Western District of Tennessee

Memphis, TN – A Memphis company that specialized in repairing diesel engines was sentenced to pay a fine in the amount of $150,000 for violations of the Clean Air Act.  P.T. Services, Inc. entered a guilty plea to the violations in September. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court at the plea hearing, between June 2023 and August 2024, P.T. Services, Inc. modified and deleted emissions control monitoring devices from diesel engines.   Under provisions of the Clean Air Act, it is a crime to falsify, tamper with and render inaccurate emissions control monitoring devices.  

The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Mark S. Norris on November 25, 2025.  In addition to the $150,000 fine, as part of the plea agreement, the company was ordered to participate in a compliance program and be subject to unannounced inspections by the Environmental Protection Agency.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "The U.S. Attorney’s Office is a full-service federal prosecution office, and we have the ability and intention to charge any violations of federal law, no matter where or how they occur in the Western District of Tennessee. This prosecution demonstrates our commitment to upholding the rule of law, and to pursuing any cases that harm and impact our air quality and environment."

“This sentence should send a clear message that companies who break environmental laws will be held accountable,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “Modifying and deleting emissions control monitoring devices from diesel engines can lead to poor air quality and health risks. The FBI and our partners will continue to work together to hold accountable individuals who disregard health and environmental laws designed to protect our communities.”

The case was investigated by agents with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Carroll L. André III.

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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 – Derrion Turner, 20, of Memphis, was sentenced in federal court after being convicted of two carjackings, an attempted carjacking, and related firearm offenses. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to the information presented in court, on August 25, 2023, Turner took a 2016 Ford Mustang from a victim that was in the parking lot of a Circle K located on Highway 64.  Turner pointed a handgun at the victim’s chest and demanded the victim’s wallet and keys.

On August 31, 2023, Turner took a 2018 Nissan Rogue inside of an apartment complex near Steel Manor Drive. After Turner snatched the victim’s iPhone from her hand, he then pressed a handgun against her head and told her to move away from the vehicle.

On September 3, 2023, Turner approached a male while holding a gun at a service station located on Third Street and demanded his 2022 Dodge Charger. When Turner turned his head for a moment, the victim fought Turner over the gun. During the struggle, a shot was fired. The victim was able to take the gun from Turner and subdue him until police arrived. Turner later confessed to both robberies and the attempted robbery and plead guilty earlier in the year.

On November 17, 2025, United States District Court Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Turner to 246 months' imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Our office is continuing to coordinate with our federal and local law enforcement partners to prioritize and target carjacking cases for aggressive federal prosecution. This 20-year sentence confirms that there is a significant consequence for sowing lawlessness and violence in our communities, and Turner will now reap a long prison sentence for his brazen and dangerous behavior that victimized innocent citizens."

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

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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 Tennessee man was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for a Memphis carjacking and using a firearm during the robbery.  His co-defendant in the robbery was previously sentenced to over nine years in prison.

According to court documents, during the early morning hours of April 9, 2024, Jadakiss Johnson, 23, and his co-defendant Tyrone White participated in a carjacking of the victim’s 2023 Toyota Camry at gunpoint. Johnson was the driver of the vehicle and once they arrived, White approached the victim, who was sitting in the driver’s seat of the Camry, pointed a gun at her and ordered her to get out of the vehicle. Later, when confronted by police, Johnson fled in a different car and on foot. Upon a search of Johnson’s getaway car, police found multiple firearms and a machinegun-conversion device.

Johnson is prohibited from possessing firearms based upon prior felony violent convictions and is considered a career offender under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines for numerous aggravated assault convictions.

On Aug. 25, Johnson pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting a carjacking and aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during the carjacking. White previously pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting a carjacking and aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during the carjacking and was sentenced on Oct. 30 to over nine years in prison.

At Johnson’s sentencing hearing, the United States presented evidence of the defendant’s violent behavior while in custody, including assaulting another inmate, as well as his repeated access to firearms before his arrest for this crime.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee, and Special Agent in Charge Jamey VanVliet of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Nashville Division made the announcement.

The ATF and the Memphis Police Department investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Ashleigh Atasoy of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Regina Brittenum for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.

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

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A Tennessee man was sentenced today to 20 years in prison for a Memphis carjacking and using a firearm during the robbery.  His co-defendant in the robbery was previously sentenced to over nine years in prison.

According to court documents, during the early morning hours of April 9, 2024, Jadakiss Johnson, 23, and his co-defendant Tyrone White participated in a carjacking of the victim’s 2023 Toyota Camry at gunpoint. Johnson was the driver of the vehicle and once they arrived, White approached the victim, who was sitting in the driver’s seat of the Camry, pointed a gun at her and ordered her to get out of the vehicle. Later, when confronted by police, Johnson fled in a different car and on foot. Upon a search of Johnson’s getaway car, police found multiple firearms and a machinegun-conversion device.

Johnson is prohibited from possessing firearms based upon prior felony violent convictions and is considered a career offender under the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines for numerous aggravated assault convictions.

On Aug. 25, Johnson pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting a carjacking and aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during the carjacking. White previously pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting a carjacking and aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during the carjacking and was sentenced on Oct. 30 to over nine years in prison.

At Johnson’s sentencing hearing, the United States presented evidence of the defendant’s violent behavior while in custody, including assaulting another inmate, as well as his repeated access to firearms before his arrest for this crime.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee, and Special Agent in Charge Jamey VanVliet of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Nashville Division  made the announcement.

The ATF and the Memphis Police Department investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Ashleigh Atasoy of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Regina Brittenum for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.

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

Jackson, TN – A former resident of Henry, Tennessee has been sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for conspiring with others to distribute methamphetamine.  D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, during the first three months of 2024, investigators utilized controlled drug buys, traffic stops, and the execution of search warrants to determine that Carla Sue Stout and others were involved in the trafficking of large amounts of methamphetamine in Henry and Carroll counties in West Tennessee.  Investigators were able to use a confidential informant to obtain over 450 grams of pure methamphetamine from Stout at her residence in Henry on two occasions in January 2024. Investigators subsequently executed a search warrant at Stout’s residence where they seized an additional pound of methamphetamine and over $3,000 in U.S. currency. 

Investigators conducted another controlled drug buy from Stout and executed a search warrant at her trailer in Carroll County in March 2024, which led to the seizure of roughly two more ounces of methamphetamine.  In all, Stout is responsible for distributing or possessing with the intent to distribute approximately 900 grams of actual methamphetamine.    

After Stout’s guilty plea in federal court to conspiring with others to distribute over 50 grams of actual methamphetamine in August 2025, United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Stout to 168 months’ imprisonment on November 18, 2025 to be followed by five years of supervised release. 

There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Methamphetamine that is trafficked in and through West Tennessee is increasing in dangerous purity, and continues to destroy individuals, families, and communities. Drug dealers who profit from the pain, addiction, violence and death caused by these dangerous substances deserve proper punishment, and this sentence does just that."

This case was investigated by members of the 24th Judicial Drug Task Force, the Henry County Sheriff’s Office, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). 

