Western District of Tennessee
Press releases recorded for this federal judicial district.
Memphis Man Indicted for Distributing Fentanyl Which Caused Three Fatal OverdosesRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN - Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the indictment of Darian Glover, 28. Glover has been arrested and charged with distributing fentanyl which caused the deaths of three people. This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Collierville Police Department.
“Our hearts go out to the victims’ families in this tragic case,” said Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of DEA’s Louisville Division. “Fentanyl is a scourge plaguing America, and the dedicated men and women of the Drug Enforcement Administration will stop at nothing to rid this poison from our communities.”
“We appreciate the partnership we have with the DEA,” said Chief Dale Lane of the Collierville Police Department. “It is vitally important that law enforcement organizations work together to interdict illegal fentanyl, disrupt supply chains, and hold those accountable for distributing this deadly drug.”
On April 10, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Glover. The indictment alleges that on or about June 21, 2024, Glover distributed fentanyl that resulted in the deaths of three people. If convicted, Glover faces a term of federal imprisonment of not less than 20 years and not more than life. There is no parole in the federal system.
In addition, Glover can be fined up to $1,000,000 and sentenced to a term of supervised release of at least three years after his time in custody.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Wendy K. Cornejo.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law. If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of the factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records (if any), the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.
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Tennessee Man Pleads Guilty to Aiding Police Officer in Destroying Evidence of Fatal ShootingRead the Press Release
Joshua M. Rogers of Memphis, Tennessee, pleaded guilty yesterday to a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c) for his role in destroying evidence related to a police officer’s fatal shooting of a man identified by the initials R.H. With the plea, Rogers admitted that he acted to impair the integrity or availability of R.H.’s body for use in an official proceeding and, in so doing, shield his co-defendant from criminal liability.
Rogers and his co-defendant, a former Memphis Police Department officer, faced charges following the death of R.H. The indictment alleged that, on Jan. 5, 2021, the officer kidnapped R.H. and shot him in the head. The indictment further alleged that Rogers and the officer sought to cover up the fatal shooting by disposing of R.H.’s body. Specifically, Rogers and the officer transported R.H.’s body in Rogers’ vehicle, and affixed chains, padlocks, and cinder blocks to R.H.’s body. Rogers and the officer then drove to the Wolf River in Memphis, where the two dumped R.H.’s body.
“The defendant in this case obstructed law enforcement from investigating and seeking justice on behalf of the victim, his family and friends,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. “I am proud of the great work by the Department of Justice in their prosecution of this case.”
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 6. Rogers faces a maximum penalty of 70 months in prison based on the terms of the plea agreement. A federal judge will determine any sentence based on the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The remaining defendant faces civil rights, kidnapping, weapons, and obstruction charges in connection with the fatal shooting of R.H. Trial is set for Nov. 3.
The FBI Memphis Field Office and the Memphis Police Department investigated the case.
Trial Attorney MarLa Duncan of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Pritchard for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.
Memphis Men Sentenced to Federal Imprisonment for Participation in 2021 Business RobberyRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Three Memphis men have been sentenced to a total of over 30 years in federal prison after being convicted of a business robbery that occurred in the fall of 2021. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentences today.
According to the information presented in court, Anthony Lewis, 36, Kyle Walker, 22, and Aramis Smith, 34, participated in an armed robbery in the early morning of November 10, 2021. Walker and Lewis entered a gas station on Summer Avenue in Memphis, while Smith waited outside in the getaway car. Walker and Lewis approached the lone clerk as she was stocking the shelves. Walker grabbed her and brandished a firearm as he made threats and pushed her to the registers. Lewis moved to the doorway and stood as a lookout as Walker forced the clerk to empty the register. The trio fled with approximately $100.
Unbeknownst to the robbers, a good Samaritan saw the robbery in progress, called 911 and provided a description of the getaway vehicle. Dispatchers relayed the robbery in progress call to Memphis Police Department officers; and undercover officers with the Violent Crime Unit (VCU) observed the suspect vehicle fleeing the scene. VCU officers followed the suspect vehicle on I-240 as they coordinated additional units to arrive and make a traffic stop. When marked units were in place, officers attempted to stop the suspect vehicle with lights and sirens; but the vehicle fled. Ultimately, the suspect vehicle wrecked on the off-ramp immediately before the Hernando DeSoto Bridge; and officers engaged in a brief foot pursuit with two of the suspects before they were all taken into custody.
All three men pled guilty to one count of business robbery. Walker and Lewis also pled guilty to one count of aiding and abetting the brandishing of a firearm during a crime of violence.
Senior United States District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. sentenced Walker to 125 months of imprisonment on August 31, 2023, and Smith to 120 months of imprisonment on February 21, 2024. Lewis was sentenced to 147 months on May 1, 2025 by United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit Judge Andre B. Mathis. Additionally, on May 8, 2025, Judge Fowlkes sentenced Lewis to an additional 24 months in federal prison as a result of his Supervised Release Violation based on this case and a prior federal conviction. There is no parole in the federal system.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Memphis Police Department investigated this case.
Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Wagner and Lynn Crum prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Former Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Lewis also assisted in prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.
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For more information, please contact the media relations team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Memphis Man Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Trafficking in Counterfeit Motor Vehicle AirbagsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Mohammed Al-Abadi, 52, to 24 months in federal prison to be followed by two years of supervised release for trafficking in counterfeit motor vehicle airbags and transporting a hazardous material on an aircraft carrier without declaring it as a dangerous good. The final sentencing hearing concluded on April 30, 2025, with the entry of an order by United States District Judge Mark S. Norris. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in Court, from 2017 to 2021, Mohammed Al-Abadi, a retired auto mechanic, imported counterfeit motor vehicle airbag parts from China and assembled the parts to make counterfeit airbags. Al-Abadi then sold the fake airbags on eBay to unsuspecting automobile repair shops and individual customers for prices ranging from $100 to $725 each. A shipment of counterfeit airbag parts, ordered by Al-Abadi, was intercepted by agents from the United States Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. Federal agents recovered more than 2,000 counterfeit airbag parts and counterfeit airbags from Al-Abadi’s residence and place of business. Further investigation determined that Al-Abadi had sold more than 500 counterfeit airbags over the course of four years. Additionally, Al-Abadi shipped at least one counterfeit airbag by airplane without declaring it as an explosive device or dangerous good, so that the mandatory federal safety precautions could be taken.
“The importation of counterfeit automotive parts poses a significant safety threat to the American people, putting innocent consumers at serious risk of injury or death with the installation of these inferior airbags from China,” said Homeland Security Investigations Nashville Special Agent in Charge, Rana Saoud. “HSI, alongside our law enforcement partners, remain steadfast in investigating and disrupting these illegal operations to protect public safety and ensure the well-being of our communities.”
“Counterfeit airbags are neither regulated nor tested to meet federal safety standards, and they pose a serious risk to public safety—both during shipping and when unknowingly installed by consumers,” said Joseph Harris, Special Agent-in-Charge, Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Southern Region. “Today’s sentencing underscores our ongoing commitment to working with law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to identify those who violate federal safety regulations and to help protect the public from these dangerous products.”
“As the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Postal Service, the Postal Inspection Service prioritizes the safety of our consumers,” said Atlanta Division Inspector in Charge, Rodney Hopkins. “Mr. Al-Abadi put profit over safety in this case. Airbags are critical life-saving devices that are designed to protect consumers. I am very proud of the teamwork displayed in this case between our law enforcement partners, which held Mr. Al-Abadi responsible for his criminal actions.”
Assistant United States Attorney Raney Irwin prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Homeland Security Investigations, the United States Department of Transportation-Office of Inspector General, and the United States Postal Inspection Service investigated this case.
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For more information, please contact the media relations team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Tennessee Man Sentenced to over Eight Years for Selling Methamphetamine and FirearmsRead the Press Release
A Tennessee man was sentenced Thursday to eight years and five months in prison for selling methamphetamine, unlawfully possessing a firearm, possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime, and engaging in the business of dealing firearms without a license.
According to court documents, Jamaal Derrell Maxwell, 30, of Memphis, sold methamphetamine pills and firearms to a confidential informant and an ATF undercover agent. Beginning Feb. 2, 2024, and continuing until April 3, 2024, the defendant sold more than 500 pills containing methamphetamine and four firearms. The firearms included two semi-automatic rifles, one assault-style rifle, and one shotgun. Maxwell, a felon at the time he sold the firearms, was prohibited from possessing any firearm. In 2022, Maxwell was convicted in the State of Oklahoma for inducing an adult teenager to become a prostitute.
Because Maxwell sold firearms while simultaneously trafficking drugs, he was also guilty of possessing a firearm during a drug trafficking crime.
Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, and Interim U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy Jr. for the Western District of Tennessee made the announcement.
The ATF investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Marcus Johnson and Amanda Kotula of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Neal Oldham and Wendy Cornejo for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee and surrounding areas. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute the violent offenders and prevent further violence.
Five People Indicted for Trafficking Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Marijuana in Western TennesseeRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – Five people have been indicted in the Western District of Tennessee and are facing federal charges for their involvement in an organized drug trafficking scheme in the Western District of Tennessee according to recently unsealed indictments. The charges are the culmination of a two-year long investigation by FBI’s Transnational Organized Crime Task Force and the Drug Enforcement Administration in conjunction with the Selmer Police Department, McNairy County Sheriff’s Office, Adamsville Police Department, Bolivar Police Department, and Jackson Police Department. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the unsealing of the indictments today.
According to court documents, between April 2023 and March 2025, the defendants worked together and with others to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana throughout West Tennessee. The investigation revealed the drug trafficking organization is linked to and worked in conjunction with the Sinaloa cartel in furtherance of the distribution efforts within McNairy County and Memphis, Tennessee. The Sinaloa cartel, also known as Cártel de Sinaloa, is a transnational organization based in Sinaloa, Mexico and was designated on February 20, 2025 as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. Cártel de Sinaloa is one of the world’s most powerful drug cartels and is one of the largest producers and traffickers of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the United States.
During the investigation, agents seized 10 kilograms of cocaine, over 16 pounds of methamphetamine, 30,000 fentanyl pills, approximately 40 pounds of marijuana, approximately $21,000 in cash, and a firearm. The indictment is in conjunction with the initiative “Operation Take Back America.”
On March 20, 2025, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging all five individuals with Conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute five kilograms of cocaine; four of the individuals with Conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine; and three of the individuals with conspiracy to distribute over 100 kilograms of marijuana. Two of the defendants were charged with multiple individual counts of distribution of cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl. One defendant was charged with being an illegal alien and unlawfully in the United States and knowing possession of a firearm.
