Its important to know also that possession can mean anything from having the drugs in your pocket to having them in your car or even near you. Court appearanceshave yet to beset for the 14suspects who will go before US District Court in Nashville. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Announces Major Drug Bust Involving Federal authorities have indicted 27 individuals in a massive, violent drug-trafficking scheme that operated out of a Tennessee state prison for years. Further investigation revealed that Terry Smith a/k/a "Ali," a/k/a "Cockeye", Chief of Security for the Vice Lords street gang, arranged large quantities of methamphetamine, marijuana, cocaine, heroin and fentanyl to be shipped into the Western District of Tennessee from Texas and Arizona. February 8, 2023 Phone: (615) 476-7333, Copyright Law Offices of Adrian H. Altshuler & Associates | Sitemap, Adrian and Caroline made the process of my divorce far more comfortable than I imagined. Penalties and Fines for Drug Charges in Tennessee Michael Sowell and Antonio Sowell also faces charges for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Note: Internet Explorer has problems displaying the following charts. The drugs were found packed inside 25 duffel bags and ready for distribution, according to authorities. 51 in 1983. Facing those charges are Columbia residents Charles White Chaz Lowe-Kelley, 30, and Hohenwald residents Michael Mac Black Sowell, 37, Frank Chucky Sparkman, 40, Antonio Premo Sowell, 37, Tanasha Nesha" Vaughn,22, in addition to Nashville residents Darron Snype Lucas Weakley, 35, and Antonio Lil Memphis Laster, 31. . That led investigators to begin tracking Magana. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) - The University of Tennessee's campus police and Knoxville Police Department executed a search warrant for narcotics 1618 Forest Avenue in Knoxville on August 19 around 1 p.m. Savannah Padgett and Sophia Featherstone, both UT college students, lived at the same residence and were also on the search warrants as suspects. Seeking out the eradicating/destroying marijuana which is domestically grown; Prevention and deterrence of marijuana growth in Tennessee by effecting arrests, seizure and forfeiture of, Efficient and effective collection, sharing, reporting, and utilization of intelligence information utilizing the. Authorities allege they've interrupted a methamphetamine supply line that stretched from Mexico to Georgia and up into East Tennessee and elsewhere. Hardin County Government - Hardin County, Tennessee - Official . Narcan Troy remained the county seat until 1890, when it was moved to Union City following a contentious legal dispute. The operation included more than 40 agents, deputies and officers from the West Tennessee Drug Task Force, Dyer and Lake County Sheriffs Departments, and police from Newbern, Tiptonville and Ridgely. Pleasant residents Brandon Willie Earl Dailey, 40, Henry Hank Davis, 42, Vincent Roe Conner, 37, Derrick Chewy" Nixon, 54, Shanika Butterball Odom, 31, Terry Goldie Mac Strayhorn, 41 and Samuel Abernathy, 44. This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Drug Bust in West Tennessee Yields Drug Crime Charges Against Nine Jenkins then called another individual and directed him to turn over $230,030 to law enforcement. of fentanyl, and 3.5 grams of heroin. Federal officials say late Monday and early Tuesday they served a search warrant on a "stash house" in Conyers, Ga., that Magana had frequently visited. DEA images of the duffel bags the drugs were found in. A sworn statement from the passenger riding with then Nolensville commissioner Lisa Garramone in October 2020 claims she was driving just before an officer suspected she was drunk. ( Drew Angerer/Getty Images), This is just another example of illegal cell phones being used by convicted felons to communicate and conspire with criminals in the free-world to proliferate criminal activity, Tennessee Department of Corrections Commissioner Tony Parker said in a statement. TADEC is passionately committed to protecting the drug-endangered children of Tennessee by generating a renewed collaboration of resources from multidiscipline organizations and jurisdictions in the responsibility of protecting these children. Operation leads to multiple arrests in Carroll County - WBBJ TV The seizure was part of the DEAs ongoing initiative Operation Crystal Shield, which is targeting cities where meth is often trafficked in bulk. The night of Jan. 9, Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers tried to pull Seals over in Hamilton County on Highway 27. Pictures posted to the GBI Facebook page showed what amounts to millions of doses of drugs , the agency said in a Tuesday. Between the fiscal years 2017-2019, DEA domestic seizures of meth increased 127% from 49,507 pounds to 112,146 pounds, according to the DEA. 29 of these counties are in . Task force director Johnie Carter said the numbers were "absolutely terrifying.". This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); West Tennessee Drug Task Force; Jackson Police Department; Jackson-Madison County Metro Narcotics Unit; Madison County Sheriffs Department; Paris, Tennessee Police Department; Henry County Sheriffs Department; Murray, Kentucky Police Department; Kentucky State Police; Arkansas State Police; Tennessee Department of Correction Office of Investigations & Compliance (TDOC-OIC); and the U.S. It's still an "ongoing investigation," according to Overbey's release. First and second convictions for drug possession are a class A misdemeanor and the penalties include a jail term of up to one year, a fine of up to $2,500, or both. Fentanyl is sold as heroin and often laced into other drugs such a heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. 