On April 3, 2019, Marcus Green, 38, of Covington, Tennessee, a former Shelby County Sheriff’s Corrections Deputy, who was on federal supervised release for a prior federal drug conviction, was found in possession of 1 ½ pounds of marijuana. The U.S. Probation Office filed a petition to revoke Green’s supervised release based upon the marijuana he possessed, and the federal grand jury in Memphis indicted him for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. Green pled guilty to both the supervised release violation and the substantive charge of possessing marijuana with intent to distribute. Green was sentenced to a year and a day in custody for violating his supervised release, and he faces a sentence of up to five years imprisonment on the substantive marijuana charge to which he pleaded guilty. https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtn/pr/former-shelby-county-sheriff-s-corrections-deputy-indicted-federal-drug-trafficking On May 3, 2019, law enforcement performed a parole check at the residence of Maurice Nash, 46, of Atoka, Tennessee and found a stolen handgun, $11,579 in cash, 90 pills of ecstasy, a small marijuana grow operation, and Gangster Disciples gang literature. A search of his vehicle produced approximately three pounds of marijuana and a SKS 7.62 assault rifle. Nash has been charged in federal court in Memphis with possession of MDMA (ecstasy) and marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and possession of firearms by a convicted felon. If convicted and found to be an Armed Career Criminal, Nash faces a possible sentence of 360 months and up to life in federal prison.
Later that same day, Tipton County Sheriff deputies encountered Isca Johnson, 23, of Covington, Tennessee, and smelled marijuana emanating from his apartment. He gave consent to search, and deputies found marijuana, alprazolam, a loaded handgun, and ammunition. He admitted to owning the items and to being an illicit drug user. Johnson has been charged in federal court in Memphis with possession of a firearm while being an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance. If convicted, Johnson faces up to 120 months in federal prison.
Jodeci Young, 23, of Covington, Tennessee, has been charged in federal court in Memphis with possession of a firearm while being an unlawful user of or addicted to a controlled substance on May 3, 2019. If convicted, Young faces up to 120 months in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "We are pleased to join with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to focus on the priority areas of firearms and narcotics cases that impact public safety in our rural communities, and we are glad to support this successful joint operation by adopting these cases for aggressive federal prosecution. We are tired of the trigger-pullers and traffickers that terrorize Tipton County, and we will continue our laser focus on the real drivers of violent crime: guns, gangs, and drugs."
The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office investigated these cases.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Hord and Assistant U.S. Attorney Neal Oldham are prosecuting these cases on behalf of the government.
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U.S. Attorney Dunavant Announces Progress in Making our Communities Safer Through Project Safe NeighborhoodsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Two years ago, the Department of Justice announced the revitalization and enhancement of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), the centerpiece of the department’s violent crime reduction strategy. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
Throughout the past two years, we have partnered with all levels of law enforcement, local organizations, and members of the community to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. According to FBI’s Uniform Crime Report released this week, the violent crime rate decreased for the second consecutive year, down 3.9 percent from the 2017 numbers.
"The revitalized Project Safe Neighborhoods program is a major success," said Attorney General William P. Barr. "It packs a powerful punch by combining advanced data with local leadership, further reducing violence in communities across the country and improving overall public safety. U.S. Attorneys continue to focus their enforcement efforts against the most violent criminals and work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal police. The Justice Department’s relationships across the board have never been stronger."
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a proven violent crime reduction strategy that works, and is now reinvigorated with additional resources and commitment from our law enforcement partners. Our job is to get better at reducing violent crime by smart, aggressive enforcement and effective prosecution that removes the worst of the worst from our communities. Putting the right people in prison
incapacitates the most violent offenders, upholds the rule of law, deters criminal conduct with a strong message of significant consequences, and makes us all safer. Under the DOJ flagship violence reduction initiative of PSN, we will continue to focus on the real drivers of violent crime: guns, gangs and drugs."
PSN Task Force
Currently, the 13-member PSN Task Force, which is the investigative component of the local PSN initiative, is comprised of personnel from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Memphis Police Department, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and Shelby County District Attorney’s Office. The success of this collaborative law enforcement effort is recognized nationally, with other local, state and federal law enforcement agencies from Alabama, Mississippi, the District of Columbia and Tennessee frequently visiting the task force to adopt its practices.
The Task Force not only investigates firearm possession by prohibited persons; it also investigates individuals buying and selling firearms to/from convicted felons. The Task Force engages in proactive and reactive investigations of convicted felons suspected of possessing firearms, as well as firearm suppliers that are conducting illegal transactions.
As we celebrate the two-year anniversary of the revitalized PSN program, here are some highlights of our PSN actions over the past year:
• On October 1, 2018, Antonio White, 38, was a convicted felon sentenced to 120 months in federal prison after a child was found sitting on loaded firearm and 7.4 grams of cocaine. https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtn/pr/convicted-felon-sentenced-120-months-federal-prison-after-child-found-sitting-loaded
• On November 29, 2018, the PSN Task Force arrested and indicted 19 Individuals for various Federal Drug and Firearms Offenses, including seven documented gang members, in "Operation Gun Done." https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtn/pr/psn-task-force-indicts-and-arrests-19-individuals-various-federal-drug-and-firearms
• On February 28, 2019, Marlon Pruitt a/k/a "Big Putt," was sentenced as an Armed Career Criminal to 188 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and drugs. https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtn/pr/armed-career-criminal-sentenced-188-months-prison-illegally-possessing-firearms-and
• On, June 6, 2019, Everette Alexander, 48, was sentenced to federal prison for making false statements on an ATF Federal Background Check Form while attempting to purchase a firearm, and for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtn/pr/judge-sentences-convicted-felon-making-false-statements-federal-background-check-form
• On July 19, 2019, Nathaniel Hall, 54, was sentenced as an Armed Career Criminal to 188 months in federal prison for possession of firearm by a convicted felon, after he used a gun to chase and shoot a victim in the leg. Hall has previously been convicted on three separate occasions for burglary, and also had a prior conviction for robbery with a deadly weapon. https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtn/pr/armed-career-criminal-sentenced-188-months-federal-prison
• On August 12, 2019, James Nelson, 48, an Armed Career Criminal, was sentenced to 405 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Nelson was previously convicted for several felony charges involving drugs, guns, and violent crimes, including a 1996 conviction for voluntary manslaughter, where he shot and killed his sister. https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtn/pr/armed-career-criminal-sentenced-405-months-federal-prison
• On September 5, 2019, Edward Drummer, 36, was sentenced to 92 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, which he used to hold a female victim and her 12-year old son at gunpoint during a domestic violence incident. https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtn/pr/convicted-felon-sentenced-92-months-illegally-possessing-firearm-during-domestic
Community Partnerships
Reentry education and assistance is an important part of the PSN initiative and vital to ensuring communities are safer when those incarcerated return home. Since 2011, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Office of U.S. Probation continues to participate in monthly Reentry Court sessions. In addition, staff also meets monthly to discuss issues with clients at a halfway house prior to their transitioning back into the Western District of Tennessee. Through these reentry services, we further our commitment to providing individuals with the necessary tools to make a permanent lifestyle change that will benefit themselves and the community.
Members of the United States Department of Justice, Federal Reentry Council, meet monthly to discuss and develop solutions to assist reentrants, such as collaborating with the Tennessee Department of Motor Vehicles to reinstate driver’s licenses.
On June 13, 2019, the United States Department of Justice, Federal Reentry Council held its first annual Recognition Awards Program. Certificates were presented to business and community leaders who participated in the reentry court program throughout the year. During the ceremony, the Director of the Tennessee Driver Services Division was presented with a Certificate of Recognition for his invaluable dedication and contribution affecting re-entrants.
On October 1, 2019, leaders of the Shelby County Child Protection Investigation Team (CPIT) gathered to sign an updated protocol formalizing our collaboration. This partnership helps victimized children get help faster and renews our commitment to Shelby County’s kids.
Improvements to Community Safety
• For the second consecutive year, the estimated number of violent crimes in the nation decreased when compared with the previous year’s statistics, according to FBI figures released today. In 2018, the number of violent crimes was down 3.3 percent from the 2017 number.
• The 2018 statistics also show the estimated rate of violent crime was 368.9 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants. The violent crime rate fell 3.9 percent when compared with the 2017 rate.
• Here in Memphis, FBI data shows that the number of rapes reported to police fell by 17 percent, and the number of robberies decreased by 12 percent in 2018. And although aggravated assaults increased by 1 percent and homicides were up 3 percent in 2018 as compared to 2017, the overall number of violent crimes reported to police fell 3 percent in the City of Memphis during that period.
• More recent year-to-date numbers at the end of September, 2019, show a decreased rate of 7.8 percent in overall violent crime in all major categories in Memphis, including a 23.8 percent decrease in business robberies and a 13.8 percent decrease in carjackings.
• From 2017 to 2018, federal firearms and violent crime prosecutions increased by 39 percent in the Western District of Tennessee, including an increase of 120 percent in the number of federal prosecutions of domestic violence offenders in possession of firearms. As a result of these dramatic increases in federal gun prosecutions, the percentage of defendants found guilty for such offenses has increased by 43.7 percent over the last year.
These enforcement actions and partnerships are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 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. To learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods, go to www.justice.gov/psn.
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Dyer County Man Sentenced to 144 Months in Federal Prison for Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Deangelo Liggons, 36, has been sentenced to 144 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, in March 2017, the Federal Bureau of Investigation received information about a group of individuals involved in the distribution of large amounts of marijuana and methamphetamine. Agents utilized confidential sources (CS) and made numerous drug purchases from unindicted co-conspirators.
On March 30, 2018, agents observed the defendant return home. A short time later a CS entered the residence and purchased one quarter ounce of marijuana. These purchases continued for over a year. Agents obtained a search warrant for Liggons’ Facebook account and began arranging to purchase narcotics from Liggons.
On October 29, 2018, a federal search warrant was executed at Liggons’ residence. Liggons was found at the residence in possession of a Canik TP9 9mm semi-automatic firearm, which was loaded with 19 rounds of ammunition. They also found marijuana, a digital scale, a notebook ledger, a box of 9mm ammunition and approximately 48 grams of actual methamphetamine. Agents advised Liggons of his Miranda rights, and Liggons informed the agents that he owned the firearm and was a convicted felon. He further advised agents that he owed the source of the narcotics $5,000, because he was fronted the narcotics and would pay the source when the drugs were sold.
Liggons was held responsible for distributing a total of 320 pounds of marijuana and 48.62 grams of actual methamphetamine.
On October 2, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Liggons to 144 months in federal prison followed by 5 years supervised release.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Convicted felons who possess firearms are an inherent danger to the community, and in this case, Liggons was a drug dealer who continued to possess a firearm and sell poison in our rural community, despite his prior felony conviction history. There is and ought to be a significant consequence for such recidivist criminal behavior, and this armed drug dealer will be removed from our streets for 12 years."
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Dyersburg Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Kitchen prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Peda Roll Mafia Associate Sentenced to 37 Months in Federal Prison for Conspiracy to Commit Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A local man has been sentenced to 37 months for conspiracy to commit money laundering. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee announced the sentence today.
According to the information presented in court, state and federal law enforcement officers learned that members and associates of the Peda Roll Mafia in Memphis received illegal drugs, including methamphetamine and marijuana, from the Avendano drug trafficking organization (DTO) in California. The Peda Roll Mafia is a subset of the Grape Street Crips. The Avendano DTO arranged for their Memphis-based co-conspirators to funnel payment for drugs through cash deposits at Bank of America and Wells Fargo. Use of national banks allowed the drug proceeds that were deposited in Memphis to be withdrawn by the Avendano DTO in California.
The defendant Clyde Wade III, 36, was an associate of Peda Roll Mafia members in Memphis. As part of the scheme, Wade III agreed to make large cash deposits at Bank of America and Wells Fargo into accounts provided by the Avendano DTO. Wade III knew the purpose of these deposits was to promote illegal drug trafficking. As a result of Wade III's deposits, members of the Avendano DTO mailed additional illegal drugs to co-conspirators in the Western District of Tennessee. Wade III deposited between $15,000 and $40,000 during the conspiracy.
As a result of his role in the money laundering conspiracy, Wade III pleaded guilty in federal court on June 27, 2019. On September 27, 2019, U.S. District court Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Wade III to 37 months in prison followed by 3 years supervised release.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Criminal enterprises and street gangs that distribute harmful and addictive drugs into our communities for profit can no longer operate with impunity. One of the most effective ways to combat drug conspiracies and drug trafficking organizations is to charge, seize, and forfeit ill-gotten gains from the money laundering and structuring of financial transactions derived from illegal drug proceeds. Thanks to the outstanding work of our law enforcement partners, we are targeting gangs to dismantle their organizations and financial structures, and aggressively pursuing cases that yield real consequences for ALL defendants involved in the conspiracy, including gang associates."
This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the U.S Marshals Service, Memphis Police Department, and the Shelby County Sheriff's Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark Erskine and Kevin Whitmore prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Third Former Tennessee Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty Following Assault of InmateRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Carl Spurlin Jr., 42, pleaded guilty to a federal offense and admitted concealing other correctional officers’ assault of an inmate while Spurlin was serving as a correctional officer with the Tennessee Department of Corrections.
"The Department of Justice will not tolerate this egregious behavior," said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. "The Civil Rights Division will vigorously prosecute all those who have violated the civil rights of others."
"Correctional officers must abide by and adhere to the same laws they take an oath to uphold and enforce. Instead of serving and protecting the public, this officer actively participated to conceal the use of physical force by other officers to violate the civil rights of an individual. As a result, he will now be held accountable, vividly illustrating that no one is above the law," said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee.
"When correctional officers abuse their authority and harm inmates, it not only violates our civil rights laws, it undermines the criminal justice system as a whole," said M.A. Myers, Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Field Office of the FBI. "This plea should send a clear message that the FBI takes these allegations seriously, and will vigorously investigate these kinds of cases, and those who violate the public's trust will be held accountable."
With his guilty plea, Spurlin admitted that, on February 1, 2019, he and several other correctional officers at the Northwest County Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee, entered the cell of R.T., an inmate in the mental health unit. R.T. had been identified as a suicide risk and he was bleeding when the officers entered his cell. After the correctional officers entered the cell, R.T. swung his bloody hand towards the officers nearest him, flinging blood in their direction.
A correctional officer looked in the direction of the surveillance camera in the cell and said, "violate the camera." When Spurlin did not make a move to do so, the officer repeated the command. Spurlin looked at a supervisory officer standing nearby, and when the supervisory officer did not contradict the officer who had spoken, Spurlin covered the camera with his hand. Spurlin then watched three correctional officers repeatedly punch R.T. in the head and body. According to Spurlin, the officers struck R.T. "like a piñata."
While the three officers repeatedly punched R.T., another correctional officer came to the cell with paper towels. The officer handed wet paper towels to Spurlin and he used them to cover the camera. The assault by the officers continued while Spurlin covered the surveillance camera.
With today’s guilty plea, Spurlin admitted that he violated 18 U.S.C. § 4 by knowing of a federal felony, failing to notify authorities of the felony, and taking an affirmative step to conceal the felony. The maximum penalty for this offense is three years of imprisonment. Sentencing is set for January 15, 2020.
In related cases, former Correctional Officer Nathaniel Griffin entered a guilty plea in federal court on August 15, 2019, and former Correctional Officer Tanner Penwell entered a guilty plea in federal court on September 5, 2019. With their guilty pleas, both defendants admitted that they assaulted R.T. on February 1, 2019.
