Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Seven Suspects Arrested in West Tennessee on Federal Drug Trafficking Charges

 

Jackson, TN – Seven suspects from West Tennessee have been indicted for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine or ICE. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee announced the indictment today.

A task force made up of special agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Dyersburg Police Department and members of the FBI Jackson Safe Streets Task Force arrested seven people in an early morning raid on February 22, 2018, on federal drug trafficking charges.

Yesterday morning’s arrests are the result of a year-long investigation in which law enforcement officials have seized a large amount of ICE. One seizure alone was approximately ½ kilo of actual methamphetamine, which was 95% pure.

A federal grand jury in Jackson, TN returned the eighteen-count indictment on February 20, 2018, but it remained under seal until yesterday’s arrest. The indictment contained counts against each defendant alleging violations under the Controlled Substances Act. Some defendants also have firearms charges. The charges stem from the defendants’ participation in a conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute ICE.

The suspects arrested during the operation were:

Christopher Faulcon a/k/a “Wheezy,” 32, Dyersburg, TN

Tommy Taylor, a/k/a “Chubbs,”35, Friendship, TN

Damien Nixon, 39, Gates, TN

David McNeely, 41, Finley, TN

Patricia Wilson, a/k/a “PJ,” 30, Dyersburg, TN

Elisha Kirk, 29, Dyersburg, TN

William Hardy, 54, Dyersburg, TN

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Dyersburg Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Beth C. Boswell is prosecuting this case on the government’s behalf.

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Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: West Tennessee Man is Sentenced to 25 Years for Distributing Heroin Resulting in Fatal Overdose

Memphis, TN – A West Tennessee man has been sentenced to 300 months in federal prison for distributing heroin resulting in a fatal overdose. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, on February 16, 2018 Marvin “Pookie” Foster, 51, was sentenced to 25 years for distributing heroin, which resulted in the death of Cody Tetleton. Tetleton had a substance abuse history, but, like other similar victims, had completed two rehabilitation programs, being released from treatment approximately two weeks prior to his death.

United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: “Our state and our district are suffering from the heroin and opioid epidemic, causing increases in drug trafficking, violence, addiction, and overdose deaths that are tearing our communities apart. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has developed a district-specific strategy to prioritize cases involving heroin distribution causing overdose deaths, and this case demonstrates the significant penalty that we will use to hold offenders accountable.”

According to phone records, on July 1, 2014, Tetleton contacted Marvin Foster for the purpose of purchasing heroin. Tetleton drove to Foster’s residence in Halls, Tennessee to make the purchase. Foster sold the victim heroin and some hydrocodone pills. The victim used the heroin while seated in his vehicle in Foster’s driveway. Witnesses gave statements that Foster called them regarding the victim having overdose symptoms while still at his house. Some of those witnesses advised Foster to call 911 and to get the victim medical treatment.

Instead, Foster drove Tetleton’s truck to a remote area and left the victim in his truck with no medical assistance. On July 2, 2014, a farmer found the victim in the back seat of his own truck. A medical examiner revealed the cause of death as heroin toxicity. Furthermore, the victim’s blood was analyzed by a forensic toxicology lab and the blood showed a lethal amount of heroin was present in the blood.

Kristie Ward Thompson was indicted on October 2, 2017, in Lauderdale County, Tennessee, for facilitation of second-degree murder arising from this same incident.

Eddie Tetleton, Cody’s father, prepared a statement from the family, which the AUSA read into the record on their behalf. The following is an excerpt from that statement: “If you watch the national news, read the local papers and certainly look at social media, you will see families across the country, whose stories (their testimonies) are hauntingly similar to ours. The question that haunts families across the country is, HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN. The sentencing today will not answer a question that we have awaken us every night. But I feel most families realize we will not know this answer in this life. Our son paid the ultimate price for the demons that crept into his life. Our family too was sentenced on the tragic day of his death to life, by losing a very special young man. We do feel that Marvin Foster should also be sentenced for the part he played in the death of our son. And just maybe if it is just one at a time, the Justice System can remove those that prey on our SONS and DAUGHTERS for MONEY!!! And maybe no other family will wake during the night searching for answers that are not there….because this man contributed to their BROKEN WORLD!”

On February 20, 2018, U.S. District Judge John T. Fowlkes Jr., sentenced Foster to serve 300 months imprisonment followed by 3 years supervised release.

