An official website of the United States government. Mardi Growl to close several roads in downtown Knoxville on Saturday, What you need to know about paying to park in the Great Smoky Mountains, Severe storms move through East Tennessee, THP dashcam video shows chase, shootout on Highway 27, Corryton man shot after chase ends in shoot-out with THP troopers. 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. Mosley and Jenkins were charged with committing these crimes following a conviction for a serious drug felony. Affidavits cite numerous undercover and controlled drug purchases, as well as seizures of heroin, fentanyl, and large amounts of cash. The defendants are identified as Jose Cruz Landeroz-Tovar, Mariono Gonzales, Luis Albert Cruz, Aldolfo Dominguez, Luis Fernando Pena-Fierro and Maria Magana. JACKSON, Ga. - A big drug investigation that law enforcement dubbed Crystal Web in 12 Georgia . Tennessee Dangerous Drugs Task Force Tennessee Drug Map This interactive map allows you to search for an address and display drug activities on the map, including meth lab seizures, meth lab quarantine sites, and other incidents. 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. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. A traffic stop on Interstate 40 in Shelby County last week led to a large drug bust,theWest Tennessee Judicial Violent Crime andDrug Task Force said Wednesday. I commend the outstanding investigative efforts by DEA and our state and local law enforcement partners in this important and impactful case.". After the crash, the people in the vehicle ran away. The defendants appeared Tuesday in federal court in Knoxville. 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. All rights reserved. It just wouldnt happen. CA houses for rent. 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. Utilization of the latest methods and technology to dismantle, eliminate and/or disrupt these illegal actions. (RELATED: I Want To Shove The Drugs Right Up The Noses Of The Gringos: Honduran President Accused By US Prosecutors Of Trafficking Drugs). CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. The Gulf Coast HIDTA encompasses designated counties/parishes across the six states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Updated April 24, 2020 2:19 PM. The federal indictment also charges 14 individuals with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana, between March 2018 and September 2019. 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. 30 pounds of THC-laced Skittles, sour chews seized in Tennessee drug bust, police say By Tanasia Kenney. . RELATED: THP dashcam video shows chase, shootout on Highway 27, RELATED: Corryton man shot after chase ends in shoot-out with THP troopers. Other agencies involved include the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service in Knoxville, the Drug Enforcement Administration in Atlanta, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Ninth Judicial Drug Task Force in Tennessee. In Tennessee, its illegal to possess a controlled substance without having a medical prescription for the substance. Pulaski caregiver charged with stealing painkillers from an elderly patient, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Lawler Parham is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. Phone: (615) 510-6404, 604 N High St 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. TheTennessee Dangerous Drugs Task Force(TDDTF) is a partnership of federal, state, and local agencies collaborating to reduce the availability and illegal use of harmful scheduled drugs. Reach Mike Christenat mchristen@c-dh.net. He utilized a large distribution network that ranged from Western Kentucky to Northwest Mississippi. 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. Individuals were also charged with Misdemeanor Child Abuse and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile. The seizure was part of the DEAs ongoing initiative Operation Crystal Shield, which is targeting cities where meth is often trafficked in bulk. Published Oct 12, 2020 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. Investigators used wiretaps along with other surveillance, confidential sources, traffic stops, search warrants, and gang intelligence to investigate this drug trafficking organization. tennessee narcotic drug bust in which has been filed a felony counts of!. Your email address will not be published. "It takes us a long time from the time we first know someone is dealing drugs, to. Task force director Johnie Carter said the numbers were "absolutely terrifying.". Marshals Service (USMS). Frontiersman Davy Crockett was in attendance when the town was platted. I am quite pleased with the end result. Mike Christen. Fentanyl The massive operation was led by 29-year-old Humberto Morales of Tennessee who has been incarcerated at the Tennessee State Prison since 2014. The arrests and drug seizure was made possible after agents developed information about a shipment of drugs being sent to Murfreesboro from California. The individuals in question now face charges ranging from possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia to promotion of methamphetamine manufacture and felony evading arrest. During the same time frame, the number of DEA arrests related to meth rose nearly 20%. Second-Largest Border Meth Bust in History Announced Drug Bust Sep 16, 2020 CBP Finds $3.9 Million Worth of Meth, Cocaine in Boulders at Tecate Crossing Also seized were 893 pounds (405. A multi-agency drug investigation led