Those individuals named in the indictment are:
- Juan Palomino, 36, of Selmer, TN
- Joaquin Elizalde, 44, of Selmer, TN
- Javier Varela, 41, of Byhalia, MS
- Luis Lizarraga, 36, of Memphis, TN
- David Asua, 46, of Memphis, TN
“These defendants took part in a conspiracy that exposed our communities to significant amounts of Fentanyl, Methamphetamine, and Marijuana,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain committed to identifying, disrupting, and dismantling any criminal enterprise that risks the wellbeing of our citizens."
McNairy County Sheriff Guy Buck stated “We are extremely proud of the outcomes of this investigation and would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Federal, State, and Local Agencies that played a vital role in its success. This case highlights how even small, tight-knit communities are directly impacted by the influence of drug cartels and the international drug trade. As Sheriff, I want to emphasize that no one is above the law, and we will ensure that every individual involved is held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Christie Hopper and Greg Allen. It was investigated by FBI’s Transnational Organized Crime Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Selmer Police Department, the McNairy County Sheriff’s Office, the Adamsville Police Department, the Bolivar Police Department, and the Jackson Police Department. The investigation was furthered by assistance from the FBI – Denver Division.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.
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For more information, please contact the media relations team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
DEA's National Take Back Day Returns April 26th to Help Prevent Prescription Drug MisuseRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – The Drug Enforcement Administration, in coordination with more than 4,400 law enforcement partners across the country, will host the 28th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., offering communities across the United States a safe, convenient, and anonymous way to dispose of unneeded prescription medications.
With nearly 4,500 collection sites nationwide, Take Back Day aims to reduce the risk of prescription drug misuse by helping Americans safely remove expired, unwanted, or unused medications from their homes—medications that might otherwise be misused.
“Disposing of unneeded, expired medications helps us protect the safety and health of our communities,” said DEA Acting Administrator Derek S. Maltz. “Families can minimize the risk of medications falling into the wrong hands by simply bringing unused medications to one of the 4,500 drop-off locations this Saturday. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day would not be possible without our incredible local and state law enforcement partners and the community groups who work every year to make Take Back Day a success.”
“I encourage everyone to join us this weekend and participate in Take Back Day,” said Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of DEA’s Louisville Division. “The small act of cleaning out your home medicine cabinet can have a big impact on the safety of our community by keeping addictive medications away from those who might abuse them.”
DEA and its partners will accept tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms of prescription drugs. Liquids, such as cough syrups, must remain tightly sealed in their original containers. Take Back Day locations will accept vaping devices and cartridges if the lithium batteries are removed. Syringes, sharps, and illicit substances will not be collected.
According to The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, opioids such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine are among the most frequently misused prescription pain medications. In October 2024, DEA and its partners collected nearly 630,000 pounds of medications. Since the program’s inception in 2010, more than 19.2 million pounds of medications have been collected and safely destroyed.
For Saturday’s event, find a collection site near you by visiting www.DEATakeBack.com.
For those unable to participate on April 26, nearly 17,000 pharmacies, hospitals, clinics, and law enforcement locations offer year-round drug disposal options across the country to ensure Every Day is Take Back Day.
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Memphis Woman Sentenced in Healthcare Fraud Scheme and Schemes to Defraud COVID-19 Relief ProgramRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Nakita Cannady, 49, to 14 months in federal prison to be followed by two years of supervised release for healthcare fraud and making false statements in connection with loan applications for the Covid-19 Relief Program. The final sentencing hearing was concluded on April 4, 2025, with the entry of an order by Senior United States District Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. directing the defendant to pay more than $500,000.00 dollars in restitution to the victims. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to the original federal indictment in the healthcare fraud case, Cannady owned and operated What About Us In-Home Healthcare, a home healthcare services business that purported to provide custodial healthcare services 24-hours a day, 7 days a week to mostly elderly patients. From May 29, 2017 through December 23, 2019, Cannady fraudulently billed Cigna Insurance for 24 hours a day of home healthcare when she knew the patients had only received 8 or 12 hours a day of home healthcare. Cannady was ordered to make restitution to Cigna Insurance in the amount of $193,508.10.
According to the second federal indictment, from June 17, 2020 through April 15, 2021, Cannady submitted six fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) applications for four purported businesses she controlled, specifically: What About Us Childcare, What About Us Foundation, What About Us Adult Daycare, and What About Us In-Home Healthcare. Cannady’s loan applications contained false information concerning the dates of operation, gross revenues, costs of goods sold, number of employees, and amount of payroll related to the businesses. Cannady was ordered to make restitution to the Small Business Administration in the amount of $346,882.13.
"Those who exploit health care programs for personal gain will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law," said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Nashville Field Office. "Health care fraud is a priority for the FBI, and we will continue to work with our partners to investigate those who prioritize greed over the well-being of others."
Interim United States Attorney Joseph C. Murphy, Jr. and Assistant United States Attorney Raney Irwin prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States. Assistant United States Attorney Christopher Cotten and former Assistant United States Attorneys Courtney Lewis and Murrell Foster also assisted in the prosecution of this case. The FBI Nashville Field Office – Memphis Resident Agency and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation investigated this case.
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For more information, please contact the media relations team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Memphis Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Prison for Possession of a Machinegun and Possession of 121 Grams of Fentanyl with the Intent to DistributeRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Christopher Young, aka Christopher Minnis, 35, has been sentenced to 132 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release for possession of a machinegun, possession of 121 grams of Fentanyl with the intent to distribute, and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to the information presented in court, on December 9, 2021, officers with the Memphis Police Department observed the defendant near Cottonwood Road and Cherry Road driving erratically in a Black Chevrolet Corvette with fraudulent tags that had expired on October 14, 2021. When Young parked the car, the officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but Young fled on foot. Police gave chase, and Young was apprehended in his neighbor’s back yard. At the time of his arrest, Young had 121.81 grams of Fentanyl and a Glock 9mm caliber pistol with an extended magazine in his possession. The Glock also had an attached Machinegun Conversion Device (commonly referred to as a “switch”), which made the gun fully automatic. The gun was loaded with 1 round in the chamber and 23 rounds in the extended magazine.
On January 6, 2025, Young pled guilty before United States District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker. Young was sentenced on April 10, 2025 to 132 months in federal prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
Assistant United States Attorney Raney Irwin prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. The Memphis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case.
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For more information, please contact the media relations team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Memphis Man Pleads Guilty to Charges Related to 2024 CarjackingRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A Memphis man recently pled guilty to charges brought against him related to a carjacking committed in Memphis, Tennessee in May of 2024. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the guilty plea today.
According to the information presented in court, on May 16, 2024, Jaylen Simpson, 23, hid in a Memphis resident’s backyard and confronted the resident when he was outside his home. Simpson almost immediately shot the victim in the stomach before taking his car keys and driving off in the victim’s 2017 Kia Cadenza which had been parked in the driveway of the residence.
After the carjacking, officers with the Memphis Police Department located Simpson and the stolen vehicle and gave chase. Simpson eventually abandoned the Kia Cadenza and fled on foot. The MPD officers then apprehended Simpson and found a loaded semi-automatic pistol in his backpack.
On April 15, 2025, after a day of jury selection, Simpson pled guilty to the federal crime of carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury and of the separate crime of using a firearm during a crime of violence. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 16, 2025 and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for the discharge of the firearm up to life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Memphis Police Department Violent Crime Unit investigated the case.
Trial Attorney Ashleigh Atasoy, of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, and Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hall, of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee, prosecuted the case.
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For more information, please contact the media relations team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Former Memphis FCI Correctional Officer Sentenced to Federal Imprisonment for BriberyRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Bryan Miller, 32, a former correctional officer with the Memphis Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) to federal prison for bribery. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to the information presented in court, beginning in December 2022, Miller began smuggling contraband into FCI Memphis while employed as a correctional officer for that facility. Over a four-month period, he had received $19,500.00 as payment for his unlawful activities.
In January 2024, Miller pled guilty to a one count information alleging that, as a public official, he accepted money in exchange for smuggling contraband items, including narcotics, into FCI Memphis, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 201(b)(C). On April 10, 2025, United States District Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Miller to a total of 12 months and 1 day of federal imprisonment, to be followed by two years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was prosecuted by Deputy Criminal Chief Michelle Kimbril-Parks and investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
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For more information, please contact the media relations team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
Dresden Man Sentenced to Federal Imprisonment for Possession of Firearms and AmmunitionRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Chapell Dain Cissell, 31, to ten years in federal prison for possession of several firearms and a large amount of ammunition. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to the evidence presented in court, in March 2021, several deputies with the Weakley County Sheriff’s Department responded to Fast Eddie’s Bar in Dresden, Tennessee, after receiving a report of an assault in progress. Upon arrival, the deputies spoke with the victims who said that an individual, later identified as Cissell, drove a black SUV into the parking lot of the bar wearing a “bullet proof vest” and holding an assault rifle firearm. Cissell pointed the firearm at the three victims, threatened to kill them, and fled the parking lot.
Deputies later found Cissell wearing a ballistic vest while sitting inside a pickup truck, preparing to leave his residence. The deputies observed a wooden handle of a revolver sticking out of the top of the vest. Deputies also found three firearms and several hundred rounds of ammunition either on Cissell or in the vehicle he was occupying. Cissell admitted that there were additional firearms in his residence. Three additional firearms and over two thousand rounds of various caliber ammunition were discovered after a search of Cissell’s residence.
On April 11, 2025, United States District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Cissell to 120 months in federal prison and 3 years of supervised release, the maximum term of imprisonment, after Cissell pled guilty to six counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
There is no parole in the federal system.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Weakley County Sheriff’s Department investigated this case.
Assistant United States Attorney Adam Davis prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.
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For more information, please contact the media relations team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates
Federal Jury Finds Two Men Guilty of Conspiracy to Commit Wire and Bank Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Money LaunderingRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – After a four-day trial, a federal jury found Texas men Stanley Anyanwu, 41, and Vitalis Anyanwu, 42, guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. Interim United States Attorney Joseph C. Murphy, Jr. announced the verdict today.
According to information presented in court, in February 2022, the City of Memphis was victim to a business email compromise (BEC) scam causing a legitimate payment of $773,695.45 to go not to the intended contractor recipient but to a bank account controlled by a sophisticated fraud conspiracy. The City realized what had happened within days but was unable to recover the funds because the conspiracy had already swept the funds away into a large money laundering network. The FBI investigated and identified Stanley and Vitalis Anyanwu as two members of the conspiracy. During the investigation, the FBI also identified victims of romance scams who had been taken advantage of by the same conspiracy.
