Western District of Tennessee

Jackson, TN – Cameron Treon Banks, 30, of Trenton, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 240 months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

In December 2021, Banks was found in possession of five firearms, 387 grams of methamphetamine, 10 grams of marijuana, and $1,282 in U.S. currency at a residence in Bradford, Tennessee.  The investigation revealed that Banks is a convicted felon and was serving a 10-year period of supervised probation for committing two separate aggravated assault offenses in Gibson County in 2021.  Banks was also previously convicted of another aggravated assault offense in Gibson County in 2016.   

Following his guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of federal law, Senior United States District Judge J. Daniel Breen determined that Banks qualified as an Armed Career Criminal (ACC) offender based on Banks’s three prior aggravated assault convictions.  Judge Breen ultimately sentenced Banks to 240 months in prison and five years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Banks has devoted his adult life to a career of violent criminal conduct, and that prior history has finally caught up with him. ACC+guns+drugs = a federal sentence that will finally remove him from the community and make Gibson County and West Tennessee a safer place."

This case was investigated by members of the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. 

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 Ray Forrest, 43, has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for possessing over 50 grams of actual methamphetamine with intent to distribute.  D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

In June 2024, Forrest was found in possession of 165 grams of methamphetamine, 2.7 pounds of marijuana, 395 grams of mushrooms, 90 Xanax pills, and half a gram of heroin during the execution of a search warrant at his residence in Kenton, TN.  This was Forrest’s sixth felony drug offense involving his illegal distribution of methamphetamine, and he was on probation for the last of his prior offenses when he committed the instant drug offense.   

Following his guilty plea to the one-count indictment, United States District Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Forrest to 20 years in prison and five years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Recidivist drug dealers who profit from the pain, addiction, violence and death caused by methamphetamine deserve significant punishment, and this sentence does just that."

This case was investigated by members of the West Tennessee Violent Crime & Drug Task Force, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  

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 – Danny Trotter, 51, Carla Stout, 38, and Randi Black, 40, have been sentenced for their roles in engaging in a monthslong conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Henry and Carroll counties.  D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentences today.

Through the utilization of controlled purchases of methamphetamine, traffic stops, physical surveillance, and the execution of search warrants, law enforcement officers were able to determine that Carla Stout was supplying Danny Trotter and Randi Black with hundreds of grams of methamphetamine for redistribution.  All three defendants also have a history of committing crimes involving the distribution of methamphetamine.  

Following their guilty pleas to conspiring with each other to distribute over 50 grams of actual methamphetamine, United States District Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced the defendants as follows:

• Danny Trotter - 120 months in prison and five years of supervised release
• Carla Stout - 168 months in prison and five years of supervised release
• Randi Black - 72 months in prison and five years of supervised release 

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 criminal conspiracies that distribute harmful drugs in our rural communities can no longer hide.”

This case was investigated by members of the 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

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 grand jury returned an indictment today charging a Memphis woman with helping prepare false tax returns for clients and tampering with witnesses in the government’s investigation. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the indictment.

According to the indictment: From at least 2018 through 2024, Selma Brinson, 64, owned and operated a tax preparation business that she used to report false items on clients’ tax returns to generate inflated tax refunds. Among other false items, Brinson allegedly reported false fuel tax credits and false claims for residential energy credits on client returns. She received hundreds of thousands of dollars in client fees in exchange for preparing returns.

After learning she was the target of a federal grand jury investigation, Brinson allegedly encouraged at least two of her clients to tell federal investigators they did not recall their interactions with her. Even after Brinson’s tax preparation business was expelled from the IRS’s electronic filing program, she allegedly instructed a family member to apply for a new electronic filing number and then used that number to continue preparing and filing false tax returns with the IRS.

Brinson is charged with 24 counts of aiding and assisting the preparation of false tax returns and two counts of witness tampering. If convicted, she faces maximum penalties of three years in prison for each count of assisting in the preparation of false tax returns and 20 years for each count of witness tampering. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Caroline Pearson and Max Willner-Giwerc, of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, Tax Section, are prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and 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 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 – Peter Anthony Pappas, 41, of Jackson, has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for his online exploitation of several minors from January to March 2024.  D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, Pappas was federally indicted for using deception to manipulate several minors into providing him with confidential information which he used for fraudulent purposes.  Specifically, Pappas used the information to gain unauthorized access to online accounts belonging to the minor victims – including social media, cloud storage, and email accounts.  Pappas then used the information obtained from those accounts to both exploit the victims and to target new victims.  Pappas’s goal was to obtain sexually explicit images and/or videos from the victims, many of whom he knew were minor children.

Following his guilty plea to two counts of attempted production of child pornography, United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Pappas to 30 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney Dunavant said, "Production of child pornography is a disturbing crime that endangers and harms real child victims. We will always seek significant and mandatory minimum sentences for such despicable and predatory behavior, and this successful prosecution has incapacitated a real threat to our children and our community in West Tennessee."

This case was investigated by the FBI Memphis Child Exploitation Task Force. 

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 – Cody Ray Brewer, 30, of Saulsbury, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 70 years in federal prison for production and 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 Brewer engaged in various illegal sexual acts with a minor at a residence in Hardeman County, Tennessee in early January 2025, and that he set up a camera in the minor’s bedroom to record those acts.  Following the execution of a search warrant at the residence, investigators found several sexually explicit videos on the device that Brewer used to record the videos and on Brewer’s cell phone. 

Brewer was later charged with one count of using and coercing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct, one count of being a person with custody or control of a minor who knowingly permitted the minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct, and one count of possessing a cell phone that contained visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct. 

Following his guilty plea to the three-count indictment, United States District Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Brewer to 70 years in prison and ten years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Child exploitation and production of child pornography is an abhorrent offense that scars the victimized children forever. For his depraved and predatory behavior, Brewer deserves this effective life sentence in prison, where he can never hurt another child.”

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

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.

A Mississippi man was sentenced yesterday to nine years in prison for carjacking and for brandishing a firearm during the carjacking.

According to court documents, Un’Darius Dickerson, 24, of Jackson, Mississippi, brandished a firearm to take the victim’s motor vehicle by force. On Nov. 19, 2024, Dickerson, wearing a ski mask, approached the victim, pointed a rifle in her face, and demanded, “You know what this is. Give me those keys.” The victim gave Dickerson her car keys, and he drove away in the victim’s vehicle.

A day later, Southaven, Mississippi, Police Officers arrested Dickerson, still driving the victim’s car, after he attempted to flee police from a traffic stop. During an interview with law enforcement following his arrest, Dickerson admitted to “robbing” the victim and assisted law enforcement in recovering the firearm he brandished during the carjacking.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee made the announcement.

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

Trial Attorney Marcus Johnson and former Trial Attorney Shriram Harid of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Musselwhite for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.

This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee and surrounding areas. 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. 

WASHINGTON – A Mississippi man was sentenced yesterday to nine years in prison for carjacking and for brandishing a firearm during the carjacking.

According to court documents, Un’Darius Dickerson, 24, of Jackson, Mississippi, brandished a firearm to take the victim’s motor vehicle by force. On Nov. 19, 2024, Dickerson, wearing a ski mask, approached the victim, pointed a rifle in her face, and demanded, “You know what this is. Give me those keys.” The victim gave Dickerson her car keys, and he drove away in the victim’s vehicle.

A day later, Southaven, Mississippi, Police Officers arrested Dickerson, still driving the victim’s car, after he attempted to flee police from a traffic stop. During an interview with law enforcement following his arrest, Dickerson admitted to “robbing” the victim and assisted law enforcement in recovering the firearm he brandished during the carjacking.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee made the announcement.

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

Trial Attorney Marcus Johnson and former Trial Attorney Shriram Harid of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Musselwhite for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.

This case is part of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime Initiative to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee and surrounding areas. 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.

Memphis, TN – Martavious Wilson, 20, of Memphis, has been sentenced to federal prison for a 2024 armed carjacking. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentencing today.

According to court documents, on November 9, 2024, Wilson carjacked and robbed a victim at 850 South Third Street while she was putting air in her tire. Wilson, along with another male, approached the victim and pointed a firearm at her, demanding the keys to her car. They struck the victim over the head with a firearm and drove off with her 2019 Toyota Highlander. Wilson was captured by Memphis police officers after crashing into a utility pole while fleeing from police.

Wilson faced a mandatory minimum sentence for brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. On March 10, 2026, U.S. District Court Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Wilson to 130 months' imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "This young offender not only injured and terrorized an innocent victim, but he has also senselessly wasted his own future by committing a violent carjacking. There is a heavy price to pay for a lifestyle of lawlessness, and Wilson will now pay that price with over a decade in a federal prison."

The Memphis Police Department’s Safe Streets Task Force investigated the case.

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 Memphis man, Derrick Richard, 36, has been sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, on December 22, 2022, an officer with the Memphis Police Department arrested Richard and discovered a Jimenez .25 caliber pistol in Richard’s pocket.

A trial jury made a special finding that Richard had previously been convicted of three violent felonies on different occasions, therefore designating Richard as an Armed Career Criminal (ACC). Due to this designation, Richard was facing a mandatory statutory minimum of fifteen years in prison.

On March 12, 2026, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Richard to 188 months in federal prison for one count of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "This case targets and removes a dangerous person from the community BEFORE he pulls the trigger again. Richard has spent years sowing a culture of criminality in Memphis, and he will now reap a long prison sentence without the sanctuary of parole.”

This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department (MPD) and the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Task Force.

Assistant United States Attorneys Jermal Blanchard and Jennifer Musselwhite 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.

WASHINGTON — The owner of a tax preparation business in Tennessee pleaded guilty today to orchestrating a massive fraud scheme that steered approximately $80 million in pandemic relief funds designed to help small businesses and workers to herself and her clients.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Renata Walton, 45, of Mississippi, owned and operated a tax preparation business in Moscow, Tennessee. From approximately March 2022 through August 2023, Walton conspired with one of her employees to file false tax returns for clients seeking fraudulent refunds based on the employee retention credit (ERC) and paid sick and family leave credit. Congress created both the ERC and the paid sick and family leave credit to aid struggling businesses during the COVID-19 global pandemic. The employee, Nicole Jones, also known as Nicole Dickerson, of Cordova, Tennessee, previously pleaded guilty on Aug. 15, 2025, for her role in the offense.

Among other schemes, Walton and Jones reported fictitious wages on clients’ tax returns to fraudulently claim the ERC and paid sick and family leave credits, knowing their clients had not paid wages to their employees in those amounts and were not entitled to the credits. Walton also filed false applications to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, government funding intended to provide financial assistance to Americans suffering economic harm during the COVID-19 pandemic. To support these false claims, Walton submitted false tax forms to the SBA. As a result of the scheme, clients received tax refunds, often exceeding $100,000, and then Walton and Jones received a fee from the clients, which was typically around $15,000 per return.