to the discovery of nearly a half million dollars worth of cocaine and the arrest of . More than 20 suspects arraigned in federal court following Middle Tennessee drug bust. Convictions for third and subsequent possessions are class E felonies, and they will land you one to six years in prison, a fine of up to $3,000, or both. The increase of heroin abuse has created an epidemic rate increase of overdoses and deaths. Sale or possession with intent is a serious drug charge. Those indicted included Juan Carlos Brown, 34, of Muncie, who was charged with: ROGERSVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) - Three Hawkins County deputies were injured while conducting a drug investigation according to Sheriff Ronnie Lawson. All rights reserved. He does not appear to have been charged with a federal offense. These districts include Fentress County in the 8th Judicial District, Jackson County in the 15th Judicial District, and Overton, Pickett, Putnam, and Cumberland counties in the 13th Judicial District. The Gulf Coast HIDTA funds four law enforcement initiatives in Shelby County; the Shelby County HIDTA Drug Task Force led by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Shelby County MultiAgency Gang Unit led by the Memphis Police Department, Memphis Case Advocacy Program led by the United States Attorney's Office, and Border Enforcement Security Task Force led by United States Homeland Security Investigations. 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. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. The exact location of the crash wasn't immediately clear. Each defendants role in the drug trafficking conspiracy is outlined in the criminal complaint: Terry Smith, a/k/a "Ali," a/k/a "Cockeye", 33 of Lauderdale County (TDOC Custody), Rodney Ayers, a/k/a "P-Rod," 47 of Shelby County, Horace McNeary, a/k/a "HB," 35 of Henry County, Brianna Norsworthy, 23 of Calloway County, Kentucky, Dustin Chambers, a/k/a "SNOW," 35 of Madison County, Anthony Hines, a/k/a "BYRD," 41 of Shelby County, Teddy Reed, a/k/a "PT," 40 of Shelby County, Danielle Cunningham, 35 of Shelby County, Aerielle Coleman, 31 of Shelby County, and, James Dumas, a/k/a "DOO DOO," 45 of Shelby County, Terry Smith, a/k/a "ALI," a/k/a "COCKEYE", Tracy Coleman, 49 of Shelby County, and, Terry Smith, a/k/a "ALI," a/k/a "COCKEYE. 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. These counties take in three Tennessee judicial districts. 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. WBBJ 7 Eyewitness . James Edwin Perry, 95, of Tennessee Veterans Home in Clarksville, TN died at 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020.A native of Ashland City, TN, he was born May 18, 1924 the son of the late James Franklin Perry and Louise Girard Perry. 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. Law enforcement is also witnessing, with heroin, an increase in the presence of Fentanyl (a powerful synthetic oppiate analgesic similar to but more potent than morphine), and its analogs. Discovery Company. 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. Your email address will not be published. Drug possession charges can be difficult to get dismissed because, unlike most crimes, the state does not have to prove your mental state or intent. June 24, 2020 Authorities charged 47 people and seized more than $1.7 million worth of methamphetamine following a nine-month drug investigation across the state, officials said Wednesday.. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Hidden on the property in various vehicles, including a bus, they found a total of 864 kilograms of meth, according to records. 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. according to a US Customs and Border Protection statement. Please considersupportinghis work and that of other Daily Herald journalists by subscribing to the publication. The drugs were seized on October 2. December 23, 2020 3:54 PM. But after a local and 719 Church St., Suite 3300 Official websites use .gov D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney announced the unsealing of the federal criminal complaint today. Our hands are tied with a near century old law that could not have foreseen the problem of illegal cell phones inside prisons in 2021.. Both agencies led the arrest round up in Benton and Henry Counties on Tuesday as a part of Operation Icebreaker, a more than year-long drug investigation targeting methamphetamine and other. During the press conference, Shea pointed to the pandemic for the rise in drug use and overdoses. A low level operative would not be trusted to hold $18 million of drugs in a house. North Memphis drug bust results in 40 indictments, 3 houses closed by: Stuart Rucker, Andrew Ellison. Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect. The increase of heroin abuse has created an epidemic rate increase of overdoses and deaths. Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Announces Major Drug Bust Involving Fentanyl and Fentanyl Laced Drugs, Union City Boys Knock Off 5th Ranked Gibson County; Girls Fall to Lady Pioneers, Kolitsch named acting provost and senior vice chancellor, Stewart County Dispatch Breaks Record During Storm, Suspected Tornado Touchdown Damages Homes, Band Students Represent Districts Best At All West, Weakley County Students Celebrate Reading In Unique Ways, Speakers remember Martin Luther King, Jr. during annual celebration. According to Washington County Sheriff Ed Graybeal, an ongoing collaboration between area law enforcement officials has resulted in the conviction in a methamphetamine conspiracy of nearly 57 defendants with the possible subsequent federal sentence of more than 300 . D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney announced the unsealing of the federal criminal complaint today. Both men remain in theShelby County Jail on $1 million bonds each. 