This case is being investigated by the Memphis Division of the FBI with the support of the Tennessee Department of Corrections, and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Rebekah J. Bailey of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant United States Attorney David Pritchard of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.
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Third Former Tennessee Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty Following Assault of InmateRead the Press Release
Carl Spurlin Jr., 42, pleaded guilty to a federal offense and admitted concealing other correctional officers’ assault of an inmate while Spurlin was serving as a correctional officer with the Tennessee Department of Corrections.
“The Department of Justice will not tolerate this egregious behavior,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division. “The Civil Rights Division will vigorously prosecute all those who have violated the civil rights of others.”
"Correctional officers must abide by and adhere to the same laws they take an oath to uphold and enforce. Instead of serving and protecting the public, this officer actively participated to conceal the use of physical force by other officers to violate the civil rights of an individual. As a result, he will now be held accountable, vividly illustrating that no one is above the law," said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee.
“When correctional officers abuse their authority and harm inmates, it not only violates our civil rights laws, it undermines the criminal justice system as a whole,” said M.A. Myers, Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Field Office of the FBI. “This plea should send a clear message that the FBI takes these allegations seriously, and will vigorously investigate these kinds of cases, and those who violate the public's trust will be held accountable.”
With his guilty plea, Spurlin admitted that, on Feb. 1, 2019, he and several other correctional officers at the Northwest County Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee, entered the cell of R.T., an inmate in the mental health unit. R.T. had been identified as a suicide risk and he was bleeding when the officers entered his cell. After the correctional officers entered the cell, R.T. swung his bloody hand towards the officers nearest him, flinging blood in their direction.
A correctional officer looked in the direction of the surveillance camera in the cell and said, “violate the camera.” When Spurlin did not make a move to do so, the officer repeated the command. Spurlin looked at a supervisory officer standing nearby, and when the supervisory officer did not contradict the officer who had spoken, Spurlin covered the camera with his hand. Spurlin then watched three correctional officers repeatedly punch R.T. in the head and body. According to Spurlin, the officers struck R.T. “like a piñata.”
While the three officers repeatedly punched R.T., another correctional officer came to the cell with paper towels. The officer handed wet paper towels to Spurlin and he used them to cover the camera. The assault by the officers continued while Spurlin covered the surveillance camera.
With today’s guilty plea, Spurlin admitted that he violated 18 U.S.C. § 4 by knowing of a federal felony, failing to notify authorities of the felony, and taking an affirmative step to conceal the felony. The maximum penalty for this offense is three years of imprisonment. Sentencing is set for Jan. 15, 2020.
In related cases, former Correctional Officer Nathaniel Griffin entered a guilty plea in federal court on Aug. 15, 2019, and former Correctional Officer Tanner Penwell entered a guilty plea in federal court on Sept. 5, 2019. With their guilty pleas, both defendants admitted that they assaulted R.T. on Feb. 1, 2019.
This case is being investigated by the Memphis Division of the FBI with the support of the Tennessee Department of Corrections, and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Rebekah J. Bailey of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant United States Attorney David Pritchard of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.
Two Illinois Men Sentenced for Stealing 366 FirearmsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Two Illinois men have been sentenced to a total of 109 months in federal prison for transporting and possession of stolen firearms. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on September 30, 2018, at approximately 3:45a.m., Memphis Police responded to a theft at the United Parcel Services ("UPS") facility located at 1803 E. Brooks Road. Three hundred and twenty-two (322) Ruger .380 caliber pistols and forty-four (44) Ruger .22 caliber pistols were stolen from a shipment of firearms. Roland Jackson, 25, and Taveyon Turnbo, 19, both from Chicago, Illinois, removed the firearms from a tractor-trailer and loaded them onto a U-Haul van. They fled the scene in the U-Haul van when police arrived and drove back to Illinois.
At approximately 3:05 p.m., the Midlothian, Illinois Police Department received a suspicious vehicle call involving a U-Haul at a Walgreens located on W. 148th Street in Midlothian. When officers arrived, they located Jackson in the driver’s seat and Turnbo in the front passenger’s seat of the U-Haul. After obtaining their identification, officers determined that Jackson’s driver’s license was suspended. Officers then observed a gun box with the "Ruger" logo on it.
When officers ordered Jackson and Turnbo from the vehicle, they locked the vehicle and attempted to start it. After an officer struck the window of the vehicle to detain the suspects, they exited the vehicle and ran. Turnbo was subsequently located and arrested. Jackson was able to escape. On October 3, 2018, Jackson surrendered to police in Chicago, Illinois. Law enforcement recovered three hundred and sixty-two (362) of the three hundred sixty-six (366) stolen firearms from the U-Haul van in Midlothian.
Law enforcement determined that the U-Haul van was rented on September 26, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. Surveillance video from the U-Haul store showed Jackson entered the store with a female and rented the van with stolen identification.
Roland Jackson pled guilty to transporting stolen firearms in interstate commerce, possessing stolen firearms, and being a convicted felon in possession of firearms.
Taveyan Turnbo pled guilty to transporting stolen firearms in interstate commerce and possessing stolen firearms.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Cargo theft from shipping facilities that interrupts and threatens interstate commerce must be dealt with swiftly and certainly. Cargo theft of hundreds of firearms is especially dangerous, and threatens the lives of countless citizens. We are thankful that almost all of the stolen firearms were recovered due to the quick action and outstanding investigation by local and federal law enforcement, and we appreciate the coordination and partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois in this disturbing case. Interstate trafficking of stolen firearms will be met with aggressive prosecution in order to protect public safety."
ATF Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson said, "Reducing the potential for violent crime that have negative effects to the neighborhoods throughout the region was critical due to ATF partnering with our state, local and federal counterparts. The sentencing illustrates the effective partnerships with law enforcement, the private sector and the community."
"The sentencings today were the culmination of a collective effort between federal and local law enforcement that ultimately kept stolen weapons off the streets and prevented their use in future violence," said M.A. Myers, Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Field Office of the FBI. "The FBI, through strong partnerships with federal, state and local law enforcement via task forces and other relationships will continue to work to ensure the safety of our communities."
On September 27, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced both men to a total of 109 months followed by 3 years supervised release.
This case was investigated by the ATF; FBI Cargo Theft Task Force; Midlothian, Illinois Police Department and the Memphis Police Department, during which all of the stolen firearms were safely and successfully recovered.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marques T. Young prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Federal Jury Convicts “Father of Identity Theft”Read the Press Release
Memphis, TN – After a week-long federal jury trial, James Jackson, 58, of Memphis, Tennessee was found guilty of 13 counts of mail fraud, aggravated identity theft, access device fraud and theft of mail. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the conviction today.
According to the information presented in court, in 2014-2015, Jackson devised a scheme to steal money from banks, financial companies and other individuals. Jackson obtained the personal identifying information of numerous individuals, most of whom were deceased, and used this information to take over the victims’ financial accounts (stock, credit card, and bank accounts). Jackson would search online obituaries and noteworthy articles to discover the identities of recently deceased individuals and then he would research the individuals to determine if they had any credit accounts or financial investment accounts. He would then impersonate the victims (both male and female) and use their information when contacting customer service representatives of banks, credit card and financial firms. Jackson would convince the businesses to mail new bank/credit cards to other addresses (vacant homes and hotels in Memphis area) and also caused the sale of over $340,000 of stock out of one victim’s investment account. Jackson recruited another individual to use the cards to withdraw funds from the victim accounts and to purchase gift cards.
On February 27, 2015, Jackson called the Cordova Post Office claiming to be a Charles Fulks and inquired about a credit card package that should have been delivered the day before to 10022 Cameron Ridge Trail. United States Postal Inspectors and members of the Tennessee Highway Patrol Identity Crimes Unit determined this was an imposter because the true Charles Fulks had died on February 2, 2015 and the 10022 Cameron Ridge Trail address was a vacant house at the time. Later, agents watched the package containing credit cards be delivered to the mailbox at 10022 Cameron Ridge Trail. Twelve hours later, agents observed Jackson emerge from a house at 10027 Cameron Ridge Trail and walk across the street to retrieve the credit card package from the mailbox and then went back into his residence. No one answered the door when agents announced their presence. Later, agents noticed smoke coming out of the home. Agents eventually located Jackson in the house pretending to be asleep. Numerous small fires had been set throughout the house in what appeared to be an attempt to destroy evidence.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Aggravated identity theft and schemes to defraud or compromise the personal and financial security of vulnerable and deceased victims will not be tolerated. This case demonstrates our commitment to protect the personal and financial information of citizens and institutions, and to hold offenders accountable for these disturbing crimes of dishonesty. We are pleased to work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to achieve justice for the victims in this case."
In the home, agents located items associated with identity theft, including documents and a guide entitled "How to Find Anyone and Anything" and computers. A search of Jackson’s computers revealed that he had been researching the deceased victims. This was done through use of numerous online obituary sites and nationwide news articles. In a subsequent search of Jackson’s mother’s house, agents found a box of Jackson’s business cards, wherein he claimed to be the "Father of Identity Theft." A copy of the business card was introduced by the government as an exhibit at trial, and a copy of the same is included below in this release.
Based upon this conviction and his prior federal convictions for mail fraud, credit card fraud and bank fraud from the Southern District of New York, and mail fraud, credit card fraud and social security fraud from the Western District of Tennessee, Jackson is facing up to 30 years in prison.
Sentencing is scheduled for December 13, 2019, before U.S. District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes Jr.
The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security, Tennessee Highway Patrol and the Memphis Police Department investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephen Hall prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Weakley County Man Sentenced to 140 Months in Federal Prison for Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Wesley Wilson, Jr., 43, has been sentenced to 140 months in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on April 17, 2018 the Weakley County Sheriff’s Office responded to a complaint of child abuse. When law enforcement discovered Wilson and his wife Lacy traveling in a red truck, they were stopped and asked to return home. Upon approaching the truck, officers smelled the strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle and on Wilson’s person. Wilson acknowledged that he had marijuana cigarettes in his pocket. The defendant gave consent for the officers to search his truck and property, including his house and barn. The officers located a black shaving style kit bag in the bed of the truck that smelled strongly of marijuana. Inside was a large quantity of marijuana and approximately two ounces of methamphetamine, in crystal form. Both Wilsons were taken into custody.
Law enforcement located more methamphetamine inside the residence and barns in numerous small packages, along with scales and packaging materials, 4 ounces of methamphetamine, two ounces of marijuana, and numerous firearms, including an AR-15 and a .380 caliber semi-automatic pistol.
On September 24, 2019, U.S. Chief District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Wilson to 140 months in federal prison followed by 5 years supervised release. Wilson is also facing state charges of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Armed drug dealers are a double threat, and this case demonstrates our focus on the priority areas of firearms and narcotics cases that impact public safety in our rural communities. We are pleased that this dangerous offender has been removed from the streets for over 10 years, and we appreciate the partnerships with our local law enforcement agencies in Weakley County."
This case was investigated by the Weakley County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Kitchen prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Two Individuals Indicted for Child Pornography Charges Under Project Safe Childhood InitiativeRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – On September 26, 2019, a federal grand jury in Memphis indicted John Sanderson, 36 of Dyersburg, Tennessee and Matthew Berry, 40, of Bells, Tennessee for child pornography violations. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee announced the indictments today.
As charged in the indictments, Sanderson was charged with producing child pornography (18 USC 2251) and possessing child pornography (18 USC 2252). Sanderson was first arrested in Dyer County on a complaint on August 29, 2019. He faces 15-30 years in custody if convicted of production, and up to 20 years if convicted for possession. Investigators are seeking information that can assist in the identification of minor victims. Please contact the FBI’s Child Exploitation Task Force in Jackson, Tennessee, if you may have information about the sexual exploitation of minors.
The grand jury also returned an indictment charging Matthew Berry with receipt and possession of child pornography. According to facts presented at a detention hearing in federal district court in Jackson, Tennessee, on September 20, 2019, Berry used peer-to-peer software to view images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. Berry was a Crockett County employee at the time the alleged conduct occurred. The Crockett County Sheriff’s Department and the FBI are investigating this case.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "With new and ever-changing technology, offenders are finding new and increasingly disturbing ways to victimize and exploit child victims. These cases demonstrate that no matter where offenders are located, our Project Safe Childhood Initiative and FBI partners will find them and hold them accountable for internet crimes against children."
Both of these cases are being brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, PSC marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about PSC, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/ For more information about internet safety education, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc/resources.html and click on the tab "resources."
These cases are being prosecuted by the Eastern Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office on behalf of the government.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Operation “Bird Dog” Results in Guilty PleasRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – A joint investigation conducted by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and United States Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement into violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), known as Operation "Bird Dog," has resulted in multiple defendants pleading guilty to federal hunting violations. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the guilty pleas today.
According to information presented in court, Hunter Rainwaters, 20, Cody Brown, 20, Peyton Mayberry, 20, and Jay Maiden, 20, committed violations involving the illegal placement of bait to attract waterfowl and taking or attempting to take waterfowl over a baited area. The area the subjects illegally baited is a TWRA owned and managed Wildlife Management Area in Benton County, TN. The effects of this baiting on a public waterfowl hunting area resulted in the closure of a portion of the Wildlife Management Area and the subsequent loss of hunting opportunity for other hunters in the affected area for the first ten (10) days of the 2017-2018 waterfowl hunting season.
On September 23, 2019, U.S. Magistrate Court Judge Jon A. York sentenced Rainwaters to loss of hunting privileges for two years along with $1,000 fine; Mayberry, Brown and Maiden were each sentenced to loss of hunting privileges for one year along with a $1,000 fine. Additionally, other defendants cited in the case paid a total of $17,680.00 in fines.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "The U.S. Attorney’s Office is a full-service federal prosecution office, and we have the ability and intention to charge any violations of federal law, no matter where they occur in the Western District of Tennessee. These prosecutions demonstrate our commitment to upholding the rule of law, and to pursuing any cases that harm and impact our rural communities. We commend the TWRA and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on this successful operation, and appreciate our partnerships with them."
This case was investigated by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew J. Wilson prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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U.S. Attorney Announces the Indictment of 13 Individuals for Federal Firearms ChargesRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – On September 26, 2019, a federal grand jury in Memphis indicted 13 individuals for federal firearms violations. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee announced the indictments today.
As charged in the indictments, all 13 of the defendants are prohibited by federal firearms laws from possessing firearms as a result of either prior violent felony convictions, prior drug felony convictions, or prior misdemeanor domestic violence convictions.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Violent crime reduction is the top priority of this office and the Department of Justice. Many violent crimes are committed by prohibited persons with firearms, including convicted felons, persons with a history of domestic violence, and persons possessing firearms in furtherance of crimes of violence and drug trafficking. Under our PSN initiative, we focus on removing firearms from the hands of prohibited persons, and removing dangerous offenders from our streets. This office will aggressively prosecute and seek mandatory federal sentencing guidelines to target and remove from our communities those armed career criminals and career drug offenders who illegally possess firearms in Memphis and across West Tennessee. We are Fed Up. Gun Crime is Max Time."
Several defendants charged in this series of indictments are alleged to be convicted felons. Under federal law, it is illegal for an individual convicted of a felony to possess a firearm. This is a violation of Title 18, United States Code (USC), § 922(g)(1). A violation of this section is punishable by a term of up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of no less than two years. The penalty for a violation of § 922(g)(1) is enhanced when a defendant has a prior criminal record that includes three convictions for a violent felony or serious drug offenses. Under this enhanced sentencing provision, the defendant is subject to a mandatory minimum statutory sentence of at least 15 years imprisonment, and up to a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Federal firearms laws also prohibit an individual convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence from possessing a firearm. This is a violation of Title 18, USC, § 922(g)(9). An individual convicted of violating this section is subject to a term of up to 10 years imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of no less than two years.