When the IRS began contacting clients to recover the fraudulently issued pandemic program funds, Walton obstructed the IRS’s efforts. She gave the clients letters to provide to the IRS falsely asserting, among other things, that the fictitious wages Walton and Jones reported on their tax returns to claim the ERC were legitimate. Walton and Jones also did not file tax returns for tax year 2022, so they did not pay taxes on the income they earned through their criminal schemes.

In total, Walton filed tax returns and other documents claiming nearly $80 million in pandemic funds and tax refunds that she and her clients were not entitled to receive, causing a loss of more than $52 million to the United States. Jones was also responsible for a portion of these fraudulent claims.

Both Walton and Jones face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud, a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count of money laundering, a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of assisting in the preparation of a false tax return and a maximum penalty of one year in prison for willful failure to file a return. Walton also faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for obstruction of justice.

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Walton is scheduled to be sentenced on June 18. Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on June 9.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant of the Western District of Tennessee made the announcement.

IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

Trial Attorney Caroline Pearson of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Bateman and Tony Arvin for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.

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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.

The owner of a tax preparation business in Tennessee pleaded guilty today to orchestrating a massive fraud scheme that steered approximately $80 million in pandemic relief funds designed to help small businesses and workers to herself and her clients.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Renata Walton, 45, of Mississippi, owned and operated a tax preparation business in Moscow, Tennessee. From approximately March 2022 through August 2023, Walton conspired with one of her employees to file false tax returns for clients seeking fraudulent refunds based on the employee retention credit (ERC) and paid sick and family leave credit. Congress created both the ERC and the paid sick and family leave credit to aid struggling businesses during the COVID-19 global pandemic. The employee, Nicole Jones, also known as Nicole Dickerson, of Cordova, Tennessee, previously pleaded guilty on Aug. 15, 2025, for her role in the offense.

Among other schemes, Walton and Jones reported fictitious wages on clients’ tax returns to fraudulently claim the ERC and paid sick and family leave credits, knowing their clients had not paid wages to their employees in those amounts and were not entitled to the credits. Walton also filed false applications to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, government funding intended to provide financial assistance to Americans suffering economic harm during the COVID-19 pandemic. To support these false claims, Walton submitted false tax forms to the SBA. As a result of the scheme, clients received tax refunds, often exceeding $100,000, and then Walton and Jones received a fee from the clients, which was typically around $15,000 per return.

When the IRS began contacting clients to recover the fraudulently issued pandemic program funds, Walton obstructed the IRS’s efforts. She gave the clients letters to provide to the IRS falsely asserting, among other things, that the fictitious wages Walton and Jones reported on their tax returns to claim the ERC were legitimate. Walton and Jones also did not file tax returns for tax year 2022, so they did not pay taxes on the income they earned through their criminal schemes.

In total, Walton filed tax returns and other documents claiming nearly $80 million in pandemic funds and tax refunds that she and her clients were not entitled to receive, causing a loss of more than $52 million to the United States. Jones was also responsible for a portion of these fraudulent claims.

Both Walton and Jones face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud, a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for each count of money laundering, a maximum penalty of three years in prison for each count of assisting in the preparation of a false tax return and a maximum penalty of one year in prison for willful failure to file a return. Walton also faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for obstruction of justice.

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Walton is scheduled to be sentenced on June 18. Jones is scheduled to be sentenced on June 9.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant of the Western District of Tennessee made the announcement.

IRS Criminal Investigation is investigating the case.

Trial Attorney Caroline Pearson of the Criminal Division’s Tax Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys William Bateman and Tony Arvin for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.

Memphis, TN – A Memphis man has pled guilty to one count of being in possession of goods stolen from interstate shipment.  D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the guilty plea today.

Gregory Luss, 44, pled guilty on March 3, 2026 before United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker. According to information presented in court, a semi-tractor trailer filled with Water Piks that were intended for shipment to Amazon was stolen from its Bledsoe Cove location in Memphis on October 20, 2023. Luss posted the Water Pik product to sell on an eBay account registered to him on the same day.

Luss is scheduled to be sentenced on June 3, 2026 and faces up to 10 years in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Cargo theft from shipping containers and facilities disrupts and harms crucial interstate commerce here in Memphis, which is known as ‘America’s Distribution Center’. Instead of a luxury Water Pik, Mr. Luss will now have a standard prison-issued toothbrush in the Bureau of Prisons.”

“Thefts of interstate shipments disrupt the delivery of needed goods and drive-up costs for businesses and consumers alike,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “This guilty plea is an example of the FBI's unwavering resolve and make it clear that anyone who threatens the nation’s supply chain will be tracked down and held accountable.”

The case was investigated by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation Cargo Theft Task Force. 

Assistant United States Attorneys Lynn Crum and Lauren Delery 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 – Cordney Campbell, 25, also known as “Moo Slime", of Memphis, was sentenced to serve 5 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to the indictment returned by a federal grand jury in May 2025, Campbell possessed a firearm and a small amount of narcotics when encountered by police in January of the same year. Campbell pled guilty in October 2025 to a charge of being a prohibited person in unlawful possession of a firearm.

In January 2025, officers with the Memphis Police Department responded to a shots-fired call on Crockett Place. There they encountered Campbell and another man and found Campbell in possession of a firearm and a small amount of narcotics. Campbell was convicted in 2022 for selling crack cocaine on Crockett Place in 2021. Crockett Place is a street in the Smokey City neighborhood of Memphis.

Campbell is an identified member of the Memphis hybrid street gang, the Eric Bizzle Gang or EBG, and had also been identified by the Memphis Police Department as an Aggravated Assault Prolific Offender under an initiative that allows investigators to focus on the most violent criminals responsible for gun violence.

On February 24, 2026, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Campbell to 60 months in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system.

At the time of his January 2025 arrest, Campbell was serving a Supervised Release term of five years for a 2022 distribution of crack cocaine conviction, also from the Western District of Tennessee. Campbell was also found to have violated the terms of his Supervised Release, which resulted in a six-month sentence that will be served consecutively to his 60-month sentence.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “The citizens of Smokey City deserve to feel safe in their neighborhood, and addressing crime on Crockett Place is a key component to meeting that goal. ‘Moo Slime’ will now do more time, and Memphis is a safer place without him in it.”    

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

Assistant United States Attorney Neal Oldham prosecuted the case and the violation of supervised release 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 – Cortez Williams, 36, of Memphis, was convicted by a federal jury of being a felon in possession of a firearm and will face an enhanced penalty of 15 years to life imprisonment for being an Armed Career Criminal. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the guilty verdict today.

According to the evidence presented at trial, on June 11, 2024, officers with the Memphis Police Department pulled over a black Nissan Z for displaying tags belonging to a different car. The defendant, Cortez Williams, was driving the car. Instead of pulling over to the side of the road, he pulled into a gas station and began pretending he was putting air in one of the car’s tires. On recorded body camera, the jurors were able to see the two police officers park and approach Williams’s vehicle.

The first officer immediately saw a Glock 17 with a large 30-round extended magazine and a tactical light attached to it wedged between the driver’s seat and the center console. The officers asked Williams if he was a convicted felon. He said yes and was then arrested. Williams then also admitted to knowing the gun was in the car. The defendant’s girlfriend’s 5-year-old daughter was in the front passenger seat of the car and was within inches of the loaded firearm.

The jury returned a verdict of guilty after about two hours of deliberation. The jury found that Williams had 4 previous convictions for violent felonies on different occasions including Facilitation of Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Aggravated Robbery, and Aggravated Burglary. This finding will lead to Williams being sentenced as an Armed Career Criminal, and he will face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.

Williams is set to be sentenced on June 11, 2026 before U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Parker.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "THIS is how we reduce violent crime in Memphis and prevent the next homicide – Remove dangerous and repeat offenders from the community BEFORE they pull the trigger again. We will restore Law and Order in Memphis by imposing real consequences – aggressively and unapologetically.”

The case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department and the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Task Force.

Assistant U.S. Attorney J. William Crow and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Cohenmeyer of the United States Navy 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 – After a swift federal trial, a jury found Eric Robinson, 38, of Memphis, guilty of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and made a special finding that Robinson’s extensive criminal history qualified him as an Armed Career Criminal (ACC). United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the verdict today.

According to information presented in court, on May 5, 2024, officers with the Memphis Police Department located Robinson at the bus station located on North Main Street. Upon his arrest, officers recovered a loaded .380 caliber Lorcin firearm from his person.

During the trial, the jury heard evidence of Robinson's lengthy criminal history in Shelby County, which includes prior convictions for Aggravated Rape, Especially Aggravated Kidnapping, and multiple counts of Aggravated Robbery and Aggravated Burglary. The jury found Robinson guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm and made a finding that he had committed at least three violent felonies on different occasions, triggering the enhanced sentencing penalties under the Armed Career Criminal Act.

Sentencing is scheduled for June 4, 2026 before United States District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker. As a result of the verdict, Robinson faces a mandatory statutory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Convicted felons who possess firearms are an inherent and imminent danger to the community. This defendant’s extensive history of violence ranged from aggravated burglary to aggravated rape, and justice demands aggressive prosecution for the worst of the worst offenders. This verdict ensures that a career criminal is incapacitated and removed from our neighborhoods for a long time."

The case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative.

Assistant United States Attorney Lauren Delery and Special Assistant United States Attorney Yosef Hochheiser 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 – U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, is pleased to announce the recent hiring and assignment of five (5) new Assistant U.S. Attorneys, one (1) new Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (JAG SAUSA), and two (2) new support staff positions in the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “With the dramatic increase in our case filings since October, these new positions are much needed, and a welcome addition to our outstanding staff who effectively represents the United States, enforces the rule of law, and protects public safety in West Tennessee every day,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant.

Jennifer Collins, Assistant U.S. Attorney, is a graduate of the University of Mississippi, where she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi School of Law and is licensed to practice in Mississippi and Tennessee. She previously worked at Webb, Sanders & Williams, PLLC in Tupelo, Mississippi and for the Memphis City Schools district as Associate General Counsel. Prior to becoming an AUSA, she worked at the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee as a Paralegal Specialist for the Appellate Division and Homeland Security Task Force. She will be assigned to the Civil Division of the Memphis office.

Meghan Fowler, Assistant U.S. Attorney, obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and her law degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She has been a prosecutor for over 16 years in Tennessee and Mississippi, handling all levels of State criminal prosecutions. She served as an Assistant District Attorney in Shelby County, Tennessee and worked as a Senior Trial Assistant in the Special Prosecution Unit as well as the Domestic Violence Unit. She also served as an Assistant District Attorney in North Mississippi before serving as an Assistant District Attorney General Pro Tem for the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference. She will be assigned to the Organized Crimes & HSTF Unit in the Criminal Division of the Memphis office.

Brooke Greer, Legal Assistant, is a graduate of Union University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Prior to this position, she worked as a civil paralegal for a private law firm in Jackson, Tennessee. She is originally from Charlotte, North Carolina and is excited to begin working in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Jackson, Tennessee.