1 man facing several charges after Monroe County drug bust Authorities seized methamphetamine,. 24 indicted in local drug-trafficking conspiracy | Local News Tri-City Metro Drug Task Force seized cash and more than 15 pounds of methamphetamine and 10 pounds of marijuana in a drug bust this week. NASHVILLE - Eric Jenkins, 40, of Nashville, Tennessee, the final defendant in a large drug distribution conspiracy was sentenced Tuesday to 210 months in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Henry C. Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee. Elsewhere they found another 52 kilos of meth. 21 defendants charged, additional charges added to heroin/fentanyl I 100% recommend Adrian H. Altshuler and Associates!! North Memphis drug bust results in 40 indictments, 3 houses closed All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 21 year old Kevin Bucio-Arredondo of Tustin, and 20 year old Leslie Heredia of Los Angeles, were arrested in Murfreesboro and charged with one count of possession of Schedule II drugs for resale and one count of money laundering. Your email address will not be published. The TDDTF educates the public about the dangers of all scheduled drugs and works to support law enforcement and other stakeholders by supplying equipment, training, intelligence, and investigative tools to assist in strategically identifying, targeting, and prosecuting drug offenders. One trooper was shot in the leg. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Troy was founded in 1825 as the original county seat of Obion County. Morales also instructed hitman Magdiel Pina Ramirez of Mexico to cut off part of his pinky finger to prove his loyalty, the DOJ said. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Seventeen people have been charged in federal court with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana into and throughout West. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda J. Klopf prosecuted the case. The arrests and drug seizure was made possible after agents developed information about a shipment of drugs being sent to Murfreesboro from California. Two vehicles used for the sale of illegal narcotics and several weapons were also seized. Please considersupportinghis work and that of other Daily Herald journalists by subscribing to the publication. Christopher Mantooth, 38, Sarah . Raid on Rogersville business results in meth trafficking charge against 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. Authorities find 3,100 pounds of meth and other drugs hidden in truckload of medical supplies, These two seizures are more than enough to provide a dose of meth, for every man, woman, and child in the United States and Mexico. Individuals indicted could face a minimum of 10 years in jail or a maximum of life in prison, according to the DOJ. Members of a Major Crack Cocaine Drug Trafficking Organization - FBI Columbia, TN 38401 An investigation involving an alleged drug overdose at the Super 8 motel on East Andrew Johnson Highway Monday morning resulted in the arrest of four women, including three on heroin Bomb threat draws in police, fire departments, Jackson man gets life in prison for 2019 murder, Selmer police respond to shots fired call, All Tennessee counties to receive funds from lawsuit, Woman demands answers after dog was euthanized, VIDEO/PHOTOS: Heavy winds leave damage across West Tennessee. The organization allegedly has ties to MS-13, Sur-13 and a host of other street gangs that distributed thousands of illegal narcotics, according to the DOJ. If youve been arrested but didnt have enough of the controlled substance in your possession to be charged with manufacturing or distributing the drug, you will be charged with possession. All rights reserved. Officers found the people who'd been in the vehicle, and they said they'd just been to northern Georgia to buy methamphetamine through a woman named "Maria," according to records. A Warner Bros. TBI DID has one Special Agent Criminal Investigator assigned full-time to the Border Enforcement Security Task Force. The drugs in that bust were seized at the Otay Mesa port of entry to San Diego. TBI reports said a multi-agency investigation into drug overdoses in Middle Tennessee, resulted in the arrest of two individuals from California with ties to the Sinola Cartel. In response to the threat of overdose to law enforcement and lab personnel, the TBI has issued its agents Narcan dispensers for emergency use to assist in the lifesaving efforts of personnel and public. cheathamcountyexchange 2020-02-25 - Main Street Media of Tennessee An additional 8 individuals were charged in separate indictments throughout March, according to the DOJ. In Tennessee, its