The defendants’ primary role in the conspiracy was to act as knowing “money mules” for internet-based fraud scams.
A BEC is a type of computer intrusion that occurs when an employee of a business or similar entity is fooled into interacting with an email message that appears to be, but is not, legitimate. The email message usually contains either malware or fraudulent misrepresentations. The purpose of the intrusion is usually to access sensitive information or to defraud the victim entity.
A romance scam is a type of advance fee scam in which the operator of the scam uses the internet and social media platforms to target potential victims who are seeking friends or romantic companionship. The scammer hides his or her true identity by posing as a potential friend or romantic partner and entering into an online relationship with the victim. Eventually, the scammer begins to ask for emergency financial assistance of some kind. If the victim sends money, the scammer will present an escalating series of events and false claims necessitating increasingly larger amounts of money.
A money mule is someone who knowingly or unknowingly transfers or moves fraudulently acquired money on behalf of someone else. Money mules are important parts of fraud conspiracies because, among other reasons, they provide the conspiracy with a way to disguise the criminal origins of fraud proceeds.
“These defendants defrauded multiple individuals and entities resulting in a significant loss to the City of Memphis,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The FBI and our partners are committed to holding accountable those who seek to line their own pockets through business email compromise, romance, and money laundering schemes, and will continue to work tirelessly to investigate those who engage in criminal activity resulting in financial harm to members of our community.”
Sentencing is set to be held on July 18, 2025 before Chief United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman.
This case was investigated by the FBI.
Assistant United States Attorneys Scott Smith and Reid Manning prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.
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For more information, please contact the media relations team at [email protected]. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.
United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee Observes National Crime Victims’ Rights WeekRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee and the Department of Justice’s Office of Victims of Crime (“OVC”) joins communities nationwide in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 6-12, 2025, and in celebrating victims’ rights, protections, and services. This year’s theme, “Kinship - Connecting & Healing,” is a call to action to recognize that shared humanity should be at the center of supporting all survivors and victims of crime. KINSHIP is a state of being with survivors that drives vital connections to services, rights, and healing. KINSHIP is where victim advocacy begins.
Each year in April, the Department of Justice and United States Attorney’s Offices observe National Crime Victims’ Rights Week nationwide by taking time to honor victims of crime and those who advocate on their behalf. According to a report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2023, there were approximately 20 million crime victimizations in the United States. More than 6.4 million were the result of violent crimes, including rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault. Of that 6.4 million, only about 45% were reported to police.
The United States Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime leads communities across the country in observing National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed the first National Crime Victims’ Rights Week to bring greater sensitivity to the needs and right of victims of crime.
Here, in the Western District of Tennessee, we have a dedicated Victim Witness Coordinator who supports federal crime victims by providing victims with essential services, including referrals to counseling, securing temporary housing, assisting with access to victim’s compensation funds, and accompanying victims to court proceedings to provide support and guidance. These services provide victims with tools to reshape their futures.
The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs provides innovative leadership to federal, state, local, and tribal justice systems by disseminating state-of-the-art knowledge and practices across the United States and by providing grants for the implementation of these crime-fighting strategies. Because most of the responsibility for crime control and prevention falls to law enforcement officers in states, cities, and neighborhoods, the federal government can be effective in these areas only to the extent that it can enter partnerships with these officers.
Further National Crime Victims’ Rights Week resources can be found at https://ovc.ojp.gov/ncvrw2025/overview.
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Las Vegas Man Sentenced to over 16 Years of Federal Imprisonment for Drug DistributionRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Timothy Edwards, 49, formerly of Memphis, to 197 months in federal prison for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute drugs. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to the information presented in court, on April 1, 2021, members of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) responded to a local UPS Store regarding a suspicious package which was found to contain 6,793.5 grams of marijuana and 1,247 grams of methamphetamine. During the investigation, DEA was alerted to a second package being shipped to the UPS store. This package was intercepted on June 3, 2021. It contained 4.9 pounds of marijuana. Both packages were shipped from California to Memphis, TN. The first package had Edwards listed as the recipient, and the second was sent to a P.O. Box associated with Edwards.
In October 2024, a jury trial was held, and Edwards was found guilty of two counts of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances (marijuana and methamphetamine). On April 3, 2025, United States District Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Edwards to a total of 197 months of federal imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the DEA and the Shelby County Sheriff's Office (SCSO)-Memphis Division. This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) operation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Interim United States Attorney Murphy thanked Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Kimbril-Parks, who prosecuted this case, as well as the DEA and the SCSO-Memphis Division who investigated the case.
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Assistant United States Attorney Joseph C. Murphy, Jr. Appointed as Interim United States Attorney of the Western District of TennesseeRead the Press Release
MEMPHIS, TN – Assistant United States Attorney Joseph C. Murphy, Jr. was appointed as the Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee by the United States Attorney General on March 28, 2025.
Mr. Murphy began his career as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Memphis office in 1989. He was appointed as the Acting U.S. Attorney by the District Court and served in that position from 2021-2023. He was named as First Assistant U.S. Attorney in 2018 and served in that role until his appointment as Acting U.S. Attorney. In 2011, Mr. Murphy served as Criminal Chief, where he supervised Assistant U.S. Attorneys who investigated and prosecuted criminal cases. He also served three years as Deputy Chief of the office’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force. Prior to becoming Deputy Chief, Mr. Murphy served as a line Assistant U.S. Attorney in both the criminal division and drug task force unit.
During his career with the Department of Justice, Mr. Murphy has tried more than 125 felony cases to verdict in the U.S. District Court. These cases included prosecutions of health care professionals for illegally distributing controlled substances; mail and wire fraud cases; and theft cases involving pension funds and interstate shipments. Mr. Murphy has also represented the government in more than 200 cases litigated before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and argued numerous appeals before the court.
Mr. Murphy is married and has two adult children. He is a native Memphian, a graduate of Lambuth College and the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis and is very active in community and legal affairs.
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Memphis Man Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON – A Tennessee man was sentenced today to over seven years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to traffic fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Memphis area.
According to court documents, Courtney Davis, 28, of Memphis, also known as Geo and Geo Grape, conspired with co-defendant Brian Lackland, also known as Stupid Duke, Spooky Duke, Duke, and Homework, and others, in the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine. This investigation targeted a Memphis-based gang Young Mob, also known as Young Mob Military, and its involvement in the trafficking of fentanyl and methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in March 2024, investigators and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Memphis Multiagency Gang Unit began court-authorized wiretaps in which Davis was intercepted multiple times discussing with Lackland the acquisition and distribution of “blues,” which are fentanyl pills that resembled blue 30mg oxycodone pills. Davis was responsible for the acquisition and distribution of approximately 90 grams of fentanyl and 1360 grams of methamphetamine.
Davis is one of 18 defendants charged as part of this ongoing investigation and the first to be sentenced. In December 2024, Davis pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute fentanyl.
Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee made the announcement.
The ATF and the Memphis Multiagency Gang Unit investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Amanda Kotula of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Neal Oldham for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative in Memphis conducted in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Tennessee and local, state, and federal law enforcement. The joint effort addresses violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal laws to prosecute gang members and their associates in Memphis.
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Memphis Man Sentenced to 87 Months in Prison for Trafficking Fentanyl and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
A Tennessee man was sentenced today to over seven years in prison for his role in a conspiracy to traffic fentanyl and methamphetamine in the Memphis area.
According to court documents, Courtney Davis, 28, of Memphis, also known as Geo and Geo Grape, conspired with co-defendant Brian Lackland, also known as Stupid Duke, Spooky Duke, Duke, and Homework, and others, in the distribution of fentanyl and methamphetamine. This investigation targeted a Memphis-based gang Young Mob, also known as Young Mob Military, and its involvement in the trafficking of fentanyl and methamphetamine.
According to court documents and statements made in court, beginning in March 2024, investigators and agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Memphis Multiagency Gang Unit began court-authorized wiretaps in which Davis was intercepted multiple times discussing with Lackland the acquisition and distribution of “blues,” which are fentanyl pills that resembled blue 30mg oxycodone pills. Davis was responsible for the acquisition and distribution of approximately 90 grams of fentanyl and 1360 grams of methamphetamine.
Davis is one of 18 defendants charged as part of this ongoing investigation and the first to be sentenced. In December 2024, Davis pleaded guilty to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute fentanyl.
Matthew R. Galeotti, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee made the announcement.
The ATF and the Memphis Multiagency Gang Unit investigated the case.
Trial Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Amanda Kotula of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Neal Oldham for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.
This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative in Memphis conducted in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Tennessee and local, state, and federal law enforcement. The joint effort addresses violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal laws to prosecute gang members and their associates in Memphis.
Memphis Man Sentenced to 22 Years of Federal Imprisonment for Drug Distribution and Possession of FirearmsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Claibon Burrus, 51, of Memphis, to 260 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute drugs and possession of firearms. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to the information presented in court, on January 19, 2021, detectives with the Memphis Police Department served a search warrant at a residence in Memphis, Tennessee pursuant to an overdose death investigation. They discovered that Burrus was in possession of large amounts of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and marijuana. He was also in possession of multiple firearms. He admitted to officers he was engaging in drug distribution. Following Burrus’s arrest, he directed other individuals to move additional drugs and firearms from storage units he rented to avoid seizure by law enforcement.
In July 2024, Burrus pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. On March 25, 2025, United States District Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. sentenced Burrus to 260 months of federal imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by detectives with the Memphis Police Department Heroin/Opioid Response Team and Organized Crime Unit (OCU).
Acting United States Attorney Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Musselwhite and Greg Allen, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
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Memphis Man Receives Significant Sentence for Selling Fentanyl and Firearms to Undercover ATF AgentsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A Memphis man has been sentenced to 144 months of imprisonment for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, during the summer of 2023, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) received information that a person later identified as Adrian Seymour, 38, was distributing large amounts of fentanyl in the Memphis area. On August 15, 2023, special agents with the ATF, acting in an undercover capacity, purchased approximately 1,000 fentanyl pills from Seymour for $5,000. On September 19, 2023, special agents with the ATF, acting in an undercover capacity, purchased two firearms and approximately one hundred fentanyl pills from Seymour for $1,000.
Seymour was arrested by ATF special agents and was charged by criminal complaint in federal court in the Western District of Tennessee on October 5, 2023. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in a seven-count indictment on November 14, 2023.