It is also against federal law to possess or use and carry a firearm during or in relation to a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime. This is a violation of Title 18, USC, § 924(c). A violation of this section is punishable by a mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of at least five years imprisonment and up to a maximum of life imprisonment.
Those charged in this recent group of indictments include:
Tico Hopson, 25, of Memphis, was charged with possessing a SCCY 9 mm pistol after previously being convicted of a felony, in violation of Title 18, USC, § 922(g)(1). Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Winnig is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Robert Webb, 40, of Memphis, was charged with possessing a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol after previously being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, in violation of Title 18, USC, § 922(g)(9). Assistant U.S. Attorney Raney Irwin is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Courtney Peterson, 31, of Memphis, was charged with possessing a stolen Sig Sauer .40 caliber handgun after previously being convicted of a felony, in violation of Title 18, USC, § 922(g)(1). Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Cotten is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
William Martin, 29, of Memphis, was charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime in violation of Title 18, USC, § 924(c); possession of a Glock 9 mm caliber pistol, a Ruger .380 caliber pistol, and a Remington Arms, Inc. 7 mm Magnum caliber rifle after previously being convicted of a felony in violation of Title 18, USC, § 922(g)(1); and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, in violation of Title 18, USC, § 841(a)(1). Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Rogers is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Euriqueo Holloway, 42, of Memphis, was charged with possessing a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking crime in violation of Title 18, USC, § 924(c); possession of an American Tactical Incorporated .300 Blackout caliber pistol, a Jimenez Arms 9 mm caliber pistol, and a Remington Arms 12 gauge shotgun after previously being convicted of a felony in violation of Title 18, USC, § 922(g)(1); and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, in violation of Title 18, USC, § 841(a)(1). Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Rogers is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Kaleb Green, 29, of Memphis, was charged with possessing a Smith & Wesson 9 mm Parabellum caliber pistol after previously being convicted of a felony, in violation of Title 18, USC, § 922(g)(1). Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Rogers is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Michael Covington, 30, of Memphis, was charged with possessing PMC 9 mm Luger caliber ammunition after previously being convicted of a felony, in violation of Title 18, USC, § 922(g)(1). Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Rogers is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Demarcus Burks, 33, of Memphis, was charged with possessing a Kel-tec 9 mm pistol after previously being convicted of a felony, in violation of Title 18, USC, § 922(g)(1). Assistant U.S. Attorney Marques Young is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Jeremiah Williams, 34, of Memphis, was charged with possessing a Taurus 9 mm pistol after previously being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, in violation of Title 18, USC, § 922(g)(9). Assistant U.S. Attorney Raney Irwin is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Kenneth Taylor, 31, of Memphis, was charged with possessing a Sturm, Ruger & Company 9 mm caliber pistol after previously being convicted of a felony, in violation of Title 18, USC, § 922(g)(1). Assistant U.S. Attorney Raney Irwin is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Omar Fair, 29, of Memphis, was charged with possessing a Rossi (Taurus International) .357 caliber revolver after previously being convicted of a felony, in violation of Title 18, USC, § 922(g)(1); and after previously being convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, in violation of Title 18, USC, § 922(g)(9). Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Winnig is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Montinez Wright, 30, of Memphis, was charged with possessing a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol after previously being convicted of a felony, in violation of Title 18, USC, § 922(g)(1); and while on the grounds and premises of a school zone, the Sherwood Elementary School, in violation of Title 18, USC, § 922(q)(2)(A). Assistant U.S. Attorney Will Crow is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Jason Smith, 36, of Memphis, was charged with possessing a Diamondback multi-caliber pistol in furtherance of drug trafficking crime in violation of Title 18, USC, § 924(c); possession of a firearm after previously being convicted of a felony in violation of Title 18, USC, § 922(g)(1); and possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute, in violation of Title 18, USC, § 841(a)(1). Assistant U.S. Attorney Neal Oldham is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
These federal firearms cases are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, 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, the PSN Task Force 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, and local law enforcement and the community to develop effective, locally based strategies to reduce violent crime. The PSN Task Force includes the U.S. Attorney’s Office; the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Memphis Police Department; and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, who have all joined together to address gun-related crimes through targeted investigations and aggressive prosecution.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Gibson County Man Receives 90 Month Sentence for Being a Convicted Felon in Possession of Multiple FirearmsRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Matthew J. Pate, 34, of Humboldt, Tennessee was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of firearms. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on July 2, 2019, Gibson County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to a domestic assault situation where Matthew Pate was waiving a BB gun at his wife, mother in law and children. Once on scene, officers determined that the suspected BB gun was actually a .380 caliber pistol.
Further investigation revealed Pate was a prohibited person for a prior aggravated assault felony conviction. Officers asked for consent to search the residence where they found 5 additional firearms (3 pistols and 2 rifles). One was stolen and another had the serial numbers partially obliterated. The pistols were scattered throughout the house and the rifles were in the closet. Officers also found numerous alprazolam pills. Pate admitted to purchasing the weapons from an individual.
On September 11, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Pate to 90 months imprisonment followed by 3 years supervised release.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Reducing violent crimes committed with firearms is the top priority of this office and the Department of Justice. Prohibited persons in possession of firearms, such as convicted felons, persons with histories of domestic violence, and unlawful users of illegal narcotics present a known and immediate risk of violence to their families and the community at large. I commend the work of our federal and local law enforcement partners in holding Pate responsible and removing him from our streets."
Gibson County Sheriff Paul Thomas said: "I'm thankful for the partnership the United States Attorney's office maintains with local law enforcement. General Dunavant and his dedicated staff of Assistant U.S. Attorneys are always eager to help us when we have repeat, felony offenders in our communities that we need to remove from society. Their prosecution in this particular case solidifies all our positions on keeping our streets safe."
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Gibson County Sheriff’s Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Parham prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 188 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN –Marshawn Keith Burrus, 56, has been sentenced to 188 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on June 8, 2018, officers with the Jackson Police Department made contact with a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of the Old Hickory Inn, Jackson, Tennessee. Officers observed in plain view a .40 caliber pistol in the empty back seat. An investigation of the firearm in the vehicle led officers with the Jackson-Madison County Metro Narcotics Unit to apply for and execute a search warrant of a motel room where they found Burrus along with other individuals, as well as, a 9mm pistol, cocaine, liquid codeine, methamphetamine and marijuana.
The defendant provided a statement to law enforcement that he had purchased both pistols from two separate individuals. Burrus had previously been convicted in state court of multiple felony offenses including four counts of robbery with a deadly weapon, aggravated burglary, sale of drugs, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, evading arrest by motor vehicle, two counts of carjacking and another possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Burrusmade an appearance bond on the state case. On August 20, 2018, he was arrested again by Jackson Police Department for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and other drug offenses. On August 23, 2018, the District Court issued an arrest warrant on a complaint for the June 8, 2018, incident and the defendant has remained in custody.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Convicted felons who possess firearms are an inherent danger to community, and in this case, the defendant was an armed career criminal who continued to possess firearms despite his prior felony conviction history. There is and ought to be a significant consequence for such recidivist criminal behavior, and this is one more armed career criminal removed from our streets. Gun Crime is Max Time."
On September 24, 2019, U.S. Chief District Court Judge, S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Burrus to 188 months imprisonment followed by 5 years supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Jackson Police Department and Jackson-Madison County Metro Narcotics.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Parham prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Second Appalachian Region Prescription Opioid Strikeforce Takedown Results in Charges Against 13 Individuals, including 11 PhysiciansRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – The Justice Department announced today the second coordinated law enforcement action of the Appalachian Region Prescription Opioid (ARPO) strike force, resulting in charges against 13 individuals across five Appalachian federal districts for alleged offenses relating to the over prescription of controlled substances through "pill mill" clinics. Of those charged, 12 were charged for their role in unlawfully distributing opioids and other controlled substances and 11 were physicians. The alleged conduct resulted in the distribution of more than 17 million pills.
This action follows the first such takedown in April of this year, which involved charges against 60 defendants, including 53 medical professionals, in 11 federal districts, alleging the illegal distribution of more than 23 million pills. The charges brought in April have already resulted in 11 guilty pleas in seven federal districts, including guilty pleas by nine medical professionals, including seven physicians.
The charges announced today aggressively prosecute medical professionals whose alleged prescribing behaviors have contributed to the opioid epidemic, particularly medical professionals who are involved in the unlawful distribution of opioids and other prescription narcotics, a particular focus for the Department. According to the CDC, approximately 115 Americans die every day of an opioid-related overdose.
"The Department of Justice will not relent in its aggressive pursuit of those responsible for fueling the opioid epidemic in Appalachia," said Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. "Medical professionals who violate their solemn oaths and peddle opioids for profit should know that we will find you and ensure that the justice system treats you like the drug dealer you are."
"Opioid misuse and abuse is an insidious epidemic, and unfortunately, causes individuals to engage in criminal behavior that contributes to the problem," said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant of the Western District of Tennessee. "Just as this office will hold medical professionals accountable for over-prescribing opioids, we will also pursue federal charges against any person who exploits the medical profession for their own selfish desire to obtain highly addictive prescription drugs by dishonest methods."
In the Western District of Tennessee, one defendant was charged. Additionally, three medical professionals have pleaded guilty.
Erin Pealor, 35, of Memphis, was charged with nine counts of attempting to acquire or obtain a controlled substance by misrepresentation by fraud, forgery, deception or subterfuge. The charges stem from Pealor’s role in knowingly and intentionally attempting to obtain Schedule II controlled substances, namely Ritalin, Adderall, Methylin andMethylphenidate, by fraud, forgery, deception and subterfuge, by filling out prescriptions with false and fraudulent patient names and forging the signature of a physician. This case was brought with the assistance of the DEA and the State of Tennessee-OIG. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Ann Weber Langley of the Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Erskine of the Western District of Tennessee.
In addition, several indictments brought in the coordinated action in April 2019 have already resulted in guilty pleas. On July 22, 2019, Michael Hellman, a physician, pleaded guilty to one count of distribution of a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. These charges stem from Hellman prescribing Percocet and Promethazine with Codeine outside the scope of professional practice and not for a legitimate medical purpose. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Jillian Willis and Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory Allen of the Western District of Tennessee.
On April 16, 2019, Kathryn Russell, a nurse practitioner who practiced in Memphis, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to unlawfully distribute controlled substances. Russell wrote prescriptions for opioids that had no legitimate medical purpose and that were outside the usual course of professional practice. In an eight-week period, Russell prescribed more than 7,800 oxycodone pills, more than 6,000 benzodiazepine pills, and more than 1,000 pills of carisoprodol.
On Sept. 19, 2019, Michelle Bonifield, a Bells pharmacy technician pleaded guilty to filling an opioid prescription without a legitimate medical purpose while working at Mehr Drug Store.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The Fraud Section leads the ARPO Strike Force. Since its inception in October 2018, the ARPO Strike Force, which operates in 10 districts, has charged more than 70 defendants who are collectively responsible for distributing more than 40 million pills.
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First Wave of Indictments Returned in Jackson from U.S. Marshals Operation “Bluff City Blues”Read the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Three defendants have been indicted by a Federal Grand Jury in Jackson, TN on federal firearms offenses arising from the recent initiative led by the U.S. Marshals Service, Operation "Bluff City Blues". U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the new indictments today.
Operation "Bluff City Blues" was a two-week-long joint federal, state and local law enforcement initiative that resulted in the arrests of 214 individuals in West Tennessee. These individuals were arrested on a variety of criminal charges, including homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, carjacking, arson, drug distribution, illegal gun crimes and failure to register as sex offenders. Today, the first defendants arrested in that operation were indicted for the following offenses:
Isaac Caprice Williamson, of Jackson, TN – charged with one count of being a prohibited felon in possession of a firearm, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1). The indictment alleges that Williamson was found to be in possession of a Glock 30 .45 caliber handgun during a traffic stop in Jackson, TN on August 20, 2019. Williamson is a convicted felon, having been convicted of multiple prior felony offenses in Madison Co., TN prior to his unlawful possession of the firearm on the above date.
Reginald Dontae Williamson, Jr., of Jackson, TN – charged with two counts of being a prohibited felon in possession of a firearm, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1). The indictment alleges that Williamson, Jr. was found in possession of two firearms: a Cobray Mac-10 pistol and a Savage Stevens 320 12 gauge shotgun, during the execution of a state search warrant at his residence in Jackson on August 20, 2019. Williamson, Jr. is a convicted felon, having been convicted of multiple prior felony offenses in Madison Co., TN prior to his unlawful possession of the firearms on the above date.
Reggie Carnell James, Jr., of Jackson, TN - charged with three counts of being a prohibited felon in possession of a firearm, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1). The indictment alleges that James, Jr. was found in possession of three firearms: a Glock 19 .9mm semi-automatic handgun, a Taurus PT111 .9mm semi-automatic handgun, and a Smith & Wesson .38 caliber revolver, during a search of his vehicle in Jackson on August 20, 2019. James, Jr. is a convicted felon, having been convicted of multiple prior felony offenses in Madison Co., TN prior to his unlawful possession of the firearms on the above date.
If convicted of the above federal firearms offenses, each defendant faces sentences of up to 10 years in prison for each count.
Operation "Bluff City Blues" was a coordinated violence reduction initiative led by the U.S. Marshals Service that brought together federal, state and local law enforcement partners, including the Jackson Police Department, the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, the Tennessee Highway Patrol in the Jackson Division, and the District Attorney General’s Office in Madison County, in an effort to reduce crime in West Tennessee by identifying and arresting violent fugitives, targeting violent gang activity, and collecting intelligence to allow for the systematic removal of individuals who have been charged with committing violent crimes in West Tennessee.
Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Morrow is prosecuting these cases on behalf of the government.
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Decatur County Man Sentenced to 8 Years in Federal Prison for Drug and Gun OffensesRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Joshua Emile Malone, 28, of Parsons, TN., has been sentenced to 97 months in federal prison for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on April 12, 2018, during the execution of felony arrest warrants at a residence in Parsons, Tennessee, Malone was found at home with a loaded .22 caliber revolver and a loaded .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol. After law enforcement secured the house, they executed a search warrant and recovered the following items in Malone’s bedroom:
9.2 g marijuana
3.2 grams methamphetamine
Remington Model 770
Stevens Savage model 77C18I sawed off pump shotgun (15 in barrel)
2 digital scales
Glass pipe
(31) 12 gauge shotgun shells
(5) 20 gauge shotgun slugs
(26) .25 caliber pistol rounds
(11) .38 caliber pistol rounds
(50) .380 caliber pistol rounds
(2) .45 long Colt pistol rounds
(1) 30-30 rifle round
(1) 25-06 rifle round
(2) 300 win mag rifle rounds
(4) 10 gauge shotgun shells
(9) 16 gauge shotgun shells
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "The U.S. Attorney’s Office is a full-service federal prosecution office, and we have the ability and intention to charge any violations of federal law, no matter where they occur in the Western District of Tennessee. This case demonstrates our focus on the priority areas of firearms and narcotics cases that impact public safety in our rural communities, and we appreciate the partnerships with our local law enforcement agencies in Decatur County."
On September 12, 2019, U.S. Chief District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Malone to 97 months imprisonment followed by 3 years supervised release.
