Main Office: 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. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Criminal enterprises that distribute harmful drugs into West Tennessee can no longer hide. Required fields are marked *. Utilization of the latest methods and technology to dismantle, eliminate and/or disrupt these illegal actions. Class D Felony: 2 to 12 years. appreciated. Fentanyl The amount seized is equal to a ton of meth. A Warner Bros. McAllen, Texas residents Julio Beto, 45, Freddy Quinones, 48 and Jesus Barbas Silva, 40,also face the changes in addition to Pulaski residents Tory Hardison, 27, and Carson Lunn, 24. A multi-agency drug investigation led to the discovery of nearly a half million dollars worth of cocaine and the arrest of . Both men remain in theShelby County Jail on $1 million bonds each. 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. 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. Have a question about Government Services? ( 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. Cody Seals got into a shootout with authorities in Hamilton County in January. 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. 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. 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. 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. ORDER REPRINT . By ClarksvilleNow.com January 28, 2020 12:47 pm. 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. The estimated total street value of the drugs is more than $13 million, according to Overbey's release. They're charged in a complaint with taking part in a meth distribution ring. In March 2019, a DEA investigation was initiated in the Jackson, Tennessee area. Franklin, TN 37064 Those indicted included Juan Carlos Brown, 34, of Muncie, who was charged with: The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has announced a major drug bust in Middle Tennessee. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has announced a major drug bust in Middle Tennessee. In August 2010, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) designated Shelby County to be included in the Gulf Coast HIDTA. In total, the task force officers foundfive pounds of fentanyl, one pound of black tar heroin and approximately 2,500 unidentified pills. 2023 www.columbiadailyherald.com. Marshals Service (USMS). On June 18, 2020, when Jenkins showed up to conduct the transaction, he was arrested by undercover officers. JACKSON, Ga. - A big drug investigation that law enforcement dubbed Crystal Web in 12 Georgia . Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Jenkins then called another individual and directed him to turn over $230,030 to law enforcement. The massive operation was led by 29-year-old Humberto Morales of Tennessee who has been incarcerated at the Tennessee State Prison since 2014. in Local News. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda J. Klopf prosecuted the case. The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. 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. Meth ring bust yields nearly 60 indictments. Pulaski caregiver charged with stealing painkillers from an elderly patient, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Columbia, TN 38401 2. Drug Seizure Statistics FY2023 As of 15 December 2021 the Drug Seizures dashboard now includes seizures of all drug types. CONTACT:Tabatha Curtis,Statewide Coordinator. Discovery Company. Acting DEA Administrator Timothy Shea announced the bust at a press conference Wednesday. 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. The defendants are identified as Jose Cruz Landeroz-Tovar, Mariono Gonzales, Luis Albert Cruz, Aldolfo Dominguez, Luis Fernando Pena-Fierro and Maria Magana. Los Angeles, one of nine cities targeted by Operation Crystal Shield, is a hub for drug traffickers because of the proximity to numerous freeways and airports. 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. 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. 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. Jenkins was initially arrested by law enforcement in June 2020, after a months-long investigation which resulted in the search of an apartment in the Overhill Apartment Complex in Nashville in February 2020, where the defendants were seen entering and exiting numerous times. Authorities, records indicate, first became aware of her after two people who'd just bought meth from her were in a crash Dec. 12, 2019, in East Tennessee. This was a seriously deadly load, he said. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Harper alerted the agents "to the presence of a narcotic containing odor coming from the vehicle," task force officials said in a news release. amy . Someone whos responsible for this quantity of drugs is someone who is very, very trusted by the cartels, Bodner said. The Gulf Coast HIDTA encompasses designated counties/parishes across the six states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The technology would essentially jam the signals of cellphones smuggled into prisons. There are currently six DID Special Agents dedicated to combating prescription drug diversion and are stationed throughout the state. July 13, 2020. Individuals seeking prescription drugs like Hydrocodone have found that heroin is cheaper and more accessible on the street. In 2020, Allen said the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation saw 17 cases fatal and non-fatal involving nitazenes. I commend the outstanding investigative efforts by DEA and our state and local law enforcement partners in this important and impactful case.". Seals started firing a pistol at them. The multi-year investigation carried out by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), according to ICE. 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. 30 pounds of THC-laced Skittles, sour chews seized in Tennessee drug bust, police say By Tanasia Kenney. Authorities say around 90 arrests are expected in the end of a methamphetamine drug investigation. Note: Internet Explorer has problems displaying the following charts. Published 7:33 PM EDT, Wed October 14, 2020. of methamphetamine (ice), 500 fentanyl pills, and an additional 1.25 lbs. Another phenomenon is the introduction of counterfeit pills. The Governors Task Force on Marijuana Eradication (GTFME) was created by Executive Order No. During the same time frame, the number of DEA arrests related to meth rose nearly 20%. "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. 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. Painkillers:Pulaski caregiver charged with stealing painkillers from an elderly patient. 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. Dec 31, 2014 Updated Oct 19, 2022. The exact location of the crash wasn't immediately clear. The motto of the Tennessee Dangerous Drugs Task Force continues to be Protect, Enforce, and Educate., The Tennessee Alliance for Drug-Endangered Children(TADEC) is comprised offederal, local, and state agencies who share a goal to prevent drug-related harm to children and rescue, shelter, and support Tennessees children who suffer physical and psychological harm caused by the manufacture, distribution, sale, and abuse ofprescription drugs and alcohol.. CA houses for rent. 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. The defendants appeared Tuesday in federal court in Knoxville. 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. 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. Christopher Mantooth, 38, Sarah . And you know some people turn to drugs to deal with that.. 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. - [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. An official website of the United States government. 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. In the fight against contraband cell phones, we run into a brick wall time and time again, Parker said. Pictures posted to the GBI Facebook page showed what amounts to millions of doses of drugs , the agency said in a Tuesday. All Rights Reserved. He went into the building, and when he came back out he was carrying a Doritos bag, according to records. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney announced the unsealing of the federal criminal complaint today. 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. Hardin County Government - Hardin County, Tennessee - Official . Assistant U.S. 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. 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. The drugs were seized at an alleged stash house east of Los Angeles in Perris, California, on October 2. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Wayne County Sheriff Shane Fisher said a routine drug. A lock ( 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. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Seventeen people have been charged in federal court with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, cocaine and marijuana into and throughout West. 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. He utilized a large distribution network that ranged from Western Kentucky to Northwest Mississippi. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Lawler Parham is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government. She lived 30-40 minutes from the house, according to the government. 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. Morales also instructed hitman Magdiel Pina Ramirez of Mexico to cut off part of his pinky finger to prove his loyalty, the DOJ said. Did you encounter any technical issues? According to Monroe County Sheriff Tommy Jones, a deputy spotted a driver not. 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. 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. Phone: (615) 510-6404, 604 N High St . Attorneys Robert S. Levine and Nani Gilkerson are prosecuting these cases.