Raven Icaza, Assistant U.S. Attorney, obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Loyola University Chicago and her Juris Doctorate from University of Memphis. She began her career in the 25th Judicial District of Tennessee as an Assistant District Attorney. and litigated a variety of cases throughout the district, primarily Fayette County. She was a member of the Child Protective Investigative Team and the Vulnerable Adult Protective Investigative Team. She currently serves as Secretary on the board of Fayette Cares, a local non-profit dedicated to helping those affected by homelessness, domestic violence, or otherwise in crisis. She will be assigned to the Organized Crimes & HSTF Unit in the Criminal Division of the Memphis office.

Darrius Samples, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, earned his Juris Doctor from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University. He is admitted to practice law in Maryland where he gained foundational experience in criminal procedure and courtroom litigation. He joined the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps and served as a Military Justice Advisor, Chief of Client Services, and Defense Counsel, which included an overseas assignment in South Korea. He advised commanders on complex military justice matters, oversaw legal services operations, and represented service members in serious criminal cases. He will be assigned to prosecute criminal cases arising from the Memphis Safe Task Force Operation.

Gavin Smith, Assistant U.S. Attorney, attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and his Juris Doctor from the University of Memphis School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review. He served as an Assistant District Attorney at the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office in Memphis, where he prosecuted violent crimes and homicides. He was a member of the D.A.’s Special Victims Unit (SVU) and also served as the Chief Prosecutor over a vertical team of prosecutors in both general sessions and criminal courts. He will be assigned to the Firearms & Violent Crimes Unit in the Criminal Division of the Memphis office.

Berina Suljic, Paralegal Specialist, earned her Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Sarajevo, Faculty of Law, in Bosnia and Herzegovina. After relocating to the United States, she earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in Paralegal Studies from Southwest Tennessee Community College in Memphis, Tennessee. Following graduation, she worked at an immigration law firm as a paralegal and applied her international legal background and technical expertise to support case strategy and client advocacy. She joins the U.S. Attorney's Office with extensive experience handling complex legal matters and a wealth of knowledge in immigration law. She will be assigned to the Firearms & Violent Crimes Unit in the Criminal Division of the Memphis office.

Irris Williams, Assistant U.S. Attorney, is a lifelong Memphian and graduated from Memphis Harding Academy. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Spelman College and received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law. She began her career as an Associate Attorney at Becker Law Firm practicing family law. She served as an Assistant District Attorney for the Shelby County District Attorney General’s Office prior to joining the Firearms and Violent Crimes Unit at the U.S. Attorney's Office. She will be assigned to the Firearms & Violent Crimes Unit in the Criminal Division of the Memphis office.

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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 tax return preparer pleaded guilty to filing false tax returns on behalf of clients. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the guilty plea today.

The following is based on court documents and statements made in court: Rebecca Gilley, 41, who also went by the names Rebecca Green and Rebecca Maxwell, owned and operated a tax preparation business in Memphis. Gilley prepared tax returns for clients for tax years 2018 through 2022 that included false education credits and sick and family leave credits. As a result of these and other false items, Gilley caused her clients to receive fraudulently inflated tax refunds that they were not entitled to receive.

For tax years 2020 and 2021, Gilley filed more than 1,000 tax returns seeking more than $9.25 million in fraudulent sick and family leave credits. She generally added these false items to her clients’ returns without their knowledge and rarely reviewed the final returns with the clients. In total, Gilley’s scheme caused a loss to the United States exceeding $350,000.

Gilley pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return. She is scheduled to be sentenced on June 10, 2026 before U.S. District Court Judge Thomas L Parker and faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison. There is no parole in the federal system.

As part of her plea agreement, Gilley agreed to pay $386,661 in restitution to the IRS and to be permanently enjoined from operating as a tax return preparer. She also faces a period of supervised release and monetary penalties. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Protection of the United States Treasury and taxpayer resources is a top priority for the Department of Justice and this office. Income tax fraud schemes strike at the very heart of our federal government’s financial ability to provide services and protection for our citizens, and we will use all available resources to punish and deter such dishonest criminal behavior.”

IRS Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Caroline Pearson and Max Willner-Giwerc of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Tax Section are 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 – Jared Goodman, 34, was sentenced to federal prison for committing domestic violence against his service member spouse in the territorial jurisdiction of the United States. Goodman previously pleaded guilty on November 10, 2025 to one count of domestic violence in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2261.

On February 20, 2026, Chief United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Goodman to 54 months in prison for his crime.

According to information presented in court, Goodman met his victim in December 2022. She was an active-duty service member who was stationed at Naval Support Activity Mid-South and lived in military housing on the Naval Base in Millington. The couple married in October of 2023, and Goodman moved into her residence. On Christmas Eve of 2023, Goodman became angry with the victim and forcefully assaulted her, causing a lumbar spine fracture.

In addition to the prison term, Chief United States District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman also ordered Goodman to serve a five-year period of supervision following his release from custody.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: “Perpetrators of domestic violence seek to control their victims to perpetuate their violent acts. This victim was particularly brave to come forward and report her abuse. Though these cases are not often brought in federal court, when we have jurisdiction, we will hold offenders accountable for their violent conduct.”  

“NCIS remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting those who serve our nation and their families from harm, including domestic violence,” said Special Agent in Charge Arturo Hernandez of the NCIS Central Field Office. “This investigation highlights the critical importance of collaboration to ensure the safety and security of our warfighters as well as the communities in which they live and work.”

This case was investigated by the United States Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).

The case was prosecuted on behalf of the government by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynn Crum.

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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 – Shaneika Seymore, 41, of Memphis, has been sentenced to federal prison for her part in a real estate fraud scheme. Seymore previously pleaded guilty on April 16, 2025 to one count of mail fraud, one count of bank fraud, and one count of making a materially false statement. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in Court, Seymore notarized multiple fraudulent quitclaim deeds which purported to transfer ownership from the true homeowners to Seymore and her co-conspirators. The deeds were filed with the Shelby County Register of Deeds unbeknownst to the true homeowners, who were victimized by the fraudulent property conveyances. In one instance, both supposed signatories on the notarized deed had passed away before the deed was signed.

In furtherance of the scheme, Seymore lied on a notary application that she filed with the Shelby County Clerk’s Office by stating that she had not previously been convicted of a felony, despite her 2019 felony conviction for theft. Over 30 properties in the Memphis area were fraudulently transferred in the scheme.

In addition, further information presented in Court revealed that Seymore forged her name on stolen checks which she deposited into her bank account and lied on an application for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan.

On February 17, 2026, United States District Court Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Seymore to 57 months in prison and ordered her to pay $280,914.25 in restitution for her crimes. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Real estate fraud schemes victimize innocent citizens and can negatively affect financial institutions and the housing market. Wherever fraud occurs in the Western District of Tennessee, this office will be prepared to hold offenders accountable for such disturbing crimes of dishonesty and greed."

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Bartlett Police Department (BPD), and the Memphis Police Department (MPD).

Assistant United States Attorney William Bateman 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 Memphis woman has been sentenced to federal prison for defrauding state and federal programs out of over $560,000 intended to help people during the COVID-19 pandemic. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

Karen Guevara, 38, was sentenced on February 13, 2026 by Chief United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman to one year and a day of incarceration to be followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making false claims against the United States government.  

According to information presented in court, Guevara and her co-conspirators defrauded the United States government out of over $560,000 by filing fraudulent applications for unemployment benefits in over 20 different states during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tabor and her co-conspirators also defrauded the federally funded Tennessee Emergency Cash Assistance (ECA) program of approximately $20,000 by creating fake employment termination notices for themselves and others.  The ECA program was intended to provide financial assistance to individuals who had been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic because of lost employment.

Guevara was the third Memphis woman to be convicted and sentenced to federal prison for these schemes. Deashley Tabor, 37, was previously sentenced to 41 months. Rochelle Turner, 32, was previously sentenced to five months in prison to be followed by five months of home detention.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Fraudulent schemes and crimes of dishonesty will be exposed and punished. This case represents our commitment to expose COVID-19 benefit fraud well beyond the pandemic, protect the integrity of the ECA program, hold offenders accountable for their dishonest criminal conduct, and to recover ill-gotten proceeds on behalf of victimized agencies."

“Karen Guevara enriched herself at taxpayers’ expense by defrauding a program intended to aid American workers during a global pandemic when millions were displaced and out of work,” said Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor.  “My office remains committed to relentlessly protecting the integrity of the unemployment insurance program and will continue to pursue accountability.”

“HHS-OIG, along with our law enforcement partners, is committed to safeguarding state and federal programs that are essential to helping those in need due to public health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Special Agent in Charge Kelly Blackmon of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG).  “This sentence sends a clear message that fraudsters who exploit these programs for personal gain will be held accountable.”

“The Tennessee Department of Human Services works to provide essential services while safeguarding program integrity. In 2020, we launched emergency cash assistance during the pandemic and monitored closely to prevent fraud, waste and abuse. This is an example of our efforts, and we appreciate the partnership with HHS/OIG to pursue those who abused the program.”  –Todd McKinney, Inspector General, Tennessee Department of Human Services

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and the Tennessee Department of Human Services.

The case was prosecuted on behalf of the government by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony R. Arvin.

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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.

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced today the dismissal of a desegregation case in Dyersburg, Tennessee, concluding a matter that has remained on the docket for sixty years.

In 1966, the United States filed a complaint against the Dyersburg Board of Education to challenge racially segregated public education in Dyersburg City Schools in violation of the Constitution and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Court approved the Board’s desegregation plan, and the Justice Department spent sixty years monitoring for compliance.

After a thorough review, the Civil Rights Division determined that Dyersburg City Schools no longer operates as a segregated system and has eliminated the vestiges of prior de jure segregation. On Feb. 11, the Court formally declared that the district had achieved unitary status and, on Feb. 12, dismissed the case with prejudice.

“Compliance means closure. When school districts comply in good faith with court orders to eliminate the vestiges of past discrimination, the federal government has no legitimate reason to continue monitoring,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “After sixty years of federal control, it’s time for Dyersburg City Schools to redirect the time, energy, and taxpayer dollars spent on reporting requirements to directly improving education in the community.”

“I am pleased to join in this long overdue dismissal, and I commend the Dyersburg City Schools for their diligent compliance and achievement of unitary status,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “The long-standing good faith efforts of the school district have demonstrated decades of improvement, and local control is best suited to continue to address the best interests of students, parents, and faculty and staff.”

WASHINGTON  – The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division announced today the dismissal of a desegregation case in Dyersburg, Tennessee, concluding a matter that has remained on the docket for sixty years.

In 1966, the United States filed a complaint against the Dyersburg Board of Education to challenge racially segregated public education in Dyersburg City Schools in violation of the Constitution and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Court approved the Board’s desegregation plan, and the Justice Department spent sixty years monitoring for compliance.