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. At least two dozen people allegedly participated in a major Glynn County-based drug-trafficking operation for a lengthy amount of time, law enforcement officials said Wednesday. Among those with ties to the alleged meth ring is a Knox County man named Cody Seals, 22, who in January got into a shootout with Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers in Hamilton County while carrying meth he'd just gotten from Magana, according to records and previous reports. The sheriff's office says He's being held in Hamilton County. Individuals seeking prescription drugs like Hydrocodone have found that heroin is cheaper and more accessible on the street. Cruz and Dominguez have a preliminary March 19. Tennessee, U . Narcan is an opiate antagonist that acts by blocking the effects of opiate drugs and reversing the event of an overdose. 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. In March 2019, a DEA investigation was initiated in the Jackson, Tennessee area. Acting DEA Administrator Timothy Shea announced the bust at a press conference Wednesday. Its a massive amount.. In total, the task force officers foundfive pounds of fentanyl, one pound of black tar heroin and approximately 2,500 unidentified pills. Established in 1998, the Appalachia HIDTA is comprised of sixty-five, predominately rural counties located within the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia. 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. 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. ( 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. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The charges carry sentences of between five years and life in prison. Middle District of Tennessee The technology would essentially jam the signals of cellphones smuggled into prisons. "An extensive search of the vehicle disclosed a natural void located within the vehicle that had been converted into a compartment to transport contraband," the task force said. Ongoing Drug Investigation in East Tennessee Results in 39 Indictments KNOXVILLE - Thirty-nine people have been indicted following a nearly two-year undercover investigation into a violent drug trafficking organization that has ties to at least three states. While we continue to make progress reducing prescription drug issues, illicit opioid drug use continues to spawn the proliferation of heroin/fentanyl. Jenkins then called another individual and directed him to turn over $230,030 to law enforcement. They're charged in a complaint with taking part in a meth distribution ring. They were discovered hidden in a truck delivering medical supplies from Mexico. Memphis Commercial Appeal 0:04 0:45 A traffic stop on Interstate 40 in Shelby County last week led to a large drug bust, the West Tennessee Judicial Violent Crime and Drug Task Force said. by Larcom Web Design in Local News. The investigation began in March 2020 and focused on drug trafficking in the Knoxville area in eastern Tennessee. Thats a significant amount of meth, Timothy Shea, the DEAs acting administrator, said at a press conference on Wednesday. They can have a lasting impact on your criminal record. The estimated total street value of the drugs is more than $13 million, according to Overbey's release. Individuals indicted could face a minimum of 10 years in jail or a maximum of life in prison, according to the DOJ. According to a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation news release, 15 people are in custody as of Thursday afternoon. Someone whos responsible for this quantity of drugs is someone who is very, very trusted by the cartels, Bodner said. Shea said that the capture of the drug kingpin Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, interrupted the Sinaloa Cartels operations, making room for rival Jalisco Cartel to rise and clash. The primary objective and mission of the GTFME remains to provide public safety for the citizens of Tennesseethrough: Go to Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). "Once opened, the compartment was found to contain the suspected fentanyl and black tar heroin, as well as thousands of 30-milligram tablets believed to be Oxycodone.". Marshals Service while in TDOC custody at the West Tennessee State Penitentiary, and transferred to federal pre-trial custody. December 22, 2020 Last month, Attorney General William Barr and Shea announced that in six months of the operation, agents seized more than 28,000 pounds of meth, $43.3 million in drug proceeds and 284 firearms. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. It's still an "ongoing investigation," according to Overbey's release. Tennessee Drug Offender Registry Disclaimer The information contained in the Tennessee Drug Offender Registry is provided to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation by the appropriate clerk in each county. amy . Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Two vehicles used for the sale of illegal narcotics and several weapons were also seized. 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. The 29 individuals were arrested on a combined total of 221 charges for distribution of drugs such as heroin, methamphetamine, and prescription medications. of methamphetamine (ice), 500 fentanyl pills, and an additional 1.25 lbs. 