Source: United States Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
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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