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 – During the Memphis Safe Task Force (MSTF) operation, the United States Attorney’s Office announces that the following defendants have been charged with violating 18 United States Code Section 111 (18 U.S.C. § 111) which provides, “Whoever forcibly assaults, resists, opposes, impedes, intimidates, or interferes with any person designated as an officer or employee of the United States while engaged in or on account of the performance of official duties,” commits an offense.  All suspects were charged by federal criminal complaints filed in the United States Magistrate Court in the Western District of Tennessee.

• Luis Cordova, 26 - On October 1, 2025, Luis Cordova was pulled over for running a red light.   When it was determined that Cordova did not have a valid driver’s license and could not produce documentation that he was in the United States legally, a Deputy U.S. Marshal began to handcuff him when Cordova pulled back and attempted to run away. A criminal complaint for 18 U.S.C. § 111 was filed, and the case has since been indicted on October 30, 2025, for resisting, opposing, impeding, or interfering with a federal officer.
• Demario Burton, 21 - On October 3, 2025, Demarion Burton was pulled over for driving with no headlights. A Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) Officer, sworn in as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force operation, had Burton step out and frisked him, finding suspected drugs on Burton’s person. The trooper began to arrest Burton, but Burton fled. A criminal complaint for 18 U.S.C. § 111 was issued, and the case has since been indicted on October 30, 2025 for resisting, opposing, impeding, or interfering with a federal officer.
• Montavious Neal, 27 - On October 6, 2025, a Memphis Police Department officer sworn in as a Special Deputy with the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force operation saw Montavious Neal driving a car that had window tint below the legal limit of 70%.  Neal pulled into a parking lot, then put his car in reverse, hit the accelerator, and struck the police car in the front bumper three separate times. The officer was either still in his car or attempting to get out of his car at the time Neal was striking the vehicle.  Two firearms were later found in plain view in the car.  Neal was indicted for assault on a federal officer under 18 U.S.C. § 111 and has been detained.
• Luis Gonzalez, 28 - On October 23, 2025, MSTF officers conducted a traffic stop on Gonzalez for having a fraudulent temporary tag.  Gonzalez pulled over but sped off as officers approached. One officer exited his vehicle and attempted to deploy a stop strip to disable the fleeing vehicle, but Gonzalez swerved to avoid hitting the strip, almost hitting the officer in the process.  A 5-year-old child and a pregnant woman were also passengers in Gonzalez’ car. The defendant is currently in federal detention for assault on a federal officer under 18 U.S.C. § 111.
• Jesus Escobar-Villalta, 30 - On October 29, 2025, THP stopped a vehicle for traffic violations.  Escobar-Villalta provided a fraudulent Honduras identification and was in the United States illegally. Escobar-Villalta refused to get out of his car and resisted. He grabbed the holstered and loaded firearm of an FBI Special Agent, attempting to pull the firearm out of the holster.  Escobar-Villalta also bit the thigh of a USMS deputy who was assisting.  Escobar-Villalta was charged with assault of a federal officer under 18 U.S.C. § 111 and was detained after a detention hearing.
• Christopher Vanzant, 53 - On November 2, 2025, a Tennessee Highway Patrol officer saw a truck being driven by Vanzant and believed to be running from Hernando, Mississippi.  After verifying the license plate, THP tried to stop the truck, using blue lights and sirens. Vanzant began driving at a high rate of speed in residential neighborhoods, striking a fence. Vanzant’s speed, failure to signal turns, driving in the opposite lane and swerving endangered other drivers, pedestrians, and federally deputized THP officers.  Vanzant struck a THP car in the process. Vanzant physically resisted the Troopers, while also attempting to use a lighter to smoke what appeared to be methamphetamine through a clear glass pipe. Vanzant struck a THP officer in the temple with a closed fist. Vanzant was charged with assault on a federal officer under 18 U.S.C. § 111.  Vanzant’s detention hearing is pending in the United States Magistrate Court.
• Sanchon Dillup-Jones, 36 - On November 4, 2025, THP officers observed car driving recklessly at a strip mall where pedestrians were present.  The driver was identified as Sanchon Dillup-Jones. Dillup-Jones refused to exit the car, and when the trooper attempted to open the driver’s door, Dillup-Jones rolled up the window and put the car in drive. The trooper reached in the window to put the car in park. Dillup-Jones drove away with the trooper’s body leaned inside the car, dragging the trooper approximately 50-60 feet before he could dislodge himself. Dillup-Jones is charged with assault on a federal officer under 18 U.S.C. § 111.
• Nicomedes Jimenez, 37 - On November 4, 2025, the Memphis Police Department (MPD) and Fayette County Sheriff’s Office attempted to stop a car driven by Jimenez. Jimenez had two active warrants - one from May 2022 for aggravated assault and one from April 2022 for two counts of domestic assault. Jimenez refused to stop and accelerated, evading law enforcement for approximately 20 miles traveling at high speeds. Jimenez caused a civilian to lose control of their vehicle, continued to drive recklessly, losing control of his car and crashing into a barricade. A task force officer exited his car and Jimenez drove toward it, striking the door and rendering the car inoperable. The officer narrowly escaped being hit by jumping back into his police car just before the crash. A detention hearing is still pending for assault of a federal officer under 18 U.S.C. § 111.
• Justin Hardaway, 26 - On November 6, 2025, MPD tried to make a traffic stop for a car with no license plate or rear bumper being driven by Hardaway. Hardaway fled at a high rate of speed, intentionally striking a Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) vehicle three times.  Hardaway exited his car while it was still in motion and attempted to flee. The driverless vehicle almost struck approximately 20 children who were exiting a school bus and did strike a house before stopping. After a brief foot pursuit, Hardaway was taken into custody. Hardaway has not had an initial appearance yet on the charge of assault of a federal officer under 18 U.S.C. § 111.
• Khauleel Harrison, 22 - On November 7, 2025, THP and HSI were on Interstate 40 in pursuit of a car driven by Khauleel Harrison who was drag racing on I-40 East. Harrison reached speeds of 90-100 mph during the chase and weaved through traffic. Harrison exited the highway and made several illegal U-turns.  Harrison turned towards the Tennessee Highway Patrol car, accelerated, and struck the patrol car head on. Harrison’s car was disabled after the head-on collision.  Harrison is charged with assault a federal officer under 18 U.S.C. § 111.
• Shone Pugh, 24 - On November 12, 2025, Shone Pugh assaulted a U.S. Marshal during a traffic stop. Pugh was the passenger of a car stopped for running a red light.  The U.S. Marshal asked Pugh to get out of the car. Pugh shoved the U.S. Marshal and tried to flee, throwing the U.S. Marshal to the ground.  Near the area of the struggle, law enforcement located a pistol engraved with a Kansas City Police Department badge logo that was reported stolen.  Pugh is charged with assault of a federal officer under 18 U.S.C. § 111.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "We take all threats against law enforcement very seriously, and we have zero tolerance for any assault on federal officers. There is no constitutional right to resist arrest, and doing so endangers everyone involved. During the MSTF Operation and every day, we urge anyone who encounters a law enforcement officer to comply first, and, if warranted, complain later. We will enforce Attorney General Pam Bondi’s warning: ‘If you touch any law enforcement officer, we will come after you'."

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

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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 has pled guilty to accepting a bribe as a public official. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the guilty plea today.