This case was investigated by the 25th Judicial Drug Task Force and Drug Enforcement Administration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Beth C. Boswell prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Nashville Kingpin Pleads Guilty To Illegally Importing And Distributing More Than 100 Kilograms Of Molly From China

Terrence Deon Reames, aka Santos, 40, of Nashville, Tenn., formerly of Riverdale, Georgia, pleaded guilty yesterday in U.S. District Court, to charges of operating a continuing criminal enterprise (also known as the Kingpin statute) and money laundering conspiracy relating to the illegal importation and distribution of methylone and ethylone (Molly), announced Don Cochran, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. 

Reames was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 24, 2017.

According to court documents, Reames operated the criminal enterprise from May 2011 through August 2014, during which time he obtained more than 100 kilograms of Molly from a source in China and conspired with and supervised at least five other persons while distributing the drugs in the Nashville area.  Prior to this time, Molly was a relatively unknown drug in the Nashville area but became widely available after Reames began distributing substantial amounts of the drug.

Court documents also outline the methods used by Reames to recruit distributors and to communicate with the source in China, including using encrypted communications, when discussing price, quantity, quality of the controlled substance and shipment and payment methods.  Reames provided the source with the names, including the name of a dead relative and addresses to ship to through the U.S. Postal Service and international shipping companies.  The controlled substances were subsequently shipped to addresses in and around Nashville, Tenn. and Riverdale, Georgia.  Reames also arranged for the transfer of funds by others, totaling approximately $300,000 to Chinese bank accounts and wire transfers to individuals in China. He also provided cash to these persons to use for the transactions. 

Reames used his Georgia residence to re-package the Molly for distribution.  There, he and his subordinates would breakdown kilograms of Molly and package it into capsules for distribution.  Each kilogram of Molly produced approximately 1,000 capsules.  Reames also possessed multiple firearms at his residence, including AR-Style rifles, handguns and a sawed off shotgun, which he kept to protect his drug-related assets and defend against drug-related robberies.  

According to the plea agreement, Reames agrees to face a 20-year prison sentence and a $1 million forfeiture judgement when he is sentenced on June 8, 2018.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms & Explosives; the IRS-Criminal Investigation; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the DEA; Homeland Security Investigations; and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sunny A.M. Koshy and Ahmed Safeeullah are prosecuting the case.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Fort Thompson Man Charged with Assault

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Fort Thompson, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer.

Casey World Turner, age 30, was indicted on February 14, 2018.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on February 22, 2018, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 28 years in custody and/or a $500,000 fine, 6 years of supervised release, and up to $200 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that on January 19, 2018, World Turner forcibly assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, intimidated, and interfered with an officer from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, while said officer was engaged in the performance of his official duties.  World Turner used shod feet on the officer, which resulted in physical contact.  

The charges are merely accusations and World Turner is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Crow Creek Agency.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley is prosecuting the case.   

World Turner was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: St. Francis Man Sentenced for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a St. Francis, South Dakota, man convicted of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender was sentenced on February 21, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Louis Andrew Rabbitt, Jr., age 37, was sentenced to 21 months in custody, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Rabbitt was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 12, 2017.  He pled guilty on September 26, 2017.

Rabbitt was convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor in August 2001.  As a result of this conviction, he is required to register as a sex offender.  Between the dates of July 24, 2017, and July 31, 2017, Rabbitt did not register.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Marshals Service.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel C. Nelson prosecuted the case. Rabbitt was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.  

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Spring Creek Man Sentenced for Assaulting a Federal Officer

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Spring Creek, South Dakota, man convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer was sentenced on February 21, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Lane Felix Knife, age 20, was sentenced to 6 months in custody, followed by 2 years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Knife was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 17, 2017.  He pled guilty on December 11, 2017.

The conviction stemmed from an incident on August 31, 2017.  On that date, Knife resisted arrest and spit on the arm and shoulder of one of the corrections officers who was assisting in removing Knife from a patrol vehicle.

This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel C. Nelson prosecuted the case. Knife was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Rosebud Woman Sentenced for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Rosebud, South Dakota, woman convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance was sentenced on February 21, 2018, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.

Annie Rose Gasman, age 33, was sentenced to 27 months in custody, followed by 4 years of supervised release, a fine of $1,000, and a mandatory special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Gassman was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 14, 2017.  She pled guilty on December 1, 2017.

Between August 1, 2015, and June 14, 2017, Gassman knowingly and intentionally conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine in the District of South Dakota.