After a thorough review, the Civil Rights Division determined that Dyersburg City Schools no longer operates as a segregated system and has eliminated the vestiges of prior de jure segregation. On Feb. 11, the Court formally declared that the district had achieved unitary status and, on Feb. 12, dismissed the case with prejudice.

“Compliance means closure. When school districts comply in good faith with court orders to eliminate the vestiges of past discrimination, the federal government has no legitimate reason to continue monitoring,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “After sixty years of federal control, it’s time for Dyersburg City Schools to redirect the time, energy, and taxpayer dollars spent on reporting requirements to directly improving education in the community.”

“I am pleased to join in this long overdue dismissal, and I commend the Dyersburg City Schools for their diligent compliance and achievement of unitary status,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “The long-standing good faith efforts of the school district have demonstrated decades of improvement, and local control is best suited to continue to address the best interests of students, parents, and faculty and staff.”

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Following a one-week trial, a federal jury in Memphis convicted two members of the Unknown Vice Lords (UVL) – a violent Memphis street gang – yesterday for murdering by gunshot a fellow gang member who they suspected of betraying the gang.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Edward Allen, also known as E-Money, 42, and Deandre Rodgers, also known as Dre, 29, both of Memphis, were high-ranking members of a criminal enterprise that controlled territory throughout the entire city of Memphis and extended beyond to Arkansas and Mississippi. Members of UVL committed murders, robberies, assaults, human trafficking, and drug trafficking on behalf of the enterprise. When the gang’s Supreme Elite Chief, the leader for the entire state of Tennessee, was murdered, the gang sought retaliation against anyone thought to be involved.

“Members of this gang carried out a calculated and merciless killing, leaving the victim in public to send a chilling message about the consequences of disloyalty,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Their repeated acts of violence, including shootings in broad daylight and in residential neighborhoods, demonstrate a profound indifference to human life and pose a clear danger to our communities. We will continue to stand with our law enforcement partners and relentlessly pursue those who bring violence into our communities - street-level violence has no place in this country, and those who engage in it will be identified, arrested, prosecuted.”

“This successful federal prosecution has significantly disrupted the leadership of the UVL street gang here in Memphis, and E-Money, Dre, and V-Slash are no longer unknown,” said U.S. Attorney D, Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “If you are a member of a criminal gang committed to a lifestyle of lawlessness, no matter your role or nickname — your days are numbered — there will be a reckoning."

“Violent street gangs such as these that show a blatant disregard for public safety must be held accountable”, said Special Agent in Charge Jamey VanVliet of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division. “Through aggressive investigation, coordinated enforcement, and sustained collaboration, we will relentlessly continue to pursue, disrupt, and dismantle these violent criminal networks. The ATF, along with our local, state, and federal partners, will not rest until the safety and security of our communities are restored.”

As shown at trial, on Jan. 10, 2019, the Supreme Elite Chief and his girlfriend were murdered in broad daylight in a residential neighborhood. The gang immediately sought retaliation that same night against a rival gang, the Traveling Vice Lords, who they initially believed may have been responsible. Multiple Unknown Vice Lord members drove to a known Traveling Vice Lord hangout and committed a drive-by shooting where at least one person was shot. During the next few days, UVL conducted its own internal investigation and came to believe that a fellow UVL member was responsible for their Chief’s murder.

Five days after the Chief was murdered, on Jan. 15, 2019, the implicated Unknown Vice Lord member, the victim for this trial, was murdered at the hands of Allen, Rodgers, and other UVL members. On Jan. 14, 2019, co-defendant Vincent Grant, also known as V-Slash, a keeper of guns for the gang, provided guns to multiple gang members for the purpose of going on a “demo” which is their term for committing violent acts. Early the next morning around 1:00 a.m., Allen, Rodgers, Grant, and another gang member drove the victim to the back of a rundown apartment complex, where Allen and Rodgers took the victim behind one of buildings and executed him with guns provided by Grant.

The jury convicted Allen and Rodgers of causing death by use of a firearm during a racketeering murder. Sentencing is scheduled to be held on May 11. Allen and Rodgers face a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Grant was previously convicted at trial for his involvement in the murder and sentenced to more than 24 years in prison.

The ATF investigated the case, with significant assistance from The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, The FBI, Memphis Police Department, and U.S. Secret Service.

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.

WASHINGTON – Following a one-week trial, a federal jury in Memphis convicted two members of the Unknown Vice Lords (UVL) – a violent Memphis street gang – yesterday for murdering by gunshot a fellow gang member who they suspected of betraying the gang.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Edward Allen, also known as E-Money, 42, and Deandre Rodgers, a.k.a. Dre, 29, both of Memphis, were high-ranking members of a criminal enterprise that controlled territory throughout the entire city of Memphis and extended beyond to Arkansas and Mississippi. Members of UVL committed murders, robberies, assaults, human trafficking, and drug trafficking on behalf of the enterprise. When the gang’s Supreme Elite Chief, the leader for the entire state of Tennessee, was murdered, the gang sought retaliation against anyone thought to be involved.

“Members of this gang carried out a calculated and merciless killing, leaving the victim in public to send a chilling message about the consequences of disloyalty,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Their repeated acts of violence, including shootings in broad daylight and in residential neighborhoods, demonstrate a profound indifference to human life and pose a clear danger to our communities. We will continue to stand with our law enforcement partners and relentlessly pursue those who bring violence into our communities - street-level violence has no place in this country, and those who engage in it will be identified, arrested, prosecuted.”

“This successful federal prosecution has significantly disrupted the leadership of the UVL street gang here in Memphis, and E-Money, Dre, and V-Slash are no longer unknown,” said U.S. Attorney D, Michael Dunavant. “If you are a member of a criminal gang committed to a lifestyle of lawlessness, no matter your role or nickname - your days are numbered - there will be a reckoning."

“Violent street gangs such as these that show a blatant disregard for public safety must be held accountable”, said Special Agent in Charge Jamey VanVliet of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division. “Through aggressive investigation, coordinated enforcement, and sustained collaboration, we will relentlessly continue to pursue, disrupt, and dismantle these violent criminal networks. The ATF, along with our local, state, and federal partners, will not rest until the safety and security of our communities are restored.”

As shown at trial, on Jan. 10, 2019, the Supreme Elite Chief and his girlfriend were murdered in broad daylight in a residential neighborhood. The gang immediately sought retaliation that same night against a rival gang, the Traveling Vice Lords, who they initially believed may have been responsible. Multiple Unknown Vice Lord members drove to a known Traveling Vice Lord hangout and committed a drive-by shooting where at least one person was shot. During the next few days, UVL conducted its own internal investigation and came to believe that a fellow UVL member was responsible for their Chief’s murder.

Five days after the Chief was murdered, on Jan. 15, 2019, the implicated Unknown Vice Lord member, the victim for this trial, was murdered at the hands of Allen, Rodgers, and other UVL members. On Jan. 14, 2019, co-defendant Vincent Grant, also known as V-Slash, a keeper of guns for the gang, provided guns to multiple gang members for the purpose of going on a “demo” which is their term for committing violent acts. 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 took the victim behind one of buildings and executed him with guns provided by Grant.

The jury convicted Allen and Rodgers of causing death by use of a firearm during a racketeering murder. Sentencing is scheduled to be held on May 11, and Allen and Rodgers face a maximum penalty of life in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Grant was previously convicted at trial for his involvement in the murder and sentenced to more than 24 years in prison.

The ATF investigated the case, with significant assistance from The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, The FBI, Memphis Police Department, and U.S. Secret Service.

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.

Memphis, TN – Two Memphis tax return preparers pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the United States and aiding in the preparation and filing of false tax returns. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, made the announcement today.

According to court documents and statements made in court, Robert Wells, 54, and Andre Wilson, 54, operated Wells and Wilson Financial, a Memphis-based tax preparation business. From at least 2019 through 2022, Wells and Wilson conspired with each other to defraud the IRS; and both men prepared returns for clients that were materially false. Specifically, they prepared tax returns that included false itemized deductions, business income, or business deductions. As a result, the clients received inflated refunds that they were not entitled to receive. In total, Wells and Wilson caused a loss to the U.S. Treasury exceeding $250,000.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Protection of the United States Treasury and taxpayer resources is a top priority for the Department of Justice and this office. Income tax fraud schemes strike at the very heart of our federal government’s financial ability to provide services and protection for our citizens, and we will use all available resources to punish and deter such dishonest criminal behavior.”

“Dishonest tax return preparers use a variety of methods to cheat the government,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, Charlotte Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “Today's plea is a reminder to those who might consider preparing false tax returns that IRS-CI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue their aggressive pursuit of those who attempt to defraud the United States tax system."

Wells is scheduled to be sentenced on May 6, 2026. Wilson is scheduled to be sentenced on May 18, 2026. Both men face a maximum penalty of five years in prison for conspiracy and three years in prison for preparing and filing false tax returns. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI) investigated this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Raney Irwin for the Western District of Tennessee and Trial Attorney Max Willner-Giwerc of the Department of Justice Criminal Division’s Tax Section 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.

Nashville, TN – Justin Deshun Stiger, 33, of Memphis, Tennessee was convicted this week of making threats to murder two Memphis federal prosecutors and a Memphis federal judge after a jury trial in Memphis, announced United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Braden H. Boucek.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee was recused from the case because two of that office’s prosecutors were victims and the matter was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Middle District of Tennessee.

“Threats to law enforcement and the federal judiciary are not just attacks on those individuals. They are threats to the justice system itself. We take those extremely seriously, and we will hold those who make them accountable for their actions,” said United States Attorney Braden H. Boucek. “Federal courtrooms are no place for violent threats, and public servants who are dedicated to serving our communities need to be able to go to work without worrying about someone threating to kill them.”

According to the evidence presented at trial, Stiger was set to be sentenced in federal court in Memphis on April 16, 2025, for his participation in a drug trafficking conspiracy when he began threatening the prosecutors. Witnesses testified that Stiger, who has a prior conviction for a crime of violence and ties to a criminal street gang, pointed at federal prosecutors and said they were “going to die” because of the sentence they intended to recommend. When U.S. District Judge Mark Norris began having Stiger removed from the courtroom after his threats to the prosecutors, Stiger then threatened the judge saying “You’re gonna die too, judge.” When Judge Norris asked if Stiger was threatening him, Stiger responded: “It ain’t no threat. It’s a promise.” According to the evidence at trial, Stiger then told a Deputy U.S. Marshal investigating the matter that “whoever gonna play with my life is gonna die.” Stiger went on to say, in a recorded statement, referring to the prosecutors and the judge: “I ain’t playing bro. Like they gonna die.”

Stiger is set to be sentenced on June 18, 2026, in U.S. District Court in Memphis. He faces a maximum sentence of ten years in prison for each of the three counts of conviction.

The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire and Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary T. Hinkle of the Middle District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.

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Contact

Mark H. Wildasin

Public Affairs Officer

Mark.Wildasin@usdoj.gov

Memphis, TN – Amanda Kate Walker Bass, 36, of Fayette County, Tennessee, pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of fraudulent use of military medals, otherwise known as “Stolen Valor.”  U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the guilty plea today.

