Western District of Tennessee

Jackson, TN – Michael Holland, 37, a former resident of Columbia, South Carolina, has pleaded guilty in federal court to transporting a minor across state lines with intent that the minor engage in criminal sexual activity in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2423(a).  United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the results of the court proceedings today.   

According to information presented in court, in November 2024, Holland traveled from his home in South Carolina to Jackson, Tennessee to pick up a 12-year-old girl that he had been communicating with over Snapchat for several months.  After picking her up, Holland drove the minor back to his home in South Carolina.  Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) were ultimately able to locate the minor at Holland’s residence.  

The minor told investigators that Holland performed several sexual acts on her after they arrived at his home.  A search of Holland’s cell phone corroborated the minor’s statements, as investigators located several photographs and videos on Holland’s phone which showed him engaging in various sexual acts with the minor at his residence. 

This case is pending before United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson in Jackson. Holland is scheduled to be sentenced in September of this year.  Holland is facing a mandatory-minimum sentence of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.  There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “This case demonstrates the horrifying danger posed by predators who lure, exploit, and abuse innocent children using social media and the internet. It also demonstrates our federal law enforcement partners’ outstanding abilities to track offenders and rescue victims. We will vigorously seek significant punishment for this sick and despicable offender, and any others like him.”

This case was investigated by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Columbia, South Carolina and Jackson, Tennessee. Anyone with additional information as to this case or concerning Holland is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-Call-FBI or online at tips@fbi.gov.

Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

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For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

WASHINGTON – Larry Wilson, also known as “L,” 36, of Memphis, Tennessee, was sentenced today to 87 months in prison following his conviction for RICO conspiracy.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Wilson admitted to attempting to commit and committing a robbery and distributing methamphetamine as part of a pattern of racketeering activity for Young Mob, a Memphis-based gang founded in 2007. In June 2024, Wilson and multiple other members and associates of Young Mob robbed at gunpoint three customers at a Memphis tattoo shop. Wilson also distributed and conspired to distribute methamphetamine with other Young Mob members.

From March 14, 2024, until June 13, 2024, by court order, investigators monitored wire and electronic communications between Wilson and other Young Mob members. Intercepted communications revealed that Wilson and certain Young Mob members were conspiring to distribute and distributing large quantities of controlled substances to include fentanyl and methamphetamine. Those communications also revealed that Wilson and other Young Mob members were committing acts of violence as part of a pattern of racketeering activity.

On June 11, 2024, Wilson, and certain Young Mob members, to include Braxton Beck, also known as “B Mack,” attempted to rob a customer at the Therapeutic Ink tattoo shop in Memphis. When investigators learned of the plot, they dispatched Memphis Police Department (MPD) marked units to the tattoo shop to prevent the robbery attempt. The MPD deployment succeeded and the Young Mob co-conspirators abandoned their plan.

The next day Wilson, Beck, and others learned that the same customer had returned to the tattoo shop and a second robbery plot was hatched. Investigators again dispatched MPD marked units to the tattoo shop. Investigators believed that the second deployment succeeded in preventing the robbery, but later learned that Wilson, Beck and others returned to the tattoo shop after MPD units left the area. Wilson and Beck, both armed with firearms, stormed the tattoo shop and robbed three individuals, including the customer who was the target of the original plot.

Young Mob gang insignia seized during warrant search of co-defendant Brian Lackland’s house.

Beck previously pleaded guilty to his role in the tattoo shop robbery as part of the RICO conspiracy. On May 12, 2026, Beck was sentenced to 10 years in prison.     

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division,  U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee, and Special Agent in Charge Jamey VanVliet of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division made the announcement.

The ATF and the Memphis Police Department and Multiagency Gang Unit (MGU) are investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Amanda Kotula of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative in Memphis conducted in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee and local, state, and federal law enforcement. The joint effort addresses violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal laws to prosecute gang members and their associates in Memphis.

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Larry Wilson, also known as “L,” 36, of Memphis, Tennessee, was sentenced today to 87 months in prison following his conviction for RICO conspiracy. 

According to court documents and statements made in court, Wilson admitted to attempting to commit and committing a robbery and distributing methamphetamine as part of a pattern of racketeering activity for Young Mob, a Memphis-based gang founded in 2007. In June 2024, Wilson and multiple other members and associates of Young Mob robbed at gunpoint three customers at a Memphis tattoo shop. Wilson also distributed and conspired to distribute methamphetamine with other Young Mob members.

From March 14, 2024, until June 13, 2024, by court order, investigators monitored wire and electronic communications between Wilson and other Young Mob members. Intercepted communications revealed that Wilson and certain Young Mob members were conspiring to distribute and distributing large quantities of controlled substances to include fentanyl and methamphetamine. Those communications also revealed that Wilson and other Young Mob members were committing acts of violence as part of a pattern of racketeering activity. 

On June 11, 2024, Wilson, and certain Young Mob members, to include Braxton Beck, also known as “B Mack,” attempted to rob a customer at the Therapeutic Ink tattoo shop in Memphis. When investigators learned of the plot, they dispatched Memphis Police Department (MPD) marked units to the tattoo shop to prevent the robbery attempt. The MPD deployment succeeded and the Young Mob co-conspirators abandoned their plan.

The next day Wilson, Beck, and others learned that the same customer had returned to the tattoo shop and a second robbery plot was hatched. Investigators again dispatched MPD marked units to the tattoo shop. Investigators believed that the second deployment succeeded in preventing the robbery, but later learned that Wilson, Beck and others returned to the tattoo shop after MPD units left the area. Wilson and Beck, both armed with firearms, stormed the tattoo shop and robbed three individuals, including the customer who was the target of the original plot. 

Beck previously pleaded guilty to his role in the tattoo shop robbery as part of the RICO conspiracy. On May 12, 2026, Beck was sentenced to 10 years in prison.     

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division,  U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee, and Special Agent in Charge Jamey VanVliet of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division made the announcement.

The ATF and the Memphis Police Department and Multiagency Gang Unit (MGU) are investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Amanda Kotula of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case.

This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative in Memphis conducted in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee and local, state, and federal law enforcement. The joint effort addresses violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal laws to prosecute gang members and their associates in Memphis.

Memphis, TN – Today, United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced criminal charges against a defendant in connection with an alleged scheme to defraud multiple healthcare agencies. The charges filed in federal court are part of the Department of Justice’s 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown. The charges stem from a multi-year scheme to impersonate a licensed registered nurse, identity theft, and wire fraud.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “Eliminating fraud by medical personnel and others who misuse their positions of trust to blatantly disregard and endanger the lives of others for their own financial gain is a top priority for this administration. We thank our federal agency partners for their diligent and thorough investigations to root out healthcare fraud, and we stand ready to hold offenders accountable for their crimes of dishonesty." 

The charges announced today by U.S. Attorney Dunavant are part of a strategically coordinated, nationwide law enforcement action that resulted in charges against 455 defendants, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes involving over $6.5 billion in false claims and significant patient harm, including death. Today’s Takedown represents a new era in federal, state, and international cooperation to combat health care fraud: cases in 56 federal districts and 45 U.S. states and territories, with 50 state Medicaid Fraud Control Units participating, the most in Department history. In addition, unprecedented international cooperation over the two-week Takedown resulted in the apprehension and return to the United States of the following health care fraudsters: one defendant in Kyrenia in connection with an over $3.7 billion scheme; two defendants in Estonia in connection with a previously charged $10.6 billion scheme; and, in the Philippines, one of FBI’s Most Wanted Fraudsters in connection with a previously-charged $1.2 billion telemedicine fraud scheme. The Takedown involves the cutting-edge use of data analytics to target the worst actors; the seizure of over $182 million in cash, luxury vehicles, jewelry, and other assets; and full-spectrum accountability for all criminal actors from doctor’s offices to corporate boardrooms.    

Today’s coordinated enforcement action involves a whole-of-government approach, including:  

• Actions by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to suspend 1,079 providers and revoke billing privileges for 1,403 providers. 
• 48 Civil Monetary Payment settlements amounting to over $73 million, over 1,400 provider exclusions, and 25 actions by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (“HHS-OIG”) under the Civil Monetary Penalties Law seeking more than $10 billion in payments to the Medicare Trust Fund from payments that CMS caught and suspended before the funds were paid to the fraudulent providers. 
• Civil charges against 13 defendants for $14.8 million in health care fraud schemes, as well as civil settlements with 31 defendants totaling $23 million. 
• 928 administrative cases by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seeking the revocation of authority to handle and/or prescribe controlled substances since October 1, 2025.

In the Western District of Tennessee, Heather May Wilbanks Greene, 40, of Lepanto, Arkansas, was charged with two counts of identity theft and one count of wire fraud for allegedly engaging in a multi-year scheme to impersonate a registered nurse and obtain employment across Tennessee and Arkansas. 

As alleged in the indictment, from September 2020 through October 2023, Greene practiced as a registered nurse using the stolen license numbers of two registered nurses in Tennessee. Greene never completed nursing school, never passed the NCLEX‑RN (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses), and was never licensed as a registered nurse. Despite this, Greene submitted false resumes misrepresenting her education, experience, and licensure status to obtain employment at more than 30 different health care facilities including nursing homes and correctional institutions. While employed, Greene allegedly performed duties reserved for licensed nurses, such as providing medical treatment, administering medications, accessing confidential medical information, and evaluating patient conditions. As a result of the fraud, Greene received $200,000 in wages and compensation to which she was not legally entitled. If convicted on all charges, Greene faces up to 20 years in federal prison, up to $250,000 in fines, or both, a special assessment fee of $100, and three years of supervised release. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Raney Irwin of the Western District of Tennessee.

The cases are being prosecuted by the Health Care Fraud Unit’s National Rapid Response, Florida, Gulf Coast, Los Angeles, Midwest, New England, Northeast, Texas, and West Coast Strike Forces; U.S. Attorneys’ Offices for the Middle District of Alabama, District of Arizona, Central District of California, Southern District of California, District of Colorado, District of Connecticut, District of Delaware, Middle District of Florida, Northern District of Florida, Southern District of Florida, Northern District of Georgia, District of Hawaii, District of Idaho, Northern District of Illinois, Northern District of Iowa, Southern District of Iowa, Western District of Kentucky, Eastern District of Louisiana, Middle District of Louisiana, District of Massachusetts, Eastern District of Michigan, Southern District of Mississippi, District of Montana, District of Nebraska, District of New Hampshire, District of New Jersey, District of New Mexico, Eastern District of New York, Northern District of New York, Southern District of New York, Eastern District of North Carolina, Middle District of North Carolina, Western District of North Carolina, Northern District of Ohio, Northern District of Oklahoma, Western District of Oklahoma, District of Oregon, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania, District of Puerto Rico, District of Rhode Island, District of South Carolina, District of South Dakota, Middle District of Tennessee, Western District of Tennessee, Northern District of Texas, Southern District of Texas, Western District of Texas, District of Vermont, Eastern District of Virginia, Western District of Virginia, Northern District of West Virginia, Southern District of West Virginia, Eastern District of Wisconsin, and Western District of Wisconsin; and State Attorneys General’s Offices, through their MFCUs, in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Washington, Wisconsin, and West Virginia. In addition, the MFCUs for Alabama, North Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, and Virginia participated in the investigation of federal cases announced today. 

Descriptions of each case involved in today’s enforcement action are available on the Department’s website here. 

The Western District of Tennessee, in particular, worked with the Department’s Health Care Fraud Unit of the Fraud Division and the following law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute the cases filed during the Takedown: the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).

On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people. The Department’s work to combat fraud supports President Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a whole-of-government effort chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within Federal benefit programs.  

An indictment, information, or complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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Memphis, TN – A federal grand jury has returned a six-count indictment in a significant public corruption case against Shelby County General Sessions Court Clerk Tamara Sawyer. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the indictment today.

Tamara (“Tami”) Sawyer was sworn into office on August 29, 2024. As alleged in the indictment, between that date and June 22, 2025, Sawyer embezzled, stole, and knowingly converted $44,607.35 in public funds to her own use. She carried out the scheme by using procurement cards issued to other county employees, a county travel card, and by obtaining travel advances.

The indictment alleges that Sawyer used these cards to pay for a wide range of personal expenses for herself and others, including alcohol, food and goods ordered through web‑based delivery services such as Uber Eats and Instacart, as well as charges at bars, hotels, restaurants, the Memphis Tigers, FedEx Forum, Turo, local fundraisers, and payments to various PayPal accounts—including her own. Many of these transactions occurred on weekends or holidays when the clerk’s office was closed. Although Sawyer claimed the expenses were for official business, the investigation determined they were personal in nature.

The indictment further alleges that Sawyer also used the procurement cards as part of a money‑laundering scheme. She transferred stolen funds to a PayPal account controlled by a friend, who kept a small portion and returned the remainder to Sawyer through CashApp.

Sawyer has been charged in the six-count indictment with the federal offenses of Conspiracy to Commit Honest Services Wire Fraud, Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering, Theft Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds, Honest Services Wire Fraud, Money Laundering, and Interstate Travel in Aid of Racketeering Enterprises.

If convicted of all charges, the maximum possible punishment for these offenses is imprisonment for up to 20 years, a fine of up to $500,000.00 or both, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Protection of local government programs receiving federal funds against public corruption, theft, fraud, waste, and abuse is a top priority of this office and the Department of Justice. We commend the FBI for their diligent and thorough investigation in this case."