Deon Scott, 41, pled guilty on November 17, 2025 before Chief United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman to accepting a bribe as a public official. According to information presented in court, Scott was working as an Internal Affairs Investigator for the Office of Professional Standards for the Shelby County Divisions of Corrections, which houses federal inmates, when he accepted money to provide contraband to an inmate.  Scott was immediately terminated from his position.

Sentencing is set on February 19, 2026. He faces up to 15 years in federal prison.

United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Official misconduct and corruption by correctional officers in positions of trust and authority undermine the foundational integrity of our government institutions and compromise the safety and security of correctional facilities. We must root out, expose, and hold accountable those officials who violate the public trust by corrupt acts of bribery, and this guilty plea does just that."

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

Assistant United States Attorneys Lynn Crum and Greg Wagner and former Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Kimbril-Parks prosecuted this case on behalf of the 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 – A federal grand jury in Jackson, Tennessee recently returned an indictment charging an East Tennessee couple with multiple federal child sexual exploitation offenses.  United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the return of the indictment today.

According to the indictment, Randall Scott Sharpe, 56, and Tina Angelique Sharpe, 61, of Granville, Tennessee, while being in custody and control of a minor, used and employed the minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct in Bolivar, Tennessee, during two separate time-periods in May and September 2024.  The defendants are also charged with possessing visual depictions of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, including visual depictions involving a prepubescent minor who had not attained 12 years of age engaging in such conduct, during the same time-periods.

Randall Sharpe is charged with additional child exploitation offenses, including two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a crime, arising from his alleged electronic communications with the same minor in November 2024.   

This case is pending before United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson in Jackson.  The defendants are facing a mandatory-minimum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment and a maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment on each of the production counts and a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment on the possession counts.  Randall Sharpe is also facing a mandatory-minimum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment on each of the enticement counts. 

There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is being investigated by agents with the FBI Nashville Division, Jackson and Memphis Resident Agencies, and officers with the Bolivar Police Department.  If anyone has any additional information regarding this case or any matter involving the abuse of minor children, please contact the FBI Nashville Division (615-232-7500) or the Bolivar Police Department (731-658-4284).

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

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

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

WASHINGTON – A federal judge sentenced a Tennessee man to 221 months in prison and three years of supervised release today for being a felon in possession of a firearm under the Armed Career Criminal Act.

“Gun violence poses a significant danger to the safety and security of our communities,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.  “Today’s significant sentence highlights the Criminal Division’s steadfast commitment to aggressively prosecuting repeated armed offenders and protecting the public. I thank the prosecutors and our federal and state law enforcement partners who worked diligently to achieve this result.”

“Convicted felons who possess firearms are an inherent danger to community, and in this case, the defendant was an armed career criminal who continued to possess a firearm despite his prior felony conviction history,” said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “There is and ought to be a significant consequence for such recidivist criminal behavior, and this is one more armed career criminal removed from our streets for a long time.”

“These efforts signify what can be accomplished when we work together with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to combat violent crime,” said Special Agent in Charge Jamey VanVliet of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division. “Through this collaboration, we were able to remove a violent armed career criminal from our Memphis streets.”

According to documents and evidence presented to the court, on Jan. 19, 2022, Memphis Police Department (MPD) stopped a vehicle driven by Markel Strong, 29, of Memphis because its tint violated traffic law. Police observed, and seized, a firearm in plain view located in the front seat near the vehicle’s center console. Strong was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his numerous prior violent felony convictions.

On Aug. 19, a federal jury found Strong guilty of being a felon in possession of the firearm and separately determined that Strong’s three prior violent felony convictions occurred on separate dates, which triggered enhanced punishment under the Armed Career Criminal Act.

At today’s sentencing hearing, the United States presented evidence of the defendant’s violent behavior while in custody, as well as other crimes to which the seized firearm has been linked.

ATF and MPD investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Ashleigh Atasoy of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Regina Brittenum for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.

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

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A federal judge sentenced a Tennessee man to 221 months in prison and three years of supervised release today for being a felon in possession of a firearm under the Armed Career Criminal Act.

“Gun violence poses a significant danger to the safety and security of our communities,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.  “Today’s significant sentence highlights the Criminal Division’s steadfast commitment to aggressively prosecuting repeated armed offenders and protecting the public. I thank the prosecutors and our federal and state law enforcement partners who worked diligently to achieve this result.”

“Convicted felons who possess firearms are an inherent danger to community, and in this case, the defendant was an armed career criminal who continued to possess a firearm despite his prior felony conviction history,” U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee. “There is and ought to be a significant consequence for such recidivist criminal behavior, and this is one more armed career criminal removed from our streets for a long time.”

“These efforts signify what can be accomplished when we work together with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners to combat violent crime,” said Special Agent in Charge Jamey VanVliet of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division. “Through this collaboration, we were able to remove a violent armed career criminal from our Memphis streets.”

According to documents and evidence presented to the court, on Jan. 19, 2022, Memphis Police Department (MPD) stopped a vehicle driven by Markel Strong, 29, of Memphis because its tint violated traffic law. Police observed, and seized, a firearm in plain view located in the front seat near the vehicle’s center console. Strong was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his numerous prior violent felony convictions.

On Aug. 19 a federal jury found Strong guilty of being a felon in possession of the firearm and separately determined that Strong’s three prior violent felony convictions occurred on separate dates, which triggered enhanced punishment under the Armed Career Criminal Act.

At today’s sentencing hearing, the United States presented evidence of the defendant’s violent behavior while in custody, as well as other crimes to which the seized firearm has been linked.

ATF and MPD investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Ashleigh Atasoy of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Regina Brittenum for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.

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

Jackson, TN – A federal grand jury in Jackson, Tennessee recently returned an indictment charging a McKenzie, Tennessee man with multiple federal child sexual exploitation offenses.  United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the return of the indictment today.

According to the indictment, John A. Bell, 59, is charged with 14 counts of using and employing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct and a single count of possessing a cell phone that contained visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, including visual depictions involving a prepubescent minor who had not attained 12 years of age engaging in such conduct.  The indictment concerns Bell’s alleged acts against six minors and ranges in time from the fall of 2021 until October 2025.  

This case is pending before United States District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen in Jackson.  Bell is facing a 15-year mandatory-minimum sentence and a maximum sentence of 30 years’ imprisonment on each of the production counts and a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment on the possession count. 

There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is being investigated by Special Agent Eric McCraw, FBI Nashville Division, Jackson Resident Agency, and Lt. David Andrews with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office.  If anyone has any additional information regarding this case or any matter involving the abuse of minor children, please contact the FBI Nashville Division (615-232-7500) or the Henry County Sheriff’s Office (731-642-1672).

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

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

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

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

Dakota A. Smith, 34, of Miami, Florida, pled guilty on November 18, 2025, before United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman, to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  According to information presented in court, Smith and his co-conspirator defrauded investors by misrepresenting to them that PEG owned small, profitable companies in e-commerce and aviation. Smith solicited investments based on promises that the investors would obtain ownership interests in the companies owned by PEG and its affiliated entities.  In fact, Smith and his co-conspirator knew that neither PEG nor its affiliated entities had any ownership interest or control over the companies in marketed.

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

Smith is scheduled to be sentenced on March 6, 2026. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

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

"This elaborate investment fraud scheme defrauded investors of over $27 million," said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The FBI will continue to investigate those who attempt to defraud unsuspecting Americans of their hard-earned money. It is thanks to the extraordinary efforts of the FBI Memphis Resident Agency’s White Collar Crime Squad and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee that this scheme was detected and stopped.”