According to information provided in court, Bass claimed to be a multiple-time deployed U.S. Marine Corps veteran who was the lone survivor of an enemy ambush in Afghanistan in 2010 that left her seriously wounded. She used this fictitious narrative for financial gain by having a GoFundMe page set up for her benefit and sharing the story online and otherwise in order to gain donations, free labor, and other benefits. In July 2021, she induced The Daily Memphian to publish an article about her titled, “Disabled, legally blind veteran now dealer of luxury goods.” Bass never served in the armed forces.

Bass will be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Mark S. Norris on May 14, 2026, where she faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the wire fraud conviction and up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine for the fraudulent use of military medals conviction.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “Fraudulently claiming military service or medals for unjust personal enrichment not only victimizes our military heroes, but also preys upon the trust that citizens have in veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. It is offensive, and it is illegal. We look forward to imposing a real consequence on this faker and thief.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant United States Attorney William C. Bateman III prosecuted the 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 – Quannah Fields Harris, 53, of Memphis, has been sentenced to eight years in federal prison for defrauding the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) out of over $2,900,000. Harris was convicted after a jury trial in October 2025. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

On February 2, 2026, United States District Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. sentenced Harris to 96 months in prison and ordered her to pay $2,905,853.09 in restitution to the VA for conspiring to defraud the United States and committing wire fraud. 

According to the facts presented at trial and sentencing, Harris was the owner of Last Minute Cuts School of Barbering and Cosmetology, a barbering and cosmetology school located at 2195 South Third Street in Memphis, from 2014 to 2019. During this period, Harris engaged in a scheme that defrauded the GI Bill, a federal program administered by the VA designed to help veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces learn vocational skills.

Harris billed the VA for dozens of veterans she enrolled as students at Last Minute Cuts who attended few classes, if any, received no instruction, took no tests or exams, and never obtained a state barbering or cosmetology license. Her school was, in reality, a sham. Many of the veterans Harris enrolled at Last Minute Cuts never set foot in the school again after the day Harris enrolled them; yet, Harris billed the VA for years thereafter for their purported attendance.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: “Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces deserve our honor and respect, and this office will always protect them. Victimizing the VA harms veterans and deserves significant punishment. Harris will now spend every “last minute” of her lengthy sentence in federal prison for her crimes against our nation’s best.”

There is no parole in the federal system.

"This sentence demonstrates that the VA OIG and our law enforcement partners will aggressively pursue those who defraud VA," said Special Agent in Charge Nate Landkammer of the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General's Mid-Atlantic Field Office. "We remain steadfast in safeguarding the integrity of VA's Post-9/11 GI Bill. The VA OIG’s mission includes vigorously investigating fraud and ensuring that individuals who abuse these crucial benefit programs are brought to justice."

“The defendant schemed to defraud the government, got caught, and is now being held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, Charlotte Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “Our special agents will continue collaborative investigative efforts alongside our law enforcement partners to follow the money and find those attempting to defraud the federal government.”

This case was investigated by the VA-Office of Inspector General (OIG) and IRS-Criminal Investigations with assistance from the Veterans Benefits Administration-Education Service.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Arvin 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 Roberto Juan Morales, 49, of Mexico, to 132 months in federal prison for discharging a firearm during a business robbery. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, in March 2025, Morales robbed the Supermercado Guatemala store located on Winchester Road in Memphis, Tennessee. He threatened the store clerk with an AR-style rifle and fired a round into the floor next to the clerk when she hesitated to open the cash drawer. The incident was recorded on store surveillance video. Investigators located the suspect vehicle on license plate readers in the area and found an address associated with the vehicle where Morales resided. Investigators also located items the suspect was wearing in the video in his vehicle. Call detail records from his cell phone placed him at the scene. The investigation revealed that Morales had entered the United States illegally and been returned to Mexico on at least four prior occasions.

In September 2025, Morales pled guilty to robbery of a business, discharging a firearm during in and relation to the robbery, and being an illegal alien in possession of ammunition. On January 22, 2026, United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Morales to 132 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

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. This case demonstrates our commitment to immigration enforcement and our focus on those violent and dangerous criminal aliens who continue to violate our laws after illegal entry.”

"This sentence should send a clear message that the FBI and our law enforcement partners make it a priority to bring to justice those who resort to robbery for ill-gotten gain," said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. "We are stronger when we work together to combat violent crime and will continue to combat these issues through strong partnerships." 

The 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 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 – After a three-day trial, a federal jury found Derrick Wilson, 48, of Memphis, guilty of one count of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and made a special finding that Wilson had previously been convicted of three violent felonies on different occasions. As a result, Wilson faces a mandatory statutory minimum sentence of 15 years in federal prison for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and being an Armed Career Criminal (ACC). United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the verdict today.

According to information presented in court, on November 3, 2023, officers with the Memphis Police Department arrested Wilson after Wilson tossed a Ruger .380 caliber pistol to the ground in plain view.

Sentencing is set for April 30, 2026, before United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "We continue to provide targeted prosecution of the worst of the worst violent offenders in order to improve public safety in Memphis. This jury verdict demonstrates that the community is fed up with repeat offenders who live a lifestyle of lawlessness and embrace a culture of criminality."

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.

Assistant United States Attorney Ashley N. F. Moore and Special Assistant United States Attorney Yosef Hochheiser of the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General (JAG) 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 – On January 21, 2026, Christopher Walker, 38, of Memphis, was sentenced to 35 years' imprisonment for being a convicted felon in possession of a machinegun during a drug trafficking offense. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentencing today.

According to court documents, in October 2024, ATF agents conducted an undercover operation targeting the sale of Machinegun Conversion Devices (MCD) and illegal drugs. Walker sold a confidential informant 98 grams of marijuana and a firearm while on duty as a security guard at a local motel. A second buy was conducted in December 2024 where Walker sold a firearm with an attached MCD and 103 grams of marijuana. Walker has prior felony convictions for violent offenses.

After a 3-day jury trial on October 2, 2025, Walker was found guilty of two counts of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, carrying a machine gun during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime, and carrying a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime.

On January 21, 2026, United States District Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. sentenced Walker to 421 months in federal prison. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “Firearms equipped with MCDs are extremely dangerous devices that can cause multiple injuries or fatalities in less than one second. When paired with the inherently dangerous activity of drug trafficking, they demonstrate an unacceptable risk to public safety that justifies a long prison sentence to remove this violent felon from our community.”

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

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jermal Blanchard and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Clinton Crosier 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 Memphis woman has been sentenced to federal prison for defrauding two federal programs intended to help people survive the COVID-19 pandemic out of over $560,000. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

Deashley Tabor, 37, was sentenced on January 16, 2026, to 41 months of incarceration to be followed by three years of supervised release by Chief United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and making false claims against the U.S. Government.

According to information presented in court, Tabor and her co-conspirator defrauded the U.S. Government out of over $560,000 by filing fraudulent applications for unemployment benefits in over 27 different states during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Tabor and her co-conspirator also defrauded the federally funded Tennessee Emergency Cash Assistance (ECA) program of approximately $20,000 by creating fake employment termination notices for themselves and others.  The ECA program was intended to provide financial assistance to families that had been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic because of lost employment.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Fraudulent schemes and crimes of dishonesty will be exposed and punished. This case represents our commitment to expose COVID-19 benefit fraud well beyond the pandemic, protect the integrity of the employment assistance system, hold offenders accountable for their dishonest criminal conduct, and to recover ill-gotten proceeds on behalf of victimized agencies."

“Deashley Tabor defrauded the U.S. Government and taxpayers in an unemployment insurance fraud scheme that targeted multiple State Workforce agencies, enriching themselves when millions of Americans desperately needed the money,” stated Anthony P. D’Esposito, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Inspector General.  “The Office of Inspector General is committed to protecting the integrity of the unemployment insurance program by vigorously pursuing those who commit this type of fraud.”

“These individuals exploited a public health emergency to steal money and resources intended for families in need,” said Kelly Blackmon, Special Agent in Charge at the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “This sentencing underscores HHS-OIG’s unwavering commitment, alongside our law enforcement partners, to protect taxpayer dollars and hold accountable those who defraud programs designed to help during times of crisis.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.

The case was prosecuted on behalf of the government by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony R. Arvin.

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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 last of five Mid-South men, LaVonte Holmes, who executed a sports betting fraud scheme between 2022 and 2024, was sentenced to prison on January 20, 2026.

According to information presented in Court, the defendants purchased both stolen personal identifying information—including dates of birth and social security numbers—and bank account information off the internet to create and fund fraudulent sports betting accounts on multiple sports betting smartphone applications in order to earn account opening incentives multiple times over.

In addition to conducting the scheme in the Western District of Tennessee, the ring would travel to other states to perpetrate the fraud as well. All five defendants pled guilty to aggravated identity theft in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1028A and unauthorized use of an access device in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1029(a)(2) and were sentenced by Chief United States District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman.

• Lucas Gilliam, 25, was sentenced to 36 months.
• LaVonte Holmes, 24, was sentenced to 30 months.
• Lawrence Williams, 22, was sentenced to 15 months.
• Nathan Penaflor, 23, was sentenced to 6 months.
• Joshua Penaflor, 22, was sentenced to 6 months. 

There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "With new and ever-changing technology, applications, and platforms, criminals are using more creative and disturbing ways to commit fraud against vulnerable victims, including identity theft. For these thieves, their bets did not pay off, and were instead parlayed into prison sentences.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Nashville Field Office-Memphis Resident Agency and the United States Secret Service, Memphis Field Office.

United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant thanked Assistant United States Attorney William Bateman, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.

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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 – U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced today that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee collected $3,169,425.23 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2025. Of that amount, $2,967,893.83 was collected in criminal actions and $201,531.40 was collected in civil actions.

Additionally, the Western District of Tennessee worked with other U.S. Attorney’s Offices and components of the Department of Justice to collect an additional $30,090.26 in cases pursued jointly by these offices.

“Collecting restitution and other criminal and civil debts is a vital part of our mission,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant. “We will continue to prioritize collections in order to hold criminals accountable, collect debts owed to the government, protect the U.S. Treasury, and recover compensation for victims of crime.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Tennessee, working with partner agencies and divisions, also collected $628,023 in asset forfeiture actions in Fiscal Year 2025. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes.

Among the collections this year were proceeds from the sale of a property belonging to Christopher Crawford. Mr. Crawford was convicted of wire fraud and ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,812,226.08. In 2025, a writ of execution on his residence in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida was granted by the Court and enforced. The property was sold and proceeds in the amount $603,624.83 was applied towards the restitution balance.

The U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, along with the Department’s litigating divisions, are responsible for enforcing and collecting civil and criminal debts owed to the U.S. and criminal debts owed to federal crime victims. The law requires defendants to pay restitution to victims of certain federal crimes who have suffered a physical injury or financial loss. While restitution is paid to the victim, criminal fines and felony assessments are paid to the Department’s Crime Victims Fund, which distributes the funds collected to federal and state victim compensation and victim assistance programs.