"Public servants are entrusted by all of us to act in the best interests of the public they serve," said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. "As alleged, the defendant brazenly abused her authority as a General Sessions Court Clerk to steal taxpayer dollars to serve herself. The FBI is committed to working with our partners to combat public corruption and aggressively pursue those who betray public trust."

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Assistant U.S. Attorney J. William Crow is prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States Government.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations of criminal conduct, and not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.

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For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – A federal grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee returned an 11-count indictment charging a middle Tennessee man with multiple crimes related to his running of a cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme while a resident of Shelby County. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the indictment today. 

As alleged in the indictment, Misam M. Abidi, 47, of Nolensville, Tennessee, executed a scheme to defraud millions of dollars from investors across the country through his cryptocurrency investment firm, Star Credit Holdings, between 2020 and 2024. Abidi made a variety of misrepresentations to his investors in order to convince them to invest in Star Credit Holdings. These misrepresentations included: 1) guaranteed high rates of return, (2) that Abidi had a significant reserve fund to make his investors whole if necessary, and (3) that Abidi had substantially more capital under his management than he actually did. 

The indictment alleges that Abidi provided the Star Credit Holdings investors with fictitious statements, as well as returns that were purportedly from trading activity but were the investment principal of other investors. Moreover, Abidi helped his investors take out loans in their names to provide them with greater access to funds to invest with Star Credit Holdings. Abidi, with the knowledge of at least one investor, falsified an affidavit stating that the investor’s identity had been stolen to take out the loan. Abidi diverted over $1,900,000 of investor funds to himself and his family. Additionally, Abidi failed to report income from his Star Credit Holdings business on his income tax returns. 

The indictment alleges 3 counts of wire fraud, 2 counts of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, 3 counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, and 3 counts of money laundering.  If convicted, Abidi faces a maximum penalty of 20 years for each count of wire fraud, 5 years for each count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, 3 years for each count of preparing false tax returns, and 10 years for each count of money laundering. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Ponzi schemes, cryptocurrency scams, and financial fraud can be devastating to individual investors, harmful to financial institutions, and detrimental to the U.S. Treasury. We commend our federal agency partners for their outstanding investigation in this egregious case. Wherever fraud occurs in the Western District of Tennessee, this office will be prepared to hold offenders accountable."

“Schemes that rely on deception, fictitious investment statements, and the misuse of loan proceeds undermine the integrity of our financial system and erode the trust of honest taxpayers,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, Charlotte Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “Our special agents are committed to following the money, uncovering complex financial schemes, and bringing to justice those who abuse our tax and financial infrastructure for their own benefit.”

This case was investigated by the Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the United States Secret Service. 

Assistant United States Attorney William Carey Bateman III, for the Western District of Tennessee, is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations of criminal conduct, and not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.

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For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – A federal jury returned guilty verdicts against Alvin Anthony, 31, and Royce Newsome, 33, for their roles in the carjacking and shooting of a 67-year-old ATM technician who had been refilling ATM machines with money at convenience stores in north Memphis. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the verdicts today.

Evidence presented in court established that on May 17, 2023, Anthony followed the victim to three convenience stores in north Memphis while the victim was working. While at the second store, Anthony made a phone call. By the time the victim arrived at the third store, Newsome and others showed up. Anthony and Newsome circled around the third store in their vehicles until the victim exited the store to walk to his car. Newsome and two unidentified assailants brutally beat and shot the victim before leaving in the victim’s vehicle. 

Following a five-day jury trial presided over by United States District Judge Mark S. Norris, Anthony and Newsome were convicted of conspiracy to commit carjacking, aiding and abetting carjacking, and aiding and abetting the use and discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence.

The defendants are facing a maximum sentence of 15 years' imprisonment on the conspiracy and carjacking counts. Newsome is facing an additional 10-year mandatory minimum prison sentence to be served consecutively to the other counts.

Judge Norris will determine the sentences to impose on the defendants after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "These violent offenders were motivated by selfish greed and senselessly harmed an innocent victim. This jury verdict delivers justice for the victim and our community, and ensures that these dangerous offenders will be justly punished and removed from the streets of Memphis for a very long time.”  

"The premeditated and horrendous acts of violence that these individuals committed demonstrates a blatant disregard for human life. The men and women of the ATF, along with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, remain committed to combatting violent crime and swiftly bringing these individuals to justice before they can commit other senseless acts of violence," said Special Agent in Charge Jamey VanVliet, of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Office.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Memphis Police Department (MPD). 

Assistant United States Attorney Regina Brittenum and Special Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Wright, of the United States Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps, are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

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For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – A Memphis woman has been sentenced to federal prison for two counts of assault on federal officers. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

On January 8, 2026, Memphis Police Department officers assigned to the Memphis Safe Task Force conducted a traffic stop on defendant Shalond White, 43. During the encounter, officers discovered that White had an active arrest warrant out of Germantown, Tennessee.  Officers asked White to exit the vehicle, and she stated "no”.  

Officers then attempted to remove White from her vehicle, but she resisted. When officers opened the door of White’s vehicle, she kicked one of the officers in the thigh.  White then began throwing punches and struck another officer in the shoulder.  Officers were able to detain White, but during the detainment process, she spit on another officer. White was then placed into custody.  

White was charged, by way of criminal information, with two counts of 18 United States Code § 111, Assaulting a Federal Officer.  On April 24, 2026, White pled guilty as charged to both counts and was sentenced by United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker on June 9, 2026 to twelve months in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "There is no constitutional right to resist arrest, and doing so endangers everyone involved. We have zero tolerance for any assault on federal officers and will impose real consequences for such violence against those who are working to protect us every day.”  

This case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Special Assistant United States Attorney Brandon Wright, of the United States Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps, and Assistant United States Attorney Jermal Blanchard prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. 

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For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – A federal grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee has indicted five sex offenders for violations of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the returns of the federal indictments today.

Through SORNA, the federal government established a comprehensive national system for the registration of sex offenders, which requires sex offenders to register where they live, work, and/or attend school. It is a felony offense for sex offenders to fail to register or to fail to update their registration.

The federal grand jury indicted the following defendants for SORNA registry violations in the Western District of Tennessee:

Porcha Lashay Adams, 30, who was convicted in Arkansas in 2024 of sexual assault in the first degree, was charged with failure to register from May 4, 2025 through February 9, 2026.

William Eugene Logan, 57, who was convicted in Tennessee in 1987 of sexual battery and in 2013 of sexual battery by an authority figure, was charged with failure to register since at least January 2026.

Ricky Lee Peals, 65, who was convicted in Arkansas in 1990 of rape, was charged with failure to register from October 18, 2021 through December 15, 2025.

Justin Thompson, 28, who was convicted in Mississippi in 2018 of sexual battery, was charged with failure to register from December 18, 2025 through May 9, 2026.

James Marshall Vandiver, 48, who was convicted in the Western District of Tennessee in 2008 of enticement of a minor, was charged with failure to register from August 27, 2024 through November 24, 2025.

This offense carries penalties of imprisonment for up to ten years, a fine of up to $250,000, and supervised release for five years to life. If a defendant is convicted of the offense, a federal judge will determine the sentence to impose after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “Sex offender registration and notification programs are important to provide the general public and law enforcement with crucial location and conviction information to help communities stay safe and aware. This office will always aggressively prosecute violations of SORNA to hold non-compliant sex offenders accountable.”

U.S. Marshal Tyreece Miller, of the Western District of Tennessee, said, “The U.S. Marshals Service will always fulfill its mission to protect the public from sex offenders through coordinated enforcement of sex offender registration laws.”

These cases were investigated by the United States Marshals Service (USMS). 

Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Delery and Special Assistant United States Attorney J. Cruz Rodriguez, of the United States Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps, are prosecuting these cases on behalf of the government.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.

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For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department today announced the Model Cities Initiative (MCI), a whole-of-city approach directing nearly $300 million in federal funding to transform public safety in America’s cities. Through this initiative, two to four cities will be selected to receive awards supporting the implementation of comprehensive and innovative strategies to reduce crime, restore law and order, and enhance public safety. Proposals from qualifying cities are due September 1.

“This administration is leveraging every authority to ensure the safety of all Americans,” said Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche. “The Model Cities Initiative will supercharge our law enforcement partners and restore the rule of law to America’s neighborhoods, towns, and cities. Our message is clear: We will help those who help us Make America Safe Again.”

Investments will be made in a variety of areas addressing public safety, behavioral health, and related staffing, equipment, and services with the goal of leveraging federal resources to build capacity, strengthen accountability, and deliver measurable reductions in crime that can serve as a model of innovation for replication nationwide. Eligible applicants include local government entities serving a population of at least 100,000.

The MCI initiative will support a range of allowable activities, including:

• Hiring and retention of sworn and non-sworn personnel directly engaged in or supporting violent crime reduction efforts.
• Purchase or lease of equipment, tools, or technology that reduce crime and restore law and order including but not limited to real-time crime centers; forensic and DNA tools; body-worn cameras; license plate readers; artificial intelligence systems; small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and counter-UAS; ballistic identification systems; and information technology upgrades. 
• Training and professional development that support intelligence-led policing, violent crime investigations, crisis response, correctional practices that strengthen reentry outcomes, and coordination with state and federal law enforcement partners. 
• Facility Costs including lease, rental, or renovation expenses for space directly used in program operations, such as service delivery sites, training facilities, real-time crime centers, or intelligence analysis centers. 
• Mental health and substance use services that directly support prevention, crisis response, screening and early intervention, treatment, case management, and related services addressing issues linked to public safety outcomes, including services provided in correctional facilities and in the community. 
• Reentry, transitional support, and recidivism reduction programs and services designed to reduce repeat offending, support transitions from custody, and promote successful reintegration into communities, including operational costs for county jails and state prisons that support reentry preparation. 
• Victim services for American victims of crime, including, emergency assistance, case management, shelter and temporary housing, medical and dental care, advocacy, transportation, childcare, legal services, and employment assistance.  
• Youth crime prevention and intervention services that address risk factors for juvenile delinquency and violence, including gang intervention and suppression programs.

Cities will apply through a whole-of-city approach. That means that city leaders, including the mayor, sheriff, county prosecutor, and others will work together to submit one application that proposes a persuasive vision of how this money can be awarded strategically throughout their city to improve law enforcement engagement, victim services, detention and reentry services, and preventive programs.

Additional information about the award is available at www.justice.gov/grants. The planned competition is a multi-phase process. DOJ anticipates making initial award decisions in late 2026. To apply for this award, please submit application materials to MCIapplications@usdoj.gov.

For any questions related to the MCI Call for Applications, you can send your inquiry to MCIquestions@usdoj.gov.  

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If you have questions, please use the contacts in the message or call the Office of Public Affairs at 202-514-2007.

Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Laquarius King, 28, of Memphis, to 360 months in federal prison for multiple business robberies by discharging a firearm. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, between July 2, 2023 and October 2, 2024, 0n five separate occasions, King robbed the Exxon gas station located on Appling Road and the Berryhill Market located on Berryhill Road in Memphis, Tennessee. On two occasions, he fired a round in the air next to the clerk when the clerk hesitated to open the cash drawer. The incident was recorded on store surveillance video, and King was wearing the same shirt in several robberies. 

On October 2, 2024, an off-duty Memphis police officer saw the robbery taking place from the parking lot and called 911 while following the suspect vehicle. Active units joined in the pursuit before King was taken into custody. 

In February 2026, King pled guilty to five counts of robbery of a business and two counts of discharging a firearm during the robberies. On May 29, 2026, Chief United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced King to 360 months of federal imprisonment, to be followed by five years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "King’s violent crime spree is over. His lifestyle of lawlessness and selfish greed terrorized multiple victims – and has rightly earned him a long sentence in a federal prison that will remove him from the community and protect Memphians."

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Memphis Police Department’s Safe Streets Task Force investigated the case. This case is part of the Safe Streets Task Force’s (SSTF) efforts to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee and surrounding areas.

Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Musselwhite prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States.

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For more information, please contact the media relations team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – A Florida man has pled guilty to his part in defrauding investors through a company called Peoples Equity Group (PEG), an investment company based in Miami, Florida that operated from 2021 to 2024. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the guilty plea today.

Simon G. Outhwaite, Jr., 26, of Miami, Florida, pled guilty on May 26, 2026 before United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  According to information presented in court, Outhwaite conspired with Dakota Smith in the execution of a scheme to defraud investors. For his role in the offense, Smith previously pled guilty on November 18, 2025 and was sentenced on May 8, 2026 to 188 months in federal prison. 

Through their conspiracy, the pair misrepresented to investors that PEG owned small, profitable companies in e-commerce and aviation. Smith, who was the face of PEG, solicited investments based on promises that the investors would obtain ownership interests in the companies owned by PEG and its affiliated entities. 

In fact, Smith and Outhwaite knew that neither PEG nor its affiliated entities had any ownership interest or control over the companies it marketed. Outhwaite’s contributions to the conspiracy included opening and maintaining the bank accounts used in the scheme.

Outhwaite is scheduled to be sentenced on September 3, 2026.  He faces up to five years in federal prison.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Ponzi schemes and crimes of dishonesty do not pay and will be exposed. This case represents our commitment to root out fraudulent schemes, protect investors, hold offenders accountable for their dishonest criminal conduct, and to recover ill-gotten proceeds on behalf of victims.”

“Simon G. Outhwaite, Jr. and his co-conspirator, Dakota Smith, built a Ponzi scheme on lies, exploiting trust to steal millions of dollars that left innocent people paying the price,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “Schemes like this exploit trust and can devastate victims’ and their families. The FBI will continue to aggressively pursue those who weaponize fraud and deception against investors and bring them to justice.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).  