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

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

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

Jackson, TN – A Milan, Tennessee man has been sentenced to over eight years in federal prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, on February 5, 2025, officers with the Milan Police Department responded to the Mega Mart in Milan concerning an attempted robbery.  Officers learned that Fleming Williams, 35, had entered the store and became upset with the clerk because of the price of a cigarillo.  Williams then threatened to rob another customer at the store if he did not give him a dollar.  Williams then pulled a handgun out of his pocket and held it in his hand before leaving the store. 

Officers subsequently apprehended Williams at a nearby motel where he was living.  Before he was arrested, Williams discarded his gun in a trash can near the motel.  Officers searched the area following Williams’s arrest and found the gun in the trash can.  Williams is a convicted felon and was thus prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm.       

On March 10, 2025, Williams was indicted in federal court in Jackson with being a felon in possession of a firearm, and he pled guilty to that offense on June 18, 2025.  On October 23, 2025, United States District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Williams to 100 months’ imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. 

There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "As a threatening felon in possession of a firearm, Williams presented a clear danger to the public in multiple ways. The eight-plus year sentence imposed in this case rightly punishes him for his recidivist behavior, removes him from the community, and makes Milan and Gibson County a safer place."

“We appreciate our federal partners for their continued efforts in prosecuting gun crimes and ensuring that offenders receive appropriate sentences,” said Milan Police Chief Bobby Sellers.  “This is one less felon that the Milan Police Department and the citizens of Milan will have to deal with, and it demonstrates the impact of strong partnerships between local and federal law enforcement.”

This case was investigated by members of the Milan Police Department and agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.

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 Memphis nephrologist providing end-stage renal disease, or ESRD, treatments to Medicare beneficiaries will pay $375,296.90 to resolve False Claims Act allegations brought against him.  D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the agreement today.

Dr. Mark Shermer was alleged to have falsely billed Medicare for ESRD treatment visits to dialysis patients that he never actually performed.  The civil settlement resolved these allegations brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the federal False Claims Act.  Under the qui tam provision, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of the settlement if the government takes over the case and reaches a monetary agreement with the defendant. The case is captioned United States ex rel. Davis, 2:21-cv-2754-JTF-cgc (W.D. Tenn.).  

“Falsely billing Medicare for dialysis procedures that never occurred contributes to the soaring costs of health care and ultimately harms actual patients," said U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant. "Settlements like this protect public funds and safeguard the beneficiaries of federal health care programs."

“Providers who submit false claims to Medicare compromise the integrity of federal health care programs and the services they are meant to provide,” said Special Agent in Charge Kelly Blackmon of the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). “HHS-OIG is proud to work alongside our law enforcement partners to safeguard taxpayer dollars and uphold the trust placed in these vital programs.”

The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

The case was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.  

Assistant United States Attorney Sarah Pazar Williams represented the United States in this 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 – A Memphis woman has pled guilty to defrauding two federal programs intended to help people survive the COVID-19 pandemic out of over half a million dollars.  D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the guilty plea today.

Deashley Tabor, 37, pled guilty on October 6, 2025 before Chief United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and to making false claims against the United States Government.  According to information presented in court, Tabor and her co-conspirator defrauded the United States Government out of over $560,000 dollars 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 $15,000 dollars 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.

Tabor is scheduled to be sentenced on January 16, 2026.  She faces up to 25 years in federal prison.

United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Protection of the United States Treasury is a top priority for the Department of Justice, and our office is absolutely committed to bringing to justice those who would seek to take unfair advantage of critical government resources through fraud during the challenging and uncertain time of the COVID-19 pandemic."

The case was investigated by the United States Department of Labor – Office of Inspector General and by the United States Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General. 

The case was prosecuted on behalf of the government by Assistant United States 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.

Jackson, TN – Dallas Jay Stewart, 43, was sentenced to 10 more years in federal prison on possession of child pornography. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, a targeted inmate cell search was conducted on Stewart’s cell. The search revealed an electronic storage device. A forensic examination revealed images of child sexual abuse material. Stewart was charged with one count of possession of child pornography.

On November 5, 2025, United States District Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Stewart to 130 months' imprisonment and five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

Stewart is currently serving a 50-year sentence for rape of a child and aggravated sexual battery. This sentence will run consecutive to the 50-year sentence.

Additionally, Stewart must comply with the conditions of the Sexual Offender Registry upon his release.  

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: “With persistent recidivism and technology, criminals are finding new and increasingly disturbing ways to victimize and exploit child victims, even while behind prison walls. This case demonstrates that no matter where offenders are located, our FBI partners in the Child Exploitation Task Force will find them and we will hold them accountable for internet crimes against children.”

This case was investigated by Agent Eric McCraw, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Nashville-Jackson Resident Agency Child Exploitation Task Force, and the State of Tennessee Department of Corrections Office of Investigations and Conduct.

Assistant United States Attorney Caroline Parish prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

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

Jackson, TN – James Ballew, 74, of Milan, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for possessing child pornography. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

Ballew was charged with two counts of possession of child pornography. According to the information presented during the sentencing hearing, on February 10, 2023, Federal Bureau of Investigation agents executed a search warrant on Ballew’s residence in Milan. Agents seized two computers during the execution of the search warrant. Additionally, agents obtained a search warrant to search both computers. As a result of the search of both computers, agents discovered Ballew possessed 143,343 photographs and 7,848 videos depicting child sexual abuse material.

Following his guilty plea for possession of child pornography, United States District Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Ballew to 10 years in prison and 10 years of supervised release. Additionally, Ballew must comply with the conditions of the Sexual Offender Registry upon his release.

There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “Possession of child pornography is an abhorrent and disturbing crime that endangers and harms real child victims forever. And it doesn’t take an economist to know that demand drives supply. By seeking out and possessing thousands of images and videos of young children being sexually abused, Ballew contributed to their past victimization. And by fueling the demand for child pornography, his conduct likely also contributed to the future harm done to children in the name of profit. 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 brought as part of Project Safe Childhood (PSC), a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Office and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate and apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit http://www.justice.gov/psc.

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

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

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

Memphis, TN – United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant is pleased to announce the appointments of four Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) for management and supervisory roles within the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Western District of Tennessee.

United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “All four of these AUSAs are career prosecutors with unquestioned reputations for effective prosecution and sound legal and ethical judgment. I have full faith and confidence in all of them to help me effectively lead the U.S. Attorney’s Office in West Tennessee, and I am proud to appoint them to these important positions.”

BETH C. BOSWELL

FIRST ASSISTANT UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

Beth Boswell was admitted to practice law in Texas in November 1992 and in Tennessee in September 1998. She started her path as a career prosecutor immediately after law school by working for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office in Houston, Texas, one of the largest District Attorney offices in the country, where she worked from 1992 to 1998.

Prior to joining the Department of Justice in 2014, Boswell served as the Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney General for Tennessee's 24th Judicial District Attorney General’s office for 16 years. During her service as Deputy Chief, she was the Senior Trial Prosecutor for all violent crimes and major drug cases covering a five-county district. While there, she also worked as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney (SAUSA) for the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Western District of Tennessee (WDTN) from 2011 to 2014. Boswell then joined the U.S. Attorney's Office as an Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA). She was assigned to the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Unit in the Jackson, Tennessee branch office, which focused on the prosecutions of long-term drug and gang cases. She served as the Lead AUSA of the unit from 2016 to 2018 and was then appointed as Criminal Chief, where she served until this promotion.