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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 – U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant is pleased to announce that on January 16, 2026, he joined a legal action with Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Division to file a brief on behalf of the United States as Amicus Curiae in support of the State of Tennessee’s appeal in the case challenging Governor Lee’s deployment of the Tennessee National Guard in support of the Memphis Safe Task Force.

The case, Lee Harris, et al. v. William B. Lee, et al., was originally filed by Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris and several lawmakers in the Chancery Court of Davidson County, suing the Governor, Attorney General, and the Adjutant General of the Tennessee National Guard and raising both constitutional and statutory objections to the Guard’s mobilization. The Chancellor granted a temporary injunction, but temporarily stayed the injunction pending an application for permission to appeal. The State of Tennessee filed an appeal, and 0n January 12, 2026, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti filed an opening appellate brief on the merits in the Tennessee Court of Appeals, seeking reversal of the Chancery Court ruling.

By enjoining Governor Lee’s deployment of the Guard in support of the Memphis Safe Task Force, the trial court has effectively blocked President Trump’s request that the Governor make available National Guard units of Tennessee to support public safety and law enforcement operations in Memphis. As a result, the United States has a substantial interest in this litigation, and its participation as amicus curiae will assist the Court in resolving this appeal. The Court of Appeals has expedited and set oral arguments for March 5, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. in the Tennessee Supreme Court building in Nashville.

In response to the public safety emergency in Memphis, Governor Lee, in consultation with President Trump, deployed members of the Tennessee National Guard to support the mission of the Memphis Safe Task Force. With the Guard’s support, the Task Force has begun restoring law and order to the city. Thousands of arrests have been made, hundreds of unlawfully possessed firearms have been seized, and crime rates have fallen precipitously year-over-year. All in just a few months. The trial court’s injunction risks undoing that progress, and without the Guard’s support, the Task Force’s operational capacity will be eviscerated.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “One of President Trump’s top priorities is restoring law and order in cities plagued by violent crime, and the Tennessee National Guard has played a critical role in the unprecedented success of the Memphis Safe Task Force. As the chief federal law enforcement officer in West Tennessee, I am proud to stand with General Skrmetti in defending the constitutionality of Governor Lee’s exercise of executive authority and continuing to work with the Tennessee National Guard in protecting Memphians.”

Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Eric D. McArthur, and DOJ Counsel John Bailey of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Division, and Assistant United States Attorney Jason Martin of the Western District of Tennessee are also representing the United States in the appellate litigation.

Brief for the United States as Amicus Curiae Supporting Appellants

United States' Motion for Leave to File Brief as Amicus Curiae in Support of Appellants

Opening Brief National Guard

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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 – A federal jury in Memphis, Tennessee convicted a man on Friday for a series of brazen bank robberies, one of which ended with the defendant shooting two people with an assault rifle. At trial, the defendant was convicted of robbing three banks and joining a conspiracy that robbed a total of five bank branches. This is the last of eight defendants indicted in this case, which charged robberies and related firearm charges. All defendants have now been convicted either by guilty plea or at trial.

“This defendant was part of a violent robbery crew whose actions put lives in grave danger and seriously injured innocent people,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The series of bank robberies committed by these eight defendants terrorized bank employees and customers and threatened the lives of hardworking Americans. The Criminal Division will aggressively prosecute those who commit violence, just as it has here.”

“Bank robbery committed with a firearm is an inherently violent offense and threatens the very fabric of our financial institutions that provide commercial services to citizens and the community,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “These brazen and disturbing armed robberies of multiple Memphis banks by Patterson and his co-conspirators terrorized the community and inflicted fear and harm on multiple victims. Now they will have plenty of time in federal prison to suffer the consequences of their violent criminal conduct, and the citizens of Memphis will be safer for it.”

“Friday’s conviction should send a strong message that violent crime will not be tolerated, and law enforcement will not rest until violent offenders are caught, prosecuted, and held accountable for their actions,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The FBI will continue to work alongside our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to fight violent crime in communities across Tennessee.”

Evidence at trial proved that over about eight months between April 2023 and December 2023, the defendant, Mario Patterson, 45, joined a conspiracy with his co-defendants to rob banks throughout Memphis. The robbers even attempted to rob the same bank branch twice.

Patterson carried a gun in each robbery, and during one attempted robbery he shot two people with an assault rifle. In another robbery, Patterson wore a bulletproof vest and pointed a rifle at bank employees while a co-defendant stole thousands of dollars from the bank. By the end of 2023, Patterson and his group stole over $160,000 from Memphis-area banks.

Patterson’s sentencing is scheduled for April 24. Three of Patterson’s co-defendants ─ Robert Haley, Devin Hinds, and Joshua Cribbs ─ were sentenced in late 2025 for their role in the offenses, with Haley receiving 17 years in prison, Hinds receiving 16 years and 1 month in prison, and Cribbs receiving 12 years in prison. The four additional co-defendants, Travis Drain, Monterrio Trenell, Marquarius Trenell, and Courtney Trenell, face sentencing later this year.

The 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 efforts to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee and surrounding areas.

Trial Attorney Ashleigh Atasoy of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, with assistance from Trial Attorney Aaron Hendricks, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory A. Wagner and Tony Arvin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.

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A federal jury in Memphis, Tennessee, convicted a man on Friday for a series of brazen bank robberies, one of which ended with the defendant shooting two people with an assault rifle. At trial, the defendant was convicted of robbing three banks and joining a conspiracy that robbed a total of five bank branches. This is the last of eight defendants indicted in this case, which charged robberies and related firearm charges. All defendants have now been convicted either by guilty plea or at trial.

“This defendant was part of a violent robbery crew whose actions put lives in grave danger and seriously injured innocent people,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “The series of bank robberies committed by these eight defendants terrorized bank employees and customers and threatened the lives of hardworking Americans. The Criminal Division will aggressively prosecute those who commit violence, just as it has here.”

“Bank robbery committed with a firearm is an inherently violent offense and threatens the very fabric of our financial institutions that provide commercial services to citizens and the community,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “These brazen and disturbing armed robberies of multiple Memphis banks by Patterson and his co-conspirators terrorized the community and inflicted fear and harm on multiple victims. Now they will have plenty of time in federal prison to suffer the consequences of their violent criminal conduct, and the citizens of Memphis will be safer for it.”

“Friday’s conviction should send a strong message that violent crime will not be tolerated, and law enforcement will not rest until violent offenders are caught, prosecuted, and held accountable for their actions,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The FBI will continue to work alongside our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to fight violent crime in communities across Tennessee.”

Evidence at trial proved that over about eight months between April 2023 and December 2023, the defendant, Mario Patterson, 45, joined a conspiracy with his co-defendants to rob banks throughout Memphis. The robbers even attempted to rob the same bank branch twice.

Patterson carried a gun in each robbery, and during one attempted robbery he shot two people with an assault rifle. In another robbery, Patterson wore a bulletproof vest and pointed a rifle at bank employees while a co-defendant stole thousands of dollars from the bank. By the end of 2023, Patterson and his group stole over $160,000 from Memphis-area banks.

Patterson’s sentencing is scheduled for April 24. Three of Patterson’s co-defendants ─ Robert Haley, Devin Hinds, and Joshua Cribbs ─ were sentenced in late 2025 for their role in the offenses, with Haley receiving 17 years in prison, Hinds receiving 16 years and 1 month in prison, and Cribbs receiving 12 years in prison. The four additional co-defendants, Travis Drain, Monterrio Trenell, Marquarius Trenell, and Courtney Trenell, face sentencing later this year.

The 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 efforts to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee and surrounding areas.

Trial Attorney Ashleigh Atasoy of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section, with assistance from Trial Attorney Aaron Hendricks, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory A. Wagner and Tony Arvin of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.

Memphis, TN – On January 9, 2026, a federal jury delivered a guilty verdict in the case of Marshun Lewis, 25, who was charged with 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.  Lewis faces a mandatory statutory minimum sentence of 28 years in federal prison based upon brandishing a firearm during each of the robberies. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the verdict 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 would alter 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.

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.  Sentencing is set on April 10, 2026, before United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker.

There is no parole in the federal system. 

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "This office takes very seriously our duty to protect the safety of United States Postal Service employees and the sanctity and security of the U.S. Mail. Armed robberies are brazen and disturbing acts of violence that terrorize our community and must be met with significant consequences. This dangerous offender has sown violence and greed, and as a result of this guilty verdict, he will now reap the full measure of consequences for his criminal conduct."

“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.

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Memphis, TN – After a three-and-a-half-week trial and five days of deliberations, a federal jury found Memphis physician Sanjeev Kumar guilty of eighteen counts of adulteration of medical devices, sixteen counts of misbranding medical devices, and six counts of health care fraud. From 2019 to 2024, Kumar submitted and caused his employees to submit fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid for hysteroscopy with biopsy procedures that were not medically necessary and conducted with adulterated devices.  United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the verdict today.

“This doctor put profit ahead of patients, targeting a vulnerable population of women, telling them he needed to conduct invasive gynecological procedures to diagnose them with cancer and risking infection to those patients by reusing the same insanitary medical devices on them again and again,” stated D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney.  “If we allow doctors to bilk Medicare and Medicaid to pad their profits by performing unsupported medical procedures with filthy devices — each and every American taxpayer eats the cost.  But the harm is most felt by the victim-patients who deserved better, and the American women on Medicare and Medicaid are entitled to quality care.  Kumar’s blatant disregard for his patients’ health has led to his conviction on multiple federal charges.  My office is proud to work with the investigative agencies that helped bring this man to justice.”  

Kumar was a gynecologic oncologist who operated Poplar Avenue Clinic, a women’s health clinic in Memphis, Tennessee. Between September of 2019 and April of 2024, Kumar and the advanced practitioners he supervised performed over 15,000 hysteroscopies with biopsy on 5,559 Medicare and Medicaid patients. The hysteroscopy with biopsy is an in-office procedure where a hysteroscope is inserted into the vagina, pushed through the cervix, and into the uterus. A grasper or pipelle is then inserted through the hysteroscope to take a sample of the endometrial lining of the uterus. The procedure is used to diagnose endometrial cancer. The FDA cleared several single-use hysteroscopes and graspers, as well as reusable hysteroscopes to complete these procedures.

The single-use devices were to be used once and then discarded. To correctly disinfect the devices cleared for reprocessing, Kumar had to strictly follow manufacturer instructions. Kumar routinely failed to subject the reusable devices to vital reprocessing steps between patient use, thereby, endangering patient safety. The single-use devices, even if they had been correctly reprocessed, had to be labeled as such, and Kumar did not label them. Kumar purchased less than 200 new single-use hysteroscopes, and 3 of the 6 single-use graspers of a certain type he purchased in 2019 were still in use in the office in April 2024.