The case was prosecuted on behalf of the government by Assistant United States Attorney Scott P. Smith.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – The United States Attorney's Office of the Western District of Tennessee selected Sergeant April Moseley, of the Memphis Police Department, as its "Hometown Hero" for the Western District of Tennessee. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, made the announcement today.

The "Hometown Hero" award honors the enduring ideals of Liberty, Service, and Civic Responsibility. The award is dedicated in recognition of a steadfast commitment to these ideals and an embodiment of the spirit upon which our Nation was founded. 

U.S. Attorney Dunavant presented Sergeant Moseley with this award on May 21, 2026 on behalf of the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney's Office as part of Freedom 250 events hosted around the country to celebrate America's 250th birthday. Sgt. Moseley is one of 93 individuals in the country selected to receive this award.

Sgt. Moseley has been a member of the Memphis Police Department for over 21 years and has worked in several units, such as the Organized Crime Unit, Sex Crimes Bureau, General Investigations Bureau, and Uniformed Patrol. She is currently assigned to the FBI Safe Street's Task Force (SSTF), where she investigates cases and oversees the daily tasks of task force officers from multiple other agencies. She relentlessly investigates each case and does not stop until every single investigative option has been fully explored. She is victim-focused and ensures that each victim is informed of case status and that their victim's rights are honored.

U.S. Attorney Dunavant said, "Sgt. April Moseley is most deserving of this high honor to recognize her tireless work to achieve justice for victims and consequences for criminals. As we celebrate our Nation’s 250th Birthday, it is our honor to also recognize, celebrate, and thank Sgt. Moseley for her outstanding service to Memphis, the Western District of Tennessee, and the United States. She is truly our Hometown Hero.”

Police Chief Cerelyn "CJ" Davis, of the Memphis Police Department, attended the ceremony and thanked Sgt. Moseley for her outstanding work and service with the Memphis Police Department. She stated, "This is truly one of the most joyous experiences in a Chief's career when they see their hard-working officers, supervisors recognized for the work that they do". She stated Sgt. Moseley is "professional and about getting the work done", and that she was proud to see her being recognized as Memphis' Hometown Hero. 

The ceremony was held at the U.S. Attorney's Office and attended by Sgt. Moseley's family, Memphis Police Department Commanders, FBI Safe Streets Task Force officers, and many of her law enforcement partners and friends.  

Sgt. Moseley with U.S. Attorney Dunavant, MPD Chief Davis, and MPD Commanders

Sgt. Moseley with U.S. Attorney Dunavant and FBI Supervisory Special Agent Tom Barlow

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – Michael Fruitticher, 38, of Jackson, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for child pornography offenses committed against an autistic child. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

In October 2025, after a four-day trial, a federal jury found Fruitticher guilty of production, attempted production, and possession of child pornography. According to information presented at the trial, between at least July 2011 and continuing through May 2014, Fruitticher video-recorded the child nude in the shower, photographed the child nude and in lingerie in sexually lascivious poses, and photographed himself raping the child. DNA results revealed Fruitticher’s and the child’s DNA on an item of lingerie worn by the child in one series of photographs. In May 2019, federal and state law enforcement officers investigating the case found devices containing the child sexual abuse material in Fruitticher’s possession.

Information presented at the sentencing hearing revealed that Fruitticher had forcefully raped and abused the child over a ten-year period and threatened to kill the child and her family members if she revealed the abuse. Over this period, Fruitticher produced and possessed more than 700 images of himself sexually abusing the child.

On May 20, 2026, following his conviction for the above charges, United States District Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Fruitticher to 40 years’ imprisonment to be followed by lifetime supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

Fruitticher is also facing state charges in Shelby County, including nine counts of rape of a child and seven counts of statutory rape, for the conduct underlying the federal child pornography offenses.

United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “Violent crimes against children, including the production of materials depicting child rape and sexual abuse, are heinous violations that continue to harm a child victim for a lifetime. No sentence is long enough to adequately punish this despicable predator for his crimes, but this is a good start toward achieving justice.”

The case was investigated by the Millington Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Delery and P. Neal Oldham prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative that marshals federal, state, and local resources to apprehend individuals who exploit children and to identify and rescue victims.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Jackson, TN – John David Forrest, 36, of McKenzie, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for distributing over 50 grams of actual methamphetamine. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, in the spring of 2024, Forrest sold methamphetamine to confidential informants who were working for law enforcement on multiple occasions.  During the last controlled buy, Forrest sold an informant 55 grams of methamphetamine that was later found to be 99% pure.  Officers were later able to obtain and execute a search warrant at Forrest’s home, which revealed more methamphetamine (around 112 grams that was 95% pure), six firearms, ammunition, a set of digital scales, drug packaging materials, and $657 in cash.  At the time he committed these offenses, Forrest was on parole for a felony drug conviction out of Carroll County, Tennessee.  

Following his guilty plea in federal court to distributing over 50 grams of actual methamphetamine, United States District Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Forrest to 17 years in prison and five years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “Forrest is a recidivist drug dealer who was selling methamphetamine in dangerous purity and in possession of multiple firearms while on parole. Every minute of his 17-year sentence is well deserved and will ensure better public safety for the citizens of West Tennessee.”

This case was investigated by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force in Tennessee.

Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Terry Curtis, 41, to 27 years in federal prison for distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl and possession of firearms. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, in April 2022, narcotics officers with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office detected a package containing 2 kilograms of methamphetamine and 497 grams of fentanyl being shipped to Curtis’s home. After the package was received by Curtis at his home, officers served a search warrant. They recovered the substances as well as two loaded firearms, pill presses, scales, cash, and other drug paraphernalia indicative of drug distribution. The investigation revealed Curtis had been selling a pound of methamphetamine daily.

In September 2025, Curtis pled guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On May 13, 2026, United States District Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Curtis to 324 months of federal imprisonment, to be followed by ten years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney Dunavant said, "Because illicit fentanyl is closer to a chemical weapon than a narcotic, President Trump has designated fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction (WMD). Its lethality is significant, and those who ship and traffic deadly poison into our communities will be severely punished and incapacitated.”

The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) Narcotics Division and the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Task Force investigated the case.

Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Musselwhite and Bryce Phillips prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States government.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – On May 8, 2026, United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Lakita Carroll, 46, to three and a half years in prison for her role in a conspiracy to commit bank fraud. On April 15, 2026, Judge Parker sentenced Carroll's son, Marshun Lewis, 25, to 42 years in prison for committing a series of armed robberies of United States postal carriers in August 2023 and October, November, and December of 2024 in the Western District of Tennessee. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentences today.  

According to information presented in court, Lewis conducted a series of armed robberies of United States postal carriers as a masked gunman for the purpose of obtaining keys to unlock blue collection mailboxes throughout the city of Memphis. He used the keys to steal checks and money orders from the mail for use in committing bank fraud. He then altered the payee information on the checks and money orders for deposit into third party accounts for withdrawal. Investigators located his vehicle on surveillance video at the scene of the robberies.

Postal Inspectors served a search warrant at his home and located stolen mail and the keychain for one of the stolen keys. Text messages located on his phone linked him to each of the robberies and several co-conspirators in the bank fraud scheme. Inspectors determined the total amount of stolen checks and money orders exceeded $940,000.

Carroll assisted Lewis by depositing stolen checks and money orders in her bank account. Carroll pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of bank fraud.

After a four-day trial, Lewis was convicted as charged of four counts of robbery, four counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, one count of bank fraud, and one count of possession of stolen mail. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "In order to break the cycle of violent crime in Memphis, we must break the generational lifestyles of lawlessness. This mother’s greed led to her son’s extreme violence, and their brazen selfishness has landed them both in federal prison. Their family business driven by a culture of criminality is over."

“As the law enforcement arm of the U.S. Postal Service, the Postal Inspection Service prioritizes the safety of our employees,” said Atlanta Division Inspector in Charge Rodney Hopkins. “Make no mistake. We will use every resource available when our postal carriers are robbed. Postal carriers are an integral part of our communities, and the Inspection Service is committed to ensuring their safety, protecting the sanctity of the U.S. Mail, and safeguarding the public’s trust in the Postal Service by holding those that commit violent crimes and theft accountable for their actions. We extend our appreciation to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners for their support in this case.”

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Memphis Police Department (MPD). 

Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Musselwhite and William Bateman prosecuted this case on behalf of the United States government.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – Dakota A. Smith, 35, has been sentenced to federal prison for his part in a Ponzi scheme. Smith previously pled guilty on November 18, 2025 to conspiracy to commit wire fraud for defrauding investors through a company called Peoples Equity Group (PEG), an investment company based in Miami, Florida that operated from 2021 to 2024.  D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, Smith and his co-conspirator defrauded investors by misrepresenting to them that PEG owned small, profitable companies in e-commerce and aviation. Smith solicited investments based on promises that the investors would obtain ownership interests in the companies owned by PEG and its affiliated entities.  In fact, Smith and his co-conspirator knew that neither PEG nor its affiliated entities had any ownership interest or control over the companies it marketed.

As a part of the fraudulent scheme, Smith presented fraudulent financial documents which purportedly showed the financial success of the acquired companies while on monthly video calls with investors located across the United States, including investors in West Tennessee and abroad.

On May 8, 2026, Chief United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Smith to 188 months of imprisonment and three years of supervised release. Restitution was left open for a period of 90 days to continue allowing victims to make claims. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Ponzi schemes and crimes of dishonesty will be rooted out and punished. This sentence holds this thief accountable for his deceptive criminal scheme, protects investors, and will recover ill-gotten proceeds on behalf of victims.”

“Dakota Smith and his co-conspirator defrauded innocent victims through false promises of protected investments and guaranteed returns,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “These schemes not only steal hard-earned money, but also erode the financial security and trust of victims and their families. The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement, private sector, and international partners to protect the public’s investments and hold accountable those who facilitate these scams for their own gain.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). 

Assistant United States Attorney Scott P. Smith prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has announced the appointment of 18 selected U.S. Attorneys to serve on the Administration’s inaugural Attorney General’s Advisory Committee of U.S. Attorneys (AGAC), which includes the appointment of U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant of the Western District of Tennessee. Created in 1973, the AGAC advises the Attorney General on matters of policy, procedure, and management impacting the Offices of the U.S. Attorneys and elevates the voices of U.S. Attorneys in Justice Department policies.

AGAC membership is selected to represent the various geographic areas of the Nation and various sized United States Attorneys' Offices, and makes recommendations to the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General, and the Associate Attorney General concerning essential matters that are in the best interests of justice, including:

(1) Establishing and modifying policies and procedures of the Department;

(2) Improving management, particularly with respect to the relationships between the Department and the U.S. Attorneys;

(3) Cooperating with State Attorneys General and other State and local officials for the purpose of improving the quality of justice in the United States;

(4) Promoting greater consistency in the application of legal standards throughout the Nation and at the various levels of government; and

(5) Aiding the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General, and the Associate Attorney General in formulating new programs for improvement of the criminal justice system at all levels, including proposals relating to legislation and court rules.

The AGAC also establishes subcommittees and working groups in program and subject matter areas that reflect the priorities set by the President. During his prior service as U.S. Attorney from 2017-2021, Mr. Dunavant served on the Violent & Organized Crime, Controlled Substances, and Native American Issues subcommittees of the AGAC.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "I am honored and excited to be appointed to serve on this prestigious committee with my distinguished U.S. Attorney colleagues from across the Nation, and I look forward to working with them to provide critical advice to the Attorney General and DOJ leadership to advance the Department’s efforts to achieve justice for victims, consequences for criminals, support for law enforcement, respect for the rule of law, protection of the U.S. Treasury, and better public safety outcomes for all citizens.”

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

WASHINGTON – Two Unknown Vice Lords — a violent Memphis street gang — were each sentenced to 50 years in prison after a federal jury convicted them on Feb. 13 for a gang-related murder.

“Substantial sentences like these send the loud and clear message that organized gang violence and retaliatory murder will be vigorously pursued, charged, and prosecuted by the Department of Justice,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These defendants carried out a calculated, execution-style murder. They intended to incite fear and silence in fellow gang members and in the Memphis community. The court’s 50-year sentences means they now will be known as long-term residents of the Bureau of Prisons, and the good people of Memphis will no longer be dealing with their vice. The Criminal Division remains committed to protecting communities from violent criminal organizations and pursuing justice for victims and their families.”

“These significant federal sentences have dismantled the leadership of the UVL street gang here in Memphis,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “From now on, E-Money, Dre, and V-Slash will not be ‘known’ by their gang nickname, but only by their Bureau of Prisons inmate numbers.”

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Edward Allen, also known as E-Money, 42, of Los Angeles, and Deandre Rodgers, also known as Dre, 29, of Memphis,  were high-ranking members of the Unknown Vice Lords also known as The Ghost Mob — a criminal enterprise that controlled territory throughout the entire city of Memphis, as well as Arkansas and Mississippi. Members of the Unknown Vice Lords committed murders, burglaries, assaults, human trafficking, and drug trafficking on behalf of the enterprise. When the gang’s so-called Supreme Elite Chief, the gang leader for the entire state of Tennessee, was murdered, the gang sought retaliation against anyone thought to be involved.

As proven at trial, on Jan. 10, 2019, the Supreme Elite Chief and his girlfriend were murdered in broad daylight, in a residential neighborhood. While the gang initially thought that a rival gang was responsible, they eventually came to believe it was one of their own who killed their leader and decided to retaliate.