On August 13, 2024, Seymour entered a plea of guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute forty grams or more of a mixture or substance containing fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute a mixture or substance containing fentanyl, and one count of carrying a firearm in relation to a drug trafficking crime.
On March 19, 2025, Senior United States District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes sentenced Seymour to 144 months of incarceration with a four-year period of supervised release to follow. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Memphis Field Office of the ATF and the Shelby County Multi-Agency Gang Unit. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Nashville laboratory assisted in this investigation.
“The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) is committed to protecting our communities from gun violence and, through collaboration with our law enforcement partners, to identify, investigate and prosecute those armed and violent individuals in an effort to take crime guns out of the hands of criminals. The work done in this case exemplifies ATF’s mission to protect the public and reduce gun related crime by taking dangerous firearms and narcotics off the street and to hold those persons accountable for their lawless actions,” said Jason Stankiewicz, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Nashville Field Division.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorney Bryce H. Phillips who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
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Final Member of Multi-State Poly-Drug Conspiracy SentencedRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Anthony Hines, 46, of Memphis, TN, to over ten years in federal prison for his role in an organized drug trafficking scheme in West Tennessee. Hines was the final defendant of multi-defendant and multi-state drug conspiracy. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to the evidence presented in court, in early 2019, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), along with the Henry County Metro Narcotics task force, began an investigation into the illegal distribution of narcotics in the Western District of Tennessee. The investigation revealed that Terry Smith, 38, of Memphis, arranged for large quantities of methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and fentanyl to be shipped into the West Tennessee. Smith used contraband cellular devices from Texas, Arizona, and California to arrange the shipments. The drugs were delivered for redistribution by Smith’s network of co-conspirators, including Hines, in locations that ranged from Western Kentucky to Northwest Mississippi.
Ultimately, law enforcement agents determined that Smith and his co-conspirators were responsible for distributing approximately 119 pounds of methamphetamine, 10,000 fentanyl pills, 20 ounces of heroin/fentanyl mix, 2 ounces of fentanyl and 40 pounds of marijuana throughout West Tennessee and surrounding areas. Agents physically seized a total of 17.24 kilograms of actual methamphetamine, 141.76 grams of marijuana, 68.645 grams of Heroin/Fentanyl mixture and 10.845 grams of Fentanyl.
On May 15, 2023, Hines pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. On March 24, 2025, United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Hines to 125 months in federal prison and five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
The following co-conspirators have already pled guilty and have been sentenced:
- Terry Smith, 38, of Memphis, Tennessee: 240 months and a 5-year period of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine.
- Rodney Ayers, 51, of Memphis, Tennessee: 180 months and a 5-year period of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine.
- James Dumas, 49, of Lansing, Michigan: 150 months and a 5-year period of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine.
- Kayla Henderson, 31, of Memphis, Tennessee: 80 months and a 5-year period of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine.
- Dustin Chambers, 38, of Jackson, Tennessee: 120 months and a 5-year period of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine.
- Horace McNeary, 37, of Paris, Tennessee: 130 months and a 5-year period of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine.
- Brianna Norsworthy, 25, of Murray, Kentucky: 110 months and a 5-year period of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine, as well as possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
- Jessica Vestal, 34, of Hendersonville, Tennessee: 80 months and a 5-year period of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine, as well as possession with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
- Michael Broady, 51, of Memphis, Tennessee: a time served period of 13 months and a 3-year period of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine.
- Jermichael Buggs, 37, of Grand Junction, Tennessee: 84 months and a 3-year period of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine.
- Christopher Hamilton, 49, of Memphis, Tennessee: 60 months and a 4-year period of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute cocaine.
- Teddy Reed, 43, of Memphis, Tennessee: 63 moths and a 4-year period of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
- Aerielle Coleman, 34, of Memphis, Tennessee: 30 months and a 2-year period of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
- Danielle Cunningham, 38, of Memphis, Tennessee: time served and a 3-year period of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine.
- Tracy Coleman, 50, of Memphis, Tennessee: a time served period of 18 months and a 2-year period of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute marijuana
- Johnnie McGhee, 51, of Olive Branch, Mississippi: 60 days and a 2-year period of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute marijuana.
This investigation was conducted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
The DEA; West Tennessee Drug Task Force; Jackson Police Department; Jackson-Madison County Metro-Narcotics; Madison County Sheriff’s Department, Paris, Tennessee Police Department; Henry County Sheriff’s Department; Murray, Kentucky Police Department; Kentucky State Police; Arkansas State Police; and the U.S. Marshals Service investigated this case.
Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Davis and Hillary Parham, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
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Final Member of Tennessee Fentanyl and Methamphetamine Trafficking Ring SentencedRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Michael Bailey, 38, of Spring City, Tennessee, to 25 years in federal prison for his role in an organized drug trafficking scheme that spanned the state of Tennessee. Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren announced the sentence today.
According to evidence presented in court, in 2020, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force began an investigation into the illegal distribution of methamphetamine and fentanyl by members and associates of the Aryan Nation in the Western District of Tennessee. By using controlled purchases of narcotics, search warrants, and other investigative tactics, agents determined Bailey and others were responsible for transporting and distributing fentanyl and methamphetamine throughout Tennessee. During the investigation, agents seized approximately 18 pounds of methamphetamine, 1.5 pounds of powder fentanyl, and 18 firearms.
On September 6, 2024, Bailey was convicted at trial for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. On March 18, 2025, United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Bailey to 25 years in federal prison and ordered Bailey to serve five years of supervised release upon completion of the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Bailey was the final co-defendant to be sentenced in this drug trafficking conspiracy. Each of the following co-conspirators pled guilty and were sentenced by Judge Anderson as follows:
- Gregory Fleenor, 44, of Kingsport, TN: 300 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release
- James Payne, 41, of Puryear, TN: 100 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release
- Rose Rhear, 58, of Spring City, TN: 144 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release
- Rebecca Lustre, 41, of Crossville, TN: 36 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release
- Jeffrey Watts, 40, of Bradford, TN: 150 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release
- Brian Kennon, 49, of Paris, TN: 180 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release
- Timothy Miller, 61, of Greenfield, TN: 60 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release
The case was investigated by the FBI Nashville, Jackson Resident Agency and the 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force.
Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Christie Hopper and Immanuel Chioco, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
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Memphis Man Sentenced to over Eight Years for Possession of a Machine GunRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Actavious Ellis, 31, of Memphis, to 87 months in federal prison for possession of a machine gun. Reagan Taylor Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to the information presented in court, on August 17, 2023, detectives with the Memphis Police Department executed search warrants at two locations and discovered that Ellis was in possession of multiple stolen firearms, including a 9mm Glock pistol with a conversion device (“switch”) attached, making the firearm fully automatic. He was also in possession of multiple large-capacity magazines and pill presses used to manufacture pills containing illegal substances. Following Ellis’s arrest, he attempted to bribe a person to commit perjury by claiming ownership of the illegal substances found in the homes.
In November 2024, Ellis pled guilty to unlawful possession of a machine gun. On March 11, 2025, United States District Judge Jon P. McCalla sentenced Ellis to 87 months of federal imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by detectives with the Memphis Police Department Drug Response Team and the Project Safe Neighborhoods Gun Task Force.
Acting United States Attorney Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Musselwhite, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
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Employee at Multinational DVD Company Charged with Stealing, Selling Pre-Release Commercial DVDs for Blockbuster FilmsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A worker at a DVD and Blu-ray manufacturing and distribution company used by major movie studios was arrested today in Memphis, Tennessee, for allegedly stealing DVDs and Blu-rays of blockbuster movies from the company and selling them before their official scheduled release dates. A digital copy of at least one of the stolen Blu-rays was illegally distributed tens of millions of times over the internet, causing the copyright owner tens of millions of dollars in losses.
According to court documents, Steven R. Hale, 37, of Memphis, worked for a multinational company that, among other things, manufactured and distributed DVDs and Blu-rays of movies. From approximately February 2021 to March 2022, Hale allegedly stole numerous “pre-release” DVDs and Blu-rays, that is, discs being prepared for commercial distribution in the United States and not available for sale to the public. These included DVDs and Blu-rays for such popular films as “F9: The Fast Saga,” “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” “Godzilla v. Kong,” “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” “Dune,” and “Black Widow.” Hale allegedly sold the DVDs and Blu-rays through e-commerce sites. At least one pre-release Blu-ray that Hale allegedly stole and sold, “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” was “ripped” — that is, extracted from the Blu-ray by bypassing the encryption that prevents unauthorized copying — and copied. That digital copy was then illegally made available over the internet more than a month before the Blu-ray’s official scheduled release date. Copies of “Spider-Man: No Way Home” were downloaded tens of millions of times, with an estimated loss to the copyright owner of tens of millions of dollars.
The indictment, unsealed today, charges Hale with two counts of criminal copyright infringement and one count of interstate transportation of stolen goods. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each criminal copyright infringement count and 10 years in prison on the interstate transportation of stolen goods count. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Senior Counsel Matthew A. Lamberti and Trial Attorney Debra Ireland of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Raney Irwin for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Employee at Multinational DVD Company Charged with Stealing, Selling Pre-Release Commercial DVDs for Blockbuster FilmsRead the Press Release
A worker at a DVD and Blu-ray manufacturing and distribution company used by major movie studios was arrested today in Memphis, Tennessee, for allegedly stealing DVDs and Blu-rays of blockbuster movies from the company and selling them before their official scheduled release dates. A digital copy of at least one of the stolen Blu-rays was illegally distributed tens of millions of times over the internet, causing the copyright owner tens of millions of dollars in losses.
According to court documents, Steven R. Hale, 37, of Memphis, worked for a multinational company that, among other things, manufactured and distributed DVDs and Blu-rays of movies. From approximately February 2021 to March 2022, Hale allegedly stole numerous “pre-release” DVDs and Blu-rays, that is, discs being prepared for commercial distribution in the United States and not available for sale to the public. These included DVDs and Blu-rays for such popular films as “F9: The Fast Saga,” “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” “Godzilla v. Kong,” “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” “Dune,” and “Black Widow.” Hale allegedly sold the DVDs and Blu-rays through e-commerce sites. At least one pre-release Blu-ray that Hale allegedly stole and sold, “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” was “ripped” — that is, extracted from the Blu-ray by bypassing the encryption that prevents unauthorized copying — and copied. That digital copy was then illegally made available over the internet more than a month before the Blu-ray’s official scheduled release date. Copies of “Spider-Man: No Way Home” were downloaded tens of millions of times, with an estimated loss to the copyright owner of tens of millions of dollars.