"I'd like to thank the DOJ and the FBI for their assistance in the prosecution of this violent offender. My investigators are working extremely hard on removing these types of offenders from our county. Having a good working relationship with these federal agencies insures stiffer sentences for these offenders. It also sends a message to other offenders in our county that this department is serious about providing a safe environment for our children," said Decatur County Sheriff, Keith Byrd.
This case was investigated by the Decatur County Sheriff's Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Parham prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to 92 Months for Illegally Possessing a Firearm During a Domestic Violence IncidentRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Edward Drummer, 36, has been sentenced to 92 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on January 29, 2018, Memphis Police officers responded to an aggravated assault/domestic violence call at a residence. During an argument, a female victim and her twelve-year-old son were held at gunpoint by her boyfriend of one month, Edward Drummer. The victim and her son managed to escape and called the police. Officers found Drummer hiding inside a closet and located the firearm he used inside a kitchen stove. The firearm was a Smith & Wesson .22 caliber pistol.
Drummer has a significant prior criminal history for violence, including felony convictions for aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon and aggravated burglary, as well as misdemeanor convictions for possession of marijuana and resisting arrest.
On September 5, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Drummer to 92 months in federal prison followed by 2 years supervised release.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Reducing violent crimes committed with firearms is the top priority of this office and the Department of Justice. Prohibited persons in possession of firearms such as convicted felons, persons with histories of domestic violence, and unlawful users of illegal narcotics present a known and immediate risk of violence to their families and the community at large. This is exactly the type of dangerous offender that the PSN Task Force is designed to target, and I commend their work in holding Drummer responsible and removing him from our streets for over 7 years."
The case was investigated by the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Task Force, which includes the U.S. Attorney’s Office; the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Memphis Police Department; and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, who have all joined together to address gun-related crimes through targeted investigations and aggressive prosecution.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Raney Irwin prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Federal Jury Finds Local Man Guilty of Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm and Possessing a Firearm in a School ZoneRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – After a three-day federal jury trial, Herbert Graham, 32, was found guilty of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a firearm in a school zone. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the guilty verdict today.
According to information presented in court, on January 30, 2018, Memphis Police Officers responded to a burglary/aggravated assault call at a residence. The residents of the home advised they observed a family friend, Herbert Graham, steal a laptop from their back bedroom and escape through the window. They drove around the neighborhood and found Graham walking toward Raleigh Lagrange. They demanded he return the laptop and Graham pulled a gun and threatened to kill them "if they did not back off." The victims left and called police.
As officers drove toward the scene, they saw Graham walking on Chiswood Street with the laptop in his hands. Graham saw the officers, dropped the laptop and fled from law enforcement onto the school property of Memphis Rise Academy. Officers gave chase and observed Graham toss a magazine and a gun on the ground. The school was placed on lock down for the safety of the students. Minutes later, Graham was apprehended on the school campus.
The firearm and magazine were recovered on the property. The magazine was loaded with 15 live rounds and the gun held one live round in the chamber. The gun, a Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol, had also been reported stolen in 2016, in Shelby County. A criminal history check on Graham revealed he had been convicted of being a felon in possession of a handgun on May 29, 2015, in Shelby County Criminal Court.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Under our PSN initiative, we focus on removing firearms from the hands of prohibited persons, and removing dangerous felons from our streets. Clearly, this felon had no hesitation in committing a violent crime with a firearm,
and he will now be removed from our community. We are FED UP. Gun Crime is Max Time."
Sentencing is scheduled for December 20, 2019, before U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman. Graham faces up to fifteen years in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release.
The case was investigated by the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Task Force, which includes the U.S. Attorney’s Office; the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Memphis Police Department; and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, who have all joined together to address gun-related crimes through targeted investigations and aggressive prosecution.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Raney Irwin and Marques Young are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
Justice Department Hosts National Public Safety Partnership Symposium, Partners with U.S. Cities to Reduce Violent CrimeRead the Press Release
MEMPHIS – The Department of Justice today renewed its commitment to reducing violent crime in America, holding its third annual National Public Safety Partnership Symposium.
The National Public Safety Partnership provides a framework for enhancing federal support of state, local and tribal law enforcement officials and prosecutors as they investigate and pursue violent criminals, specifically those involved in gun crime, drug trafficking and gang violence.
"The National Public Safety Partnership is a hallmark program of this administration," said Katharine T. Sullivan, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Department’s Office of Justice Programs. "It effectively works to reduce violent crime, a priority of both Attorney General Barr and President Trump."
Jon Adler, Director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance – which oversees the partnership program – announced $28 million to provide training and technical assistance to designated partnership sites, as well as to support law enforcement-led and prosecution-based crime reduction efforts in cities across the nation. Funds will also support crime gun intelligence centers in eight sites across the country. These centers focus on the immediate collection, management and analysis of crime gun evidence, such as shell casings, in real time, in an effort to identify violent criminals, disrupt criminal activity and prevent future violence.
"These funds are just the tip of the spear to help law enforcement develop and implement innovative – and proven – strategies to help increase public safety," said Adler. "In coming weeks, the Justice Department will continue to announce funding awards to communities in support of law enforcement’s commitment to drive down violent crime, aid crime victims and improve justice systems."
This year’s symposium, which lasts through Sept. 11, brings together more than 400 law enforcement leaders, prosecutors and other officials representing 17 of 41 partnered cities across the U.S. Law enforcement officials from the tristate area surrounding Memphis are also attending.
In June, Attorney General William P. Barr announced the addition of 10 cities and counties to the National Public Safety Partnership, which provides advanced training and technical assistance to cities and counties with elevated rates of violent crime.
"The addition of 10 more partnered sites this year is another critical step in fulfilling President Trump’s commitment to reducing violent crime in America," said Adler. "The three-year engagement between the Department and each partnered city allows agencies to respond to the diverse needs within their jurisdictions by streamlining access to federal resources for those communities most affected by violent crime."
To date, the Justice Department has worked with more than 40 cities under the National Public Safety Partnership (PSP) program. Many participating cities have already seen dramatic reductions in violent crime. For example, in Memphis, carjackings decreased 43 percent year-to-date, from March 2018 to March 2019. Additionally, collaboration between the Memphis Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to process cold-case sexual assault kits resulted in the conviction of a sexual predator in May 2019 who was responsible for kidnapping and raping six women, and attempting to kidnap and rape a seventh, over a period of seven years.
"The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee is proud to participate in the National Public Safety Partnership Initiative here in Memphis and Jackson, Tennessee," said U.S. Attorney Michael Dunavant. "PSP has allowed us to receive meaningful federal resources of law enforcement training and technical assistance in an innovative framework to enhance data-driven, evidence-based local strategies for violence reduction. The good work of the PSP team stakeholders, including the commitment to targeted enforcement by our federal, state and local law enforcement partners, has resulted in significant reductions in the violent crime rate in key categories, such as business robbery, carjacking and reported gun crimes. We are thankful for all of these resources from the Department of Justice, and we are committed to the continued effective use of these PSP tools to further reduce violent crime in the future."
Other PSP sites have achieved notable successes, as well. For example, New Orleans, Louisiana, ended 2018 with its lowest number of homicides since the early 1970s. In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, homicides declined in 2018 for a third straight year after hitting a peak in 2015.
In addition to local law enforcement and prosecutorial leaders from the participating PSP sites, components in attendance at this year’s symposium include: the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services; the Office of Justice Programs; the Office on Violence Against Women; the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices; the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; and the U.S. Marshals Service.
The Justice Department created the National Public Safety Partnership and the Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety in response to President Trump’s Feb. 9, 2017, Executive Order charging the agency with leading a national effort to combat violent crime. The Department announced the formation of the National Public Safety Partnership initiative in June 2017.
For more information about the PSP sites and the Justice Department’s work to reduce violent crime and enhance public safety, visit https://www.nationalpublicsafetypartnership.org.
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Second Tennessee Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Offense for Beating InmateRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Tanner Penwell, 22, pleaded guilty to using unlawful force on an inmate while Penwell was serving as a correctional officer with the Tennessee Department of Corrections.
"This type of behavior and violation of an inmate’s civil rights will not be tolerated," said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. "The Department of Justice will continue to seek out justice on behalf of those who have had their civil rights violated."
"Correctional officers must abide by and adhere to the same laws they take an oath to uphold and enforce. Instead of serving and protecting the public, this officer used physical force to violate the civil rights of an individual and will now be held accountable, vividly illustrating that no one is above the law," said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant.
"The FBI will vigorously investigate and bring to justice any law enforcement officer who crosses the line and engages in activity that violates the civil rights of those whose safety they are charged with," said Bryan McCloskey, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. "This plea should be a reminder that wearing a badge does not make one above the law."
With his guilty plea, Penwell admitted that, on February 1, 2019, he and several other correctional officers entered the cell of R.T., an inmate in the mental health unit at the Northwest County Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee. Penwell and the other officers entered the cell because R.T. was a suicide risk. Inmate R.T. was already bleeding when the officers entered his cell, and R.T. flung blood toward the correctional officers.
Once inside, a correctional officer looked in the direction of the surveillance camera in the cell and said, "violate the camera." Another correctional officer then covered the camera with his hand.
The correctional officer who asked for the camera to be violated then repeatedly punched R.T. Penwell estimated that this officer hit R.T. more than 20 times. When the officer stopped hitting R.T., he looked back at Penwell and said, "get him." Penwell stepped up and punched R.T. multiple times in the head. After Penwell stopped punching R.T., a third correctional officer punched R.T.
Throughout the time he was being punched by the correctional officers, inmate R.T. sat on the bench in the cell and only used his arms to cover his face in an apparent attempt to protect his face from the correctional officers’ punches. At no point did R.T. attempt to fight back. Penwell knew that punching R.T. was unlawful, but he did not step in to stop it. A supervisor and several correctional officers were in a position to watch as the three correctional officers punched inmate R.T., but none of them attempted to stop the officers from hitting R.T. After R.T. was punched by the officers, Penwell observed that R.T. was bleeding much more than when they had first entered the cell.
Once outside of the cell, Penwell spoke with several correctional officers and a supervisor. The supervisor said he needed to see if the camera inside the cell was working. The supervisor and the first correctional officer who punched R.T. decided that all of the officers would falsely claim that R.T. injured himself while he was on suicide watch in the mental health unit.
The next morning, the first correctional officer who punched R.T. told Penwell that instead of falsely claiming that R.T. injured himself, as the supervisor had proposed the day before, they should both falsely blame the third correctional officer who punched R.T. for all of R.T.’s injuries. Over the next few days, the first officer who punched R.T. repeatedly told Penwell to stick to this new cover story.
With today’s guilty plea, Penwell admitted that he violated 18 U.S.C. § 242 when he repeatedly punched and injured inmate R.T. without legal justification. The maximum penalty for this civil rights offense is 10 years imprisonment.
In a related case, former Correctional Officer Nathaniel Griffin entered a guilty plea in federal court on August 15, 2019. Sentencing is scheduled for November 27, 2019, before U.S. District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen.
This case was investigated by the Memphis Division of the FBI with the support of the Tennessee Department of Corrections, and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Rebekah J. Bailey of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant United States Attorney David Pritchard of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.
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Second Tennessee Correctional Officer Pleads Guilty to Federal Civil Rights Offense for Beating InmateRead the Press Release
Tanner Penwell, 22, pleaded guilty to using unlawful force on an inmate while Penwell was serving as a correctional officer with the Tennessee Department of Corrections.
“This type of behavior and violation of an inmate’s civil rights will not be tolerated,” said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to seek out justice on behalf of those who have had their civil rights violated.”
“Correctional officers must abide by and adhere to the same laws they take an oath to uphold and enforce. Instead of serving and protecting the public, this officer used physical force to violate the civil rights of an individual and will now be held accountable, vividly illustrating that no one is above the law,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee.
“The FBI will vigorously investigate and bring to justice any law enforcement officer who crosses the line and engages in activity that violates the civil rights of those whose safety they are charged with,” said Bryan McCloskey, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. “This plea should be a reminder that wearing a badge does not make one above the law.”
With his guilty plea, Penwell admitted that, on Feb. 1, he and several other correctional officers entered the cell of R.T., an inmate in the mental health unit at the Northwest County Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee. Penwell and the other officers entered the cell because R.T. was a suicide risk. Inmate R.T. was already bleeding when the officers entered his cell, and R.T. flung blood toward the correctional officers.
Once inside, a correctional officer looked in the direction of the surveillance camera in the cell and said, “violate the camera.” Another correctional officer then covered the camera with his hand. The correctional officer who asked for the camera to be violated then repeatedly punched R.T. Penwell estimated that this officer hit R.T. more than 20 times. When the officer stopped hitting R.T., he looked back at Penwell and said, “get him.” Penwell stepped up and punched R.T. multiple times in the head. After Penwell stopped punching R.T., a third correctional officer punched R.T.
Throughout the time he was being punched by the correctional officers, inmate R.T. sat on the bench in the cell and only used his arms to cover his face in an apparent attempt to protect his face from the correctional officers’ punches. At no point did R.T. attempt to fight back. Penwell knew that punching R.T. was unlawful, but he did not step in to stop it. A supervisor and several correctional officers were in a position to watch as the three correctional officers punched inmate R.T., but none of them attempted to stop the officers from hitting R.T. After R.T. was punched by the officers, Penwell observed that R.T. was bleeding much more than when they had first entered the cell.
Once outside of the cell, Penwell spoke with several correctional officers and a supervisor. The supervisor said he needed to see if the camera inside the cell was working. The supervisor and the first correctional officer who punched R.T. decided that all of the officers would falsely claim that R.T. injured himself while he was on suicide watch in the mental health unit.
The next morning, the first correctional officer who punched R.T. told Penwell that instead of falsely claiming that R.T. injured himself, as the supervisor had proposed the day before, they should both falsely blame the third correctional officer who punched R.T. for all of R.T.’s injuries. Over the next few days, the first officer who punched R.T. repeatedly told Penwell to stick to this new cover story.
With today’s guilty plea, Penwell admitted that he violated 18 U.S.C. § 242 when he repeatedly punched and injured inmate R.T. without legal justification. The maximum penalty for this civil rights offense is 10 years imprisonment.
In a related case, former Correctional Officer Nathaniel Griffin entered a guilty plea in federal court on Aug. 15. Sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 27.
This case was investigated by the Memphis Division of the FBI with the support of the Tennessee Department of Corrections, and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Rebekah J. Bailey of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant United States Attorney David Pritchard of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.
Memphis Man Sentenced to 300 Months for 2017 CarjackingRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Cartrail Jacobs, 26, has been sentenced to 300 months in federal prison for carjacking and brandishing a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced sentence today.
According to information presented in court, in the early morning hours of December 22, 2017, officers responded to a carjacking of a 2015 Black Ford Mustang at 974 N. Parkway. A Memphis woman was driving her Mustang on North Parkway when Jacobs, who was driving a previously carjacked Ford Taurus, intentionally rear-ended her Mustang. When the driver of the Mustang got out to inspect the damage from the wreck, Jacobs approached with a gun and demanded the vehicle. Jacobs drove away in the Mustang and one of the two other occupants of the Taurus drove it away. The victim immediately called police.
Memphis Police Officers responded and observed both the Black Ford Mustang and the Ford Taurus traveling together near the location of the carjacking. When police attempted to pull the vehicles over, a chase ensued involving both the Mustang, the Taurus and multiple Memphis law enforcement units. Jacobs ultimately crashed the Ford Mustang into a wall, ending the pursuit. While taking him into custody, officers discovered a loaded Ruger 9mm pistol in the Ford Mustang. Jacobs admitted to owning the weapon and possessing it during the carjacking. Because of his prior criminal record, Jacobs was sentenced as a career offender.