On Jan. 14, 2019, Allen and Rodgers obtained guns from fellow gang member Vincent Grant, also known as V-Slash, 41, of Memphis. Early the next morning around 1 a.m., Allen, Rodgers, Grant, and another gang member drove the victim to the back of a rundown apartment complex where Allen and Rodgers used the firearms Grant supplied to murder the victim. Grant was also prosecuted and found guilty in a separate trial.

The jury convicted Allen and Rodgers of causing death by use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, that being murder in aid of racketeering.

A separate jury also convicted Grant of causing death by use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, that being murder in aid of racketeering. The court sentenced him to 24 years in prison.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, FBI, Memphis Police Department, and U.S. Secret Service assisted in the investigation.

Trial Attorneys Lisa M. Thelwell and Sarah J. Rasalam of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case with substantial assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.

This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute the violent offenders and prevent further violence.

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If you have questions, please use the contacts in the message or call the Office of Public Affairs at 202-514-2007.

Two Unknown Vice Lords — a violent Memphis street gang — were each sentenced to 50 years in prison after a federal jury convicted them on Feb. 13 for a gang-related murder.

“Substantial sentences like these send the loud and clear message that organized gang violence and retaliatory murder will be vigorously pursued, charged, and prosecuted by the Department of Justice,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “These defendants carried out a calculated, execution-style murder. They intended to incite fear and silence in fellow gang members and in the Memphis community. The court’s 50-year sentences means they now will be known as long-term residents of the Bureau of Prisons, and the good people of Memphis will no longer be dealing with their vice. The Criminal Division remains committed to protecting communities from violent criminal organizations and pursuing justice for victims and their families.”

“These significant federal sentences have dismantled the leadership of the UVL street gang here in Memphis,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “From now on, E-Money, Dre, and V-Slash will not be ‘known’ by their gang nickname, but only by their Bureau of Prisons inmate numbers.”

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Edward Allen, also known as E-Money, 42, of Los Angeles, and Deandre Rodgers, also known as Dre, 29, of Memphis,  were high-ranking members of the Unknown Vice Lords also known as The Ghost Mob — a criminal enterprise that controlled territory throughout the entire city of Memphis, as well as Arkansas and Mississippi. Members of the Unknown Vice Lords committed murders, burglaries, assaults, human trafficking, and drug trafficking on behalf of the enterprise. When the gang’s so-called Supreme Elite Chief, the gang leader for the entire state of Tennessee, was murdered, the gang sought retaliation against anyone thought to be involved.

As proven at trial, on Jan. 10, 2019, the Supreme Elite Chief and his girlfriend were murdered in broad daylight, in a residential neighborhood. While the gang initially thought that a rival gang was responsible, they eventually came to believe it was one of their own who killed their leader and decided to retaliate.

On Jan. 14, 2019, Allen and Rodgers obtained guns from fellow gang member Vincent Grant, also known as V-Slash, 41, of Memphis. Early the next morning around 1 a.m., Allen, Rodgers, Grant, and another gang member drove the victim to the back of a rundown apartment complex where Allen and Rodgers used the firearms Grant supplied to murder the victim. Grant was also prosecuted and found guilty in a separate trial.

The jury convicted Allen and Rodgers of causing death by use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, that being murder in aid of racketeering.

A separate jury also convicted Grant of causing death by use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, that being murder in aid of racketeering. The court sentenced him to 24 years in prison.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, FBI, Memphis Police Department, and U.S. Secret Service assisted in the investigation.

Trial Attorneys Lisa M. Thelwell and Sarah J. Rasalam of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case with substantial assistance from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.

This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee. The Criminal Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee have partnered, along with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, to confront violent crimes committed by gang members and associates through the enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources to prosecute the violent offenders and prevent further violence.

Memphis, TN – National Crime Victims’ Rights Week is an annual observance that brings communities together and raises awareness about victims’ rights and services. It's an opportunity to honor survivors and recognize organizations that have been fighting for victims’ rights, forge new partnerships to better serve and support victims of crime and strengthen existing partnerships.

Since 1981, National Crime Victims’ Rights Week has challenged the nation to confront and remove barriers to achieve justice for all victims of crime. The theme for this year: Listen. Act. Advocate. Protect victims, serve communities.

The United States’ Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee held its inaugural Victims’ Rights and Advocacy Awards Ceremony in April to honor the below individuals for their service and commitment to crime victims in West Tennessee:

• John Chevalier - Former Task Force Officer, FBI
• Chase Cogswell - Former Special Agent, ATF
• Jennifer Dolquest - Victim Witness Assistant, U.S. Attorney's Office
• Brianna Futrell - Special Agent, FBI
• Cody Graham - Special Agent, FBI
• Emily Knox - Special Agent, ATF
• April Moseley - Sergeant, Memphis Police Department/FBI Safe Streets Task Force
• Gregory L. Newberry - Inspector, U.S. Postal Inspection Service
• Marian Peete - Former Victim Witness Coordinator, U.S. Attorney's Office
• Karen Rinehart - Special Agent, FBI
• Kyle Vlastos - Detective, Memphis Police Department/FBI Safe Streets Task Force
• Kyle Williams - Special Agent, ATF

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Each of these dedicated public servants go above and beyond the call of duty to serve and protect crime victims every day. Our office was glad to honor them with this recognition for their tireless efforts to achieve justice for victims, consequences for criminals, and better public safety outcomes across West Tennessee."

We are thankful to those named above and all our law enforcement partners throughout the district for the work they do each day and their commitment to helping crime victims.

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Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Deon Scott, 41, a former Internal Affairs Investigator for the Office of Professional Standards for the Shelby County Divisions of Corrections to federal prison for bribery. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, Scott smuggled contraband into the Shelby County Divisions of Corrections, a facility which houses federal inmates, while employed as an Internal Affairs Investigator at the facility. Scott received at least $3,200 as payment for his unlawful conduct. Scott was immediately terminated from his position.

On November 17, 2025, Scott pled guilty to a one count information alleging that as a public official, he accepted money in exchange for smuggling contraband items, including narcotics, into the Shelby County Division of Corrections. On May 8, 2026, United States Chief District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Scott to a total of 18 months of federal imprisonment, to be followed by two years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Official misconduct and corruption by correctional officers in positions of trust and authority undermine the foundational integrity of our government institutions and compromise the safety and security of correctional facilities. This sentence will hopefully deter other corrupt behavior, restore the public’s faith in honest officers, and send a message that nobody is above the law."

The case was investigated by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO), United States Marshals Service (USMS), and the United States Secret Service (USSS).

Assistant United States Attorneys Lynn Crum and Greg Wagner and former Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Kimbril-Parks prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Jackson, TN – A federal jury has returned a guilty verdict against Christopher Peyton Stricklin, 19, of Savannah, Tennessee, for committing three sexual exploitation offenses against a minor in August 2025.  United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the verdict today.

Evidence presented in court established that Stricklin used a cell phone to videotape himself sexually molesting a minor female and then sent the video to another minor on the same cell phone.  Stricklin was charged in a three-count indictment with production and distribution of child pornography, and with transferring obscene material to a person under age 16.  Following a two-day jury trial presided over by United States District Court J. Daniel Breen, Stricklin was convicted of all three counts.  His sentencing will be held in August of this year.    

Stricklin is facing a 15-year mandatory-minimum prison sentence and a maximum sentence of 30 years' imprisonment on the production count, a 5-year mandatory-minimum sentence and a maximum sentence of 20 years on the distribution count, and a maximum sentence of 10 years' imprisonment on the transferring obscene material count.

Judge Breen will determine the sentence to impose on Stricklin after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “With the proliferation of cell phones and social media, predators are increasingly committing disturbing crimes against vulnerable victims, including child sexual abuse. As offenders keep committing these heinous crimes against children, our office will keep convicting and severely punishing them.”

This case was investigated by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), the Savannah Police Department, the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office, and the District Attorney’s Office for the 24th Judicial District in Tennessee.

Assistant United States Attorneys Josh Morrow and Caroline Parish are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – Charles Williams, 39, was sentenced for his role in engaging in a long-term conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl in Memphis.  D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

Through the utilization of recorded phone calls, traffic stops, physical surveillance, and the execution of search warrants, law enforcement officers were able to determine that Charles Williams was distributing felony amounts of methamphetamine and fentanyl for more than one year before his federal indictment in March 2025.  

Following his guilty plea to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, United States Chief District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced the defendant to 228 months’ imprisonment to be followed by five years of supervised release.

There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney Dunavant said, "Drug dealers with guns create a culture of criminality and deserve significant punishment. Those who sow misery, addiction, and violence into our communities by distributing poison to our citizens will reap the certain consequences of a long federal prison sentence.”

“This investigation disrupted a long-term conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl in Memphis, Tennessee,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The FBI and our partners brought the full force of resources to bear – removing a dangerous individual and poisonous substances from the streets. Together with our Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) counterparts, the FBI will continue to pursue those who exploit our communities for profit.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Additionally, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI); Desoto County Sheriff’s Office; Bartlett Police Department; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) all assisted in the investigations of Charles Williams and his co-conspirators.

Assistant United States Attorneys Bryce Phillips and Greg Wagner prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Memphis comprises agents and officers from multiple agencies, to include the investigative agencies listed above, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.  

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Jackson, TN – On May 5, 2026, after a 3-day trial, a federal jury found Vinson Brent Taylor, 46, of Dyersburg, Tennessee, guilty of two counts of federal drug trafficking offenses. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the verdict today.

The trial was bifurcated and proceeded in two phases. According to evidence presented in court during Phase I of the trial, on the night of August 8, 2024, an officer with the Dyersburg Police Department was on patrol duty when he encountered two men fighting in front of Taylor’s residence. Both of the men fled. While investigating the scene, the officer discovered a rental vehicle that was left running and had its driver-side door wide open.

The vehicle contained various quantities of crack cocaine, fentanyl, marijuana, methamphetamine, and ecstasy. Near the center console of the vehicle were Taylor’s cellphone and a car rental agreement in his name. A hat with distinctive embroidery was also found several feet away from the vehicle. The hat was later determined by a forensic analyst to contain Taylor’s DNA. Evidence at trial also showed that Taylor had appeared on the scene of a car accident on August 7, 2024, wearing the same hat that was found at the crime scene.     

During Phase II of the trial, the government presented evidence of Taylor’s prior significant criminal history which will subject him to an enhanced punishment under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 10, 2026, before United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson. Taylor faces a statutory mandatory minimum sentence of at least 10 years. There is no parole in the federal system.    

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Drug trafficking offenses are at the root of some of the gravest problems facing our country. The ‘fruit’ of the drug plague is everywhere; it fills our streets, our jails, our hospitals, our morgues, and our nurseries. Federal law applies in every square inch of this district, and dealers who distribute harmful drugs in our rural communities can no longer hide.”

This case was investigated by the Dyersburg Police Department, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the United States Secret Service, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Immanuel Chioco and Adam Davis prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – Mario Patterson, 45, of Memphis, has been sentenced to 579 months in federal prison for his role in a series of three bank robberies, an additional attempted bank robbery, the use of firearms during the bank robberies, and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Patterson is amongst eight Memphis men who have previously pled or been convicted of these crimes.  D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced Patterson’s sentence today.

Evidence at a contested jury trial in January 2026 proved that between April 2023 and December 2023, the defendant, Mario Patterson, joined a conspiracy to rob banks in and around Memphis. Three other co-defendants­ ─ Courtney Trenell, 34; Devin Hinds, 36; and Joshua Cribbs, 33, were found guilty by a separate federal jury in July 2025.  Four other co-defendants ─ Robert Haley, 45, Travis Drain, 39, Marquarius Trenell, 35, and Monterrio Trenell, 29 ─ already pleaded guilty to bank robbery and using a firearm during the robberies.

According to evidence presented at the trials, on:

• April 27, 2023 - Patterson and Drain robbed a branch of First Horizon Bank on North Watkins in Memphis.  Patterson brandished an AK-style pistol during the robbery as Drain jumped the teller counter. The pair escaped with a large amount of money to an awaiting car driven by Haley.
• August 11, 2023 - Drain and Marquarius Trenell ran into a branch of Truist Bank, jumped the counter, and robbed the bank. Hinds and Haley served as lookouts and getaway drivers.  
• October 20, 2023 - The group simultaneously robbed two banks located near Germantown Parkway and Trinity Road. Patterson and Drain entered a branch of First Horizon, with Patterson brandishing a revolver as the two demanded money. Haley served as a lookout nearby and aided in the escape. Across the street, Marquarius Trenell and Cribbs robbed a branch of the Bank of Bartlett and fled in a car driven by Monterrio Trenell.  During the Bank of Bartlett robbery, Courtney Trenell operated a second getaway vehicle stationed about a mile from the robbery, aiding his co-defendants in fleeing the area. 
• October 25, 2023 - Patterson and Drain returned to the First Horizon on North Watkins in an attempt to rob it again.  The security guard saw them approaching, with Patterson brandishing an AK-style pistol, and fired at the would-be robbers.  Patterson fired back and struck the security guard and an employee.
• November 5, 2023 - Patterson was located committing a business burglary. After a pursuit by Memphis Police Department patrol officers from Airways Precinct, Patterson was arrested and officers located a revolver in his vehicle, which bears a striking resemblance to the revolver used in the October 20, 2023 First Horizon robbery.
• December 22, 2023 - Patterson and Drain went to a branch of the Independent Bank on Union Avenue, with Patterson again carrying an AK-style pistol. Patterson also wore a bulletproof vest during this robbery. Hinds and Haley waited as lookouts and getaway drivers.

In total, the group stole over $170,000 cash from five bank robberies.