During her career as a prosecutor, Boswell has tried hundreds of felony cases to verdict, including complex gang and long-term narcotic prosecutions, firearms violations, murders, rapes, arsons, robberies, and other violent crimes. She has received the Department of Justice Criminal Division Assistant District Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service, as well as United States Attorney Awards for outstanding performance and distinguished service to the Western District of Tennessee.

Beth Boswell is a graduate of Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN, where she received an athletic and academic scholarship.  She graduated from Middle Tennessee University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee with a B.S. degree in Pre-Law/Political Science and received her Juris Doctorate degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas.

Boswell has been a regular speaker and instructor in various areas of public safety and has provided training to prosecutors, law enforcement, correctional officers, medical professionals, and the public. 

PATRICK NEAL OLDHAM

CRIMINAL CHIEF

Patrick Neal Oldham is a native Memphian and grew up in the Whitehaven area. He attended St. Paul grade school and Bishop Byrne High School.  He attended the University of Memphis and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History.  After college, he worked as a Leadership Consultant for Sigma Chi International Fraternity.  Oldham then attended the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis and graduated in 2004.

Oldham began is legal career in 2004 as an Assistant District Attorney for the Tennessee’s 25th Judicial District, serving Tipton, Lauderdale, Fayette, Hardeman, and McNairy counties.  In 2009, Oldham joined the 30th Judicial District, serving Shelby County, and worked there for nine years before joining the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee in 2018 under a DOJ initiative to provide additional prosecutorial resources to target and combat violent crime.

GREGORY D. ALLEN

HOMELAND SECURITY TASK FORCE DEPUTY CHIEF

Gregory D. Allen is a graduate of the University of Memphis and Cecil C. Humphrey’s School of Law.  Prior to joining the Department of Justice, Allen practiced criminal law in state and federal courts in Memphis, Tennessee and surrounding areas.  He joined the Department of Justice in 2018 as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee and was assigned to the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Unit.

Allen has spent years in OCDETF collaborating with law enforcement partners on cases, participating in complex and lengthy investigations of narcotics traffickers, and completed numerous jury trials. He has litigated multiple carjackings, child exploitation, inmate escapes, firearms, and organized crime cases.

Allen has served as the Lead Homeland Security Task Force Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. He also served as the First Step Act point of contact for the U.S. Attorney's Office and is a well-respected mentor to other Assistant U.S. Attorneys in the district. 

NAYA BEDINI

APPELLATE CHIEF

Naya Bedini earned a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science from Harding University where she graduated magna cum laude and received an International Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Memphis Fogelman College of Business.  In 2014, she graduated magna cum laude from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphrey’s School of Law. 

Prior to joining the Department of Justice, Bedini served as a clerk to Chief Magistrate Judge Diane K. Vescovo of the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee.  In 2018, Bedini joined the Department of Justice as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Appellate Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee. During her time in that role, Bedini wrote over 120 appellate briefs on a multitude of legal issues, argued several times before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, managed an extensive post-conviction docket, assisted in decisions regarding government appeals of adverse orders (in tandem with the Criminal Division at Main Justice and the Office of Solicitor General), responded to en banc petitions, and provided guidance to our attorneys regarding legal developments. 

While maintaining her appellate caseload and responsibilities, Bedini has also successfully prosecuted several cases in the district court, completed several jury trials, and assisted in complex pretrial litigation cases. She also manages the student externship program for the U.S. Attorney'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.

Memphis, TN – Quannah Fields Harris, 53, of Germantown, was convicted after a jury trial on October 29, 2025 of conspiracy to defraud the United States and wire fraud.

According to the facts presented at trial, Harris was the owner of Last Minute Cuts School of Barbering and Cosmetology, a purported 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 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) designed to help veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, out of over $625,000.

Harris billed the VA for numerous veterans she enrolled at Last Minute Cuts who attended few, if any, classes, who received no instruction, did no practical exercises, 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.

"Protection of the United States Treasury and the integrity of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is a top priority for the Department of Justice and this office. This guilty verdict demonstrates our ability and resolve to expose fraudulent schemes against the government, hold offenders accountable for their dishonest criminal conduct, and to recover ill-gotten proceeds on behalf of the United States," said D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.

“Safeguarding Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefit funds reserved for deserving veterans remains a priority, and our investigators are working diligently to ensure these programs are not exploited for financial gain and greed,” said Special Agent in Charge Nate Landkammer with the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General's Mid-Atlantic Field Office. "The VA OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of VA's education benefits programs.”

“This guilty verdict sends a clear message to those who attempt to defraud the Department of Veterans Affairs Post-9/11 GI Bill educational assistance benefits programs,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge John Abram, Charlotte Field Office, IRS Criminal Investigation. “IRS CI’s collaborative investigative efforts alongside our law enforcement partners led to justice against those stealing from the federal government and subsequently the taxpayers.”

Harris is set to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. on January 27, 2026. She faces a maximum sentence of 45 years.

This case was investigated by the VA-OIG and IRS-CI with assistance from Veterans Benefits and Education Services.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tony R. Arvin 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 October 30, 2025, after a four-day trial, a federal jury found Michael Fruitticher, 37, of Millington, guilty of production and attempted production of child pornography and possession of child pornography. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the verdict today.

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

United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, “Violent crimes against children, including the production of materials depicting child rape and sexual abuse, are heinous violations of the rule of law. We are committed to removing child sex offenders from our community and to protecting our children from those who would do them harm.”

Sentencing is set for Wednesday, February 4, 2026, before United States District Judge Mark S. Norris. Fruitticher is facing a sentence of 15 to 40 years of imprisonment.

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

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

United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Lauren Delery and P. Neal Oldham, 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 – United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the federal criminal complaint of Marquis Davis, 18, charging him with business robbery and the discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.   

On the early afternoon of October 31, 2025, Marquis Davis entered the Exotic Smoke Shop in the 1700 block of Germantown Parkway in Cordova, Tennessee. Shortly thereafter, Davis pulled out a firearm with an extended magazine and demanded money from the employee. The employee complied and opened the cash register; and Davis took approximately $400 from the register, before shooting her in the abdomen.  Davis then fled the building.

After Davis fled the building, he encountered four federal agents who had just finished eating at a nearby restaurant.  The agents saw Davis with a firearm and based on Davis’s actions at that point, federal agents fired their duty weapons, striking Davis.  Federal agents and a responding Memphis Police Department officer took Davis into custody. They located a black firearm with an extended magazine next to Davis and approximately $370 in U.S. currency in his clothing.

A bystander and a retired paramedic located the store clerk, who was suffering from a gunshot wound.  They provided aid until medical personnel arrived and transported the victim to the hospital where she underwent emergency surgery for the gunshot wound.

Davis was also rushed to the hospital and underwent surgery.  He survived and remains in state custody. Davis’s current federal charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and up to life imprisonment, and supplemental federal charges may be added after completion of the ongoing investigation. Davis has also been charged in state court with the felony offenses of Attempted First Degree Murder, Aggravated Robbery, and Employment of a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony.