The indictment, unsealed today, charges Hale with two counts of criminal copyright infringement and one count of interstate transportation of stolen goods. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each criminal copyright infringement count and 10 years in prison on the interstate transportation of stolen goods count. A federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office made the announcement.
The FBI is investigating the case.
Senior Counsel Matthew A. Lamberti and Trial Attorney Debra Ireland of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Raney Irwin for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Memphis Woman Sentenced to Ten Years in Federal Prison for Identity Theft and Bank FraudRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Patricia Johnson, 47, has been sentenced to a total of 120 months in federal prison for committing identity theft and bank fraud, as well as violating the terms of her supervised release. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to evidence presented in court, on numerous occasions between May and June 2022 and in multiple locations in West Tennessee, Johnson impersonated other persons named “Patricia Johnson” who had existing bank accounts or who were authorized signees of accounts. Johnson obtained the victims’ bank account numbers and other personal information and then went to branches of the victims’ banking institutions, presented their personal identifying information, and made cash withdrawals from the victims’ bank accounts. Johnson fraudulently obtained over $50,000.00 through this scheme.
Prior to her participation in this identity theft scheme, Johnson had an extensive criminal history spanning thirty years. This history included numerous felony convictions for theft and fraud and several prior federal identity theft convictions.
On May 16, 2024, Johnson pled guilty to a three-count information in the Western District of Tennessee. The information included one count of bank fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft. On February 25, 2025, Senior United States District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. sentenced Johnson to 106 months in federal prison on the bank fraud and aggravated identity theft charges and 14 months’ imprisonment on her violation of supervised release from a previous case. She was sentenced to five years of supervised release to follow. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the United States Secret Service.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hall who prosecuted this case on behalf of the government and the law enforcement partners who investigated this case.
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Acting United States Attorney Fondren Announces Federal Indictment Against Gynecologist for Sexually Abusing Patients, Adulterating Medical Devices for Reuse on Patients, and Healthcare FraudRead the Press Release
Comments and quotations contained in the February 28, 2025 version of this press release have been retracted.
Memphis, TN – Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced today that Sanjeev Kumar, 44, was arrested this morning and charged with enticing and inducing four victims to travel interstate to engage in illegal sexual activity, adulteration of medical devices, misbranding of medical devices, and healthcare fraud.
The indictment unsealed today alleges that from at least in or about September 2019 and up to and including at least in or about June 2024, Kumar enticed and induced four victims to travel interstate to his medical offices in Memphis, Tennessee, at least in part for the purpose of subjecting them to a sexual activity for which he could be charged with a criminal offense in violation of Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-13-503.
According to the Indictment, between 2019 and 2024, Kumar sexually abused women by conducting medically unnecessary gynecologic procedures with medical devices that he held under insanitary conditions and reused on patients when they were required to be disposed of or properly reprocessed. Kumar did not inform patients that he was reusing “single use” or improperly reprocessed devices before he inserted the devices into their vaginas. He also billed Medicare and Medicaid as if the procedures were medically necessary and as if he had used a new or properly reprocessed device for each procedure.
This case is being investigated by the United States HHS-OIG, the United States Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law. If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of the factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records (if any), the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Lynn Crum, Scott Smith, and Sarah Pazar Williams for prosecuting this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
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Convicted Felon Sentenced to 30 Years of Federal Imprisonment for Illegally Possessing Firearms and MethamphetamineRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Andre Blue, 37, of Memphis, to 30 years in federal prison for multiple gun and drug offenses. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to the information presented in court, on July 13, 2022, detectives with the Multi-Agency Gang Unit executed a search warrant on an apartment where Blue was living. There, they discovered a loaded Glock Inc. .45 caliber pistol, a Sig Sauer Inc. 9mm caliber pistol, and a loaded Smith and a Wesson .45 caliber pistol in the primary bedroom. Additionally, detectives found several bags of various narcotics in the primary bathroom toilet bowl, one of which contained 15 grams of pure methamphetamine. An American Tactical Imports Inc. multi-caliber pistol was found in the closet of a child’s bedroom on the top shelf next to a magazine loaded with at least 50 live rounds. Due to his prior felony convictions, Blue is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition.
After a three-day trial, in November 2024, a jury found Blue guilty of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. On February 26, 2025, United States District Judge Jon P. McCalla sentenced Blue to 30 years in federal prison, followed by four years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the PSN Gun Task Force, the Multi-Agency Gang Unit, and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.
Acting United States Attorney Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Eileen Kuo and Regina Brittenum, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
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Check Fraudster Sentenced to Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Kenyata Wilson, 36, of Memphis, has been sentenced to federal prison for leading a check fraud ring in Memphis from 2022 to 2023. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, between May 2022 and February 2023, Wilson obtained stolen checks and deposited them into the bank accounts of his co-conspirators. His co-conspirators would transfer most of the funds back to Wilson and retain a small portion as their payment. Wilson was seen in surveillance footage at different ATM locations in Memphis depositing the stolen checks into an account used to receive the stolen funds. Wilson was responsible for passing over $42,000 in stolen checks.
On November 18, 2024, Wilson pled guilty before United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and eleven counts of bank fraud. He was sentenced on February 20, 2025 to 24 months in federal prison, to be followed by four years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Nashville Field Office, Memphis Resident Agency.
Acting United States Attorney Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorney William Bateman, who prosecuted this case on behalf of the government, and the law enforcement partners who assisted in the investigation of the case.
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Woman Pleads Guilty to Scheme to Defraud Elvis Presley’s FamilyRead the Press Release
A Missouri woman pleaded guilty today in the Western District of Tennessee for her role in a scheme to defraud Elvis Presley’s family of millions of dollars and to steal the family’s ownership interest in Graceland, Elvis Presley’s former home in Memphis, Tennessee.
According to court documents, Lisa Jeanine Findley, 53, of Kimberling City, orchestrated a scheme to conduct a fraudulent sale of Graceland — using a fake company, forged documents, and false court filings — by falsely claiming that Elvis Presley’s daughter had pledged Graceland as collateral for a loan that she failed to repay before her death. Findley threatened to foreclose on Graceland and auction it to the highest bidder if Elvis Presley’s family did not pay or settle the claim against the estate.
Findley pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced on June 18 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Taylor Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee, Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office made the announcement.
The USPIS and FBI Nashville Field Office are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Aaron Henricks of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carroll L. André III for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case. Fraud Section Assistant Chief Cory E. Jacobs and Trial Attorney Christopher Fenton provided substantial assistance with the investigation and prosecution.
Woman Pleads Guilty to Scheme to Defraud Elvis Presley’s FamilyRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A Missouri woman pleaded guilty today in the Western District of Tennessee for her role in a scheme to defraud Elvis Presley’s family of millions of dollars and to steal the family’s ownership interest in Graceland, Elvis Presley’s former home in Memphis, Tennessee.
According to court documents, Lisa Jeanine Findley, 53, of Kimberling City, orchestrated a scheme to conduct a fraudulent sale of Graceland — using a fake company, forged documents, and false court filings — by falsely claiming that Elvis Presley’s daughter had pledged Graceland as collateral for a loan that she failed to repay before her death. Findley threatened to foreclose on Graceland and auction it to the highest bidder if Elvis Presley’s family did not pay or settle the claim against the estate.
Findley pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud. She is scheduled to be sentenced on June 18 and faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
Supervisory Official Antoinette T. Bacon of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Taylor Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee, Inspector in Charge Eric Shen of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office made the announcement.
The USPIS and FBI Nashville Field Office are investigating the case.
Trial Attorney Aaron Henricks of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carroll L. André III for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case. Fraud Section Assistant Chief Cory E. Jacobs and Trial Attorney Christopher Fenton provided substantial assistance with the investigation and prosecution.
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Mississippi Woman Pleads Guilty to Scheme to Defraud COVID-19 Relief Program of over $5,000,000Read the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A Mississippi woman has pled guilty to defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a federal program intended to help small businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic, of over $5,000,000. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the guilty plea today.
On February 20, 2025, Lisa Evans, 42, of Olive Branch, Mississippi, pled guilty before United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. She will be sentenced on May 22, 2025 and faces a maximum term of 20 years in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system.
According to information presented in court, Evans submitted fraudulent PPP loan applications for numerous individuals who were not entitled to PPP loans. The applications Evans submitted contained false representations, including fake federal tax documents. When the individual borrowers obtained the PPP loan funds, they then paid Evans kickbacks of 20 to 30 percent. The loss to the PPP program was $5,126,258.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren stated: “Individuals cheating the Paycheck Protection Program stole money from U.S. taxpayers who desperately needed these loans to keep their small businesses afloat and pay their employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. I would especially like to commend and thank the federal law enforcement agencies who uncovered this fraud and brought this defendant to justice: the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General; the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, Gulf States Field Division; the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General; the U.S. Secret Service, Memphis Field Office; and the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee. My office will continue to work with these law enforcement partners to bring those who committed pandemic benefit fraud in the Western District of Tennessee to justice and to recover stolen pandemic relief funds.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Arvin, who prosecuted this case.
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Gibson County Man Charged with Violation of the Sex Offender Registration & Notification Act and Illegal ReentryRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – A federal grand jury in Jackson recently returned an indictment charging a Gibson County man for violating his sex offender registry requirements and for reentering the United States illegally. Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren announced the return of the indictment today.
Jose Alfredo Melendez-Hernandez, 52, was arrested on the morning of February 12, 2025, after it was determined that he was residing in Trenton and had failed to register as a sex offender as required under federal law. He was previously convicted of sexual battery in Oklahoma. Further investigation by law enforcement revealed that Melendez-Hernandez was deported in 2009 and had not obtained the express consent from the Secretary of Homeland Security to reapply for admission to the United States.
Melendez-Hernandez faces charges for failing to register as a sex offender, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2250(a), and illegal reentry, in violation of 8 U.S.C. § 1326(a) and (b)(2). The case is pending before United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson in Jackson, TN. If Melendez-Hernandez is convicted of the charges, Judge Anderson will determine the sentence to impose on the defendant after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service and the United States Department of Homeland Security.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law. If convicted, the defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of the factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records (if any) and the characteristics of the violation.
Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorney Immanuel Chioco, who is prosecuting the case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated it.
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Acting United States Attorney Fondren Announces Federal Indictments for Firearm and Violent CrimesRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren announced today the indictments of seven individuals who were charged with federal gun and violent crime offenses in West Tennessee. Acting United States Attorney Fondren emphasized that the United States’ commitment to prosecuting individuals who illegally possess firearms and commit violent offenses remains a top priority for her office.
