Two vehicles used for the sale of illegal narcotics and several weapons were also seized. Columbia, TN 38401 D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney announced the unsealing of the federal criminal complaint today. Attorneys Robert S. Levine and Nani Gilkerson are prosecuting these cases. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Troy was founded in 1825 as the original county seat of Obion County. in Local News. 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. 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. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) - January 28, 2020 - Nine people have been indicted by a federal grand jury and charged with conspiracies to . Drug Enforcement Administration agents seized more than 2,200 pounds of methamphetamine earlier this month, the largest haul in the agencys history domestically, according to officials. 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. of methamphetamine (ice), 500 fentanyl pills, and an additional 1.25 lbs. December 23, 2020 3:54 PM. The TBI/TDDTF is an integral member of this task force by operating as the Program Director. "Seals emerged from his vehicle with an assault rifle and fired a very large number of shots at the troopers," according to an affidavit from Ted Francisco, a task force officer with Homeland Security Investigations. December 22, 2020 . Tennessee, U . Special Agents assigned to the Drug Investigation Division cooperate with local, state, and especially federal law enforcement agencies, such as the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Tennessees United States Attorneys offices. The massive operation was led by 29-year-old Humberto Morales of Tennessee who has been incarcerated at the Tennessee State Prison since 2014. He utilized a large distribution network that ranged from Western Kentucky to Northwest Mississippi. Hidden on the property in various vehicles, including a bus, they found a total of 864 kilograms of meth, according to records. Nashville, Tennessee 37203, Telephone: 615-736-5151 All rights reserved. Pulaski caregiver charged with stealing painkillers from an elderly patient, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Fentanyl is sold as heroin and often laced into other drugs such a heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. The Middle Tennessee HIDTA Task Force is in the counties of Middle Tennessee as identified by the Appalachia HIDTA. Acting DEA Administrator Timothy Shea announced the bust at a press conference Wednesday. The drugs were found packed inside 25 duffel bags and ready for distribution, according to authorities. amy . Mosley and Jenkins were charged with committing these crimes following a conviction for a serious drug felony. The population was 1,423 at the 2020 census. They were discovered hidden in a truck delivering medical supplies from Mexico. At about 4:20 a.m. Thursday, deputies with the HCSO narcotics and tactical units along with agents of the Third Judicial Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force and officers with the Rogersville. He does not appear to have been charged with a federal offense. In that case, the driver, a 47-year-old Mexican citizen, was arrested and turned over to a joint federal agency investigative team, according to a US Customs and Border Protection statement. North Memphis drug bust results in 40 indictments, 3 houses closed by: Stuart Rucker, Andrew Ellison. Narcan is an opiate antagonist that acts by blocking the effects of opiate drugs and reversing the event of an overdose. All Rights Reserved. Morales used contraband cellphones that were smuggled into the prison to orchestrate the drug distribution network, which flowed between Tennessee and Mexico, according to the DOJ. Smith was arrested by the U.S. The defendants appeared Tuesday in federal court in Knoxville. She lived 30-40 minutes from the house, according to the government. Phone: (931) 380-8837, 1616 Westgate Cir #363 So far, they have not filed charges. The charges carry sentences of between five years and life in prison. He was a Naval veteran, having served on the USS Chatelain, part of the 10th Atlantic Fleet, during WWII. 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. WASHINGTON COUNTY -- More than $400,000 worth of illegal drugs and $250,000 cash were seized in a major drug bust in Washington County, part of a 20-month investigation into an alleged. While we continue to make progress reducing prescription drug issues, illicit opioid drug use continues to spawn the proliferation of heroin/fentanyl. Lock Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Have a question about Government Services? We believe there is only one viable solution in fighting the war on contraband cell phones in our facilities and that is through the deployment of shielded-micro jamming technology.. ORDER REPRINT . Officers also recovered kilo presses; $45,000 in cash; and a .380 caliber pistol. 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. 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. 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. During the search, law enforcement recovered more than five kilograms of heroin; more than 3 kilograms of a heroin and fentanyl mixture; approximately 1 kilogram of fentanyl, and more than 32 grams of cocaine base. Lawson says the incident happened early Thursday. 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 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. The technology would essentially jam the signals of cellphones smuggled into prisons. 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. 2023 www.columbiadailyherald.com. Franklin, TN 37064 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. 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. according to a US Customs and Border Protection statement. 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. 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. Meth ring bust yields nearly 60 indictments. CLINTON, Tenn. (WVLT) - Multiple agencies including the Anderson County Sheriff's Office, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the Smoky Mountain Fugitive Task Force completed an investigation that ended in the arrests of several drug trafficking suspects. He went into the building, and when he came back out he was carrying a Doritos bag, according to records. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Lawler Parham is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. This case was investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. Troopers hit Seals with return fire for which he was hospitalized. Discovery Company. Those who are faced with the chargeinclude Columbia residents Brent Smiley" Burns, 38, and Tristen Jolly Tisby, 29, and Mt. He added that treatment options for addicts and people struggling have been limited due to restrictions in place because of the coronavirus. . More than 20 suspects arraigned in federal court following Middle Tennessee drug bust. In the fight against contraband cell phones, we run into a brick wall time and time again, Parker said. One trooper was shot in the leg. 