This case is set before District Judge Thomas L. Parker of the Western District of Tennessee.  

Assistant United States Attorneys Jermal Blanchard and Greg Wagner are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.

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

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

Memphis, TN – A federal grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee returned a second superseding indictment charging Sanjeev Kumar, 44, with crimes related to his performance of medically unnecessary gynecologic procedures with medical devices he held under unsanitary conditions and reused on patients, when he was required to dispose of or properly reprocess those devices. United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the second superseding indictment today.

According to the second superseding indictment, Kumar also billed Medicare and Medicaid as if the procedures were medically necessary, and as if he had used a new or properly reprocessed device for each procedure.  The second superseding indictment alleges that Kumar engaged in this conduct from September 2019 to April 2024.

Kumar was originally indicted in February 2025, and then in June 2025 in a superseding indictment.  In each of Counts 5-9, 12-13, 16-18, 21-22, and 25 of the superseding indictment, the government charged Kumar with adulteration or misbranding of one device type during a period of time.  Kumar filed a motion to dismiss these 13 counts, arguing that they improperly combined multiple instances of conduct occurring over multiple months or years, even though the statute under which he is charged, 21 U.S.C. § 331(k), prohibits only single acts of conduct.

On October 17, 2025, Chief U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman dismissed these counts from the superseding indictment, holding that an adulteration and misbranding charge must consist of an individual, distinct act, and it cannot sweep up thousands of acts of adulteration and misbranding incidents over a continuous course of conduct.  Judge Lipman also noted that the government has discretion to present to the jury the thousands of acts of adulterating and misbranding that it has alleged; but it must do so through properly charged counts.

The second superseding indictment returned charges Kumar with 27 additional counts of adulteration and misbranding of medical devices.  Each of these counts alleges a single, discrete act of adulteration or misbranding, in compliance with the Court’s October 17, 2025 order.

The trial in this case is scheduled for December 1, 2025.

The case is being investigated by the United States Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG); the United States Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA-OCI); the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).

Assistant United States Attorneys Lynn Crum, Scott Smith, and Sarah Pazar Williams are prosecuting this case on behalf of the United States.

The charges and allegations contained in the second superseding indictment are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence.  All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

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For more information, please contact 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 two-day trial, a federal jury found Memphis man Derrick Richard, 36, guilty of one count of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and made a special finding that Richard had previously been convicted of three violent felonies on different occasions. As a result, Richard faces a mandatory statutory minimum sentence of fifteen years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by 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 December 22, 2022, an officer with the Memphis Police Department arrested Richard and discovered a Jimenez .25 caliber pistol in Richard’s pocket.

Sentencing is set on January 30, 2026, before United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Under our PSN initiative, we promote public safety by removing firearms from the hands of prohibited persons and by removing dangerous felons from our streets. This recidivist armed career criminal is one more gun-toter who will now be removed from our community for at least 15 years.”

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.

United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Jermal Blanchard and Jennifer Musselwhite, 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.

Jackson, TN – A federal grand jury in Jackson recently returned an indictment charging a Greenfield, Tennessee man with multiple federal child sexual exploitation offenses.  United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the return of the indictment today.

According to information presented in court, James Anthony Morris, 57, has been indicted with three counts of using and employing a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction of such conduct and attempting to commit those acts, distributing and attempting to receive visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct, attempting to entice and coerce a person who he believed to be a minor to engage in sexual activity for which any person could be charged with a crime, and possessing a cell phone that contained visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct. 

This case is pending before United States District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen in Jackson.  If convicted on all counts, Morris is facing a sentence of up to life in prison.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is being investigated by members of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the investigative arm of the United States Immigration & Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), the District Attorney’s Office for the 27th Judicial District, the Martin Police Department, and the Greenfield Police Department. 

Anyone with additional information on this case is asked to contact TBI Special Agent Sarah Turner at TipsToTBI@tn.gov or 1-800-TBI-FIND.

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

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

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

Memphis, TN – After a three-day trial, a federal jury found Demarcus Williams, 33, of Memphis, guilty of one count of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and made a special finding that Williams had previously been convicted of three violent felonies on different occasions. As a result, Williams faces a mandatory statutory minimum sentence of fifteen years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by 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 July 26, 2023, an officer with the Memphis Police Department conducted a traffic stop, and they discovered a loaded Taurus .40 caliber pistol under the driver’s seat that Demarcus Williams occupied.

United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Convicted felons who possess firearms are an inherent danger to the community, and in this case, Williams was a violent offender who possessed a firearm despite his prior felony conviction history. There is a consequence for such criminal behavior, and we will aggressively enforce federal law to remove dangerous offenders from the community and uphold the rule of law."

Sentencing is set on January 29, 2026 before United States District Judge Mark S. Norris.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a coordinated 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.

United States Attorney D. Michael Dunavant thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Lynn Crum and Jermal Blanchard, 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 – Michael Dunavant was sworn in on October 10, 2025, as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. In a brief ceremony, U.S. District Judge Mark S. Norris administered the oath of office at the Odell Horton Federal Building in Memphis.

Dunavant was nominated by President Donald J. Trump on June 30, 2025, and was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 7, 2025. Dunavant is currently serving for the second time as the Presidentially Appointed, Senate Confirmed United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee. In that role, he is the 50th and 54th person to serve as the chief federal prosecutor and legal representative of the United States for the 22 counties and approximately 1.6 million citizens of West Tennessee. Mr. Dunavant is the first person to serve the district twice as the Presidential appointee, having previously served as U.S. Attorney from 2017–2021 during the first Trump administration.

“I want to thank President Trump for nominating and appointing me serve in this important role again, and I am appreciative of Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty for their strong support during the confirmation process. Because I have previously served in this role, I am fully prepared to immediately carry out the priorities of the Department of Justice in West Tennessee and to faithfully execute and enforce the laws of Congress. Together with the dedicated professionals in the U.S. Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement partners, we will make Memphis and West Tennessee safe again by pursuing justice for victims, imposing consequences for criminals, upholding and promoting respect for the rule of law, supporting law enforcement, protecting the United States Treasury, and delivering better public safety outcomes for our citizens. I am glad to be back and ready to get to work.”

In addition to his service as the U.S. Attorney, Mr. Dunavant has served as the Deputy Executive Director of Legal Services & Policy for the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference from 2023-2025; the Chief Investigative Counsel for the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury Division of Investigations from 2021-2023; and the elected District Attorney General for the 25th Judicial District of Tennessee, where he served as the chief state criminal prosecutor for Lauderdale, Tipton, Fayette, Hardeman, and McNairy counties in West Tennessee from 2006-2017. Prior to his service as District Attorney, Mr. Dunavant was a partner in the law firm of Carney, Wilder & Dunavant in Ripley, Tennessee.

A native of Ripley, Mr. Dunavant holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and a Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree with honors from the University of Mississippi at Oxford. He has been practicing law in Tennessee since 1995.

Today, a federal jury in Memphis convicted Mervin Anderson, 40, of Memphis, Tennessee, of one count of possession of contraband in prison, including two homemade knives, or shanks. 