On September 5, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Jacobs to 300 months in federal prison followed by 3 years supervised release.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Under our Carjacking Initiative, the U.S. Attorney’s Office is continuing to coordinate with our federal and local law enforcement partners to prioritize and target carjacking cases for aggressive federal prosecution. This 25-year sentence demonstrates our resolve to incapacitate the most violent offenders, uphold the rule of law, deter criminal conduct with a strong message of significant consequences, and make us all safer."
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Memphis Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Neal Oldham prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Armed Bank Robber Sentenced to 25 YearsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Quincy Perdue, 23, has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for bank robbery. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on March 3, 2018, Perdue robbed the First Tennessee Bank located at 4330 Summer Avenue in Memphis. Perdue provided a note to the teller stating, "Give me the money. Hit the button and I’m shooting you in the face. Nothing out the first draw. No GPS. If a dye pack go off, I got 17 shots. I’m killing everybody and myself." The teller pressed the alarm and Perdue fled the bank.
On March 5, 2018, Perdue robbed the First Tennessee Bank located at 2015 East Brooks Road in Memphis. Surveillance video revealed that Perdue and another individual entered the bank, and Perdue immediately began shooting at the bank’s security guard striking him numerous times. Perdue and the individual jumped the teller counter and grabbed approximately $29,000 from the teller’s drawer. They then fled the bank in an awaiting vehicle.
A witness followed the vehicle to an apartment complex and alerted law enforcement. The police responded, arrested Perdue and recovered the money.
On April 11, 2018, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against Perdue charging him with two counts of bank robbery and one count of discharging of a firearm during and in relation to the second bank robbery. Perdue pleaded guilty to all counts in the indictment on March 15, 2019.
On September 4, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr., sentenced Perdue to 63 months for the bank robberies and a consecutive sentence of 240 months for discharging a firearm during and in relation to the second bank robbery, for a total effective sentence of 303 months in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "This is precisely the type of violent gun offender that threatens lives and public safety in Memphis. Armed bank robberies are brazen and disturbing acts of violence that terrorize our community, and must be met with significant sentences such as this one. Perdue is a dangerous offender who has sown violence and greed, and will now reap the full measure of consequences for his criminal conduct. We are Fed Up with gun crime in Memphis, and we are doing something about it. Gun Crime is Max Time."
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Whitmore prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Former Banker Pleads Guilty in Fraudulent Loan SchemeRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A former loan officer at Trustmark Bank pleaded guilty to a one-count information, which charged him in connection with a fraudulent loan scheme. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the guilty plea today.
According to the information, Robert A. Whartenby, 58, of Memphis, was a loan officer at Trustmark’s main Memphis office. Whartenby appeared before United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman and admitted that between May 2017, and June 2018, he defrauded Trustmark of almost $400,000 through a scheme in which he submitted false paperwork in support of loans to Memphis Designs Group, LLC and Windridge Investments, fictitious companies he had created. The loan proceeds were then disbursed to accounts at Bank of America which Whartenby had opened in the names of the fictitious entities.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "The financial fraud committed by this defendant is disturbing. The abuse of his position of trust and authority as a bank loan officer for his own personal gain had a significant negative impact on the shareholders, employees and customers of Trustmark Bank. The U.S. Attorney’s Office places a high priority on protecting the security and integrity of transactions, deposits and assets of financial institutions, and this case demonstrates that commitment."
A sentencing hearing is set for 2:00 p.m. December 12, 2019, before U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman.
Whartenby faces a maximum penalty of 30 years imprisonment, a fine of $1,000,000 and five years supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carroll L. André III is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
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Former Memphis Attorney Charged in Scheme to Defraud ClientsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal grand jury returned an indictment against Memphis attorney Michael Constantine Skouteris, 49. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced today.
The seven-count indictment alleges that between 2011 and January 2016, Skouteris engaged in a scheme to defraud his clients by settling cases without notifying his clients and forging their endorsements on the settlement checks made jointly payable to him and the client. Skouteris would then deposit the checks into bank accounts he maintained at Suntrust Bank and First Tennessee Bank. According to the indictment, Skouteris fraudulently obtained in excess of $600,000 during the course of the scheme.
Skouteris faces a maximum penalty of 30 years imprisonment, a fine of $1,000,000 and five years supervised release as to each count.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Licensed attorneys who steal from their clients betray the trust of that fiduciary relationship, and are a threat to the public. This indictment exposes that breach of trust, and will hopefully achieve justice by recovering restitution for the victims and reminding the legal community of the high standards of their profession."
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Carroll L. André III is prosecuting this case on the government’s behalf.
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Dyersburg Woman Sentenced to 115 Months Imprisonment for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine in Lauderdale CountyRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Jada Gean, 31, has been sentenced to 115 months imprisonment on federal charges for conspiracy to distribute 26 grams of actual methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney Dunavant announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on April 12, 2018, investigators with the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office received information from a confidential informant about Jada Gean, known drug dealer in Dyer County. The informant and law enforcement arranged to meet Gean at the Little General in Halls, Tennessee to purchase drugs.
The informant got out of his car and walked to the side of the store to wait for Gean. The investigators saw Gean arrive at the Little General in a silver Honda, and the informant got in the back seat of the car behind Gean. The informant saw the methamphetamine and gave investigators the take down signal.
As investigators approached, they saw Gean had a plastic baggie with a clear crystal-like substance believed to be a controlled substance, laying on the center console in plain view. The crystal-like substance was tested and determined to be 26.11 grams of pure methamphetamine.
Gean was detained, and during a search of the car, one digital scale with a powdery substance was found in her purse. While placing Gean under arrest, she informed law enforcement she had more drugs on her person. It was revealed Gean had six 40-milligram methadone; approximately 20 grams of methamphetamine; 11/2 suboxone strips; 1.1. grams of marijuana; and two 10 milligrams of hydrocodone tablets.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Use and trafficking of methamphetamine continues to destroy lives, families, and communities across West Tennessee. The significant sentence in this case sends a clear message to those drug dealers who distribute poison in West Tennessee: You cannot prey upon our citizens for your selfish personal gain with impunity; there will be a reckoning."
On August 26, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Gean to 115 months imprisonment followed by 5 years supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office and the DEA.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) Sean Hord prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. SAUSA Hord is currently assigned from the 25th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
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Federal Jury Convicts Haywood County Man for Conspiracy to Commit Multiple Armed Business RobberiesRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – After a three-day jury trial, Johnny Lee Nixon, Jr., 23, was found guilty of Conspiracy to Commit multiple business robberies, Hobbs Act business robbery, possession of a firearm during a robbery, and receiving firearms while under indictment. U.S. Attorney Dunavant announced the guilty verdict today.
According to information presented in court, during a period of 5 days in 2016, two masked men armed with pistols robbed three businesses in the Brownsville, Haywood County area: the F&D Quick Stop, the Discount Tobacco andMore, and the Bells Express Truck Stop. Also during this time, there were two different shootings where 9mm shell casings and .22 LR shell casings were recovered by the Brownsville Police Department.
On April 25, 2016 after the Bells Express Truck Stop robbery, deputies with the Haywood County Sheriff's Department collected clothing on a nearby road that was worn by the armedmaskedmen observed in the surveillance footage. Deputies forwarded those items of evidence to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for DNA analysis, which in 2018 linked Lacey Jeter and Johnny Lee Nixon, Jr. to the clothing.
On April 26, 2016, Officers with the Brownsville Police Department observed a vehicle that matched the description of the vehicle seen leaving the scene of the Bells Express Truck Stop robbery and initiated a traffic stop. After a brief chase, the vehicle crashed in rural Haywood County. The occupants of the vehicle ran into nearby woods leaving behind two pistols similar to the ones described in the recent robberies. Officers with the Brownsville Police Department collected the firearms fromthe scene and submitted them to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for comparison to the shell casings recovered from the recent shootings. TBI Agents were able to confirm that the shell casings recovered after the shootings were fired fromone of the firearms recovered near the scene of the crash. Johnny Lee Nixon, Jr. was indicted by a federal grand jury in January of 2019.
During the three-day trial, evidence was presented showing Johnny Lee Nixon, Jr. and co-conspirators used the proceeds from the robberies to illegally purchase the firearms used in the shootings and ultimately at least one robbery, and also participated in the conspiracy to commit the robberies and were present during the robbery of the Bells Express Truck Stop and possessed a firearm during the robbery.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Violent crime affects and endangers all communities in West Tennessee, both urban and rural. Robberies of businesses with a firearm are especially dangerous and violent due to the high risk of death and serious bodily injury to innocent victims. Business robberies also have a substantially negative impact on the local economy and commerce, which victimizes the entire community. As a result of this guilty verdict, Nixon will have plenty of time in federal prison to suffer with the consequences of his criminal conduct, and the citizens of Haywood County will be safer for it."
Haywood County Sheriff Billy Garrett, Jr., said: "Special thanks to the hard working people of our U.S. Attorney’s Office for helping our office keep the law abiding citizens of Haywood county safe. I appreciate the teamwork and look forward to working with you again."
"The City of Brownsville is grateful for the support of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Haywood County Sherriff’s Office and the Brownsville Police Department in the prosecution and conviction of Johnny Nixon. Nixon was a danger to society with his lengthy criminal history of robberies, domestic assaults and weapons violations. Working together, Brownsville is a much safe place," said Brownsville Police Chief Barry Diebold.
Sentencing is scheduled forNovember 21, 2019, beforeU.S. District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen. Nixon faces sentences of up to 20 years imprisonment each for the Conspiracy and the Hobbs Act business robbery, a mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 5 years for the possession of the firearm during a crime of violence, and up to 10 years imprisonment for each of the 3 counts of possession of firearm while under indictment.
This case was investigated by the Brownsville Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Haywood County Sheriff’s Department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Hillary Parham and Matt Wilson are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
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214 Arrested as Part of a Combined Law Enforcement Operation “Bluff City Blues” in West TennesseeRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant and U.S. Marshal Jeffrey Holt announced today that a two-week-long joint federal, state and local law enforcement initiative has resulted in the arrests of 214 individuals in West Tennessee. These individuals were arrested on a variety of criminal charges, including homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, carjacking, arson, drug distribution, illegal gun crimes and failure to register as sex offenders. Operation "Bluff City Blues" was a coordinated violence reduction initiative led by the U.S. Marshals Service that brought together federal, state and local law enforcement partners in an effort to reduce crime in West Tennessee by identifying and arresting violent fugitives, targeting violent gang activity, and collecting intelligence to allow for the systematic removal of individuals who have been charged with committing violent crimes in West Tennessee.
In addition to the arrests, Operation "Bluff City Blues" resulted in the seizure of 28 firearms, approximately 771.9 grams of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and crack, $17,240 in U.S. currency, as well as the recovery of 4 stolen vehicles.
Operation "Bluff City Blues" commenced on August 12, 2019, and concluded on August 23, 2019. As a part of the coordinated and targeted initiative, those arrested for outstanding state and federal warrants included a total of 79 identified gang members, 65 individuals for aggravated assault, 34 individuals for homicide, 69 individuals for weapons offenses, and 40 individuals for drug offenses. In addition, a total of 78 registered sex offenders living in Madison and Shelby Counties were checked for compliance with sex offender registration requirements. Thirteen were found to be in violation.
During the two-week operation, law enforcement efforts took place primarily in the cities of Memphis and Jackson, TN, and focused on fugitive apprehension investigations, firearms and narcotics investigations, gang-related intelligence gathering, and proactive sex offender compliance. All of these cases will be prosecuted in either state or federal court, and it is expected that many of the arrests and investigations in this operation will result in future additional arrests in the pursuit of dismantling the criminal element in the Western District of Tennessee.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Because the U.S. Marshals Service is the preeminent federal law enforcement agency for fugitive investigations and apprehensions, I called upon them to plan and execute this violence reduction operation in West Tennessee. Together with our other dedicated federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, the USMS has successfully located and arrested some of the most dangerous fugitives and violent gang members that are the primary crime-drivers in our communities. Operation ‘Bluff City Blues’ sends two very important and powerful messages: 1. The citizens of West Tennessee can be assured that their safety and security is our highest priority, and that we can and will do something about crime in their communities, and 2. Violent criminals and gang members can be assured that we will use our highest and best resources to remove them from our streets and impose consequences for their criminal conduct. I thank and commend the outstanding work and tireless efforts of all of our law enforcement partners, and I am confident that this operation will have both an immediate and a long-term positive effect on public safety in West Tennessee."
U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Tennessee Jeff Holt thanks all the federal, state and local agencies that participated in this operation. "The excellent cooperation and hard work of all these law enforcement officers over this two week period is a prime example of agencies working hand-in-hand to make a difference in our communities. I am very proud of the men and women who put in long hard hours to make this a highly successful operation. Many of these investigations have led to other arrests and investigations that will further dismantle the criminal structure in the Western District of Tennessee."
Deputy Commander Mike Quarles of the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force praised the efforts of all of the participating agencies that made this operation a success. Quarles stated, "Since 1789, the U.S. Marshals Service has been forming posses and task forces to apprehend the most violent of all fugitives. Our historical foundation was built upon the investigatory knowledge of skilled fugitive hunters. The successes of the Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force are directly related to our partnerships." Quarles further commented, "Without these agencies coming together as a force multiplier, many of these violent criminals would still be walking our streets. It was exciting to see this many agencies efficiently and effectively come together for the singular mission of making West Tennessee safer. I am confident that a strong message was sent, that violent crime is not welcomed in the Western District of Tennessee."
The following agencies participated in Operation "Bluff City Blues":
United States Marshals Service
United States Attorney’s Office
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
United States Probation Service
District Attorney General’s Office (Shelby County)
District Attorney General’s Office (Madison County)
Memphis Police Department
Jackson Police Department
Shelby County Sheriff’s Office
Madison County Sheriff’s Office
Tennessee Department of Correction
Tennessee Highway Patrol (Jackson Office)
Tennessee Highway Patrol (Memphis Office)
Additional information about the U.S. Marshals Service can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov
For operational still photos, please visit:
https://www.flickr.com/gp/usmarshals/U857Z0
For B Roll operational footage, please visit: https://www.dropbox.com/s/kp96maxbpsy1vck/Operation%20Bluff%20City%20B-roll.mpeg?dl=0
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Targets Methamphetamine in Three States with Operation Crystal MountainRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – The United States Drug Enforcement Administration this week announced the conclusion of Operation Crystal Mountain, a sweeping enforcement action spanning three states. DEA special agents, working closely with their state and local counterparts throughout Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia targeted Mexican drug cartels, drug trafficking organizations and other individuals involved in the manufacturing and distribution of methamphetamine. More than 800 pounds of methamphetamine were interdicted or seized during the operation.
"Everyone has a right to live in safety. The amount of drugs and weapons we’ve taken off the street with this operation, along with the number of drug dealers that we’ve locked up, represents a small victory in our on-going fight for safer communities for us all," D. Christopher Evans, Special Agent in Charge of DEA’s Louisville Division Office said. "While America’s opioid crisis may dominate headlines, Operation Crystal Mountain should serve as a reminder that methamphetamine is a problem that has never gone away. The dedicated men and women of DEA, working closely with state and local law enforcement, are relentless in their efforts to rid our neighborhoods of dangerous drugs and bring to justice those who distribute them, wherever they may be."
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Unfortunately, Methamphetamine that is trafficked into and through West Tennessee is increasing in dangerous purity, and has resurged to destroy individuals, families, and communities. Drug trafficking organizations that profit from the pain, addiction, violence and death caused by these dangerous substances will be disrupted and dismantled by this operation, and we are proud to stand with DEA in this critical regional enforcement action that will save lives."