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. Fentanyl is sold as heroin and often laced into other drugs such a heroin, methamphetamine, and cocaine. According to court documents, the DEA and local law enforcement partners launched an investigation into the drug-trafficking organization in June 2019. In the fight against contraband cell phones, we run into a brick wall time and time again, Parker said. These counterfeits are compiled of various concoctions and are not what they appear to be. Harper alerted the agents "to the presence of a narcotic containing odor coming from the vehicle," task force officials said in a news release. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The massive operation was led by 29-year-old Humberto Morales of Tennessee who has been incarcerated at the Tennessee State Prison since 2014. Class E Felony: 1 to 6 years. Federal authorities have indicted 27 individuals in a massive, violent drug-trafficking scheme that operated out of a Tennessee state prison for years. You know its a tough time for everybody, he said. The arrests are touted as the result of a multi-agency investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Columbia Police Department, the Hohenwald Police Department, the Spring Hill Police Department, and the Williamson County Sheriffs Department. The TBI does not independently verify the convictions, and cannot guarantee their accuracy. 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. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Doug Overbey, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee, made the announcement Thursday. appreciated. Assistant U.S. 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. Inside the Doritos bag in his vehicle, authorities found 1.5 kilos of meth and about 500 grams of heroin, the affidavit states. The post Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Announces Major Drug Bust Involving Fentanyl and Fentanyl Laced Drugs appeared first on Thunderbolt Radio. Phone: (931) 380-8837, 1616 Westgate Cir #363 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. A 28-year-old woman was arrested Saturday following a drug bust during which police found more than 183 grams of suspected heroin/fentanyl, the Anne Arundel County Police Department said. The Governors Task Force on Marijuana Eradication (GTFME) was created by Executive Order No. 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. To access the data used to build this dashboard, please visit the CBP Data Portal. 2023 Cable News Network. 29 of these counties are in . 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. I 100% recommend Adrian H. Altshuler and Associates!! Example video title will go here for this video. 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. Agents seized 106.5 lbs. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. Six people from Mexico are in federal custody in East Tennessee after a bust led to the discovery of more than 900 kilograms of methamphetamine with an estimated value of more than $13 million, authorities say. 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.. The concern there is that they are very violent and theyre very aggressive and they are largely responsible for much of the meth in this country, said Shea. Agents became suspicious after questioning the two men in the vehicle both from California and utilized a narcotics detection dog, Harper, to conduct a free-air sniff around the car. Wayne County Sheriff Shane Fisher said a routine drug. Another phenomenon is the introduction of counterfeit pills. 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. Smith was arrested by the U.S. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has announced a major drug bust in Middle Tennessee. - [Google Review], What to Do if You are Pulled Over for DUI, Finding the Right Criminal Defense Lawyer, Drug Bust in West Tennessee Yields Drug Crime Charges Against Nine. 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. 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. Class C Felony: 3 to 15 years. During the press conference, Shea mentioned last weeks second-largest border seizure of meth in which federal agents confiscated more than 3,000 pounds of meth, heroin, fentanyl powder, and pills laced with fentanyl. 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. He added that treatment options for addicts and people struggling have been limited due to restrictions in place because of the coronavirus. So these are high-level individuals.. "Operation Thundering Justice," led by special agents with the Drug Investigation Division of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Carroll County Sheriff's Office, the Huntingdon Police Department, the McKenzie Police Department, and the Henderson County Sheriff's Office, began in January 2020. 2. The amount seized is equal to a ton of meth. The TBI/TDDTF is an integral member of this task force by operating as the Program Director. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. Six people from Mexico are in federal custody in East Tennessee after a bust led to the discovery of more than 900 kilograms of methamphetamine with an estimated value of. From mid-February until this week, "law enforcement intercepted numerous conversations over wiretaps in which (Magana) coordinated the distribution of kilogram quantities of methamphetamine and other drugs," the Francisco affidavit states.