Gassman received distributable quantities of methamphetamine and distributed some of the methamphetamine in South Dakota. The individuals who provided methamphetamine knew that she intended to engage in further distribution.  Gassman admitted that it was reasonably foreseeable to her that more than 500 grams of methamphetamine would be distributed during the course of the conspiracy.

This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney SaraBeth Donovan prosecuted the case.

Gassman was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Eagle Butte Man Charged with Assault

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assaulting, Resisting, Opposing, and Impeding a Federal Officer.

Jasyn Curley, age 22, was indicted on February 14, 2018.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on February 21, 2018, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 8 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that on November 17, 2017, Curley forcibly assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, intimidated, and interfered with an officer with the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, while the officer was in the performance of his official duties and said conduct involved physical contact with the officer.  

The charge is merely an accusation and Curley is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Miller is prosecuting the case.   

Curley was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.

Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Joint Investigation Leads to the Arrest of Six Defendants Involved in Significant Drug Conspiracy

Columbia, South Carolina —- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that the Drug Enforcement Administration arrested six defendants who are charged with conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl in the midlands of South Carolina.  Based on the investigation, agents seized over sixteen pounds of methamphetamine, nine pounds of heroin, and three pounds of fentanyl. 

The defendants named in the criminal complaint are Endira Torres, Devon Tremain Thomas, Matias Castro Hernandez, Leslie Geraldene Gutierrez, Alan Alberto Maldonado-Dominguez, and Luis Antonio Cruz-Gonzales.  All defendants appeared this week for bond hearings at the Matthew J. Perry Federal Courthouse in Columbia, South Carolina, before the Honorable Shiva V. Hodges, United States Magistrate Judge, and remain in federal custody.

Multiple law enforcement agencies participated in this case, including the DEA Columbia Provisional Task Force, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, South Carolina Highway Patrol, Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

This case represents another example of the fine work being done by Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies working together in South Carolina.  Assistant United States Attorney Ben Garner of the Columbia office is prosecuting the case.

The United States Attorney stated that all charges in this case are merely accusations and that the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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Source: United States Attorneys General

Headline: Lancaster County Man Sentenced in Federal Court on Firearms and Drug Charges

Columbia, South Carolina—- United States Attorney Beth Drake stated today that Jimmy Hunter, age 48, of Lancaster County, South Carolina was sentenced in federal court in Columbia, South Carolina, for felon in possession of a firearm.  Senior United States District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie, of Columbia, sentenced Hunter to 78 months incarceration followed by 3 years of supervised release.

Evidence presented at the change of plea hearing established that on September 1, 2017, the Lancaster County Drug Task Force was following up on a drug overdose investigation that involved Hunter.  Officers went to Hunter’s residence located in Lancaster to speak to him concerning the overdose.  After knocking on the door several times, a guest of Hunter opened the door and walked onto the front porch.  As she opened the door, an investigator smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the residence.  The guest was interviewed about the overdose on the porch of the residence.  After investigators finished speaking to the guest, she was advised that officers had detected the odor of marijuana coming from inside the residence.  She was asked if anyone else was at the residence, and she stated that it was Hunter’s residence and that he was still next door. Officers then obtained a search warrant for the residence.

When the officers entered the residence, several illegal items were immediately located out in the open on the master bedroom bed such as marijuana, scales, and crystal methamphetamine in a clear plastic bag and on a tray.  A thorough search also revealed crystal methamphetamine, syringes, and spoons throughout the residence.  These items were located in almost every room of the residence to include the living room desk, under the bar, the bathroom, the master bedroom dresser as well as on the master bedroom bed. The officers also located several firearms and ammunition in an open gun safe located in the master bedroom.  When officers searched the bedroom closet, they observed several cases of ammunition, a ballistic vest, holsters, and several ammunition cans of firearm magazines.

Officers recovered the following firearms: an Anderson model AM15, .223 caliber rifle, a Mossberg (Companhia Brasiliera)  model 702 Plinkster, .22 caliber rifle, a Romarm/Cugir model M-10, 7.62 caliber rifle, a Mossberg Maverick model 88, 12 gauge shotgun, a Springfield/Stevens 12 gauge shotgun, and a Gerstenberger U. Eberwein .32 caliber revolver.  At least 3300 rounds of ammunition were found in the gun safe and the master bedroom closet.

The case was investigated by agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Lancaster County Sheriff’s Department.  Assistant United States Attorney William K. Witherspoon of the Columbia office prosecuted the case.

This case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state and local Project CeaseFire initiative, which aggressively prosecutes firearm cases. Project Ceasefire is South Carolina’s continued application of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.  In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

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