This case is set before the Honorable Judge Thomas L. Parker. On November 19, 2025, Cribbs was sentenced to 144 months in prison.  On December 4, 2025, Haley to 204 months in prison.  On December 5, 2025, Hinds was sentenced to 194 months in prison. On March 3, 2026, Marquarius Trenell was sentenced to 46 months in prison. On April 3, 2026, Travis Drain was sentenced to 120 months in prison, plus an additional 18 months in prison for his supervised release violation.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “In less than 8 months, this violent robbery crew committed five armed bank robberies, terrorized the community, and inflicted fear and harm on multiple victims. Patterson’s violent crime spree is over, for good. This 48-year sentence for a 45-year-old offender is well deserved and sends a clear message that there will always be a reckoning, a real and significant consequence, for the commission of violent crimes."

“This sentence should serve as a reminder that repeated criminal conduct carries escalating consequences and will be met by swift justice,“ said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force and our partners at the Memphis Police Department will continue to work together to target the serial offenders creating fear and havoc in our community.”

Memphis Police Department investigators assigned to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force investigated and solved the case. This case is part of the Safe Streets Task Force’s efforts to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee and surrounding areas.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Greg Wagner and Tony Arvin, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee, along with Trial Attorney Ashleigh Atasoy, of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS), prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – LeSeam Johnson, aka LeSean Wallace, 40 of Memphis, has been sentenced to 262 months in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl and a firearm, the possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking offense, and for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to evidence presented in court, in April and May of 2025, Johnson made multiple sales of 1/2 oz. to 2 oz. quantities of fentanyl to an undercover agent.    During one of the sales, Johnson also sold an AR-style pistol and on a separate occasion sold fake narcotics to the undercover agent. Johnson is a felon and is prohibited from even possessing a firearm.

Johnson was federally indicted in August 2025 and pled guilty to the charges on February 3, 2026.

On May 5, 2026, the Honorable Judge Mark S. Norris found that Johnson is a “career offender” under the United States Sentencing Guidelines based on his prior convictions involving the distribution of narcotics and a prior violent offense.  Judge Norris sentenced Johnson to 262 months in federal prison, to be followed by five years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney Dunavant said, "This defendant’s prior conviction history demonstrates his disrespect for the law and his imminent danger to the public. Johnson presented a triple threat of serious bodily injury and death: a prior violent convicted felon in possession of and dealing a firearm while distributing highly addictive and deadly substances on the streets. Fentanyl itself is a killer, and illegally putting firearms into the hands of strangers on the street adds another level of danger to the community. Career offender+guns+drugs = a federal sentence that will remove him from our community and save lives."

"This defendant posed a triple threat to our community – a violent convicted felon in possession of a firearm who also distributed the deadly narcotic Fentanyl and sold additional weapons on our Memphis streets. This sentencing underscores the collective efforts of ATF with our local, state, and federal partners and the unwavering commitment to maintaining public safety," said Special Agent in Charge Jamey VanVliet, of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Office.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Memphis Police Department’s Organized Crime Unit.  

Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Wagner prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – A federal grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee has returned a two-count indictment charging Trenton Abston, 25, of Memphis, with the attempted kidnapping and stalking of Memphis Mayor Paul Young. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the return of the federal indictment today.

As alleged in the indictment and established in other court proceedings: On June 15, 2025, Abston drove his car and parked outside the mayor’s neighborhood. Abston then climbed an 8–10-foot privacy fence to avoid neighborhood security and used his phone to navigate on foot to the mayor’s home. Abston had rope and duct tape with him in the car and carried a taser with him in his hoodie. Abston then rang the doorbell of the mayor’s home at approximately 9:30 PM, while the mayor and his family were inside. The taser in Abston’s pocket was clearly visible on recorded doorbell camera footage. No one answered the door, and Abston left the area.

The Memphis Police Department was later able to identify Trenton Abston as the suspect and arrested him. Abston admitted to police that he went to the mayor’s home because he was angry and wanted to have a confrontation with the mayor. Police later found a storage unit belonging to Abston and found written surveillance notes where Abston noted the movements of the guards around the mayor’s neighborhood, as well as addresses, telephone numbers, and names of family members of Mayor Young and other local elected officials.

On June 20, 2025, officers found an Apple AirTag that Abston placed on the mayor’s official government vehicle. Police also discovered that this was not Abston’s first time stalking the mayor, and that Abston tried to physically force his way into the mayor’s office at City Hall on April 4, 2024.

Abston is federally charged with one count of attempted kidnapping and one count of stalking.  The attempted kidnapping offense carries a sentence of up to 20 years, and the stalking offense carries a sentence of up to 5 years in federal prison.  If Abston is convicted of the charged offenses, a federal judge will determine the sentence to impose on the defendant after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. There is no parole in the federal system. 

Abston was originally charged by criminal information in the Shelby County Criminal Court, Division 10, with the Class D Felony offense of Attempted Kidnapping. On April 14, 2026, the defendant entered a best interest Alford plea of guilty as charged. After a lengthy sentencing hearing, the state Criminal Court Judge placed the defendant on judicial diversion probation for a period of 4 years, with Community Corrections supervision and other conditions of release, over the objection of the state prosecutor. Under applicable state law, if the defendant successfully complies with the conditions of his term of judicial diversion probation and supervision, he will be eligible to have the original charge dismissed and his criminal record expunged.  

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “Targeting elected officials for political violence is dangerous and absolutely unacceptable, and this office has zero tolerance for such threatening conduct. Because the state court disposition is manifestly inadequate to vindicate the substantial federal interests of the United States to prioritize and protect the safety of public officials, the defendant must be charged and held accountable under federal law.”

This case was investigated by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Memphis Police Department (MPD).

Assistant United States Attorneys J. William Crow and Gavin A. Smith are prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Jackson, TN – A federal grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee recently returned a multi-count indictment charging Zachary Sean Fortner, 36, of Martin, Tennessee, with several child sexual solicitation and exploitation offenses.  United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the return of the indictment today.

Fortner’s alleged criminal conduct dates back to 2013.  During that year, he is alleged to have persuaded and coerced a minor to take nude photographs of herself and send them to him on his cell phone.  Later, in 2024, he is alleged to have distributed, received, and possessed child pornographic images and videos via Kik, a social media application.

Fortner is charged with one count of production of child pornography, two counts of receiving and attempting to receive child pornography, one count of distribution of child pornography, and one count of possession of child pornography.  The production offense carries a 15-year mandatory-minimum prison sentence, and the receipt and distribution offenses each carry 5-year mandatory-minimum prison terms.     

This case is pending before United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson in Jackson.  If Fortner is convicted of the charged offenses, Judge Anderson will determine the sentence to impose on the defendant after considering the United States Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.  There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "The U.S. Attorney’s office and our law enforcement partners remain proactive and vigilant in our investigations and prosecutions of cyber-crimes against vulnerable victims, including the sexual solicitation of minors, and possession and distribution of child pornography. No matter how long it takes, those who exploit minor children will be exposed and held accountable.”

This case is being investigated by members of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Martin Police Department, and the District Attorney’s Office for the 27th Judicial District of Tennessee.

Anyone with additional information on this case is asked to contact TBI Special Agent Sarah Turner at 615-744-4000 or 1-800-TBI-FIND.    

Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – Erick Chaparro-Gamboa, 28, of Denver, Colorado, has been sentenced to federal prison for his role in conspiring to transport 58 kilograms of cocaine into West Tennessee. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, on August 9, 2025, the Texas Department of Safety conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by the defendant. After searching the vehicle, troopers located 58 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a speaker box. The Texas Department of Safety contacted the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to assist.

Upon investigation, investigators determined that the narcotics were destined for West Tennessee.  The narcotics had an estimated street value of $750,000.

A federal grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee indicted Gamboa on September 9, 2025 for Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine. On January 9, 2026, Gamboa pled guilty as charged. On April 17, 2026, United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced the defendant to 54 months in the Federal Bureau of Prisons, followed by a three-year period of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Criminal enterprises that distribute harmful drugs into West Tennessee can no longer hide. We are taking the fight to the drug trafficking organizations who want to poison our citizens for their greed and profit. I commend the outstanding investigative efforts by DEA and our other state and local law enforcement partners in this important and impactful case."

“Mexican drug traffickers are on notice…you and your poison are not welcome here, find a new line of work,” said Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Louisville Field Division.  “This case highlights how effective law enforcement can be when we all work together, from the state and local level, up to the federal level.”

This case was the result of multiple agencies working together in the investigation and prosecution: DEA Memphis, TN; DEA Amarillo, TX; Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), McAllen, TX; Texas Department of Safety; and the Germantown, TN Police Department. 

Assistant United States Attorney Gregory D. Allen prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – On April 23, 2026, after a 3-day trial, a federal jury found Adrienne Rosse, 37, of Arlington, Tennessee, guilty of two counts of cyberstalking for mailing harassing letters about a Shelby County Assistant District Attorney. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the verdict today.

According to information presented at the trial, Adrienne Rosse’s husband, Charles Rosse, is being prosecuted by the Shelby County District Attorneys’ Office for charges of rape and sexual battery. A 2023 trial on those charges resulted in a mistrial due to a hung jury. The Assistant District Attorney (ADA) who prosecuted the case attempted to negotiate a settlement of the case, and told Charles Rosse that if they did not reach a plea agreement, she intended to re-try the case. Charles Rosse rejected the plea offer. His case remains pending.

Adrienne Rosse was “filled with rage” about the continued prosecution of her husband. In August 2023, she sent anonymous letters to the Tennessee Attorney General, the Shelby County District Attorney, several local news reporters, the Memphis Bar Association, and the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility, falsely accusing the ADA of having a secret career in pornography, which she described in graphic detail and supported with 20 pages of pornographic photos of women who resembled the ADA.

In November 2023, unsatisfied because the ADA had suffered no professional consequences and was continuing to prosecute her husband, Adrienne Rosse sent out another round of anonymous letters, enclosing the same pornographic photos, this time to local defense attorneys. Because of this harassment, the ADA left the Shelby County District Attorney’s office and moved from the Memphis area. Despite Adrienne Rosse’s attempts to destroy her career, the ADA has continued her career as a prosecutor in a new location.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 5, 2026 before the Honorable U.S. District Judge Mark S. Norris of the Western District of Tennessee. Adrienne Rosse faces up to five years of incarceration, a fine of up to $250,000, and a term of supervised release of up to three years. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: “Prosecutors seek justice every day without fear or favor on behalf of the public, and no person deserves to be victimized and retaliated against because of their public service occupation. The defendant’s attempt to destroy the distinguished career of an ADA is reprehensible, and we will seek a significant sentence in this case to deliver justice for the victim and hold this offender accountable.”

This case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO).

Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Delery and Raven Icaza prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration will host the 30th National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at nearly 4,200 locations nationwide.

Twice a year, DEA joins forces with local law enforcement and community groups to host DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, giving the public a safe and anonymous way to dispose of expired and unused prescription medications. By getting rid of unnecessary medications in the home, families can help prevent prescription drug misuse and reduce the potential for accidental poisonings.

“DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is one of the most effective ways we can prevent addiction before it starts,” stated DEA New Jersey Field Division Special Agent in Charge Towanda R. Thorne-James. “Too often, unused medications sit in medicine cabinets where they can be misused, stolen, or lead to accidental overdoses. By safely disposing of these medications, we are protecting our families and saving lives.”

DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day has been in effect since 2010, but the program was started in New Jersey in 2009 by the DEA New Jersey Field Division and their partners. This program has provided an easy and accessible way to dispose of medications that could pose a threat if misused. Over the past 16 years, National Prescription Take Back Day has removed more than 20 million pounds of unwanted medications from communities across the United States. New Jersey residents have surrendered more than 444,000 pounds of these medications.    

Opioids, such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine, are among the most misused prescription pain medications, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

DEA and its partners will collect tablets, capsules, patches, and other forms of prescription drugs. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should be securely sealed in their original container.

Syringes, sharps, or illicit drugs are not collected. To learn how to properly dispose of these items we encourage you to visit FDA.gov.

To find the Take Back Day location nearest you visit www.DEATakeBack.com.

For those unable to participate in this month’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, there are more than 16,500 pharmacies, hospitals, and businesses that offer safe medication disposal year-round. In addition, many police departments also provide permanent drop boxes to ensure Every Day is Take Back Day.

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Jackson, TN – Anthony Flowers, 59, of Jackson, has been sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography.  D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

In September 2025, an internal auditor with Gerdau Long Steel of North America discovered that an employee in its Jackson office was downloading large data files to his work computer.  Using data loss prevention software, the auditor was able to determine that Flowers was the employee in question.  The auditor found that Flowers had downloaded 90 data files over the previous week, at least nine of which contained blatant child sexual abuse material (CSAM).  The auditor determined that Flowers utilized his work laptop at his residence and offloaded the data files to an external hard drive.  The auditor subsequently notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) about the incident.  

A search warrant for Flowers’s residence in Jackson was later obtained and executed.  During the search, Flowers agreed to speak with FBI agents regarding his activities.  Flowers admitted to viewing CSAM on his work computer and transferring the material to an external hard drive, which he later deleted from the hard drive.  FBI agents in Tampa, Florida were able to meet the auditor at Gerdau’s office in that area and obtained a thumb drive containing many of the files located during the internal audit. 

Upon reviewing the files, FBI agents discovered that Flowers had downloaded 40 images and nine videos that contained blatant CSAM, including images of prepubescent minors and minors under 12 years of age engaging in sexually explicit conduct, material that portrayed sadistic or masochistic conduct, and material that portrayed the sexual abuse or exploitation of infants and toddlers.     