illegal to possess a controlled substance without having a medical prescription for the substance. He went into the building, and when he came back out he was carrying a Doritos bag, according to records. You can also be fined an additional $10,000 for third and subsequent offenses if you committed the offense near a school or other drug-free zone. Updated April 24, 2020 2:19 PM. Each charged defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and convicted through due process of law. The TBIs Drug Investigation Division (DID) investigates and assists in the prosecution of crimes involving controlled substances, narcotics, and other illegal drugs. The organization allegedly has ties to MS-13, Sur-13 and a host of other street gangs that distributed thousands of illegal narcotics, according to the DOJ. Class C Felony: 3 to 15 years. Drug Investigation Division - Tennessee Oftentimes, drug-endangered children are left to fend for themselves and the TADEC is committed to providing these children an opportunity to be protected from an environment they have done nothing to cause and from which they should have some recourse. The finalof three federal indictments returned last month were unsealed last week and all but one charged defendant have been taken into custody, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Justice. Three arrested, about $400,000 in cocaine seized in Nashville drug bust. Established in 1998, the Appalachia HIDTA is comprised of sixty-five, predominately rural counties located within the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia. An investigation carried out by federal and local law enforcement has resulted in the indictment of 22 individuals for illegally distributing substantial amounts of controlled substances in Maury and Lewis counties. By ClarksvilleNow.com January 28, 2020 12:47 pm. All four charges for possession with intent are classified as felonies. This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. Have a question about Government Services? Tennessee Drug Offender Registry Painkillers:Pulaski caregiver charged with stealing painkillers from an elderly patient. I commend the outstanding investigative efforts by DEA and our state and local law enforcement partners in this important and impactful case.". All defendants previously pleaded guilty. Monday, October 5, 2020 Seventeen Charged in Poly-Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Spanning Multiple States Jackson, TN - Seventeen individuals have been charged in federal court with operating a multiple-state drug trafficking organization. Another phenomenon is the introduction of counterfeit pills. Traffic stop on I-40 yields leads to massive drug bust. Fentanyl Demographic conditions of the Appalachia HIDTA, including relatively high unemployment and low median family income, create an environment where illegal activities and corruption can flourish. They were watching her some weeks later when they saw Seals -- the Knox County man -- pull up to an unidentified hotel in northern Georgia where Magana was staying. TBI reports said officers made a seizure of drugs totaling approximately 47 kilograms, which included combinations of methamphetamine laced with fentanyl, cocaine laced with fentanyl, and pure fentanyl. You know its a tough time for everybody, he said. Shelby County Jail records confirmed Cruz and Aguiarviera were booked into the Shelby County Jail on Friday and charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture or sell. According to the task force, law enforcement agents stopped a 2010 Mercedes on I-40 near the Fayette County border Thursday for a violation of awindow tint law. So these are high-level individuals.. He utilized a large distribution network that ranged from Western Kentucky to Northwest Mississippi. Law enforcement across Tennessee has seen "fake pills" manufactured to look like prescription medications (i.e., Percocet, Hydrocodone, Xanax) through the use of pill presses. Cocaine, hydrocodone, pot, and cash: Germantown man charged - WITI Among those named in the recent indictments, Columbia resident Keadrick Kebe Duke, 40, who faces charges for possession with intent to distribute and the distribution of crack cocaine stemming from a November 2018 event. On June 18, 2020, when Jenkins showed up to conduct the transaction, he was arrested by undercover officers. They're charged in a complaint with taking part in a meth distribution ring. Inside the Doritos bag in his vehicle, authorities found 1.5 kilos of meth and about 500 grams of heroin, the affidavit states. Federal Agencies and Law Enforcement Partners. These counties take in three Tennessee judicial districts. The post Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Announces Major Drug Bust Involving Fentanyl and Fentanyl Laced Drugs appeared first on Thunderbolt Radio. The TBI does not independently verify the convictions, and cannot guarantee their accuracy. Knoxville FBI Special Agent in Charge Rick Lambert said, "Drug trafficking enterprises are responsible for as much as 80% of the crime in many communities ranging from street corner narcotics. appreciated. Mike Christen. The men wereidentified as Jovanni Aguiarviera, 27,and Luis Cruz, 28. drug arrests - TBINewsroom.com