The following defendants were charged with firearm or violent crime offenses:
- Torrian Floyd, 35. Floyd was indicted on January 30, 2025, on one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
- Mohamadou Ba, 21. Ba was indicted on January 30, 2025, on one count of robbery of a business affecting interstate commerce, one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the robbery, and for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Maurice Harris, 31. Harris was indicted on three counts robbery of a business affecting interstate commerce, three counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the robberies, and for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Marshun Lewis, 24. Lewis was indicted on two counts robbery of a postal carrier and two counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the robberies.
- Royce Newsome, 32, and Alvin Anthony, 30. Newsome and Anthony were indicted on one count each of conspiracy to commit carjacking and carjacking. Additionally, Newsome was indicted on one count of aiding and abetting a robbery, and Anthony was indicted on one count of accessory after the fact to the carjacking.
- Christopher Busby, 53. Busby was indicted on two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
These cases are being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force; the Project Safe Neighborhoods Gun Task Force; the Memphis Police Department; and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. Anyone with information about switches or other federal gun crimes can call 1-800-ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4867).
The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law. If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of the factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records (if any), the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.
These indictments 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 gun violence and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department of Justice launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, using data-driven methods to set focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
Acting United States Attorney Fondren thanked the Assistant United States Attorneys prosecuting these cases, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the cases.
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Memphis Man Sentenced for Stealing 166 Firearms and for Possession of a “Switch”Read the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Kaderion Stokes, 19, was recently sentenced to federal prison for theft of firearms and possession of a machinegun. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to the information presented in court, on September 9, 2023, approximately 166 firearms were stolen from a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) business in Atoka, Tennessee. An Atoka Police officer was patrolling the area when he observed a GMC Sierra pick-up truck in the parking lot of the business. As the officer approached the truck, the truck fled at a high rate of speed. Officers discovered that the truck was stolen and had rammed the front of the business crashing into the interior of the store. Several items were taken from the store, including firearms. Stokes was later developed as a suspect. In October 2023, Stokes was arrested by local law enforcement in Memphis on unrelated charges while in possession of two of the stolen firearms from the FFL business.
After a federal grand jury returned an indictment against Stokes, a federal arrest warrant was issued and the United States Marshals Service arrested Stokes at an apartment in Memphis. Stokes was found in possession of a firearm with a machinegun conversion device or a “switch.” Subsequently, the grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Stokes for possessing the “switch” as well as charges associated with the theft of firearms.
On October 31, 2024, Stokes pled guilty in federal court and on January 29, 2025, Senior United States District Court Judge Jon P. McCalla sentenced Stokes to 87 months of federal imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Atoka Police Department. The United States Marshals Service and the Memphis Police Department assisted.
Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Marques Young and Eileen Kuo, along with Special Assistant United States Attorney Raven Icaza, who prosecuted this case on behalf of the government, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated it.
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U.S. Attorney’s Office Collects Nearly $3M for Taxpayers and Victims in 2024Read the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee collected $2,932,631.57 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2024. Of that amount, $2,635,982.75 was collected in criminal actions and $296,648. 82 was collected in civil actions.
Additionally, the Western District of Tennessee worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $23,145.23 in cases pursued jointly by these offices.
“The federal government has a responsibility to collect restitution for victims of crime. Our Criminal and Civil Divisions, including the Financial Litigation Program, work diligently to ensure that this mission is met,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Tennessee’s Western District, working with partner agencies and divisions, also collected $2,688,743 in asset forfeiture actions in fiscal year 2024. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.
Several cases generated significant collection efforts in fiscal year 2024, including:
U.S. v. Rosemary Covey and Morgan Stanley, 06-cr-20408 and 24-cv-2257. Covey was convicted of Bank Fraud and Access device fraud and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,034,105.49. After years of minimal restitution payments, the USAO learned of a retirement account at Morgan Stanley. The USAO filed a Writ of Garnishment on defendant’s IRA and received $73,843.54 in proceeds that were applied to the restitution.
U.S. v. Teresa T. Parsley, 07-cr-20035. Parsley was convicted of bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. As a result, she was ordered to pay $3,829,605.29 in restitution. After she made only minimal payments, the U.S. Attorney’s Office recovered $143,845 from the proceeds of the sale of her home, which was applied to her restitution.
The U.S. Attorney’s Offices, along with the Department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.
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Two Memphis Men Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of MachinegunsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Jermaine Brown, 19, and Alvin McGee, 23, both of Memphis, have each been sentenced to federal prison for possession of a machinegun. Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren, announced the sentences today.
According to the information presented in court, on July 10, 2023, Memphis Police Department officers observed Brown and McGee driving in a stolen Hyundai Sonata through the Kensington Manor apartment complex and attempted to stop the vehicle. When the vehicle reached a dead end, the driver, Jermaine Brown, and front passenger, Alvin McGee, both jumped out of the moving vehicle, which crashed into a dumpster. Brown had a Glock .40 caliber pistol with an attached Machinegun Conversion Device (commonly referred to as a “switch”) that was loaded with 17 rounds. Brown threw the machinegun after a short foot pursuit. McGee had a Radical Firearms AR-15 style .223 caliber rifle with approximately 60 rounds and a “drop-in auto sear,” which turns the rifle into a machinegun, and he also fled from the police. Officers apprehended McGee quickly.
Brown and McGee were indicted in December 2023 for possession of machineguns.
On July 12, 2024, Brown pled guilty before Senior United States District Judge Jon Phipps McCalla and was sentenced on November 8, 2024 to 27 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.
On October 18, 2024, McGee pled guilty before Judge McCalla and was sentenced on January 24, 2025 to 41 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.
There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Assistant United States Attorney Greg Wagner prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Acting United States Attorney Fondren thanked the law enforcement partners who assisted in this case.
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Dyersburg Man Sentenced in Federal and State CourtsRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – A Dyersburg man was recently sentenced to prison in both federal and state courts for sexual abuse. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, and Danny H. Goodman, Jr., District Attorney General for the Twenty-Ninth Judicial District, jointly announced the sentence today.
According to the information presented in court, Robert Galler, 52, traveled to Iowa in 2020 and returned to Tennessee with a victim, identified as Minor A in the indictment. In 2022, the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services received a referral of sexual abuse at Galler’s residence in Dyersburg. Upon arrival, DCS workers encountered three minor females who each alleged sexual and physical abuse by Galler. The victims underwent forensic interviews with the Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse detailing the abuse, which had occurred continually over four years.
On September 11, 2024, Galler pled guilty in federal court to transporting a minor with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. On January 8, 2025, Senior United States District Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Galler to 300 months in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release and lifetime placement on the sex offender registry. There is no parole in the federal system.
Following federal sentencing, Galler returned to state custody. On January 21, 2025, he entered guilty pleas to one count of rape of a child and one count of rape. Dyer County Circuit Court Judge Mark Hayes sentenced Galler to 25 years’ imprisonment, placement on the sex offender registry, and lifetime supervision. Pursuant to state law, Galler must serve 100% of the sentence. The sentences between both courts were ordered to run concurrently.
District Attorney General Danny H. Goodman, Jr., who assigned Andrew Hays as a Special Assistant United States Attorney, stated, “I would first like to thank Assistant District Attorney, Andrew Hays, for the time he dedicated to this case. The goal of the Office of the District Attorney General is to seek justice on behalf of the State of Tennessee and victims of crime. This case is a perfect example of how the partnership with our office and the United States Department of Justice allowed us to accomplish that goal. This office will always prosecute crimes involving children with as much zeal as possible.”
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, and the Dyersburg Police Department.
Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Hays for the Western District of Tennessee, who prosecuted the case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated it.
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Justice Department Files Voting Rights Suit Against Fayette County, TennesseeRead the Press Release
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Fayette County, Tennessee, alleging that the Board of County Commissioners violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act when it adopted a redistricting plan that denies the city’s Black voters an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, alleges that during the 2021 redistricting cycle, the County Commission deliberately rejected multiple districting plans that would have combined Black communities in districts that would allow Black voters to elect representatives of their choice. In doing so, the Commission disregarded the guidelines and recommendations of its own redistricting committee and the advice of the attorney it hired specifically to guide it through the redistricting process.
“The right to vote is sacred and is the foundation for our ability to exercise all other civil rights,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Black voters should have the equal opportunity to elect their candidates of choice, but the redistricting map adopted by Fayette County did not provide that opportunity. The Justice Department is committed to enforcement of the Voting Rights Act and ensuring all eligible citizens have an equal opportunity to choose their elected officials. Our democracy works best when all communities have a fair and equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.”
“The right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, and Black voters in Fayette County deserve the same opportunity as anyone else to elect leaders who represent their voices,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee. “Our office is committed to ensuring fairness and equality in the electoral process.”
The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section, working with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Civil Rights Acts and the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.
More information about voting and elections is available at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section. Complaints about possible violations of federal voting rights laws can be submitted through the Civil Rights Division’s website at civilrights.justice.gov or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931.
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Four Members of Mexico-Based Drug Trafficking Organization Sentenced for Cocaine DistributionRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Four men from Mexico and California have been convicted for their role in trafficking multiple kilograms of cocaine between California and the Western District of Tennessee. On January 14, 2025, Senior U.S. District Judge John T. Fowlkes sentenced the fourth defendant. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney, announced the sentencings today.
According to information presented in court, in September 2022, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI") Border Enforcement Task Force investigators learned of a drug trafficking organization operating in West Tennessee. They determined that José Iban-Arcos, 52, and Edwin Mayorga, 42, were obtaining kilogram quantities of cocaine. Both Iban-Arcos and Mayorga had previously been convicted for narcotics trafficking in the Western District of Tennessee. Investigators also found that José Hernandez-Gonzalez, 29, was distributing cocaine on behalf of the organization and that Jesús Serrano-Mayorquin, 43, transported cocaine from California to the Western District of Tennessee. Agents seized over 25 kilograms of cocaine and several firearms during the investigation; this included more than 45 pounds of cocaine which was seized during a traffic stop.
The defendants were indicted in June 2023. Each defendant subsequently pled guilty and was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. or U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Parker.
- José Iban-Arcos of Aguascalientes, Mexico, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and illegal re-entry into the United States. He was sentenced to 144 months of incarceration to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
- Edwin Mayorga of Long Beach, California, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute. He was sentenced to 66 months of incarceration to be followed by 4 years of supervised release.
- Jesús Serrano-Mayorquin, of Los Angeles, California, pled guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. He was sentenced to 24 months of incarceration to be followed by 3 years supervised release.