Operation Crystal Mountain is the culmination of several investigations that began earlier this year. Since January, DEA special agents from the Louisville Field Division, with support from state and local law enforcement agencies across the region, have arrested 235 individuals on federal drug-related charges and seized more than $800,000.00 in cash and 52 firearms, as well as significant quantities of heroin, fentanyl, and other drugs. During this same timeframe, DEA assisted its state and local counterparts with the arrest of 140 additional offenders on state-level drug charges.
While the opioid epidemic has ravaged the nation, several large swaths of the U.S. see meth as their primary drug threat. The majority of the methamphetamine in the U.S. is produced in Mexico and trafficked by Mexican drug trafficking organizations. However, DEA continues to work to disrupt and dismantle all components of both foreign and domestic organizations which produce and traffic methamphetamine.
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Tennessee Correctional Officer Pleads GuiltyTo Federal Civil Rights Offense for Beating InmateRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Nathaniel Griffin, 29, today pleaded guilty to using unlawful force on an inmate while Griffin was serving as a correctional officer with the Tennessee Department of Corrections, announced Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee D. Michael Dunavant, and FBI-Memphis Special Agent in Charge M.A. Myers.
"The Justice Department will continue to vigorously prosecute correctional officers who violate the public’s trust by committing crimes and attempting to cover up violations of federal criminal law," said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband. "Officer Griffin abused his power in this case, and the Department of Justice held him accountable for his unlawful actions."
"Correctional officers must abide by and adhere to the same laws they take an oath to uphold and enforce. Instead of serving and protecting the public, this officer used physical force to violate the civil rights of an individual and will now be held accountable, vividly illustrating that no one is above the law," said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant.
"The FBI takes all allegations of civil rights violations seriously, and we will work tirelessly alongside our law enforcement partners to preserve the integrity of the criminal justice system," said M.A. Myers, Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. "Those who choose to ignore the oath they took to protect and serve will be investigated and brought to justice."
On or about Feb. 1, Griffin and fellow correctional officers T.P., J.Y., C.M., and C.S. entered the cell of R.T., an inmate in the mental health unit at the Northwest County Correctional Complex in Tiptonville, Tennessee. Inmate R.T. spit and then remained seated on a bench, with his arms by his sides.
Correctional officer J.Y. looked in the direction of the surveillance camera in the cell and said, "Cover the camera." Officer C.S. then covered the camera with his hand. When the camera was covered, Griffin saw inmate R.T. sitting with his arms by his side. Correctional Officer J.Y. then repeatedly punched R.T. Griffin estimated that Officer J.Y. hit R.T. between 20-30 times. At some point, Officer J.Y. stopped hitting R.T., looked back at Officer T.P., and said, "Get you some." Officer T.P. then stepped up and punched R.T. between four to five times.
During the assault by the officers, inmate R.T. sat on the bench and covered his face and head with his hands. Griffin knew that punching R.T. was unlawful, but he did not step in to stop it. Officers T.M., C.S., and C.M. were in a position to watch as J.Y. and T.P. punched inmate R.T., but none of them attempted to stop the officers from hitting R.T.
Griffin heard an officer in the cell ask for paper towels. Correctional Officer C.M. handed the towels to Griffin. Griffin wet them in the sink, and handed them to Officer C.S. Griffin knew when they wet the towels, they would be used to cover the camera. After R.T. was punched by J.Y. and T.P., Griffin observed that R.T. was bleeding.
After Officers J.Y. and T.P. stopped punching R.T., the inmate spit on Griffin’s chest and arm. Griffin punched R.T. multiple times. Griffin then left the cell.
Outside of the cell, Griffin spoke with T.P., J.Y., and Corporal T.M. Corporal T.M., who was the ranking officer, told the other officers that they should come up with a false cover story about what happened to R.T. Griffin understood that any subsequent discussion of the incident would not include that he and other officers had punched R.T.
Griffin admitted in today’s guilty plea that he violated 18 U.S.C. § 242 when he repeatedly punched and injured inmate R.T. without legal justification. The maximum penalty for this civil rights offense is 10 years imprisonment. Sentencing is scheduled for November 13, 2019, before U.S. District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen.
This case was investigated by the Memphis Division of the FBI with the support of the Tennessee Department of Corrections, and is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Rebekah J. Bailey of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant United States Attorney David Pritchard of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.
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Dyersburg Apartment Group Settles Race Discrimination CaseRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Lee Clark, 42, of Dyersburg, Tennessee and the United States have entered into a civil settlement with Dyersburg Apartments, Ltd. and MACO Management Company, a Missouri limited liability company. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the settlement today.
According to information presented in the consent order, in January 2012, Lee Clark (who is African American), sought to move into the Meadow Lane Apartments in Dyersburg, TN with his ex-wife and their two children. Approximately one week later, MACO rejected his application – allegedly because Clark had a prior felony conviction. Mr. Clark was later banished from the property. However, an investigation by the United States revealed that the defendants had not rejected or banished two comparable white applicants with criminal records.
The defendants agreed to a settlement wherein they will pay Mr. Clark $42,250. They have also reaffirmed their commitment to non-discrimination and agreed to make public postings on-site regarding anti-discrimination rules and include anti-discrimination language in their advertisements, rental applications, and rental agreements. Defendants' employees will receive non-discrimination training, and, for a period of three years, they will submit regular reports to the Department of Justice. Among other things, defendants will be required to report any oral or written complaint of race discrimination, any application denied due to criminal history or criminal record, and any Letter of Banishment issued.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Racial discrimination in housing is illegal, immoral, and unacceptable. This office will uphold the rule of law by enforcing all of the requirements of the Fair Housing Act to adequately address and deter racial discrimination in housing, and we are satisfied that this settlement achieves justice for the victim and the community at large."
On August 13, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen ordered Dyersburg Apartments, Ltd., and MACO Management Company to resolve this civil claim judgment of $42,250 payable to Lee Clark.
Assistant U.S. Attorney David Brackstone prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
Federal Jury Convicts Memphis Man for Armed Business Robbery and Illegal Possession of Stolen FirearmsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN –After a four-day jury trial, Samuel Culp, 21, was found guilty Hobbs Act Business robbery, brandishing and discharging a firearm during a robbery, and possession of stolen firearms. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the guilty verdict today.
According to information presented in court, on the morning of July 12, 2018, Stacy Houston, Samuel Culp, and a third suspect entered the Pawn Plus pawnshop on Winchester Road in Memphis armed with firearms. The men pointed their guns at the 84-year old manager and one customer who was inside the business. They ordered both men on the ground and struck the manager in the head with a firearm when he did not move fast enough. The men took a total of 47 firearms and assorted jewelry, including rings and a Rolex watch, as well as the cash from the pocket of the elderly manager.
As the men were fleeing the business, one of them fired shots at an employee who was outside the business calling 911. The employee’s vehicle was hit, but he avoided injury. Houston and Culp proceeded thereafter to traffic the stolen firearms throughout the city. During the resulting investigation, ATF agents recovered several stolen firearms. At the time of his arrest, Culp was found in possession of two of the firearms stolen during the robbery, as well as a bag of stolen jewelry. A duffle bag containing seven additional stolen firearms was recovered from Culp’s mother’s home on the following day.
The jury found Culp guilty of all counts as charged in the indictment. Sentencing is scheduled for November 8, 2019, before U.S. District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker. Culp faces a maximum sentence of 20 years for the Hobbs Act business robbery, a mandatory minimum consecutive sentence of 7 years for the brandishing count, and a maximum sentence of 10 years for the theft from a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) and possession of the stolen firearms.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Armed business robbery that threatens and harms store owners must be dealt with swiftly and certainly. Likewise, the theft of dozens of firearms is especially dangerous, and threatens the lives of countless citizens. We are thankful that many of the stolen firearms were recovered due to the quick action and outstanding investigation by federal law enforcement. Any robbery of a FFL will be met with aggressive prosecution in order to protect public safety."
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Hartridge prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 405 Months in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – James Nelson, 48, has been sentenced to 405 months in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on Friday, September 15, 2017, Keysha Caldwell brought her 13-year-old daughter to the apartment of James Nelson, the father of their child. Nelson was in the apartment with his girlfriend when suddenly he began to physically assault Ms. Caldwell. Their daughter went back to their car to get help from her step-father, Ernest Bernard.
As Mr. Bernard, Ms. Caldwell, and her 13-year-old daughter were leaving the apartment, Nelson fired a shot at Ms. Caldwell, striking her in the head and killing her. Mr. Bernard called 911 and Ms. Caldwell's other daughter came to the apartment. Nelson then threatened to kill her stating, "your momma is laying in there dead and you'll be next." The death was ruled a homicide. A Smith & Wesson .40 caliber pistol was located inside the residence. Nelson waived his Miranda rights and gave a statement to the police, advising that he did not kill Ms. Caldwell; the gun went off during a struggle. However, his version of the events did not match the accounts of the other witnesses or the physical evidence.
Nelson was previously convicted for several felony charges involving drugs, guns, and violent crimes, including a 1996 conviction for voluntary manslaughter, where he shot and killed his sister.
On August 12, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Nelson to 405 months in federal prison followed by 3 years supervised release.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Convicted felons who possess firearms are an inherent danger to the community, and in this case, Nelson was a violent offender who continued to possess a firearm despite his prior felony conviction history. Nelson has devoted his adult life to a career of criminal conduct, and that prior history has finally caught up with him. Clearly, this armed career criminal had no hesitation in committing another violent crime with a firearm that resulted in death, and he will now be removed from our community for over 33 years."
The case was investigated by the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Task Force, which includes the U.S. Attorney’s Office; the Shelby County District Attorney’s Office; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); the Memphis Police Department; and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, who have all joined together to address gun-related crimes through targeted investigations and aggressive prosecution.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (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 the purpose of prosecuting violent crimes and firearms offenses in federal court.
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Martin, Tennessee Man Sentenced to 108Months Imprisonment for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Robert Thomas, 46, has been sentenced to 108 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.
This is the first sentencing in a case involving multiple defendants including Keith Norris, Charles Settles, Justin Tyler Bynum and Solomon Clay on charges of conspiracy to distribute actual methamphetamine.
According to information presented in court, the Weakley County Sheriff’s Department began an investigation into Keith Norris’ drug trafficking organization in late April, 2018. This investigation included search warrants, traffic stops, statements of cooperators and phone records. Agents learned that Thomas was a member of Norris’ drug trafficking organization.
On April 15, 2018, Weakley County Sheriff’s Office stopped Thomas for a traffic violation and recovered approximately 21 grams of methamphetamine. During a mirandized statement, Thomas confessed to selling approximately 88 ounces of methamphetamine in Weakley County within a seven-month period.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Methamphetamine that is trafficked in and through West Tennessee is increasing in dangerous purity, and continues to destroy individuals, families, and communities. Drug dealers who profit from the pain, addiction, violence and death caused by these dangerous substances deserve proper punishment, and this sentence does just that."
On August 6, 2019, United States Chief District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Thomas to 108 months in federal prison followed by 5 years supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Weakley County Sheriff’s Department and the Martin Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Kitchen prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Lobelville, Tennessee Woman Sentenced to 120 Months Imprisonment for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Tammy Ranger, 55, has been sentenced to 120 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.
This is the latest sentencing in a case involving multiple defendants including Rolando Lopez, Saul Vega Flores, Virginia Torres, Ronald Lynn Parham, Daniel Ranger, Kennett Garrett, Marcus Jones, and Xavier Demetrius James on charges of conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine. Roland Lopez, the leader of the Drug Trafficking Organization, was previously sentenced August 6, 2019 to life imprisonment.
According to information presented in court, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) began an investigation into Rolando Lopez and his drug trafficking organization in March of 2017. Agents discovered that Lopez and other co-conspirators were trafficking in methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana and other illegal substances from Mexico to Tennessee. Investigators used "wiretaps" along with other surveillance, confidential sources, traffic stops, and search warrants to investigate this organization.
In April 2017, agents received information from a confidential informant regarding a home in Davidson County, Tennessee, where Lopez and his brother were conducting drug related activity. A search warrant was executed at the residence where over $500,000 in cash, a money counter, and a vacuum sealer were recovered. As the investigation developed, on February 28, 2017, it was learned that Daniel Ranger was stopped in Lawrence County, TN with $10,241, a gun, body armor, and 5 grams of ICE. On October 7, 2017, Ranger was arrested by Perry County, TN law enforcement officers with $98,360 dollars in United States currency, a few grams of meth, and some legend drugs. Then on October 24, 2017, while operating a motor vehicle, Ranger fell asleep while driving and had an automobile accident. He was observed hiding items from his vehicle in the woods.
Ranger then called his wife to come to the scene of the accident to retrieve the remainder of the narcotics he could not hide. Within 10-12 yards of the wreck a cooler with 222 grams of 95% pure ICE, weed, $20,000 and a drug ledger was recovered at the accident scene.
Agents were notified about the accident and set up surveillance on the Lobelville home of Daniel and Tammy Ranger. Agents observed several people visiting the location for short periods, consistent with drug deals. While at the location, Tammy Ranger pulled up in a car where both methamphetamine and firearms were recovered in the vehicle. Both Tammy and Daniel Ranger gave consent to agents to search their residence. Found during this search was 734 grams of methamphetamine, (approximately a pound and a half of 96% pure ICE), 208 grams of fentanyl, and 12 firearms. Also recovered were several more firearms, an AR-15 and a shotgun which were located under the stairwell. Tammy was advised of her Miranda rights and agreed to make a statement. Tammy stated that they were getting their ICE from a Mexican named "TT." It was learned during the investigation that "TT" was Rolando Lopez.
Tammy Ranger was held responsible for between 10,000 kilograms and 30,000 kilograms of converted drug weight to include 1.28 kilograms of marijuana, 14,680 kilograms of methamphetamine, ICE, and 520 kilograms of Fentanyl, for a total of 15,201.28 kilograms. Tammy also received a firearm enhancement.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Drug distribution conspiracies are not victimless crimes. Methamphetamine causes significant human pain, loss, and destruction in countless ways, including addiction, injuries, and deaths. Those who choose to engage in such lawlessness will pay the price with a long prison sentence."
On August 6, 2019, United States Chief District Court Judge Thomas S. Anderson sentenced Tammy Ranger to 120 months in federal prison followed by 5 years supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Nashville, Jackson, Atlanta DEA offices, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, 23rd Judicial Drug Task Force, Metro Nashville Police Department, Perry County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Lawrenceburg Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Jackson Police Department, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Madison County Sheriff’s Office, and Obion County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Kitchen prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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16-Member Drug Trafficking Organization with ties to Grape Street Crips Gang Indicted in Operation “Grapes of Wrath”Read the Press Release
Memphis, TN –In July 2019, a federal grand jury charged 16 individuals with conspiracy to possess various controlled substances with intent to distribute; possession of several types of controlled substances with intent to distribute; and several criminal violations of federal firearms laws. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the unsealing of the superseding indictment today.
The investigation of this case focused on the Grape Street Crips street gang in Memphis, and was known as Operation "Grapes of Wrath." ATF began investigating various shootings in the Memphis area in the Summer of 2018, and together with DEA and other law enforcement partners, developed suspects in connection with drug distribution, specifically the distribution of heroin and methamphetamine.