Following Flowers’s guilty plea to a one-count criminal information charging him with possession of child pornography in November 2025, United States District Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Flowers to 78 months in prison and five years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system. 

Judge Anderson also ordered that Flowers pay a special assessment in the amount of $5,000 under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.  

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Let this sentence serve notice on those who use the internet and electronic means to access materials that exploit, abuse, and victimize minor children: You cannot hide, we will track you down, and you will be held accountable for such disturbing and predatory criminal conduct."

This case was investigated by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Jackson Police Department, and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Jackson, TN – James Daniel McGee, 36, of Savannah, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 35 years in federal prison for using the internet to entice a minor to engage in criminal sexual acts from July to November 2024, and for committing that offense while being required to register as a sex offender under Tennessee law.  D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

In May 2013, McGee was convicted of solicitation of a minor and exploitation of a minor by electronic means in Hardin County, Tennessee.  As a result of those convictions, he was required to register as a sex offender pursuant to Tennessee law for at least 10 years.  In September 2024, McGee was removed from the Tennessee sex offender registry following his petition for removal after he completed the requisite 10-year registry period.  However, it was later learned that in July 2024, McGee began communicating via social media applications and text messages with a 15-year-old minor female who resided in Campbell, Missouri.    

The investigation revealed that in August 2024, McGee traveled from his residence in Savannah to the minor female’s residence in Missouri and engaged in sexual acts with her.  Later, in November 2024, McGee traveled to Missouri again, picked up the minor female near her home, and then traveled back to Savannah where the two again engaged in sexual activity at McGee’s home. 

Officers with the Savannah Police Department ultimately found the minor female in McGee’s home.  She was interviewed and told the police that she met McGee on Facebook earlier that year, that McGee asked her to send him nude photos and videos of herself, and that she complied because he told her that he would get her into “deep trouble” if she did not.  She also confirmed the McGee videotaped them having sexual intercourse at his home in Savannah.                 

Following his guilty plea to the above charges, United States District Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced McGee to 35 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.  McGee is also facing several state charges in Hardin County and in Dunklin County, Missouri for his conduct in this case.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “With the proliferation of cell phones and social media, vulnerable children are at a high risk of solicitation and enticement for sex. This office will always aggressively prosecute and seek significant and mandatory sentences for such recidivist and predatory behavior in order to protect children and hold offenders accountable.”

This case was investigated by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Savannah Police Department, the Campbell, Missouri Police Department, and the Dunklin County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates

Jackson, TN – Jonathan James Moore, 58, of Jackson, has been sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography.  D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

The investigation in this case began in January 2025 when the Federal Bureau of Investigation received a report from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding the uploading of 13 files containing child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to a Google mail (Gmail) account.  Further investigation revealed that the Gmail account was owned and operated by Jonathan James Moore, a resident of Jackson.  Search warrants for Moore’s residence and his Gmail account were obtained and executed in February 2025, which resulted in the discovery of hundreds of CSAM images, including images involving prepubescent minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, and material that portrayed the sexual abuse or exploitation of infants and toddlers. 

Following the search of his home, Moore was interviewed, and he admitted to viewing images of nude children that he downloaded from the internet for sexual gratification.  He also admitted to “screenshotting” and cropping some of the images that he obtained and then uploading the images to his Google Photos account.  

In April 2025, a federal grand jury returned a multi-count indictment against Moore charging him with several child sexual exploitation offenses, including possession of child pornography.  Following his guilty plea to the possession offense, United States District Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Moore to 60 months in prison and five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

Judge Anderson also ordered that Moore pay a fine of $5,000 and a special assessment of $5,000 under the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: “Criminals are using technology to victimize and exploit child victims with increasingly disturbing frequency. This case demonstrates that no matter where offenders are located, our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners will find them and hold them accountable for internet crimes against children.”

This case was investigated by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), the Jackson Police Department, and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Tennessee joins the Department of Justice's Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) and the Executive Office for the United States Attorneys (EOUSA) in observing National Crime Victims' Rights Week. This year’s theme is "Listen. Act. Advocate. Protecting victims, serve communities.”

There were 6.7 million violent victimizations of persons age 12 or older in the United States in 2024, according to a Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) report. Violent victimization includes rape or sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault.

According to EOUSA, in fiscal year 2025 across the country, USAO victim witness professionals contacted victims more than 513,000 times regarding services and court updates; asset forfeiture personnel contributed to almost $331 million in forfeited funds being granted to victims via remission or restoration; and Financial Litigation Programs collected over $1 billion in restitution from criminal defendants for the benefit of victims.

Our U.S. Attorney's Office has experienced victim witness professionals who listen to victims share their stories and answer their questions; the financial litigation and asset forfeiture teams act diligently to maximize asset recovery on behalf of victims; and every day, Assistant U.S. Attorneys appear in court to advocate for the rights of victims under the Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA) and take steps to protect them.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Victims of crime deserve to be treated with respect, dignity, compassion, and sensitivity in the criminal justice system. At the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee, we are committed to providing victims with the highest level of support, protection, and assistance during the often difficult and confusing legal court process. Achieving justice for victims and protecting their rights is our highest duty and we are honored to participate in the National observance of this special week to honor victims and victim advocates."

For additional information regarding National Crime Victims’ Rights Week and resources for victims, please visit https://ovc.ojp.gov/.    

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WASHINGTON – Three Memphis men have been sentenced following their convictions at trial on Nov. 12, 2025.

A jury convicted Darius Moore, 39; Mervin Anderson, 40; and Mario Gardner, 49, all of Memphis, of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Yesterday, the court sentenced Moore to 210 months in prison. Anderson and Gardner were previously sentenced to 150 months and 51 months in prison respectively. Moore was designated a career offender, having been twice convicted of the sale of hydromorphone in 2005 and 2008, and was on supervised release when he committed this crime. In 2019, Moore was convicted of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl within 1000 feet of a playground and after serving his prison term was placed on supervised release. Moore was also sentenced yesterday to an additional 1 year in prison for violating the conditions of his supervised release.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the defendants were members or associates of the Memphis street gang, Young Mob Military or Young Mob. One of the leaders of Young Mob, co-defendant Brian Lackland, was central to the running of the drug conspiracy that distributed fentanyl within the Western District of Tennessee. Evidence presented during trial included seizures of thousands of fentanyl pills that were sent through the United States Postal Service addressed to Lackland’s residence. The fentanyl pills had been designed to mimic Oxycodone with pressed symbols on the blue pills. Members of the conspiracy would refer to the fentanyl pills as “blues” or “blues clues.”

Fentanyl pills

The surveillance caught members of the conspiracy exchanging large quantities of pills at gas stations, grocery stores, and other locations within feet of unsuspecting citizens of Memphis.

“These three defendants mailed thousands of dangerous and potentially fatal fentanyl laced pills through the United States mail and openly sold them on the streets of Memphis, ultimately endangering end users,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Dangerous opiates like fentanyl are a scourge to our communities, and leave a wake of death, ruined lives, and sorrow. Dedicated work by law enforcement took this drug trafficking organization down. We will continue to stand with our partners and remove dangerous drug dealers from the streets.”

“Because illicit fentanyl is closer to a chemical weapon than a narcotic, President Trump has designated fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction (WMD),” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “Its lethality is significant, and those who traffic fentanyl must be severely punished and incapacitated. This sentence will ensure that this recidivist ‘not-so-young’ mob member will grow old in a federal prison.”

“ATF will not tolerate violent gangs that fuel their criminality by distributing danger drugs like fentanyl on our streets,” said Special Agent in Charge Jamey VanVliet of The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Office. “This sentencing underscores the collective efforts of our local, state, and federal partners and the unwavering commitment to maintaining public safety. Through persistent investigation, collaboration, and enforcement, we will continue to dismantle these criminal networks and protect the safety and security of our citizens.”

While detained pending trial for the drug conspiracy, Anderson was charged and convicted at trial of possessing two sharpened, handmade knives, commonly referred to as “shanks” while at the Shelby County Detention Center. Video from the jail showed Anderson threatening another inmate while swinging and thrusting the knives. When the shanks were taken from Anderson, he stated, “God is on his side, I was about to kill that boy.” Anderson then continued to make threats against the other inmate, stating, “I’m going to kill that boy when I get out.”

Anderson with shank

Other alleged members of the drug conspiracy, including the leader of the Young Mob, are charged in separate indictment with racketeering conspiracy, as well as narcotics and firearm offenses.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Memphis Police Department investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Amanda J. Kotula and Cesar Rivera-Giraud of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) prosecuted the case. Brian P. Leaming of VCRS and Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Neal Oldham for the Western District of Tennessee provided substantial assistance with the investigation and prosecution.

This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative in Memphis conducted in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee and local, state, and federal law enforcement. The joint effort addresses violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal laws to prosecute gang members and their associates in Memphis.

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If you have questions, please use the contacts in the message or call the Office of Public Affairs at 202-514-2007. 

Three Memphis men have been sentenced following their convictions at trial on Nov. 12, 2025.

A jury convicted Darius Moore, 39; Mervin Anderson, 40; and Mario Gardner, 49, all of Memphis, of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. Yesterday, the court sentenced Moore to 210 months in prison. Anderson and Gardner were previously sentenced to 150 months and 51 months in prison respectively. Moore was designated a career offender, having been twice convicted of the sale of hydromorphone in 2005 and 2008, and was on supervised release when he committed this crime. In 2019, Moore was convicted of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl within 1000 feet of a playground and after serving his prison term was placed on supervised release. Moore was also sentenced yesterday to an additional 1 year in prison for violating the conditions of his supervised release.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the defendants were members or associates of the Memphis street gang, Young Mob Military or Young Mob. One of the leaders of Young Mob, co-defendant Brian Lackland, was central to the running of the drug conspiracy that distributed fentanyl within the Western District of Tennessee. Evidence presented during trial included seizures of thousands of fentanyl pills that were sent through the United States Postal Service addressed to Lackland’s residence. The fentanyl pills had been designed to mimic Oxycodone with pressed symbols on the blue pills. Members of the conspiracy would refer to the fentanyl pills as “blues” or “blues clues.”

The surveillance caught members of the conspiracy exchanging large quantities of pills at gas stations, grocery stores, and other locations within feet of unsuspecting citizens of Memphis.

“These three defendants mailed thousands of dangerous and potentially fatal fentanyl laced pills through the United States mail and openly sold them on the streets of Memphis, ultimately endangering end users,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Dangerous opiates like fentanyl are a scourge to our communities, and leave a wake of death, ruined lives, and sorrow. Dedicated work by law enforcement took this drug trafficking organization down. We will continue to stand with our partners and remove dangerous drug dealers from the streets.” 

“Because illicit fentanyl is closer to a chemical weapon than a narcotic, President Trump has designated fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction (WMD),” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “Its lethality is significant, and those who traffic fentanyl must be severely punished and incapacitated. This sentence will ensure that this recidivist ‘not-so-young’ mob member will grow old in a federal prison.”

“ATF will not tolerate violent gangs that fuel their criminality by distributing danger drugs like fentanyl on our streets,” said Special Agent in Charge Jamey VanVliet of The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Office. “This sentencing underscores the collective efforts of our local, state, and federal partners and the unwavering commitment to maintaining public safety. Through persistent investigation, collaboration, and enforcement, we will continue to dismantle these criminal networks and protect the safety and security of our citizens.”

While detained pending trial for the drug conspiracy, Anderson was charged and convicted at trial of possessing two sharpened, handmade knives, commonly referred to as “shanks” while at the Shelby County Detention Center. Video from the jail showed Anderson threatening another inmate while swinging and thrusting the knives. When the shanks were taken from Anderson, he stated, “God is on his side, I was about to kill that boy.” Anderson then continued to make threats against the other inmate, stating, “I’m going to kill that boy when I get out.”

Other alleged members of the drug conspiracy, including the leader of the Young Mob, are charged in separate indictment with racketeering conspiracy, as well as narcotics and firearm offenses.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Memphis Police Department investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Amanda J. Kotula and Cesar Rivera-Giraud of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) prosecuted the case. Brian P. Leaming of VCRS and Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Neal Oldham for the Western District of Tennessee provided substantial assistance with the investigation and prosecution.

This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative in Memphis conducted in partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee and local, state, and federal law enforcement. The joint effort addresses violent crime by employing, where appropriate, federal laws to prosecute gang members and their associates in Memphis.

Jackson, TN – Nineteen people have been indicted and are facing state and federal charges for their involvement in an organized drug trafficking scheme in West Tennessee. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, and Neil Thompson, District Attorney General for the 24th District, announced the unsealing of the indictments today.

The charges are the culmination of a two-year long investigation and takedown by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation in conjunction with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Henry County Sheriff’s Department, Huntingdon Police Department, Carroll County Sheriff’s Department, Henderson County Sheriff’s Department, Madison County Sheriff’s Department, and the 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force. 

According to court documents, between May 2024 and February 2026, the defendants conspired, coordinated, and worked together and with others to distribute methamphetamine throughout West Tennessee.