- José Hernandez-Gonzalez, of Tamaulipas, Mexico, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. He was sentenced to 18 months of home detention to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
This investigation was conducted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
“This investigation and the resulting sentences highlight the exceptional work of HSI Nashville and the vital law enforcement partnerships that are essential to protecting our communities,” said HSI Nashville Deputy Special Agent in Charge, Colin Jackson. “We remain dedicated to dismantling drug trafficking networks that endanger lives through the illegal distribution of narcotics, ensuring those responsible face the full force of the law.”
“This case is a perfect example of the impact and effectiveness of law enforcement working together at the local, state, and federal levels to combat drug trafficking and the violent offenders engaged in this activity,” said Director David Rausch of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. “Countless lives have been saved as result of these outstanding efforts!”
This case was investigated by HSI, in collaboration with the Bartlett Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Internal Revenue Service, the Memphis Police Department, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the West Tennessee Drug Task Force, and K-9 Officer Athena.
Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Gregory D. Allen and Bryce H. Phillips, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
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Five Members of the Hoover Criminal Gang Sentenced for Racketeering and Firearms CrimesRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN - A leader in the Hoover Criminal Gang was sentenced to 15 years in prison today for ordering fellow gang members to murder a suspected rival gang member.
Markell Young, 33, was the last of five defendants, all from Gibson County, to be sentenced in this case. Young, Octavius Ferguson, 27, and Jordan Powell, 25, were convicted after trial, while Bakari Lenon, 25, and Monterio Ross, 29, pleaded guilty.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, all defendants were members of the Hoover Criminal Gang subset known as the 83rd or Eight Tray. The gang was engaged in racketeering activities including murder, robberies, and trafficking of marijuana, cocaine, and cocaine base.
“These defendants were members of the violent Hoover Criminal Gang who were responsible for murdering a suspected rival gang member to further the aims of the gang,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Gang violence traumatizes communities and makes our streets less safe. The Criminal Division is committed to vigorously prosecuting those who engage in gun violence and other violent criminal activity.”
“This case serves as notice to all that engage in organized criminal activity that we will use every available resource to bring you to justice,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee. “The citizens of this district deserve a safe and secure community, one not riddled with gun violence, and this is a great example of the diligent and collaborative work of law enforcement to protect those rights to safety.”
“This case is an outstanding example of what federal, state, and local law enforcement can accomplish when we dismantle gang networks that spread violence and fear,” said Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The sentences imposed demonstrate the commitment of the FBI and our partners to thwarting gang violence and reinforcing the severe consequences awaiting those who threaten the safety of our communities.”
“The individuals who wreak havoc in the communities that we serve are a huge concern,” said Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division. “The ATF works collaboratively with our law enforcement partners, day and night, to swiftly remove individuals who traffic narcotics, participate in organized crime and show total disregard for human life from the streets. The ATF’s primary mission is to combat violent crime in our communities, and we will work tirelessly to keep the communities that we serve, safe.”
The evidence showed that, on Jan. 31, 2017, the defendants murdered a suspected member of the rival Gangster Disciples gang in Humboldt. On that date, Young ordered Ferguson, Powell, Lenon, and Ross to commit the murder, which they carried out by going to the victim’s home and indiscriminately shooting several firearms through the open front door, killing the victim. Based on their participation on this killing, all of the shooters were promoted to higher ranks within the Hoover Criminal Gang.
In addition to Young’s conviction at trial for aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during and in relation to murder in aid of racketeering, Ferguson and Powell were convicted at trial of murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, use of a firearm during and in relation to murder, and causing death by use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Both Ferguson and Powell were sentenced to life in prison. Lenon and Ross pleaded guilty to causing death by use of a firearm during and in relation to murder in aid of racketeering and were both sentenced to 30 years in prison.
The FBI and ATF investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by state and local law enforcement partners.
Trial Attorney César S. Rivera-Giraud of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Parham for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.
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Topic
VIOLENT CRIME
Components
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
Criminal Division
Criminal - Violent Crime and Racketeering Section
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
USAO - Tennessee, Western
Five Members of the Hoover Criminal Gang Sentenced for Racketeering and Firearms CrimesRead the Press Release
A leader in the Hoover Criminal Gang was sentenced to 15 years in prison today for ordering fellow gang members to murder a suspected rival gang member.
Markell Young, 33, was the last of five defendants, all from Gibson County, to be sentenced in this case. Young, Octavius Ferguson, 27, and Jordan Powell, 25, were convicted after trial, while Bakari Lenon, 25, and Monterio Ross, 29, pleaded guilty.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, all defendants were members of the Hoover Criminal Gang subset known as the 83rd or Eight Tray. The gang was engaged in racketeering activities including murder, robberies, and trafficking of marijuana, cocaine, and cocaine base.
“These defendants were members of the violent Hoover Criminal Gang who were responsible for murdering a suspected rival gang member to further the aims of the gang,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Gang violence traumatizes communities and makes our streets less safe. The Criminal Division is committed to vigorously prosecuting those who engage in gun violence and other violent criminal activity.”
“This case serves as notice to all that engage in organized criminal activity that we will use every available resource to bring you to justice,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee. “The citizens of this district deserve a safe and secure community, one not riddled with gun violence, and this is a great example of the diligent and collaborative work of law enforcement to protect those rights to safety.”
“This case is an outstanding example of what federal, state, and local law enforcement can accomplish when we dismantle gang networks that spread violence and fear,” said Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The sentences imposed demonstrate the commitment of the FBI and our partners to thwarting gang violence and reinforcing the severe consequences awaiting those who threaten the safety of our communities.”
“The individuals who wreak havoc in the communities that we serve are a huge concern,” said Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division. “The ATF works collaboratively with our law enforcement partners, day and night, to swiftly remove individuals who traffic narcotics, participate in organized crime and show total disregard for human life from the streets. The ATF’s primary mission is to combat violent crime in our communities, and we will work tirelessly to keep the communities that we serve, safe.”
The evidence showed that, on Jan. 31, 2017, the defendants murdered a suspected member of the rival Gangster Disciples gang in Humboldt. On that date, Young ordered Ferguson, Powell, Lenon, and Ross to commit the murder, which they carried out by going to the victim’s home and indiscriminately shooting several firearms through the open front door, killing the victim. Based on their participation on this killing, all of the shooters were promoted to higher ranks within the Hoover Criminal Gang.
In addition to Young’s conviction at trial for aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during and in relation to murder in aid of racketeering, Ferguson and Powell were convicted at trial of murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, use of a firearm during and in relation to murder, and causing death by use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Both Ferguson and Powell were sentenced to life in prison. Lenon and Ross pleaded guilty to causing death by use of a firearm during and in relation to murder in aid of racketeering and were both sentenced to 30 years in prison.
The FBI and ATF investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by state and local law enforcement partners.
Trial Attorney César S. Rivera-Giraud of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Parham for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.
Memphis Man Receives Significant Sentence for Selling Methamphetamine to Undercover ATF AgentsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A Memphis man, Richard Collins, 35, has been sentenced to 100 months of imprisonment for aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine in Memphis, Tennessee. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
In June 2023, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives began investigating drug distribution by members of the 92 Bishop Blood street gang. On June 13, 2023, ATF Special Agents, acting in an undercover capacity, asked to purchase approximately two ounces of pure methamphetamine from Richard Collins for $500. Collins arranged for the agents to meet him at a location on Jackson Avenue in Memphis the same day. When they arrived, Collins coordinated with another individual to bring the methamphetamine onsite. This individual arrived at Collins’s request moments later and exchanged 63.34 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine for the agreed-upon amount of currency.
Collins was indicted in February 2024, on conspiracy and aiding and abetting distribution of methamphetamine charges. On October 10, 2024, Collins entered a guilty plea to aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine.
On January 8, 2025, United States District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Collins to 100 months of incarceration with a four-year period of supervised release to follow. There is no parole in the federal system.
“The ATF works collaboratively with its state, local, and federal partners to ensure that justice is served on those individuals who repeatedly and intentionally violate the law,” said Special Agent in Charge Marcus S. Watson, ATF-Nashville Field Office. “Organized crime is a huge problem in many cities and none of our law enforcement partners are a stranger to it. We strive hard each day to remain in lockstep with our law enforcement partners and remove these individuals from the communities that we serve.”
This case was investigated by the Memphis Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Nashville laboratory assisted in this investigation.
Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Bryce H. Phillips and Wendy Cornejo who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
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Justice Department Files Voting Rights Suit Against Fayette County, TennesseeRead the Press Release
The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Fayette County, Tennessee, alleging that the Board of County Commissioners violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act when it adopted a redistricting plan that denies the county's Black voters an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, alleges that during the 2021 redistricting cycle, the County Commission deliberately rejected multiple districting plans that would have combined Black communities in districts that would allow Black voters to elect representatives of their choice. In doing so, the Commission disregarded the guidelines and recommendations of its own redistricting committee and the advice of the attorney it hired specifically to guide it through the redistricting process.
“The right to vote is sacred and is the foundation for our ability to exercise all other civil rights,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Black voters should have the equal opportunity to elect their candidates of choice, but the redistricting map adopted by Fayette County did not provide that opportunity. The Justice Department is committed to enforcement of the Voting Rights Act and ensuring all eligible citizens have an equal opportunity to choose their elected officials. Our democracy works best when all communities have a fair and equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.”
“The right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, and Black voters in Fayette County deserve the same opportunity as anyone else to elect leaders who represent their voices,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee. “Our office is committed to ensuring fairness and equality in the electoral process.”
The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section, working with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Civil Rights Acts and the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.
More information about voting and elections is available at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section. Complaints about possible violations of federal voting rights laws can be submitted through the Civil Rights Division’s website at civilrights.justice.gov or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931.
Union City Man Sentenced to over Eight Years of Imprisonment for Possession of a Firearm as a Convicted FelonRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Michael Eaton, 41, of Union City, Tennessee to 105 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Reagan Fondren, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to evidence presented in court, on February 11, 2023, an officer with the Union City Police Department saw a silver Ford SUV driving near the area of Todd Street. The Ford SUV was pulled over for a window tint violation. During the stop, the passenger, Eaton, became involved in a confrontation with law enforcement officers, who eventually detained him and found him in possession of a loaded Charter Arms .38 special caliber revolver.
Eaton is a felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms. Previously, in 2000, Eaton was sentenced to 10 years of incarceration for possession of a controlled substance with the intent to resell it. In 2010, he was sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment for attempting to rob a Union City grocery store at gunpoint.