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Anderson was observed on video surveillance inside of the Detention Center in possession of two sharpened, handmade metal knives, commonly referred to as “shanks.” The defendant confronted another inmate while swinging the shanks at him. A corrections officer immediately responded to the cell block area and found the defendant still in possession of the shanks. When the shanks were taken from the defendant, he exclaimed, “God is on my side, I was about to kill that boy.”

The defendant faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Sentencing will be set at a later date.

The defendant is currently awaiting trial in a pending case where he is charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. The pending case is currently set for trial on Nov. 3, 2025.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy for the Western District of Tennessee made the announcement.

The U.S. Marshals Service and the Shelby County Division of Corrections are investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Amanda J. Kotula and Cesar Rivera-Giraud of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case.

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

WASHINGTON – Today, a federal jury in Memphis convicted Mervin Anderson, 40, of Memphis, Tennessee, of one count of possession of contraband in prison, including two homemade knives, or shanks.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Anderson was observed on video surveillance inside of the Detention Center in possession of two sharpened, handmade metal knives, commonly referred to as “shanks.” The defendant confronted another inmate while swinging the shanks at him. A corrections officer immediately responded to the cell block area and found the defendant still in possession of the shanks. When the shanks were taken from the defendant, he exclaimed, “God is on my side, I was about to kill that boy.”

The defendant faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Sentencing will be set at a later date.

The defendant is currently awaiting trial in a pending case where he is charged with conspiracy to distribute fentanyl. The pending case is currently set for trial on Nov. 3, 2025.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy for the Western District of Tennessee made the announcement.

The U.S. Marshals Service and the Shelby County Division of Corrections are investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Amanda J. Kotula and Cesar Rivera-Giraud of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case.

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

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

Jackson, TN – Garrett Baughman, 19, of Wildersville, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for soliciting sexually explicit images and videos from a thirteen-year-old child.  Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

Baughman was charged with one count of production of child pornography; one count of use of a facility and means of interstate commerce to persuade, induce, entice a minor to engage in sexual criminal acts; and one count of receipt of child pornography. Following his guilty plea to the enticement of a minor charge, United States Senior District Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Baughman to 20 years in prison and five years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system. 

Additionally, Baughman must comply with the conditions of the Sexual Offender Registry upon his release.  

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. 

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Nashville-Jackson Resident Agency Child Exploitation Task Force and the Henry County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant United States Attorney Caroline Parish 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 – Lisa Jeannie Findley, 54, of Kimberling City, Missouri, was sentenced to serve 57 months in federal prison related to her unsuccessful scheme to defraud Elvis Presley’s family of millions of dollars and steal the family’s ownership interest in Graceland, Elvis Presley’s former home located in Memphis, Tennessee.  Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., announced the sentence today.

According to the indictment returned by a federal grand jury in September 2024, Findley orchestrated a scheme to conduct a fraudulent sale of Graceland, falsely claiming that Elvis Presley’s daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, had pledged the historic landmark as collateral for a loan that she failed to repay before her death.  Findley pled guilty in February 2025 to a charge of mail fraud arising from this scheme.

In addition to the prison term, Senior United States District Court Judge, John T. Fowlkes, Jr., also ordered Findley to serve a three-year period of supervision following her release from custody.

“Fame and money are magnets for criminals who look to capitalize on another person’s celebrity status.  In this case, Ms. Findley took advantage of the very public and tragic occurrences in the Presley family as an opportunity to prey on the name and financial status of the heirs to the Graceland estate; attempting to steal what rightfully belongs to the Presley family for her personal gain.  Postal Inspectors and their law enforcement partners put an end to her scheme, protecting the Presley family from continued harm and stress.  Today’s sentencing marks the culmination of our relentless investigative work in this case and is another example of our commitment in bringing criminals to justice for their illegal activity,” said Eric Shen, Inspector in Charge of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Criminal Investigations Group.

“Orchestrating a scheme to conduct a fraudulent sale of Graceland is a crime against both the Presley family and the public,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the Federal Bureau of Investigation - Nashville Field Office.  “This sentence serves as a reminder that the FBI is committed to vigorously pursue cases against individuals, in the United States and abroad, who would steal an identity and use fraud to benefit themselves personally.  It is thanks to the dedication of the FBI and our partners that justice was served.”

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service and the FBI – Memphis Field Office.  Assistant Chief Cory E. Jacobs and Trial Attorneys Christopher Fenton and Aaron Henricks of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant United States Attorney Carroll L. Andre III for the Western District of Tennessee 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.

Jackson, TN – Levi Edward Hamilton, 23, of Mansfield, Tennessee, has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for creating a fictitious social media account via Instagram and using that account to solicit sexually explicit images and videos from several individuals, including minor children.  Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

Hamilton was charged with five counts of production of child pornography, five counts of coercion and enticement of a minor, five counts of receipt of child pornography, three counts of transferring obscene material to a minor, and one count of possessing child pornography.  Following his guilty plea to two of the production of child pornography charges, United States District Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Hamilton to 25 years in prison and five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the FBI Memphis Child Exploitation Task Force and the Henry County Sheriff’s Office.

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

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

Memphis, TN – Lisa Evans, 43, of Olive Branch, Mississippi, has been sentenced to federal prison for defrauding the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a federal program intended to help small businesses and their employees survive the COVID-19 pandemic, out of over $5,000,000.  Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, Evans submitted fraudulent PPP loan applications for numerous individuals who were not entitled to PPP loans. The applications Evans submitted contained false representations, including fake federal tax documents.  When the individual borrowers obtained the PPP loan funds, they then paid Evans kickbacks of 20 to 30%.  The loss to the PPP program was $5,126,258.

Evans was sentenced on September 11, 2025, by United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker to 18 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.  Evans was also ordered to pay $4,400,723 in restitution to the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The case was investigated by the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Office of Inspector General, the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration, the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, and the U.S. Secret Service, Memphis Field Office. 

The case was prosecuted 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 – P.T. Services, Inc., a Memphis company that specialized in repairing diesel engines has entered a guilty plea and agreed to pay a fine in connection with violations of the Clean Air Act. Interim United States Attorney Joseph C. Murphy, Jr. announced the guilty plea today.

According to an information filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, P.T. Services, Inc. modified and deleted emissions control monitoring devices from diesel engines. Under provisions of the Clean Air Act, it is a crime to falsify, tamper with, and render inaccurate emissions control monitoring devices.  The plea was entered by a representative of P.T. Services, Inc. before United States Magistrate Judge Charmiane Claxton.  Under the terms of the plea agreement, the company agreed to pay a fine of $150,000.00.

The case was investigated by agents with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  

Assistant United States Attorney Carroll L. André III, for the Western District of Tennessee, is prosecuting 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 – Randy Oliver, 44, of Memphis was sentenced to 151 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to two counts of possessing a controlled substance with an intent to distribute in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1).  Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, Oliver sold cocaine to an undercover agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) on June 1, 2023, and a mixture of cocaine and fentanyl to the undercover agent on July 6, 2023.  He then possessed 53 grams of cocaine when he was arrested on July 20, 2023 during another attempted drug transaction.  Oliver has a lengthy criminal history including 11 convictions for drug and or firearms-related offenses; one of the federal convictions was for distribution of heroin in 2010.

On May 6, 2025, Oliver entered a plea of guilty to two counts of possessing a controlled substance with an intent to distribute it in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) before District Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr.