“FDA’s requirements for safe use of medical devices are in place to protect the health of the public. When healthcare providers disregard safety information, including single-use and single-user designations, resulting in the adulteration and misbranding of medical devices, they put patients’ health at risk,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Juan Berrios, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Miami Field Office. “We will continue our vigilance in protecting the U.S. consumers’ and patients’ right to safe medical products.”

Kumar billed more than $41 million for the hysteroscopy with biopsy procedures between September 2019 and April 2024. He netted more than $4.8 million for this procedure from Medicare and Medicaid alone. That amount does not include any hysteroscopy with biopsy procedures performed on patients with private health care insurance.

“Profits should never come before patient safety,” said TBI Director David Rausch. “When healthcare providers sidestep best safety practices for the sake of their bottom line, patients pay the price. I’m proud of the work of our team at TBI and all stakeholders to hold this provider accountable and hope it sends a message: We won’t stop rooting out bad actors trying to take advantage of the system meant to support the elderly and our most vulnerable.”   

“Health care providers have a solemn duty to prioritize their patients’ well-being and uphold the principle of ‘do no harm.’ When they violate this trust and endanger those in their care, they will be held accountable,” said Kelly Blackmon, Special Agent in Charge at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “Ensuring the safety of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries is our top priority, and we will continue to work diligently with our law enforcement partners to safeguard these vital programs.”

“This guilty verdict underscores our commitment to pursuing those who abuse the health care system for personal profit,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to root out health care fraud schemes and hold those accountable who not only waste valuable resources but also jeopardize patient safety and trust.”

Sentencing is set on April 9, 2026 before Chief United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman.

Kumar faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 10 years for each Health Care Fraud count and three years for each Adulteration and Misbranding of Medical Devices count.  

The United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG), the United States Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) led the investigation, which was initiated by the Tennessee Attorney General.   

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lynn Crum, Scott Smith, and Sarah Pazar Williams prosecuted the case.

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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 – U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, is pleased to announce the temporary assignment of twenty (20) military lawyers from the Department of War to serve as Special Assistant United States Attorneys (SAUSAs) to support the White House “Restoring Law and Order in Memphis” Presidential Action issued on September 15, 2025. The SAUSAs are Judge Advocates (JAGs) detailed from all four branches of the armed forces and will be assigned to prosecute federal cases referred by the Memphis Safe Task Force, which was established by Presidential Order with the objective to end street and violent crime in Memphis to the greatest possible extent through the promotion and facilitation of hypervigilant policing, aggressive prosecution, complex investigations, financial enforcement, and large-scale saturation of besieged neighborhoods.

The JAG SAUSAs are deployed from states all over the country, and many have prior federal and state prosecutorial experience as well as litigation practice backgrounds. Members of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee provided foundational federal prosecution training, as well as district-specific rules and information for the SAUSAs at the Department of Justice National Advocacy Center in November.   

Thus far during the Memphis Safe Task Force (MSTF) operational period from October 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee has charged a total of 195 defendants, including 136 by criminal complaint and 141 by indictment. Our office has also reviewed, approved, and issued over 130 search warrants and has accepted 99.4% of the cases referred for federal prosecution through the Virtual Command Center (VCC) from the MSTF.

Those numbers include a total of 14 defendants charged with Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Federal Law Enforcement Officers under 18 U.S.C. § 111. Other federal charges filed include: Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), Unlawful Possession of a Machinegun under 18 U.S.C. § 922(o), Hobbs Act Robbery under 18 U.S.C. § 1951, Carjacking under 18 U.S.C. § 2119, Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute under 21 U.S.C. § 841, Child Exploitation offenses under 18 U.S.C. § 2251, and Possession of a Firearm in furtherance of a Crime of Violence or Drug Trafficking Crime under 18 U.S.C. § 924(c).

A comparison of cases indicted and defendants charged for the same period in 2024 and 2025 reveals the following:

From October 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee filed a total of 35 indictments charging a total of 37 defendants. During the MSTF operational period thus far from October 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee has filed a total of 111 indictments charging a total of 141 defendants. This represents a 217.14% increase in cases indicted and a 281.08% increase in defendants charged.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Our office is committed to supporting the work of the MSTF by responsive and aggressive federal prosecution of cases involving offenders who pose a significant risk to public safety, to effectively punish, incapacitate, and deter criminal conduct and reduce violent crime. This coordination and personnel-sharing between the Department of Justice and the Department of War is unprecedented and comes at a time when federal prosecutorial resources are most needed due to increased court dockets caused by the outstanding work of the MSTF. I am thankful to the Armed Forces leadership for their commitment to bringing the skill and dedication of America’s service members to deliver justice, restore order, and protect the people of Memphis.”

U.S. Marshal Tyreece Miller, of the Western District of Tennessee, stated: "The Memphis Safe Task Force has created momentum in reducing violent crime, and the arrival of these Special Assistant United States Attorneys means progress made on the streets will continue in the courtroom. They will ensure prosecutions keep pace with the surge and justice is served, resulting in sustained positive change for Memphis."

Pictured: JAG SAUSAs with members of the U.S. Attorney's Office and U.S. Marshal Tyreece Miller 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 – A former correctional officer for the Dyer County Sheriff’s Department was sentenced on December 29, 2025. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.

According to the information presented in court, Tyrell Wallace, a guard at the Dyer County Jail, reported to work on October 24, 2024. Investigators stopped Wallace and announced an administrative search. Inside Wallace’s waistband, investigators recovered 53 grams of actual methamphetamine with a purity level of 100%, 165 grams of marijuana, 26 grams of fentanyl, 3 grams of crack cocaine, 8 Suboxone strips, and a Motorola cellular telephone.

Investigators then searched Wallace’s vehicle where they recovered a loaded 9mm handgun and 40 rounds of ammunition. During a post-arrest interview, Wallace confessed that he planned to introduce the narcotics to inmates. Investigators then sought a search warrant for Wallace’s cellphone which revealed it was the third time he delivered controlled substances to the jail.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Official misconduct by public officers in positions of trust and authority undermines the foundational integrity of our government institutions and the security of correctional facilities. We will root out, expose, and hold accountable those officials who violate their oath for personal gain by introducing illegal narcotics into jails and prisons."

On September 26, 2025, the defendant pled guilty to violating 21 U.S.C. §841(a) for knowingly possessing actual methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. United States District Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced the defendant to 120 months of incarceration followed by 5 years of supervised release.

The Dyer County Sheriff’s Department and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated this case.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Hays prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. SAUSA Hays is currently assigned from the 29th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office.

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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 — Joshua M. Rogers, 33, of Tennessee was sentenced yesterday to 56 months of in prison for his role in destroying evidence related to a police officer’s fatal shooting of a man identified by the initials R.H.

Documents filed in connection with the defendant’s plea established that Rogers’ co-defendant, Patric J. Ferguson, was on duty as an officer with the Memphis Police Department when Ferguson kidnapped and fatally shot R.H. on January 5, 2021.  The defendant aided Ferguson in covering up the fatal shooting.  The defendant assisted Ferguson as he purchased chains, padlocks, and cinderblocks from a store and affixed them around the victim’s body. Once the victim’s body was weighed down by the items, the defendant and Ferguson drove to the Wolf River in Memphis, where they disposed of the victim’s body.

Ferguson was sentenced to 38 years in prison on Dec. 1.  

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI’s Nashville Field Office and the Memphis Police Department investigated the case.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Hartridge for the Western District of Tennessee and Trial Attorneys Tenette Smith and Sarah Armstrong of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section. 

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Joshua M. Rogers, 33, of Tennessee was sentenced yesterday to 56 months in prison for his role in destroying evidence related to a police officer’s fatal shooting of a man identified by the initials R.H.

Documents filed in connection with the defendant’s plea established that Rogers’ co-defendant, Patric J. Ferguson, was on duty as an officer with the Memphis Police Department when Ferguson kidnapped and fatally shot R.H. on Jan. 5, 2021.  The defendant aided Ferguson in covering up the fatal shooting.  The defendant assisted Ferguson as he purchased chains, padlocks, and cinderblocks from a store and affixed them around the victim’s body. Once the victim’s body was weighed down by the items, the defendant and Ferguson drove to the Wolf River in Memphis, where they disposed of the victim’s body.

Ferguson was sentenced to 38 years in prison on Dec. 1.  

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee, and FBI Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI’s Nashville Field Office and the Memphis Police Department investigated the case.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Hartridge for the Western District of Tennessee and Trial Attorneys Tenette Smith and Sarah Armstrong of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section. 

Memphis, TN – On December 11, 2025, a federal jury returned a guilty verdict in the case of Maurice Harris, 32, of Memphis, who was charged with committing a series of armed robberies of businesses in October 2024.  Harris faces a mandatory statutory minimum sentence of 75 years in federal prison based on his prior convictions, and additional time for violating the conditions of his supervised release. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the verdict today. 

According to information presented in court, Harris conducted a series of armed robberies of the following businesses within the Western District of Tennessee:

• October 4, 2024: Metro by T-Mobile - 4673 Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, TN
• October 7, 2024: Cricket Wireless - 1129 S. Dupress Street, Brownsville, TN
• October 10, 2024: AT&T - 5287 Airline Road, Memphis, TN

In each robbery, Harris pretended to be a customer, then produced a handgun and demanded the store’s phones and tablets. During the robbery of the Brownsville Cricket Wireless store, a 5-year-old child was present. Investigators found the driver’s license identification of Harris that he left behind at the store when he fled. He was arrested at his place of employment in possession of the same handgun used in each of the robberies, in the same car he drove to each of the robberies, along with items stolen from two of the robberies. All three incidents were recorded on store surveillance videos, and he was identified in a photo line-up and later in court by each of the victims.

After a three-day trial, Harris was convicted as charged of three counts of robbery, three counts of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. 

Sentencing is set on March 18, 2026, before United States District Judge Mark S. Norris. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Business owners and employees have a fundamental right to be safe from armed robbers who terrorize our communities with their lawlessness. The senselessness of gun violence has a long-lasting effect on victims of armed robbery, and we will no longer allow gun crime to rule our streets. This verdict sends a clear message that there will always be a reckoning, a real and significant consequence, for the commission of violent crimes."

This case was investigated by officers from the Memphis Police Department assigned to the FBI Nashville Field Office-Memphis Resident Agency’s Safe Streets Task Force, the Brownsville Police Department, and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant United States Attorneys Jennifer Musselwhite and Greg Wagner 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.

Jackson, TN – Charles Belk, 51, of Union City, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 235 months in federal prison for possessing a large quantity of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it, in violation of federal law. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to evidence presented in court, on January 31, 2024, postal inspectors with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service were alerted to a suspicious package that was mailed from California to an apartment complex in Union City. The package came to their attention because it had similar characteristics to previous packages that had been delivered to the same apartment complex and which had been tracked by an IP address in Mexico. After securing a federal search warrant on the package, law enforcement determined that it contained over 2,200 grams of suspected methamphetamine.