On March 16, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging seven individuals with Conspiracy to Distribute more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine. Those individuals named in the federal indictment are:

• Ryan Shonte Sims, 35 - of Nashville, TN
• Katherine Foust, 37 - of Paris, TN
• Darryl Barnes, 60 - of Henry, TN
• Stacie Shoffner, 58 - of Henry, TN
• Marcus McClennan, 43 - of Clarksville, TN
• Jessica Hilliard, 38, of Paris, TN
• Jason Hedges, 54 - of Jackson, TN

On March 2, 2026, a Henry County Grand Jury returned indictments charging 12 additional individuals with various state violations.  Those individuals charged are:

• Mark William Davis, 43, of Waverly, TN - Criminal Responsibility for the Sale of Methamphetamine
• Michael Lamont Wilson, 51, of Paris, TN - Criminal Responsibility for the Sale of Methamphetamine
• George E. Easley, 41, of Henry, TN - Conspiracy to Sell Methamphetamine
• Jerry Lynn Clark, 68, of Paris, TN - Sale of Methamphetamine
• Brianna V. Holder, 32, of Paris, TN - Conspiracy to Sell Methamphetamine
• Timothy L. Vandyke, 40, of Paris, TN - Conspiracy to Sell Methamphetamine
• Mandy L. Shriner, 50, of Paris, TN - Conspiracy to Sell Methamphetamine
• Johnnie May Lee, 67, of Paris, TN - Sale of Methamphetamine
• Amanda K. Seward, 47, of McKenzie, TN - Conspiracy to Sell Methamphetamine
• Jenia D. Singleton, 36, of Buchanan, TN - Conspiracy to Sell Methamphetamine
• Mark D. Noah, 58, of Huntingdon, TN - Conspiracy to Sell Methamphetamine
• Anthony Dakota Walker, 26, of Big Sandy, TN - Sale of Methamphetamine

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "These indictments and takedown represent another great example of law enforcement working together to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations that distribute poison in the Western District of Tennessee. I commend the outstanding investigative efforts of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in this important and impactful operation, and we look forward to holding the perpetrators accountable in federal court."

“Let this case serve as a warning to would-be drug traffickers seeking to poison our communities…the dedicated men and woman of the DEA will stop at nothing to terminate your operations and ensure that you face justice,” said Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott, head of the DEA’s Louisville Field Division.  “For nearly two years, the DEA and our law enforcement partners were relentless in our efforts to shut down a drug pipeline into rural West Tennessee; and today, our tenacity paid off.”

“Our agency remains firmly committed to investigating and disrupting organized drug trafficking in Tennessee. These arrests reflect the ongoing, coordinated enforcement efforts aimed at confronting the methamphetamine distribution that continues to impact this region. We will continue working tirelessly alongside our local, state, and federal partners to combat the violent crimes linked to methamphetamine and other illegal drugs being trafficked throughout our state, " said Director David B. Rausch of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

“This is an example of a great collaborative effort from multiple agencies. We’re proud to be able to do our part to assist with prosecuting these cases," said District Attorney General Neil Thompson.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Hillary Parham and Assistant District Attorney Anthony Clark.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence.  The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Memphis comprises agents and officers from multiple agencies, to include the investigative agencies listed above, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee. 

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – Michael Wilson, 54, of Memphis, was sentenced to over 22 years in federal prison for his role in engaging in a long-term conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Memphis, Tennessee.  D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

Through the utilization of recorded phone calls, traffic stops, physical surveillance, and the execution of search warrants, law enforcement officers were able to determine that Wilson was distributing felony amounts of methamphetamine for more than one year before his federal indictment in March 2025.  Wilson has a history of committing crimes involving the distribution of narcotics and is classified as a career offender under the United States Sentencing Guidelines.

Following his guilty plea to conspiring to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine, being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, United States Chief District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced the defendant to 270 months' imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.

There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney Dunavant said, "This defendant’s prior conviction history demonstrates his disrespect for the law and his imminent danger to the public. Wilson presented a triple threat of serious bodily injury and death: a prior violent convicted felon in possession of firearms while distributing highly addictive and deadly substances on the streets. Career offender+guns+drugs = a federal sentence that will remove him from our community and save lives."

“The FBI and our partners brought the full force of resources to bear—putting a career offender behind bars,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “We will continue to root out drug offenders wherever they operate and hold them accountable. Every family in this community deserves to feel safe.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Additionally, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Desoto County Sheriff’s Office, Bartlett Police Department, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) all assisted in the investigations of Michael Wilson and his co-conspirators.

Assistant United States Attorneys Bryce Phillips and Greg Wagner prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Memphis comprises agents and officers from multiple agencies, to include the investigative agencies listed above, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.  

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Jackson, TN – Gregory Lynn Bond, 33, of Denmark, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for distribution of methamphetamine. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

Bond was charged with three counts of distributing and possessing with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. Bond pled guilty to all three counts. According to the information presented during the sentencing hearing, agents with the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), and the 26th Judicial District Drug Task Force initiated a joint investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating in Denmark, Tennessee.

Through the investigation, agents identified Bond as a methamphetamine distributor for this drug trafficking organization. The investigation of Bond involved several controlled purchases, a traffic stop, and several searches of property used by Bond. At sentencing, Bond was held responsible for trafficking over 3 kilograms of methamphetamine.

Following his guilty plea for distribution and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, United States District Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Bond to 30 years in prison and five years of supervised release.

There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Use and trafficking of methamphetamine continues to destroy lives, families, and communities across West Tennessee. The significant sentence in this case sends a clear message to those drug dealers who distribute poison in West Tennessee: You cannot prey upon our citizens for your selfish personal gain with impunity; there will be a reckoning."

This case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), the Madison County Sheriff’s Department, and the 26th Judicial District Drug Task Force.

Assistant United States Attorney Adam Davis prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – Brothers, Julio Cesar Garcia, 45, and Juan Carlos Garcia, 41, both of Chiapas, Mexico, were sentenced following their 2023 trial conviction.  In 2021, these individuals were indicted for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentences today.

According to information presented at trial and sentencing, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) received information that Julio Cesar Garcia was facilitating narcotics transactions from the Bureau of Prisons Great Plains Correctional Institution in Hinton, Oklahoma.  Investigators determined that Julio Cesar Garcia would locate buyers in the Western District of Tennessee, utilize a prison contraband phone to set up methamphetamine deliveries, and his brother Juan Carlos Garcia would accept payment.

Upon further investigation into Julio Cesar Garcia, HSI learned that he was serving prison sentence for a narcotics trafficking offense stemming from a conviction in the Western District of Tennessee.  Specifically, on March 7, 2019, Julio Cesar Garcia was sentenced to 120 months' incarceration for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute and Distribution of Methamphetamine.  His scheduled release date was July 9, 2026.    

During the investigation, investigators learned that Julio Cesar Garcia provided tracking numbers to parcels containing kilogram amounts of methamphetamine.  The parcels originated from California. Homeland Security Investigations, working with the United States Postal Inspection Service, seized two parcels, one containing 1 kilogram of methamphetamine and the other 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine.

On February 24, 2023, following a 4-day trial, a federal grand jury convicted both Julio Cesar Garcia and Juan Carlos Garcia of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  

On December 18, 2023, the Honorable Mark S. Norris sentenced Juan Carlos Garcia to 188 months' incarceration and ordered him to not unlawfully re-enter the United States.  On December 6, 2024, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit upheld Juan Carlos Garcia’s conviction and sentence.

On March 31, 2026, the Honorable Mark S. Norris sentenced Julio Cesar Garcia to 300 months' incarceration and ordered him to not unlawfully re-enter the United States.  This sentence is to be served consecutively to the prior sentence Julio Cesar Garcia was serving at the time. There is no parole in the federal system.

Both defendants were unlawfully in the United States at the time of the offenses. Due to the nature of the convictions, both are subject to removal from the United States.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Criminal aliens not only threaten the sovereignty of our nation but also threaten the safety of our communities. Distribution of illegal narcotics is NOT a victimless crime. This case demonstrates our focus on those dangerous criminal aliens who continue to violate our laws after illegal entry by distributing poisonous drugs that cause addiction, injury, and death.”

“Homeland Security Investigations remains steadfast in its mission to protect communities from the harm caused by drug trafficking and criminal organizations,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Colin Jackson. “This case highlights the importance of collaboration among law enforcement agencies and our ongoing efforts to hold offenders accountable. HSI will continue to pursue those who endanger public safety and uphold the rule of law.”

"This case exemplifies the spirit of collaboration we share with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners.  Let these prison sentences serve as a reminder that using the mail to traffic narcotics will be met with serious consequences.” – Inspector in Charge Rodney Hopkins, USPIS

“Through the Homeland Security Task Force, the FBI is working with our partners to pursue and dismantle the networks responsible for participating in the deadly drug trade,” said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “Together, we will ensure that those who exploit our communities for profit face the full force of the law.”

This case was investigated and assisted in trial by Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO), and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). Also assisting in the prosecution were the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Department of Homeland Security Customs and Broder Protection (DHS CBP), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), United States Marshals Service (USMS), and the DeSoto County (MS) Sheriff's Office Narcotics Unit.

Assistant United States Attorney Gregory D. Allen prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

This prosecution is part of the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) initiative established by Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion. The HSTF is a whole-of-government partnership dedicated to eliminating criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad. Through historic interagency collaboration, the HSTF directs the full might of United States law enforcement towards identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the full spectrum of crimes committed by these organizations, which have long fueled violence and instability within our borders. In performing this work, the HSTF places special emphasis on investigating and prosecuting those engaged in child trafficking or other crimes involving children. The HSTF further utilizes all available tools to prosecute and remove the most violent criminal aliens from the United States. HSTF Memphis comprises agents and officers from multiple agencies, to include the investigative agencies listed above, with the prosecution being led by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee.  

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – After a 3-day jury trial, a federal jury found Steven McCurdy, 46, aka Stephen McCurdy, aka “Kroger Man”, aka “Plug Tunchii”, guilty of distributing heroin and carfentanil, resulting in death. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the guilty verdict today.

On May 11, 2020, victim W.B. and a witness purchased what they believed to be heroin from the defendant, Stephen McCurdy, who the witness knew as “Kroger Man.” The victim and witness then went to the witness’s home in Byhalia, Mississippi, where they took the drugs recently sold to them by McCurdy.

Later that night, the witness awoke and found W.B. unresponsive and called 911. First responders arrived within minutes, where W.B. was pronounced deceased on the scene. An autopsy was conducted by the Mississippi Medical Examiner’s Office, and the cause of death for the victim was determined to be a combination of heroin and carfentanil toxicity.

Another witness called by the government during trial identified Stephen McCurdy as the person they knew as “Kroger Man”, aka “Plug Tunchii”, and as the individual who sold the witness narcotics around the time of May 2020. In his statement to Special Agents with the FBI upon his arrest, Stephen McCurdy admitted to selling marijuana and narcotics, but claimed no one had overdosed on his products.

A sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 17, 2026 before the Honorable Chief Judge Sheryl H. Lipman of the Western District of Tennessee, where McCurdy faces not less than 20 years or more than life, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least 3 years.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “Heroin and fentanyl distribution cases resulting in death receive top priority for investigation and federal prosecution, regardless of the quantity involved or the prior criminal record of the offender. We commend the outstanding investigative work of our federal and local law enforcement partners, and we hope this conviction will achieve some measure of justice for the victim’s family.”

"The FBI is committed to removing dangerous drugs from our communities and holding dealers, traffickers, and accomplices accountable for their actions," said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly, of the FBI Nashville Field Office. "This case demonstrates the power of collaboration and our dedication to ensuring that no community is overlooked."

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Byhalia Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorneys Bryce H. Phillips and Wendy K. Caceres, and Special Assistant United States Attorney Erica Ronquillo, of the United States Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps, prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – A federal grand jury has returned indictments in two significant tax fraud cases. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the indictments today:

Mother and Son Tax Preparers Indicted for Conspiracy to Defraud the U.S. Government of Over $1.4 Million 

In the first indictment, two Memphis income tax preparers have been charged with multiple criminal violations that resulted in a total tax loss to the United States of approximately $1,438,000.00.

According to the indictment, Yoshi Dawn Matthews and Ricky Darnell Matthews were charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States in connection with filing federal income tax returns that contained materially false statements.  A violation of the federal conspiracy statute is punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of up to $250,000.00 or both, and a term of supervised release of up to three years.

As alleged in the indictment, Yoshi Dawn Matthews prepared and filed, or caused to be prepared and filed, income tax returns for several taxpayers between February 2019 and January 2023 in which the fuel tax credit was claimed; and DYM Financial Services, an entity operated by her son, Ricky Darnell Matthews, was the platform used to file these returns with the Internal Revenue Service. In many cases, the returns of the taxpayers claiming the fuel tax credit included false assertions that the taxpayer had used hundreds of thousands of gallons of fuel.

In additional to the conspiracy charge, Yoshi Dawn Matthews and Ricky Darnell Matthews are also charged with making false statements on their own income tax returns. 

Memphis Business Owner Indicted for Failing to Pay Employment Taxes Collected from Employee's Wages 

The federal grand jury also returned an indictment charging Julie Robinson Wade with failing to pay over to the Internal Revenue Service employment taxes collected from the wages of employees who worked for a company she owned.

Wade owned a company that fabricated and installed granite fixtures such as countertops, showers, and fireplaces. As alleged in the indictment, Wade failed to file the Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Returns for the period between 2019 and 2021. During those time periods, employment taxes were collected from employees, but no payments were made to the IRS. Additionally, the indictment alleges that Wade failed to truthfully account for and pay over to the IRS all federal income taxes withheld and Medicare and Social Security taxes collected from the employees of her company during the period between 2020 and 2022.