The defendants charged in the indictment are:
Travon Allen a/k/a "Little Y," 30, Los Angeles, California
Ozene Benson, 27, Memphis, Tennessee
Vincent Boykin a/k/a "Veto," 31, Memphis, Tennessee
Antwan Brown, 31, Memphis, Tennessee
Christopher Brown, 29, Memphis, Tennessee
Lonnell Davis, 41, Memphis, Tennessee
Clifton Graves, 35, Memphis, Tennessee
Preston Hampton a/k/a "Grape da Shooter," 26, Memphis, Tennessee
Amber Howe, 31, Memphis, Tennessee
Claude Cordell Irby, 23, Memphis, Tennessee
Eddie Johnson a/k/a "Eddie Grape," 36, Memphis, Tennessee
Lapheal Johnson a/k/a "Peaches," 25, Jackson, Tennessee
Tionna Jones, 24, Memphis, Tennessee
Terrell Kennedy, 34, Memphis, Tennessee
Antonio Lurry, 37, Memphis, Tennessee
Tarzell Worles a/k/a "Snugg," 26, Memphis, TennesseeCount 1 of the indictment charges all of the defendants with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. This drug conspiracy operated from December 1, 2018 until May 30, 2019.
Count 2 of the indictment charges Tarzell Worles ("Snugg"), Amber Howe, Antonio Lurry, Christopher Brown, and Clifton Graves with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin. This drug conspiracy operated from March of 2018 through April 4, 2019.
Count 3 of the indictment charges Tarzell Worles ("Snugg") and Amber Howe with possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute on January 30, 2019.
Count 4 of the indictment charges Tarzell Worles ("Snugg") and Amber Howe with possession of heroin with intent to distribute on January 30, 2019
Count 5 of the indictment charges Tarzell Worles ("Snugg") with conspiracy to possess MDMA with intent to distribute. According to the indictment, this conspiracy operated from December 1, 2018, through April 4, 2019.
Count 6 of the indictment charges Tarzell Worles ("Snugg") with possession of MDMA with intent to distribute on April 4, 2019.
Count 7 of the indictment charges Clifton Graves, an unlawful user of marijuana and promethazine, with illegally possessing 10 Winchester 12 gauge shotgun shells, 139 Winchester .40 caliber bullets, 12 Hornady .40 caliber bullets, 27 Speer .357 caliber bullets, and 31 Hornady .380 caliber bullets on February 18, 2019. Federal law prohibits unlawful users of narcotics from possessing firearms or ammunition that have moved in or affected interstate commerce.
Count 8 of the indictment charges Clifton Graves, an unlawful user of marijuana and promethazine, with illegally possessing a Ruger LCR revolver and a Sig Sauer 516 semi-automatic rifle on February 18, 2019.
Count 9 of the indictment charges Vincent Boykin ("Veto") and Travon Allen ("Little Y") with possessing 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute from March 18, 2019 until April 24, 2019.
Count 10 of the indictment charges Vincent Boykin ("Veto") with possession 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute on April 24, 2019.
Count 11 of the indictment charges Ozene Benson and Antwan Brown with possession 50 grams or more methamphetamine with intent to distribute on May 30, 2019.
United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "As long as organized crime and drug distribution conspiracies by street gangs continue to threaten and harm our communities with addiction and violence, this office will continue to aggressively prosecute them for any and all violations of federal law. Gang members and drug dealers beware: your continued lawlessness will land your name on a federal indictment, and will secure your future in a federal prison."
This prosecution is part of an investigation conducted by the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking organizations and organized criminal enterprises, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
This case is also part of the Domestic Cartel Initiative, a DEA-led initiative that seeks to dismantle and prosecute domestic drug organizations and violent gangs that operate in multiple states and jurisdictions.
If convicted of the conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine charged in Count 1, the defendants face a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, and a $10,000,000 fine. Count 2, which involves a conspiracy to possess one kilogram or more of heroin with intent to distribute, carries the same penalty as Count 1. If convicted of Counts 3, 4, 5, or 6, the defendants face up to of 20 years imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine. The defendants face a maximum of 10 years imprisonment and $250,000 fine on counts 7 and 8.
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Shelby County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Division, Memphis Police Department Organized Crime Unit, Bartlett Police Department, and West Tennessee Drug Task Force.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Griffith and Assistant United States Attorney Mark Erskine are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
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Innocence Lost National Initiative and Operation Independence Day 2019Read the Press Release
Memphis, TN – The Department of Justice announced today the FBI-led recovery or identification of 103 child victims and the arrest of 67 sex traffickers through Operation Independence Day. This initiative — a revamping of a previously successful program — was executed during the month of July through 161 operations conducted nationwide.
Operation Independence Day relied on the 86 FBI-led Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Forces (CEHTTFs), which leveraged the resources and intelligence of other federal, state, local, and tribal partners. Overall, more than 400 agencies participate in these task forces.
Operation Independence Day prioritized locating and rescuing missing minors who are at great risk for sexual exploitation, and arresting the traffickers exploiting them. To that end, through its partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), FBI special agents and intelligence analysts reviewed information provided through NCMEC’s CyberTipline, to identify missing minor children at risk for sexual exploitation, and then worked with state and local partners to execute law enforcement activity designed to recover those children and arrest traffickers.
The health and welfare of recovered minor and adult trafficking victims was a further priority. To facilitate these efforts, the FBI’s Victim Services Division and victim specialists stationed in each of our 56 field offices also worked closely with the task forces during the operation to ensure recovered children received the help they needed. Victim specialists put internal and external resources in place before the operation to ensure victim assistance was a priority in the aftermath of the law enforcement operations.
"This initiative has two crucial goals: rescuing children being sold for sex and prosecuting their adult traffickers," said Attorney General William P. Barr. "Child sex trafficking is a heinous crime that preys on the most vulnerable in our society. Perpetrators victimize children in communities throughout the country, and we are determined to find and rescue them. Through the FBI’s leadership, we have recovered thousands of child victims, and this latest operation adds to the success of that decades-long effort."
"Make no mistake, the FBI is fiercely focused on recovering child victims and arresting the sex traffickers who exploit them," said FBI Director Christopher Wray. "Through operations like this, the FBI helps child victims escape the abusive life of sex trafficking. Our agents, intelligence analysts, professional staff, and victim specialists work tirelessly before, during and after these operations to make sure that victims get the help they need to reclaim their lives."
"The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is proud to be part of this extraordinary partnership with the FBI. The FBI and the Department of Justice have been instrumental in spearheading multi-agency collaboration between organizations to locate and provide resources to victims of child sex trafficking," said John Clark, President and CEO of NCMEC. "We know this horrendous crime impacts communities across our country every day and we applaud the FBI for continuing to work tirelessly to locate these victims and hold accountable those who are selling children for sex."
In June 2003, the FBI, in conjunction with the Justice Department Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section and NCMEC, launched the Innocence Lost National Initiative (ILNI). This combined effort was aimed at addressing the growing problem of domestic sex trafficking of children in the United States. In the years since its inception, the ILNI has expanded to 86 dedicated CEHTTFs. These task forces, with the U.S. Attorney’s Offices and the FBI’s Victim Services Division, have worked successfully to rescue thousands of children.
Through ILNI, the FBI, along with its local law enforcement partners, uses task forces to leverage resources and intelligence to identify and recover child victims and prosecute those responsible for their exploitation. This collaborative effort has led to the recovery or identification of more than 6,600 child victims. The initiative has also led to more than 2,750 convictions, including more than 15 life sentences and many other sentences ranging from 25 years to life.
In 2008, the ILNI initiated Operation Cross Country (OCC)—a focused, national campaign that targeted the venues where children were the victims of commercial sex trafficking. Since 2008, there have been 11 iterations of OCC, recovering more than 900 child victims and arresting nearly 1,400 traffickers. The last operation was held in October 2017 with 78 task forces participating.
The FBI determined that after 11 years of OCC success, it was time to re-evaluate the program. The newly renamed Operation Independence Day was conducted over an entire month, rather than a few days, but continued to focus on the recovery of child victims from commercial sex trafficking.
The FBI’s Crimes Against Children and Human Trafficking Unit and DOJ coordinated the operation. For additional information on Operation Independence Day and the Innocence Lost initiative, please visit www.fbi.gov/oid2019.
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Arkansas Man Pleads Guilty to Mailing Threatening Letters to the United States Federal Courthouse in Memphis, TennesseeRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Patrick Hayden, 32, of Charleston, Arkansas, pled guilty to sending threatening letters to U.S. District Court Judges and other federal personnel through the mail, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 876(c). D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney announced the guilty plea today.
According to the information presented in court, on March 6, 2018, at approximately 2:05 p.m., the United States Clerk’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee received a bomb and violence threat in the mail at 167 North Main Street, Memphis, Tennessee. The envelope, postmarked March 2, 2018, was forwarded from inmate Arron Lewis, of Marianna, Arkansas.
The envelope contained several letters from four Arkansas state inmates and a note stating "federal employees there is a bomb in the building! 901 confederates #savethestatues." The individual letters were addressed to "judges and prosecutors" and "Federal stooges in black skirts" and contained various threats to injure/kill potential victims and their families. One of the letters from Hayden contained similar threats and called for "total Aryan resurgent’s (sic)."
Law enforcement officials met with the Arkansas Department of Corrections at the East Arkansas Regional Unit about the threat mailing by Hayden and the other inmates and verified that Hayden was serving a sentence for a theft conviction along with inmate Lewis and others.
On April 10, 2018, agents interviewed Hayden at the prison who admitted to participating in the writing/mailing of the subject letter and said when he is released from prison, "I will do this" referring to bombing the Memphis Federal Building. Other direct statements from Hayden: "I am a willingly expendable pawn" and, "their life is meaningless" regarding the victims he threatened to kill. Hayden also stated, "Memphis is the place I choose, so I am now dedicated…" and, "I believe this in my heart." Hayden claims to be a member of White Aryan Resistance (WAR). Hayden stated the group chose to mail the letter to Memphis based on the demographics of the city. Hayden believes he is capable of carrying out such a plot and made statements regarding idolizing Timothy McVeigh since an early age. During the interview, Hayden also demonstrated an in-depth knowledge of bomb making materials and using cell phones as remote detonators. Forensic examinations revealed Hayden’s fingerprints on the letter and matched his known handwriting samples.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "We reject and denounce all forms of radical violent extremism, including white supremacy and any other threats posed by racism, bigotry, and hatred. This office, along with our federal law enforcement partners, are vigilant to protect the Federal Judiciary and prevent attacks on any critical infrastructure sites in West Tennessee, including the Federal Courthouse in Memphis. We take all threats seriously, and will seek to impose all applicable enhancements and the maximum available penalty under the federal sentencing guidelines in order to punish and incapacitate this dangerous extremist for as long as possible.We are pleased that the defendant has been held accountable for this disturbing threat of violence fueled by racial hatred, and we commend the quick and thorough response of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force."
Sentencing is set for November 8, 2019, before U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman. Hayden faces up to 10 years of imprisonment along with 3 years supervised release and a $250,000 fine. There is no parole in the federal prison system.
This case was investigated by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, U.S. Marshals Service and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hall is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office and Federal Law Enforcement Partners Announce the Indictment of 18 Individuals of the “Fast Cash” Criminal Enterprise for Federal Drug and Bank Fraud ConspiraciesRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – On July 23, 2019, a federal grand jury indicted 18 individuals for federal drug charges. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the indictment today.
The indictment charges that the defendants conspired to commit bank fraud in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1349, and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846. The indictment also requests the forfeiture of a total of $1,243,000 in criminal proceeds from the defendants.
The defendants charged in the indictment and are currently in custody are:
Nashon Baldwin, 24, Los Angeles, California
Carterrio Bogan, 27, Memphis, Tennessee
Terrell Boyland, 30, Memphis, Tennessee
Quinton Chaffin, 28, Memphis, Tennessee
Cortavious Culp, 22, Memphis, Tennessee
Deandre Evans, 20, Memphis, Tennessee
Allon Gates, 23, Memphis, Tennessee
Marcell Glass, 26, Memphis, Tennessee
Jimmy Gause, 25, Memphis, Tennessee
Aaron Henderson, 42, Memphis, Tennessee
Marticus Hill, 29, Memphis, Tennessee
Ledarious Hope, 25, Memphis, Tennessee
Nickelle Jackson, 24, Memphis, Tennessee
Marquice Lester, 24, Memphis, Tennessee
Cordney Smith, 23, Memphis, Tennessee
Marcolm Watson, 26, Memphis, Tennessee
Carlos Whitten, Jr., 23, Memphis, Tennessee
Karlyss Williams, 25, Memphis, Tennessee
The indictment charges that all 18 defendants were members or associates of Fast Cash Boyz Entertainment. According to the indictment, Fast Cash Boyz Entertainment was a music label and, over time, the members "began exploiting the brand by engaging in criminal activity such as bank fraud and drug trafficking to earn "FAST CASH" for the enterprise."
Count 1 of the indictment charges that Carterrio Bogan, Cortavious Culp, Allon Gates, Marcel Glass, Marquice Lester, Karlyss Williams, Cordney Smith, Marcolm Watson, Carlos Whitten, Jr., Quinton Chaffin, Deandre Evens, and Nickell Jackson all conspired to defraud Regions Bank in order to obtain "monies, funds and assets, and credits." According to the indictment, The defendants would deposit, or cause to be deposited, worthless checks into accounts at Regions Bank. After making these deposits, they would withdraw cash from these accounts before Regions and the other banks involved discovered the checks deposited by the defendants were worthless. The conspiracy operated from November, 2017 until July, 2019. As a result of the defendants’ illegal acts, Regions lost a total of $243,000.
Count 2 of the indictment charges that Nashon Baldwin, Carterrio Bogan, Terrell Boyland, Jimmy Gause, Marcel Glass, Aaron Henderson, Marticus Hill, Ledarious Hope, and Cordney Smith conspired to possess with intent to distribute and distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana. The indictment charges that the drug conspiracy operated from February, 2016 until October 31, 2018.
The indictment also contains a forfeiture count that seeks the forfeiture of the $243,000 in criminal proceeds generated by the bank fraud conspiracy and at least $1,000,000 in proceeds generated by the drug conspiracy.
"Drug dealing and fraud schemes that distribute poison into our streets and steal money from financial institutions must be stopped. We thank and commend the outstanding investigative work and collaboration by our federal and local law enforcement partners to dismantle the "Fast Cash" criminal enterprise, and our office looks forward to the prosecution of this case that will hold these defendants accountable."
"No matter where you bank, we encourage everyone to be on guard and report it immediately if someone asks for private account information or for access to your account," said Don White, head of Corporate Security for Regions Bank. "At Regions, we work around the clock to detect and prevent fraud. When we see suspicious activity, our investigators work hand-in-hand with law enforcement to get to the bottom of the issue. Today’s announcement shows the result of that partnership. We appreciate the work of each agency involved in bringing this matter to justice."
If convicted of the bank fraud conspiracy, each charged defendant faces a possible sentence of up to 30 years imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine. If convicted of the drug conspiracy, each charged defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years imprisonment and a possible fine of up to $5,000,000.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Postal Inspection Service, United States Secret Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, Memphis Police Department’s Violent Crime Unit and Multi-Agency Gang Unit, and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michelle Kimbril-Parks and Gregory Allen are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Covington Man Sentenced to 75 Months for Being a Convicted Felon in Possession of a Stolen Firearm Taken in Auto Burglary of a Tipton County Sheriff’s Patrol VehicleRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN –Davoris Polk, 26, has been sentenced to 75 months for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on February 26, 2018, law enforcement with the Covington Police Department responded to the burglary of a marked Tipton County Sheriff's Office vehicle parked at a deputy’s residence in the 100 block of North Maple Street in Covington, TN. As a result of the burglary, the patrol vehicle sustained extensive damage to multiple windows and the interior of the vehicle. During the burglary, a Bushmaster .223-5.56 caliber AR-15 patrol rifle and a Remington Model 870 12-gauge shotgun were stolen. The gun locker which secured the weapons had been destroyed along with the other parts of the unit’s interior. In addition to the vehicle being locked and the weapons being properly secured inside a gun locker, the patrol vehicle was also being actively monitored by a video surveillance system which captured the burglary and theft. The Remington 870 12 gauge shotgun was later recovered during a canvass and search of the area.