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. That led investigators to begin tracking Magana. It just wouldnt happen. Fentanyl Jackson, TN Seventeen individuals have been charged in federal court with operating a multiplestate drug trafficking organization. Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect. Undeterred by the loss, or the possibility that law enforcement was aware of the illegal drug activity, during the undercover investigation Jenkins also agreed to purchase 10 kilograms of cocaine for $240,000. Cody Seals got into a shootout with authorities in Hamilton County in January. 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. The TBI does not independently verify the convictions, and cannot guarantee their accuracy. Drug Enforcement Administration agents seized more than 2,200 pounds of methamphetamine earlier this month . The Jefferson City Police Department Aggressive Criminal Enforcement unit has ended a lengthy undercover operation that resulted in 31 Jefferson County grand jury indictments for the sale and. An additional 8 individuals were charged in separate indictments throughout March, according to the DOJ. 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. They're charged in a complaint with taking part in a meth distribution ring. tennessee narcotic drug bust in which has been filed a felony counts of!. Oct 12, 2020 The court may also require you to take drug education classes or perform community service. 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. Reducingviolent crime by networking withlocal programs that targetviolent crime and providing these programs with tools to be successful. The estimated total street value of the drugs is more than $13 million, according to Overbey's release. Both men remain in theShelby County Jail on $1 million bonds each. As a result of the search warrant, agents located and seized 12 ounces of marijuana, three grams of heroin and 2.5 pounds of methamphetamine from the residence. During the same time frame, the number of DEA arrests related to meth rose nearly 20%. Official websites use .gov 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. According to a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation news release, 15 people are in custody as of Thursday afternoon. A second indictment charges seven individuals with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances, including heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, crack . 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. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The 29 individuals were arrested on a combined total of 221 charges for distribution of drugs such as heroin, methamphetamine, and prescription medications. MONROE COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) One person is facing charges Saturday morning after a drug bust in Monroe County. Individuals seeking prescription drugs like Hydrocodone have found that heroin is cheaper and more accessible on the street. The multi-year investigation carried out by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), according to ICE. Narcan The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has announced a major drug bust in Middle Tennessee. CA houses for rent. oxycodone, and marijuana, between October 2017 and November 2020. . U.S. Attorney Mark H. Wildasin, joined byFBI Special Agent in charge of the Memphis Division Douglas Korneski and DEA Special Agent in Charge of the Louisville Division J. Todd Scott, commended the investigative work of the agencies involved. A low level operative would not be trusted to hold $18 million of drugs in a house. Christopher Mantooth, 38, Sarah . 719 Church St., Suite 3300 "The drugs are getting more and more. Its a massive amount.. A second indictment charges seven individuals with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances, including heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, crack cocaine, oxycodone, and marijuana, between October 2017 and November 2020. . This operation should be a message to the bad guys that if theyre thinking they can come out to the rural areas of West Tennessee to sell their drugs, commit violent crimes or hide out, it wont be tolerated, Carter said. On June 18, 2020, when Jenkins showed up to conduct the transaction, he was arrested by undercover officers. By ClarksvilleNow.com January 28, 2020 12:47 pm. Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Support Center, TBI State Academy Leadership Development Experience, The Tennessee Alliance for Drug-Endangered Children, Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (AHIDTA), Appalachia High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking (GCHIDTA), Governor's Task Force on Marijuana Eradication, Tennessee Department Of Treasury Tort Liability Claims, CALEA Accreditation Public Comment Portal. Jenkins then called another individual and directed him to turn over $230,030 to law enforcement. Seals has since been released from the hospital and and now faces numerous charges in Hamilton County including two charges of attempted murder, according to WRCB-TV. It's still an "ongoing investigation," according to Overbey's release. Mike Christen. Individuals indicted could face a minimum of 10 years in jail or a maximum of life in prison, according to the DOJ. The increase of heroin abuse has created an epidemic rate increase of overdoses and deaths. Follow him on Twitter at @MikeChristenCDH and on Instagram at @michaelmarco. 219 3rd Ave N Consultation with an experienced drug crime lawyer will get you the best possible outcome for your case. While the agency was given a grant to conduct a pilot program, the Communications Act of 1934 prevents the technology from being used, according to Parker. Your email address will not be published. In March 2019, a DEA investigation was initiated in the Jackson, Tennessee area. While we continue to make progress reducing prescription drug issues, illicit opioid drug use continues to spawn the proliferation of heroin/fentanyl. During the press conference, Shea pointed to the pandemic for the rise in drug use and overdoses. WAYNE COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) At least 20 people are charged in connection to a Middle Tennessee methamphetamine distribution ring. JACKSON, Ga. - A big drug investigation that law enforcement dubbed Crystal Web in 12 Georgia . The penalties for these felonies range in length: Class B Felony: 8 to 30 years. In one incident, the organization kidnapped a woman who lost drug proceeds and used a hatchet to chop off one of her hands, before leaving her lying on the street, the DOJ said. In Tennessee, its illegal to possess a controlled substance without having a medical prescription for the substance.