In January 2024, Eaton was indicted in the Western District of Tennessee for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He pled guilty to the offense in August 2024. On December 30, 2024, United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Eaton to 105 months in federal prison with three years of supervised release to follow. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of the Project Safe Neighborhood Initiative, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our communities safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the Union City Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorney Immanuel Chioco who prosecuted this case on behalf of the government and the law enforcement partners who investigated this case.
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Gibson County Man Sentenced to Six Years in Federal PrisonRead the Press Release
Jackson, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Brantley Miller, 39, of Humboldt, TN, to six years in federal prison for his role in an organized drug trafficking scheme in West Tennessee. Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee announced the sentence today.
According to evidence presented in court, in 2019, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with the West Tennessee Violent Crime and Drug Task Force; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Drug Enforcement Administration, began an investigation into the illegal distribution of narcotics in the Western District of Tennessee. By using controlled purchases of narcotics, search warrants to review the contents of suspicious packages, and other investigative tactics, the agents determined that Kendall Young, Cortez Jackson, and others were shipping methamphetamine, fentanyl, and marijuana from California to Tennessee for redistribution.
Throughout the investigation’s course, law enforcement agents seized over 32 pounds of methamphetamine and over 101 grams of fentanyl in the Western District of Tennessee. Further, agents seized three firearms from the individuals involved in this conspiracy.
On September 24, 2024, Miller pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On December 20, 2024, United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Miller to 72 months in federal prison and ordered Miller to serve 3 years of supervised release upon completion of the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.
Miller was the final co-defendant to be sentenced in this drug trafficking conspiracy. Additionally, each of the following co-conspirators pled guilty and were sentenced by Judge Anderson as follows:
- Kendall Young, 32, Humboldt, TN: 188 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
- Cortez Jackson, 29, Humboldt, TN: 134 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
- Vanessa Umanzor, 28, Huntingdon, TN: 43 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
- Tristen Teague, 28, Paris, TN: 100 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
- Orlando Sangster, 35, Humboldt, TN: 24 months in prison and 2 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
- Jonathan Sandoval, 31, Chula Vista, CA: 120 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
- Dejahn Jarrett, 31, Spring Valley, CA: 72 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
- Ronnie Young, 69, Humboldt, TN: 120 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
- Jaycent Montrell Pankey, a/k/a Jaycent Montrell Cox, 28, Jackson, TN: 42 months in prison and one year of supervised release for use of a telephone device to aid the distribution of methamphetamine.
- Devon Avery Landers, 53, Jackson, TN: 36 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
- Joel Lynn Arnold 45, Lexington, TN: 84 months in prison and 4 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
This investigation was conducted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
This case was investigated by the FBI Jackson RA; the West Tennessee Violent Crime and Drug Task Force; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Christie R. Hopper and Hillary Parham, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
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Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to over 16 Years of Imprisonment for Possession of a FirearmRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Tommie Conner, 49, of Memphis, has been sentenced to 200 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren announced the sentence today.
According to evidence presented in court, on March 4, 2021, an officer with the Memphis Police Department observed a Dodge Durango speeding on American Way. The Durango was pulled over and the driver, later identified as Conner, fled. Conner was later located by officers who arrived at the scene. While investigating the offense, officers saw a handgun in plain view in the Durango. Officers obtained a search warrant and recovered a loaded SCCY 9mm pistol.
Conner is a felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms. Specifically, in 1993, Conner pled guilty to two counts of robbery and three counts of aggravated robbery in state court and was sentenced to 10 years of incarceration. In 2005, Conner was convicted in federal court in the Western District of Tennessee for being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 15 years of federal imprisonment after he was determined to be an armed career criminal.
In September 2021, Conner was indicted in the Western District of Tennessee for being a felon in possession of a firearm. In June 2024, a jury found Conner guilty of that offense. It also found that at least three of Conner’s prior offenses occurred on different occasions, as required for him to be sentenced as an armed career criminal under the ACCA (Armed Career Criminal Act).
On December 19, 2024, United States District Court Senior Judge John T. Fowlkes sentenced Conner to 200 months in federal prison with three years of supervised release to follow. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case is part of the Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) Initiative, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our communities safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.
This case was investigated by the (PSN) Gun Task Force, the Memphis Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Wagner and Jermal Blanchard who prosecuted this case on behalf of the government and the law enforcement partners who investigated this case.
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Former Memphis Law Firm Office Manager Indicted for Embezzling over $1.2 Million DollarsRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A federal grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee recently returned an indictment charging a Memphis resident, Catherine Corrine Daly, 54, with embezzlement from a local law firm. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the indictment today.
According to the indictment in the case, Daly was employed by a local law firm as its office manager. As office manager, she had access to the firm’s bank accounts, including the firm’s operating account, which was used to pay the firm’s operating expenses. The operating account was both opened and located at a Memphis branch of what was then known as SunTrust Bank.
Daly had two American Express (AmEx) charge accounts in her name with a total of five AmEx charge cards issued through the two accounts to Daly and two of her relatives. The cards were used to purchase various goods and services such as clothing, shoes, designer handbags, and jewelry; fixtures and furnishings for Daly’s residence; food purchased at restaurants; personal services at nail and beauty salons; and travel expenses.
As these charges were made, Daly is alleged to have used the money in the firm’s operating account to pay the amounts due on her personal AmEx charge accounts. She conducted the embezzlement scheme from June 2019 until October 2021, allegedly making multiple payments on her personal AmEx bills directly from the law firm’s operating account. Using this method, Daly embezzled and converted $1,289,085.00 of the law firm’s funds to her own use.
Daly is charged with six counts of violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 2314. This statute makes it a crime to transfer money in interstate commerce that has been “stolen, converted or taken by fraud.” Each count of the indictment is punishable by a term of up to 10 years of imprisonment, a fine of no more than $250,000.00, or both, as well as a term of court-supervised release of no more than three years.
The United States Secret Service is investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney Joe Murphy for the Western District of Tennessee is prosecuting the case.
An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
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Former EMT Sentenced for Drug TamperingRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – A Cordova, Tennessee woman has been sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison for tampering with a vial of Benadryl while on duty as an Emergency Medical Technician. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.
According to information presented in court, Cleola Hogan, 40, was working her shift as an EMT on March 20, 2022, when she removed Benadryl from a vial using a syringe and injected the Benadryl into her arm. Hogan then replaced the missing Benadryl with saline solution and glued the cap back onto the Benadryl vial. Benadryl is commonly used to treat patients with severe allergic reactions, and replacing Benadryl with saline would place patients who needed Benadryl at risk of death or serious bodily injury.
Hogan entered a guilty plea on September 3, 2024, to tampering with a consumer product with reckless disregard that another person would be placed in danger of death or bodily injury.
On December 4, 2024, Chief United States District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Hogan to 12 months and one day of incarceration with a three-year period of supervised release to follow. Hogan was also ordered to undergo drug and mental health treatment and counseling. There is no parole in the federal system.
This case was investigated by the United States Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations, working with the Priority Ambulance Diversion Task Force.
Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorney Carroll L. André III and former Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Lewis who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.
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Justice Department Finds Civil Rights Violations by Memphis Police Department and City of MemphisRead the Press Release
Memphis, TN – Following a comprehensive investigation, the Justice Department announced today that the Memphis Police Department (MPD) and City of Memphis (City) engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the U.S. Constitution and federal law.
Specifically, the Justice Department finds that:
- MPD uses excessive force.
- MPD conducts unlawful stops, searches and arrests.
- MPD unlawfully discriminates against Black people when enforcing the law.
- The City and MPD unlawfully discriminate in their response to people with behavioral health disabilities.
The Justice Department also identified serious concerns about MPD’s treatment of children. Finally, the Department identified deficiencies in policy, training, supervision and accountability that contribute to MPD’s and the City’s unlawful conduct.
“The people of Memphis deserve a police department and city that protects their civil and constitutional rights, garners trust and keeps them safe,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Our exhaustive investigation found that the Memphis Police Department engages in a pattern or practice of using excessive force, conducting unlawful stops, searches and arrests and discriminatory policing of Black people and residents with behavioral health disabilities. Our investigation also identified troubling policing practices that impact some of Memphis’ most vulnerable residents — its children. We acknowledge Memphis’ cooperation during our investigation and look forward to instituting reforms that will address the harms we identified.”
“This process and these findings uncovered that our city has a lot of work to do,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee. “Memphians are rightly concerned with gun violence and violent crime. They are also rightly concerned about the collective approach that we must take to tackle these issues. We hope to work with Mayor Young, Chief Davis, the Memphis Police Department and our Memphis partners to move forward.”
The City and MPD cooperated fully with the Justice Department’s investigation. The department provided a comprehensive written report of its investigative findings to the City and MPD. The report acknowledges the changes already made by the City and MPD, and it identifies additional remedial measures that the department believes are necessary to fully address its findings.
The department opened this investigation on July 27, 2023. The investigation was conducted by career attorneys and staff in the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee. The team conducted numerous onsite tours; interviewed MPD officers, supervisors and command staff; spoke with City officials and employees; accompanied behavioral crisis responders and officers on ride-alongs; reviewed thousands of documents; and reviewed hundreds of hours of body-worn camera footage. Department attorneys and staff also met with community members, advocates and service providers in the Memphis area.
The department conducted this investigation pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12601 (Section 12601), which prohibits law enforcement officers from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law, the Safe Streets Act of 1968, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The findings announced today are the result of the department’s civil pattern or practice investigation and are separate from the department’s criminal cases against former MPD officers for federal crimes related to the death of Tyre Nichols.
The department will be conducting outreach to members of the Memphis community for input on remedies to address the department’s findings. Individuals may also submit recommendations by email at [email protected] or by phone at 888-473-3730. The department will hold a virtual zoom community meeting on Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m. CT. Please use this link to register for the event: www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_hf-KK_oOTpWQ6qinosSN2w. Members of the public are encouraged to attend to learn more about the findings.
This is one of 12 investigations into law enforcement agencies opened by the Justice Department under Section 12601 since April 2021. In 2023 and 2024, the department issued findings reports regarding five of those investigations: the Louisville, Kentucky, Metro Police Department, Minneapolis Police Department, Phoenix Police Department, Lexington, Mississippi, Police Department, and Trenton, New Jersey, Police Department. The five other ongoing investigations cover the Louisiana State Police; Mount Vernon, New York, Police Department; New York City Police Department’s Special Victims Division; Oklahoma City Police Department; and Rankin County, Mississippi, Sheriff’s Department.
Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available at www.justice.gov/crt.
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