The Tipton County Sheriff’s Office identified Polk as the suspect responsible for the auto burglary and theft, and on March 1, 2018, officers located Polk at the Budget Inn on Highway 51 North in Covington, where he was placed under arrest and taken into custody. Polk confessed to the crimes and arranged for the stolen patrol rifle to be returned. Prior to the offense, Polk had been convicted of the felony offenses of Aggravated Burglary and Burglary of a Vehicle, as well as multiple misdemeanor offenses.
On March 21, 2019, the defendant pled guilty to being a felon in possession of a stolen firearm. On July 30, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Polk to 75 months imprisonment followed by 3 years supervised release.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Any person who is audacious and brazen enough to target a law enforcement vehicle to commit theft of police firearms is a dangerous offender who has no regard for the law or public safety, and has no respect for law enforcement. Mr. Polk has dedicated his short adult life to felony crimes of burglary, theft, and dishonesty, and will now pay the price for this disturbing crime. Any attack against law enforcement is an attack against the very fabric of our society, and we will not tolerate this lawlessness that endangers our citizens."
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Covington Police Department, and the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Neal Oldham prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Violent Shooter Sentenced to 204 Months ImprisonmentRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Travis Sanders, 40, has been sentenced to 204 months imprisonment as a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on January 23, 2018, Sanders and a male victim were involved in a verbal altercation near Latham Avenue and Lucy Street, when Sanders threatened to kill the victim. Sanders then asked an unknown male to bring him his gun. The unknown male brought a gun to Sanders and he fired shots at the victim. The victim ran away to a nearby MLGW employee working in the area who drove him away from the scene. The MLGW employee called police and the victim escaped uninjured.
Memphis Police responded to the scene and recovered an Intratec 9mm caliber pistol from an abandoned apartment across the street. The firearm was loaded with five rounds in the magazine and one round in the chamber. This was the same firearm described by the victim. Officers also recovered three 9mm spent shell casings on the scene.
While Sanders was in custody at the Shelby County Jail, he attempted to get others to dissuade the shooting victim from coming to court for the state court proceedings.
The defendant’s lengthy prior criminal history includes: two convictions for aggravated assault; one conviction for coercion of a witness; one conviction for possession of cocaine with the intent to sell; one conviction for being felon in possession of a firearm, and multiple misdemeanor convictions. As a result of these prior felony convictions, Sanders was determined by the Court to be an Armed Career Criminal, and subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison.
U.S. Attorney D.Michael Dunavant said, "This is precisely the type of violent gun offender that threatens lives and public safety in Memphis. This brazen and recidivist violent behavior must be met with swift and significant punishment. As a result of this conviction and 17 year sentence, the citizens of Memphis and West Tennessee are safer. Gun Crime is Max Time."
On January 18, 2019, the defendant pled guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. On July 29, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Sanders to 204 months in federal prison followed by 5 years supervised release.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Memphis Police Department investigated this case.
U.S. Attorney Marques Young prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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McKenzie, Tennessee Man Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN –Marlon "Jazz" Taylor, 34, has been sentenced to life in prison on federal charges of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.
This is the first sentencing in a case involving multiple defendants including Nicholas Rodgers, Tarus Taylor, Elizabeth Espey, Terry Weathers, Richie Henderson, Derrick Howard, Duane Smith and Bobby Joe Kemp, Jr. on charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
According to information presented in court, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force (JDDTF) and Carroll County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation into Jazz in late 2016. Agents discovered that Jazz and other co-conspirators were trafficking in methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana from California and Georgia. Investigators used multiple investigation techniques to dismantle this drug trafficking organization to include surveillance, confidential sources, traffic stops, and search warrants.
USPIS and the JDDTF intercepted a package mailed from California to an address in McKenzie, Tennessee. A federal search warrant was executed on the package, which contained approximately 893 grams of actual methamphetamine, with a purity level of 91%, and 1,810 grams of marijuana. In October 2017, the USPS discovered similar shipments from California to a residence in Trezevant, Tennessee. Surveillance of the residence revealed that after the packages were delivered to the residence, they would be delivered to Jazz’s residence in McKenzie, Tennessee. On or about April 2018, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office deputies obtained an arrest warrant for Jazz. Pursuant to the warrant, deputies conducted a parole search at Jazz’s residence and found multiple firearms in the bedroom. Also found was approximately 4.5 pounds of marijuana,
$14,000 in U.S. currency and multiple cell phones. A search of the cell phones revealed multiple text messages between Jazz and co-defendants, detailing drug and money transactions. As a result, FBI agents traveled to California and executed a search warrant on the drug trafficking organization’s source of supply.
On April 10, 2019, Jazz pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
During the sentencing hearing, the United States put on multiple co-defendants who testified about their involvement in the drug conspiracy, including the drug amounts that were being obtained on behalf of Jazz. The total amount of actual methamphetamine obtained during this drug conspiracy was approximately 7 ½ kilograms of actual methamphetamine, 963.8 grams of cocaine and 12,922.7 grams of marijuana. Jazz was found to be the leader or organizer of the organization involving five or more participants. Jazz’s sentence was also enhanced because firearms were present and for maintaining a stash house.
Also, during the sentencing hearing the United States showed evidence that Jazz attempted to influence the testimony of a co-defendant by sending a note to falsely claim that Jazz had no involvement with methamphetamine. Jazz was found to have attempted to obstruct justice based on this conduct.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Drug trafficking offenses are at the root of some of the gravest problems facing our country. The ‘fruit’ of the drug plague is everywhere; it fills our jails, our courts, our streets, and our nurseries. Accordingly, given that drug dealers themselves sentence many individuals to a lifetime of addiction and dependency, a life sentence for repeatedly dealing large quantities of dangerous drugs is a just and proper punishment in this case. Criminal enterprises that distribute harmful drugs into our rural communities can no longer hide, and this maximum sentence demonstrates our ability to dismantle their organizations."
"Drug dealers are committed to poisoning our neighborhoods with narcotics, but this sentencing should demonstrate that law enforcement has an even greater commitment to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations," said M.A. Myers, Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. "This sentence should cause drug traffickers to truly rethink their chosen path, because the FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work tirelessly to eliminate these criminal enterprises and lock them up."
"The war on drugs has been an on-going and hard fought battle for law enforcement" stated David M. McGinnis, Inspector in Charge, Charlotte Division. "The U.S. Postal Inspection Service aggressively investigates cases involving the misuse of the U.S. mail system by criminals who traffic illegal contraband such as narcotics. I fully commend the hard work and countless hours put forth by all of the law enforcement agencies involved, which resulted bringing this individual to justice."
Carroll County Sheriff Andy Dickson said: "I would like to begin by taking this opportunity to thank U.S. Attorney Michael Dunavant and his staff of attorneys, especially Jerry Kitchen, who without their tireless work this operation would not have been possible. I would also like to thank all of the agencies that played a part in this intensive drug operation to include the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, 24th Judicial District Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee National Guard Counter Drug Unit and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
The sentence handed down in this case was just part of an ongoing criminal investigation into the distribution of illegal narcotics that affects Carroll and surrounding counties. Others have already been sentenced involving this case and others await their day in front of a United States Federal Court. I would like for this operation to send notice to others in our jurisdiction that if you continue to attempt to poison our citizens with the illegal substances that you sell that we will be working diligently to build a case against you and others."
On July 24, 2019, Senior U.S. District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Jazz to life in federal prison followed by 5 years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force (JDDTF) and Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Kitchen prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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Governor of Tipton County, TN Gangster Disciples Pleads Guilty to RICO ConspiracyRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Robert Elliott Jones, 39, a/k/a/ "Lil Rob," a/k/a/ "Mac Rob" has pled guilty to conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the guilty plea today.
According to the superseding indictment, the Gangster Disciples is a highly-organized criminal street gang with nationwide reach. In addition to Tennessee, the gang reportedly operates in more than 35 states. The Gangster Disciples were organized into different positions, including board members, and governor-of-governors who each controlled geographic regions; governors, assistant governors, chief enforcers and chief of security for each state or regions within the state where the Gangster Disciples were active; and coordinators and leaders within each local group.
During the change of plea hearing, Jones admitted that he was the Governor of Section 4, which covers Tipton County, TN, including Covington. The superseding indictment that Jones entered a guilty plea to indicates that as Governor over a region he was responsible for supervising the criminal activities of the members and associates of the Gangster Disciples enterprise; issuing orders to kill rival gang members and subordinate gang members who he believed had violated Gangster Disciple rules of conduct; and presiding over Gangster Disciple meetings where criminal activity was discussed, proceeds were collected and beatings of fellow gang members were administered.
The superseding indictment further alleges that Jones declared Covington, TN as "GD Land" and issued a green light to a subordinate gang member to kill rival gang members in Covington, TN.; he issued an order to kill a subordinate gang member whom the Gangster Disciples believed had cooperated with law enforcement; and sent a photograph of the Treasurer of Section Four who stole $2300 from the Regional Enforcer for the State of Tennessee who was "looking for all money stealers".
Sentencing is set for October 17, 2019, before U.S. District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr., where Jones faces a possible sentence of up to life imprisonment, $250,000 fine and 5 years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Despite Lil Rob’s declaration, Covington is not and will not be ‘GD Land.’ We are fighting to reclaim our cities, towns, and neighborhoods from the gangs, and are effectively dismantling their leadership and influence. Lil Rob will now pay for his violence and racketeering that has terrorized Tipton County, and the citizens are safer for it."
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, Tennessee Bureau of Investigations, Jackson Police Department Gang Enforcement Team, Memphis Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, 28th District West Tennessee Drug Task Force, 26th, 25th, and 30th Judicial District Attorney’s General Offices, Sheriff’s Offices for Tipton, DeSoto, Madison and Fayette Counties, Police Departments of Bartlett, Germantown and Columbia.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Beth C. Boswell and Annie Christoff of the Western District of Tennessee and Trial Attorney Shauna Hale of the Criminal Division Organized Crime and Gang Section are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
McNairy County Man Re-arrested and Indicted for Distribution of Hydrocodone while on Pre-Trial Release for Conspiracy to Distribute MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Nickolas Atkins, 40, of Selmer, TN., was indicted for possession with the intent to distribute and distribution of hydrocodone pills after having been placed on pre-trial release. Atkins had previously been indicted along with nineteen co-defendants in two indictments for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana in the Western District of Tennessee. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the new indictment today.
On March 18, 2019, a federal grand jury returned indictments charging 4 defendants with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm that had been shipped in interstate commerce. On April 15, 2019, in a case connected to the previous indictment, a federal grand jury returned indictments, charging 15 defendants with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana, which included Atkins.
Atkins received a bond on his March 18, 2019 indictment and was placed on pre-trial release. On July 15, 2019, a federal grand jury returned a second indictment against Atkins for the distribution of hydrocodone pills on multiple occasions. Atkins was detained and held without bond by United States Magistrate Judge Jon A. York, after a hearing.
This investigation was conducted in conjunction with prosecutors in Jackson as part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program, which seeks to reduce the availability of drugs by disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, money laundering organizations and related criminal enterprises.
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If convicted, the defendant faces a sentence of not more than 20 years imprisonment. Atkins also faces a sentence of not less than 10 years up to life for his prior conspiracy indictment on March 18, 2019.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force, Decatur County Sheriff’s Office, Lexington Police Department, Dyersburg Police Department, Jackson Police Department, Selmer Police Department, McNairy County Sheriff’s Office and the Hardeman County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Kitchen and Hillary Parham are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The charges and allegations in the indictments are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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Federal Jury Convicts Member of Memphis’ Peda Roll Mafia Street GangRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – After an hour and a half of deliberations, a federal jury convicted John Shields, 33, a/k/a/ "John John," a/k/a/ "John Juan," with conspiracy to distribute more than a kilogram of heroin; conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of a mixture and substance of methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin; and conspiracy to commit money laundering. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the guilty verdict today.
In June 2017, twenty-two members and associates of the Grape Street Crips/The Peda Roll Mafia were charged by a federal grand jury with multiple drug and money laundering offenses.
According to information presented in court during a week-long jury trial, Shields is a member of the Peda Roll Mafia, which is a subset of the Grape Street Crips. The evidence at trial showed that Shields received multiple kilograms of heroin and multiple pounds of methamphetamine from his California-based suppliers, which were then distributed in the Western District of Tennessee. Shields laundered proceeds of his drug sales through national banks such as Bank of America and Wells Fargo.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Criminal enterprises and street gangs that distribute harmful and addictive drugs into our communities for profit can no longer operate with impunity. Thanks to the outstanding work of our law enforcement partners, we are targeting gangs to dismantle their drug trafficking organizations and financial structures. The quick and decisive verdict by the jury also shows that law-abiding citizens will not tolerate this dangerous criminality."
The investigation was the result of a cooperative, multi-agency investigative effort, which included the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), U.S. Marshals
Service, Memphis Police Department’s Organized Crime Unit, and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department.
Sentencing is set for October 18, 2019, before U.S. District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker. Shields faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in federal prison.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kevin Whitmore and Mark Erskine are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to 130 Months in Federal Prison for Distributing Fentanyl while Possessing a FirearmRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN - Zacharia Mitchell, 31, has been sentenced to 130 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and for a being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, on January 11, 2018, while conducting a drug transaction for an ounce of heroin in the parking lot of a Memphis area Kroger, Mitchell and two other individuals were arrested. Officers with the Memphis Police Department Organized Crime Unit were on the scene and witnessed the drug transaction. The defendant Mitchell handed a white powdery substance out of his window in exchange for cash.
When the defendants were arrested, Mitchell ran and was apprehended in the parking lot of the Kroger by law enforcement. Another individual ran into the Kroger store, throwing his gun under a fruit stand as he fled. All three individuals were eventually apprehended. Mitchell was found to possess a 9 mm handgun at the time of the drug transaction. The gun was found in the driver's side floorboard, where he had been sitting prior to his arrest. As a result of Mitchell’s prior felony convictions for Facilitation of Aggravated Robbery and Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver, as well as prior misdemeanor convictions for Domestic Violence, he was prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal law.
A laboratory test confirmed that the recovered drugs were an ounce of fentanyl rather than the heroin that was originally requested. One dosage unit of heroin is approximately one tenth of a
gram. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 30 to 50 times stronger than heroin. One ounce of fentanyl is enough to kill or cause serious bodily injury to hundreds of people.
On Monday, July 22, 2019, Senior U.S. District Court Judge Jon P. McCalla sentenced Mitchell to 130 months in federal prison followed by 3 years of supervised release.
U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "This offender presented a triple threat of serious bodily injury and death: a prior convicted felon in possession of a loaded firearm while distributing the most deadly and addictive substance on the streets. This sentence protects the community by incapacitating a repeat dangerous offender, and achieves justice by providing proper punishment according to law."
This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department Organized Crime Unit and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
This case was part of the West Tennessee Heroin Initiative, a collaboration of local and federal law enforcement that prosecutes opioid cases in West Tennessee.
Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Griffith prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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