When law enforcement delivered the package to the apartment complex, Belk took the package—which was addressed to a different recipient and apartment number—into his possession and brought it into his apartment. A search warrant execution at Belk’s apartment led to the seizure of an additional amount of methamphetamine, over $7,000 of U.S. currency, and several firearms. Further investigation revealed that Belk had been using his neighbors’ names and addresses to receive prior packages. In all, the amount of actual methamphetamine involved was over 1,700 grams.       

Belk pled guilty to two counts of possessing with the intent to distribute actual methamphetamine. On December 5, 2025, United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Belk to 235 months’ imprisonment with five years of supervised release to follow. There is no parole in the federal system.  

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Methamphetamine continues to destroy individuals, families, and communities in West Tennessee, and we will continue to aggressively investigate, prosecute, and punish drug dealers to hold them accountable. Belk has sowed addiction and pain into the rural Northwest Tennessee community, and now he will reap the consequence of a long prison sentence."

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the 27th Judicial District Drug Task Force.

Assistant United States Attorney Immanuel Chioco 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 – On December 4, 2025, a federal jury delivered a guilty verdict in the case of a Memphis-based convicted felon, Fredrick Buford, 29, who was charged with committing a series of armed robberies of businesses in the summer of 2022.  Buford faces a mandatory statutory minimum of 75 years in federal prison. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the verdict today.

According to information presented in court, Buford conducted a series of armed robberies of local businesses in Memphis, Tennessee:

• May 23, 2022: Dollar General, 3129 Thomas Street
• May 23, 2022: Family Dollar, 1688 Jackson Avenue
• May 29, 2022: Exxon, 4491 Poplar Avenue
• May 29, 2022: Mapco, 979 East Brooks Road (Buford broke into the store and threatened to shoot the store employee. However, he was not successful in obtaining money.)
• June 4, 2022: Dollar General, 2469 Elvis Presley Boulevard
• June 6, 2022: Dollar General, 1760 Winchester Road
• June 6, 2022: Mapco, 3333 Thomas Street
• June 11, 2022: Family Dollar, 2743 North Watkins Street
• June 11, 2022: Dollar General, 1294 Lamar Avenue
• June 12, 2022: Family Dollar, 3255 Hickory Hill Road
• June 15, 2022: Dollar General, 2939 Lamar Avenue
• June 16, 2022: Dollar General, 2245 Lamar Avenue

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Robberies of businesses with a firearm are especially dangerous and violent due to the high risk of death and serious bodily injury by the simple squeeze of a trigger. Business robberies also have a substantially negative impact on the local economy and interstate commerce, which victimizes the entire community. Within the short span of 25 days, this recidivist violent offender’s selfish and impulsive greed terrorized multiple victims across our city – and will rightly earn him a long sentence in a federal prison."

“This guilty verdict should serve as a reminder that the FBI will not waver when it comes to protecting Tennesseans and taking dangerous criminals off the streets,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. "The FBI will continue to combat these issues through strong partnerships with federal, state, and local law enforcement via task forces and other relationships to ensure the safety of our communities."

After a four-day trial, Buford was convicted on December 4, 2025 of eleven counts of robbery, one count of attempted robbery, and eleven counts of use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.  Sentencing is set on March 24, 2026 before United States District Judge Mark S. Norris.

The FBI Nashville Field Office-Memphis Resident Agency’s Safe Streets Task Force and the Memphis Police Department investigated this case. 

Assistant United States Attorneys Will Crow and Eileen Kuo 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 – Fifteen alleged members of a drug trafficking organization responsible for a conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute large quantities of marijuana and for a conspiracy to commit money laundering in West Tennessee, Oklahoma, Texas, and California have been charged in a 2-count federal indictment. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the unsealed indictment today.

On Wednesday, December 3, 2025, 14 of the defendants were taken into custody by federal, state, and local law enforcement officials. One remains a fugitive.

The following defendants have been indicted for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana:

• Myron Armstrong, aka “BG”, 49 - Memphis, Tennessee
• Chad Hendricks, 34 - Milburn, Oklahoma
• Ping Huang, aka “Jason”, 44 - People’s Republic of China
• Carlos Atkins, aka “Papa Smurf”, aka “Lo”, 52 - Memphis, Tennessee
• Kevin Brandon, aka “Bam”, 40 - Millington, Tennessee
• Brandon Burkett, 41 - Magnolia, Texas
• Ricio Conner, 50 - Jackson, Tennessee
• Willie Love, aka “June Bug”, 51 - Memphis, Tennessee
• Prenston Moore, aka “Twin”, 44 - Memphis, Tennessee
• Thomas Smith, aka “TC”, 47 - Memphis, Tennessee
• Cris Thetford, 44 - Durant, Oklahoma
• Raevyn Tuggle, 28 - Memphis, Tennessee
• Terrance Wash, aka “Car Wash”, aka “Rick Ross”, 45 - Memphis, Tennessee
• Anthony Williams, aka “Ant”, 41 - Allen, Texas 

According to the indictment, beginning at a time unknown but from at least on or about June 1, 2024, to November 18, 2025, the defendants intentionally conspired with each other to unlawfully possess with the intent to distribute 1,000 kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of marijuana.

Additionally, Myron Armstrong, Chad Hendricks, Ping Huang, Carlos Atkins, Brandon Burkett, Thomas Smith, Raevyn Tuggle, and Anthony Williams were charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering in Count 2 of the indictment.

During the course of the investigative operation named “Been Getting Bags,” and subsequent arrests on December 3, 2025, law enforcement officers seized approximately 207 pounds of marijuana, 2 ounces of crack cocaine, approximately 1,850 cultivated marijuana plants in Oklahoma and Tennessee, 2 kilo presses, approximately $550,000 in U.S. currency, approximately 50 firearms, 1 marijuana grow lab in Oklahoma, 1 marijuana grow lab in Memphis, and jewelry and luxury vehicles valued at over one million dollars. Additional federal charges related to these seizures are possible.

All fifteen defendants face mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years in federal prison and fines of up to $10 million or both for the controlled substance conspiracy charge.

The penalty for money laundering conspiracy is not more than 20 years in federal prison, and fines of not more than $500,000 or twice the value of the property involved, whichever is greater.

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 to dismantle their distribution networks, enforce the rule of law, and remove them from our streets. I commend the outstanding investigative efforts led by DEA and our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in this important and impactful case."

“This investigation, which originated from a narcotics complaint in the Western District of Tennessee, ultimately uncovered a large, multi-state marijuana cultivation and trafficking network with tentacles reaching into communities across our country,” said Jim Scott, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Louisville Field Division.  “The quantity of drugs seized is significant and the firepower we recovered highlight a simple truth: drug trafficking organizations are violent by design, regardless of the drug involved.  The DEA and our law enforcement partners are committed to following every lead, wherever it may take us, to shut down any criminal enterprise that threatens public safety, and we won’t rest until all those involved are brought to justice.”

“Cases like this highlight the value of partnerships”, said Special Agent in Charge Donald “Trey” Eakins, Charlotte Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “IRS-CI plays a crucial role in combating financial crimes while collaborating with financial institutions and federal agency partners within the Homeland Security Task Force, particularly those focused on money laundering, drugs, and transnational crime. IRS-CI special agents are skilled financial investigators who can unravel complex financial transactions and money laundering schemes where criminals try to hide illicit activities. We will continue to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to investigate these types of crimes by following the money and protecting our community by disrupting drug trafficking organizations.”

This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigations (IRS-CI); Shelby County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO); Memphis Police Department (MPD); and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).  Also assisting in the operation were the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Homeland Security Investigations (HSI); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); and the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP).  Collierville Police Department (CPD); Germantown Police Department (GPD); Jackson Tennessee Police Department (JPD) Gang Unit; United States Marshal Service (USMS); DEA offices in Oxford, Mississippi, Los Angeles, California, Galveston, Texas, and Dallas, Texas; Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics; Texas Department of Safety; and Desoto County, Mississippi S.W.A.T assisted with arrests, searches and other processes. 

Assistant United States Attorney Greg Allen is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

This operation 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.

The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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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.

Patric J. Ferguson, 34, a former Memphis Police Department Officer, was sentenced today to 38 years in prison for civil rights, firearms, kidnapping, and obstruction offenses in connection with the fatal shooting of a man identified by the initials R.H.

“This defendant committed a premeditated murder while using his position as a police officer, not to protect the Memphis community, but to perpetrate this horrendous crime and shield himself from suspicion and liability,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “While no prison sentence can undo the defendant’s heartless crimes, today’s sentence holds the defendant accountable and sends a clear message that no one is above the law. The Justice Department will aggressively prosecute those who violate the rights of the people they are sworn to protect.”

“This sentence reenforces that violating an individual’s constitutional rights will not be tolerated,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “This defendant tarnished his badge and undermined this community’s faith in law enforcement. Our office remains committed to protecting our communities from any and all abuses of power.”

Documents filed in connection with the defendant’s plea established that Ferguson, while on duty as a Memphis Police Department officer on Jan. 5, 2021, kidnapped and fatally shot R.H. Ferguson then conspired with his co-defendant, Joshua M. Rogers, to cover up the fatal shooting by disposing of R.H.’s body in the Wolf River in Memphis. Finally, Ferguson and Rogers conspired to dispose of the vehicle they used to transport R.H.’s body by selling it to a scrap metal company.   

Rogers pleaded guilty on May 8, to obstruction charges related to the cover up of Ferguson’s fatal shooting. Rogers is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 17.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI’s Nashville Field Office and the Memphis Police Department investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Hartridge for the Western District of Tennessee and Trial Attorneys Tenette Smith and Sarah Armstrong of the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section prosecuted the case.

Memphis, TN – United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant, of the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentencings of two Memphis men for a 2024 carjacking.    

According to information presented in court, on September 2, 2024, Martez Banks, 32, and Marcus Pledge, 37, followed an Acura to an apartment complex after an alleged minor car accident.  When the driver of the Acura stopped, Banks and Pledge forced the driver out of the vehicle at gunpoint.  After patting down the victim, one of them struck the victim in the head with a firearm. Banks and Pledge then drove off in the Acura and their vehicle.  Officers from the Memphis Police Department caught Banks in the Acura two days later.  Pledge was arrested by members of the Memphis Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit shortly thereafter.

Both Banks and Pledge were indicted by a federal grand jury in December 2024 on charges of carjacking and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.  This case was assigned to Chief District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman of the Western District of Tennessee.  

On March 5, 2025, Banks pled guilty as charged and was sentenced on June 20, 2025 to 105 months in federal prison for his offenses.  Pledge pled guilty as charged on August 12, 2025 and was sentenced to 105 months in federal prison on November 20, 2025.  

There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Armed carjacking is a cowardly act involving short-sighted gain with long term consequences for both victims and offenders. When violent criminals act impulsively, we will respond deliberately with the full weight and force of federal sanctions to suppress, punish, and incapacitate."

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

Assistant United States Attorney Greg Wagner 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.