The total of the employment taxes not paid to the IRS was approximately $147,676.00. A report date in this case is set for April 21, 2026 before U.S. District Court Judge Brian C. Lea. Each violation is punishable by imprisonment for up to 5 years, a fine of up to $100,000.00 or both, and a term of supervised release of up to 3 years.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “During tax filing season and the entire year, we are acting decisively to protect innocent taxpayers and the U.S. Treasury. We commend the outstanding investigative work of IRS-CI in these significant tax fraud cases.”

“Dishonest tax return preparers who think they can outmaneuver the tax system should take note that IRS Criminal Investigation will uncover these schemes and work alongside the U.S. Attorney’s Office to hold those responsible accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins of IRS Criminal Investigation’s Charlotte Field Office. “These indictments are a great reminder to those trying to cheat the taxpayers; our team will continue to aggressively pursue anyone who tries to defraud the nation’s tax system.”

These cases were investigated by Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI).

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Murphy is prosecuting these cases on behalf of the United States Government.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations of criminal conduct, and not evidence. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

• Matthews - Indictment Copy.pdf
• Wade - Indictment Copy.pdf

Jackson, TN – Clint Allen Wolf, 34, of Selmer, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 100 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography.  D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

The investigation in this case began in August 2024 when a cyber tip was sent to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding the transmission of 22 files containing child sexual abuse material on a social media application.  The report was assigned to the Knoxville, Tennessee Police Department, who then transferred it to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Jackson for further investigation. That investigation resulted in the execution of a search warrant at Wolf’s residence in Selmer in December 2024 and the seizure of multiple cell phones and other electronic devices. 

A search of Wolf’s cell phone revealed more than 600 images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, including prepubescent minors and minors under the age of 12 engaging in such conduct.    

In January 2025, a federal grand jury returned a one-count indictment against Wolf charging him with possession of child pornography.  Following his guilty plea to the indictment, Senior United States District Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Wolf to 100 months in prison and five years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “Possession of child pornography is a despicable crime that endangers and harms real child victims forever. And we know that demand drives supply. By seeking out and possessing hundreds of images of young children being sexually abused, Wolf contributed to their past victimization, and he will now spend over 8 years in prison where he cannot contribute to the future harm to children in the name of profit.”

This case was investigated by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), Knoxville Police Department, Selmer Police Department, and the McNairy County Sheriff’s Office.  

Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – Today, D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, and Tyreece L. Miller, United States Marshal for the Western District of Tennessee, announced that a fugitive has been arrested in Mexico.

According to information presented in court, Angelica Escobedo Bernal, 33, of Tamaulipas, Mexico, was indicted in the Western District of Tennessee on February 6, 2024 for Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Aiding and Abetting the Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine. 

On December 11, 2024, Bernal pled guilty to Aiding and Abetting Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.  Based on information presented in court, Bernal participated in the sale of 1 kilogram of methamphetamine.  Sentencing was scheduled for May 13, 2025, but Bernal failed to appear for her court date while on bond.  The District Court issued an arrest warrant for failure to appear.

The United States Marshals Service (USMS) obtained information that Bernal was in Mexico.  On March 24, 2026, Mexican authorities arrested Bernal in Mexico at the request of the United States. Bernal faces extradition proceedings in Mexico. 

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "No matter how far you run, you cannot escape justice and accountability in this district. I commend the outstanding investigative work of the USMS in the apprehension of this drug trafficking fugitive without further incident. Bernal has sowed addiction and pain into West Tennessee and will now return to reap the consequence of a significant prison sentence."

“The U.S. Marshals Service’s reach is far and wide. For those who think they are safe from capture, it’s just a matter of time before you will face the consequences in a court of law," said U.S. Marshal Tyreece L. Miller.

The United States Marshals Service led the investigation into locating Bernal.

The case was investigated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Assistant United States Attorney Gregory D. Allen is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.

Memphis, TN – This week, nine individuals – including well known musical artists—were federally charged for kidnapping and robbing at gunpoint numerous victims at a music studio in Dallas, Texas, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.

Eight of the nine were arrested yesterday in Dallas, Texas and Memphis, Tennessee. The charged defendants include:

Lontrell Williams. Jr., aka “Pooh Shiesty”
Lontrell Williams, Sr. 
Rodney Wright, Jr., aka “Big30”
Kedarius Waters 
Terrance Rodgers
Damarian Gipson
Demarcus Glover
Kordae Johnson 
Darrion McDaniel

“As alleged, nine defendants travelled to Dallas, Texas, to kidnap and rob victims who thought they were coming into town for a business meeting. Instead of discussing business in a civil matter, the defendants resorted to violence and intimidation to achieve their purported business objectives,” said Ryan Raybould, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas. “For anyone contemplating using violence and intimidation as a business practice, I’m here to tell you that it will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted in the Northern District of Texas. This case also highlights the outstanding contributions of my colleagues across the United States, including in the Western District of Tennessee, Middle District of Tennessee, and the Eastern District of Texas, as well as the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force and our state and local partners.”

“The Western District of Tennessee employs a whole team concept with federal, state, and local partners to aggressively pursue all violent criminals who dare to commit crime or seek safe haven within our jurisdiction. Here, agents from the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, strongly supported by Task Force Officers from the Memphis Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Desoto County Sheriff’s Office, and aviation assets from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, brought these violent criminals to justice and put them behind bars. These defendants will be transported to the Northern District of Texas to face their crimes,” said D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.

“Strong partnerships with local law enforcement are key to reducing violent crime. The collaboration of multiple agencies ensured the successful arrest of several individuals in both Texas and Tennessee. The FBI remains dedicated to investigating violent offenders and holding them accountable,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock.

The complaint alleges that on January 10 of this year, three music industry professionals traveled to Dallas for a scheduled business meeting. Lontrell Williams, Jr. arranged this meeting, purportedly to discuss the terms of his recording contract with one of the victims.

As alleged, once these three men were inside the studio, Williams Jr. and eight co-conspirators, several of whom traveled from Memphis, executed a coordinated armed takeover.

The complaint alleges that Williams Jr. produced an AK-style pistol and forced one of the victims to sign a release from the recording contract at gunpoint. The remaining conspirators displayed firearms and robbed the other victims of Rolex watches, jewelry, cash, and other high-value items.

One victim was choked to the point of near unconsciousness. Photos of some of his injuries were included in the complaint:

Photos of injuries sustained to the wrist and neck of one victim

Defendant Wright barricaded the studio door with his body to prevent the victims from escaping.

Court records reflect that Lontrell Williams, Jr., or Pooh Shiesty, was on home confinement for a prior firearms conspiracy conviction out of the Southern District of Florida. Part of the terms of his home detention were that he could not commit other criminal offenses or possess firearms. His father, Lontrell Williams Sr., is alleged to have helped plan and execute the federal kidnapping.

As described in the complaint, within hours of leaving the Dallas studio, the defendants added posts on social media, displaying what appeared to be some of the stolen jewelry, depicted in the photographs from the complaint:

Screenshot of video posted from Rodgers’ social media account depicted a Rolex believed to be stolen in the robbery

Screenshots from Glover’s social media account depicting him wearing purportedly stolen jewelry

As outlined in the complaint, some of the evidence establishing the defendants’ roles in the federal offense includes:

• Electronic monitoring data placing Williams Jr. at the offense location in violation of his home detention conditions;
• Cell phone records and license plate reader data corroborating the coordinated travel of multiple defendants from Memphis to Dallas;
• Rental car records confirming Williams Sr. rented a vehicle used by the group;
• Surveillance footage from the offense location, a nearby office supply store, and a hotel where several defendants stayed following the offense;
• Latent fingerprints recovered from the crime scene matching two defendants;
• Social media posts by defendants displaying what appears to be stolen property in the days following the offense; and
• Greyhound Bus records confirming the travel of multiple defendants from Dallas to Memphis the day after the offense.

If convicted, each defendant faces a sentence of up to life imprisonment.

The FBI Dallas Violent Crimes Task Force investigated the case, with the assistance of the FBI’s Memphis Resident Agency and Nashville Field Office, the Memphis Safe Task Force, the Dallas Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Claire Demers and Robert Withers of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

A complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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For more information, please contact USATXN.Media@usdoj.gov.

This week, nine individuals – including well known musical artists—were federally charged for kidnapping and robbing at gunpoint numerous victims at a music studio in Dallas, Texas, announced United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould.

8 of the 9 were arrested yesterday in Dallas, Texas and Memphis, Tennessee.  The charged defendants include:

Lontrell Williams. Jr. a/k/a “Pooh Shiesty”
Lontrell Williams, Sr.       
Rodney Wright, Jr. a/k/a “Big30”
Kedarius Waters 
Terrance Rodgers
Damarian Gipson
Demarcus Glover
Kordae Johnson 
Darrion McDaniel

“As alleged, nine defendants travelled to Dallas, Texas, to kidnap and rob victims who thought they were coming into town for a business meeting.  Instead of discussing business in a civil matter, the defendants resorted to violence and intimidation to achieve their purported business objectives,” said Ryan Raybould, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas.  “For anyone contemplating using violence and intimidation as a business practice, I’m here to tell you that it will be vigorously investigated and prosecuted in the Northern District of Texas.  This case also highlights the outstanding contributions of my colleagues across the United States, including in the Western District of Tennessee, Middle District of Tennessee, and the Eastern District of Texas, as well as the FBI Violent Crimes Task Force and our state and local partners.”

“The Western District of Tennessee employs a whole team concept with federal, state, and local partners to aggressively pursue all violent criminals who dare to commit crime or seek safe haven within our jurisdiction. Here, agents from the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, strongly supported by Task Force Officers from the Memphis Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Desoto County Sheriff’s Office, and aviation assets from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, brought these violent criminals to justice and put them behind bars. These defendants will be transported to the Northern District of Texas to face their crimes,” said D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.   

“Strong partnerships with local law enforcement are key to reducing violent crime. The collaboration of multiple agencies ensured the successful arrest of several individuals in both Texas and Tennessee. The FBI remains dedicated to investigating violent offenders and holding them accountable,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. 

The complaint alleges that on January 10 of this year, three music industry professionals traveled to Dallas for a scheduled business meeting.  Lontrell Williams, Jr. arranged this meeting, purportedly to discuss the terms of his recording contract with one of the victims. 

As alleged, once these three men were inside the studio, Williams Jr. and eight co-conspirators, several of whom traveled from Memphis, executed a coordinated armed takeover.

The complaint alleges that Williams Jr. produced an AK-style pistol and forced one of the victims to sign a release from the recording contract at gunpoint.  The remaining conspirators displayed firearms and robbed the other victims of Rolex watches, jewelry, cash, and other high-value items.  

One victim was choked to the point of near unconsciousness.  Photos of some of his injuries were included in the complaint:
 

Photos of injuries sustained to the wrist and neck of one victim

Defendant Wright barricaded the studio door with his body to prevent the victims from escaping.  
Court records reflect that Lontrell Williams, Jr., or Pooh Shiesty, was on home confinement for a prior firearms conspiracy conviction out of the Southern District of Florida. Part of the terms of his home detention were that he could not commit other criminal offenses or possess firearms.  His father, Lontrell Williams Sr., is alleged to have helped plan and execute the federal kidnapping. 

As described in the complaint, within hours of leaving the Dallas studio, the defendants added posts on social media, displaying what appeared to be some of the stolen jewelry, depicted in the photographs from the complaint:
 

Screenshot of video posted from Rodgers’ social media account depicted a Rolex believed to be stolen in the robbery

Screenshots from Glover’s social media account depicting him wearing purportedly stolen jewelry

As outlined in the complaint, some of the evidence establishing the defendants’ roles in the federal offense includes: •    Electronic monitoring data placing Williams Jr. at the offense location in violation of his home detention conditions; •    Cell phone records and license plate reader data corroborating the coordinated travel of multiple defendants from Memphis to Dallas; •    Rental car records confirming Williams Sr. rented a vehicle used by the group; •    Surveillance footage from the offense location, a nearby office supply store, and a hotel where several defendants stayed following the offense; •    Latent fingerprints recovered from the crime scene matching two defendants; •    Social media posts by defendants displaying what appears to be stolen property in the days following the offense; and
•    Greyhound Bus records confirming the travel of multiple defendants from Dallas to Memphis the day after the offense.

If convicted, each defendant faces a sentence of up to life imprisonment. 

The FBI Dallas Violent Crimes Task Force investigated the case, with the assistance of the FBI’s Memphis Resident Agency and Nashville Field Office, the Memphis Safe Task Force, the Dallas Police Department, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas.   Assistant U.S. Attorneys Claire Demers and Robert Withers of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.

A complaint is merely an allegation of criminal conduct, not evidence.  All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
 

Jackson, TN – Chad D. Isbell, 59, of McKenzie, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for possession of child pornography.  D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

The investigation in this case revealed that Isbell used a cell phone to record himself sexually assaulting a seven-year-old child.  The video was subsequently sent to the child’s mother via a social media application, and she immediately reported it to the police.  After being confronted with the video, Isbell admitted to law enforcement officers that he made the video and stored it on his cell phone.  

Following the defendant’s guilty plea to possession of child pornography, Senior United States District Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Isbell to 15 years in federal prison and five years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Isbell also has a related pending state indictment in the Circuit Court of Carroll County, TN, where he has been charged with the Class B felony offense of Aggravated Sexual Battery for engaging in unlawful sexual contact with a victim under 13 years of age.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “Sexual predators who victimize children cannot hide from ultimate detection and aggressive prosecution by this office. Production and possession of child pornography victimizes, harms, and exploits vulnerable children in a horrific way, and must be met with significant consequences.”

This case was investigated by members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the McKenzie Police Department, and the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services.  

Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

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For more information, please contact the Media Relations Team at USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or on X at @WDTNNews for office news and updates.