On September 9, 2025, Judge Fowlkes sentenced Oliver, a career offender, to 151 months' imprisonment with three years of supervised release to follow. There is no parole in the federal system.

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

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Wendy Cornejo, William Bateman, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Raven Icaza 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.

WASHINGTON — A nine-count indictment was unsealed in the Western District of Tennessee charging six alleged members of a criminal street gang known as Unknown Vice Lords (UVL) – Ghost Mob with conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and firearms violations.

“As alleged, these individuals showed a blatant disregard for public safety, engaging in a retaliatory gang shooting in a residential neighborhood,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Gang violence inflicts profound harm on our communities, fostering fear, destabilizing neighborhoods, and  damaging the quality of life for law-abiding residents. The arrest of these violent gang members underscores the Justice Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting public safety and the rule of law. We will continue to dismantle these criminal organizations and protect the safety and security of our citizens.”

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

According to court documents, the UVL Ghost Mob is a violent, criminal street gang that operates throughout the Western District of Tennessee and elsewhere. The UVL Ghost Mob is a subset of the Almighty Vice Lord Nation, which originated in Chicago, and eventually spread to other parts of the United States, including Tennessee.

Court documents allege that on Sept. 6, 2020, after  rival gang members opened fire on UVL Ghost Mob members and their families, injuring four people, UVL Ghost Mob leaders ordered a retaliatory attack. Shortly after midnight on Sept. 7, 2020, the defendants travelled to the residence of the rival gang members, armed with assault style rifles and wearing masks and gloves. The defendants intentionally shot approximately 40-50 bullets into the residence while the rival gang members were inside. Neighborhood security cameras captured the shooting. In the video, the defendants are depicted using, carrying, and firing multiple firearms into the residence.

The following defendants were charged for their role in the offense:

• Antwon Brown, also known as Yayo, 32 of Memphis, Tennessee;
• Cordera Douglas, also known as Chuckie Dee, 36 of Memphis, Tennessee;
• Willie Merriweather, 41 of Antioch, Tennessee;
• Tevin Richardson, also known as Santana, 34 of Memphis, Tennessee;
• Ricky Rogers, Jr., also known as Double R, RR, 32 of Memphis, Tennessee; and
• Laraveus Williams, also known as Ray Ray, 32 of Memphis, Tennessee.

Assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment. Conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder in aid of racketeering carries a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment. The charge of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence carries a mandatory sentence of at least 10 years consecutive to any other sentence. If convicted, a federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The ATF and Memphis Police Department investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Lisa M. Thelwell and Dennis Robinson of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from the United States 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, 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.

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

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CRM

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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.

A nine-count indictment was unsealed in the Western District of Tennessee charging six alleged members of a criminal street gang known as Unknown Vice Lords (UVL) – Ghost Mob with conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and firearms violations.

“As alleged, these individuals showed a blatant disregard for public safety, engaging in a retaliatory gang shooting in a residential neighborhood,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Gang violence inflicts profound harm on our communities, fostering fear, destabilizing neighborhoods, and  damaging the quality of life for law-abiding residents. The arrest of these violent gang members underscores the Justice Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting public safety and the rule of law. We will continue to dismantle these criminal organizations and protect the safety and security of our citizens.”

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

According to court documents, the UVL Ghost Mob is a violent, criminal street gang that operates throughout the Western District of Tennessee and elsewhere. The UVL Ghost Mob is a subset of the Almighty Vice Lord Nation, which originated in Chicago and eventually spread to other parts of the United States, including Tennessee.

Court documents allege that on Sept. 6, 2020, after  rival gang members opened fire on UVL Ghost Mob members and their families, injuring four people, UVL Ghost Mob leaders ordered a retaliatory attack. Shortly after midnight on Sept. 7, 2020, the defendants travelled to the residence of the rival gang members, armed with assault style rifles and wearing masks and gloves. The defendants intentionally shot approximately 40-50 bullets into the residence while the rival gang members were inside. Neighborhood security cameras captured the shooting. In the video, the defendants are depicted using, carrying, and firing multiple firearms into the residence.

The following defendants were charged for their role in the offense:

• Antwon Brown, also known as Yayo, 32 of Memphis, Tennessee;
• Cordera Douglas, also known as Chuckie Dee, 36 of Memphis, Tennessee;
• Willie Merriweather, 41 of Antioch, Tennessee;
• Tevin Richardson, also known as Santana, 34 of Memphis, Tennessee;
• Ricky Rogers, Jr., also known as Double R, RR, 32 of Memphis, Tennessee; and
• Laraveus Williams, also known as Ray Ray, 32 of Memphis, Tennessee;

Assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering carries a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment. Conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder in aid of racketeering carries a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment. The charge of discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence carries a mandatory sentence of at least 10 years consecutive to any other sentence. If convicted, a federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The ATF and Memphis Police Department investigated the case.

Trial Attorneys Lisa M. Thelwell and Dennis Robinson of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section are prosecuting the case, with substantial assistance from the United States 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, 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.

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

WASHINGTON — A court in Tennessee today sentenced a former employee of a DVD and Blu-ray manufacturing and distribution company used by major movie studios to 57 months in prison for stealing DVDs and Blu-rays of blockbuster movies from the company and selling them before their official scheduled release dates, as well as for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. A digital copy of at least one of the stolen Blu-rays was illegally distributed tens of millions of times over the internet, causing the copyright owner tens of millions of dollars in losses.

“The defendant profited from the creativity and intellectual property of others by stealing DVDs and Blu-rays of movies that were being prepared for commercial distribution,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s sentencing signals our commitment to protecting American innovation from pirates that would exploit others’ work for a quick profit, which, in this case, cost one copyright owner tens of millions of dollars.”

“The copyright owner lost tens of millions of dollars as a result of Steven Hale stealing DVDs and Blu-rays of blockbuster movies and selling them before their official scheduled release dates,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “Today’s sentence should send a strong message that willfully stealing another party’s intellectual property is a serious crime and the FBI is committed to holding violators accountable.”

According to court documents and statements made in court, Steven R. Hale, 38, of Memphis, worked for a multinational company that, among other things, manufactured and distributed DVDs and Blu-rays of movies. From approximately February 2021 to March 2022, Hale stole hundreds of “pre-release” DVDs and Blu-rays, that is, discs being prepared for commercial distribution in the United States and not available for sale to the public. These included DVDs and Blu-rays for such popular films as “F9: The Fast Saga,” “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” “Godzilla v. Kong,” “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” “Dune,” and “Black Widow.” Hale sold the DVDs and Blu-rays through e-commerce sites. At least one pre-release Blu-ray that Hale stole and sold, “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” was extracted or “ripped” from the Blu-ray by bypassing the encryption that prevents unauthorized copying. That digital copy was then illegally made available over the internet more than a month before the Blu-ray’s official scheduled release date. Copies of “Spider-Man: No Way Home” were downloaded tens of millions of times, with an estimated loss to the copyright owner of tens of millions of dollars.

In addition, Hale unlawfully possessed a pistol that was loaded with one live round in the chamber and 13 rounds in the magazine. Hale has prior felony convictions for armed robbery and attempted robbery.

In May 2025, in the DVD and Blu-ray case, Hale pleaded guilty to criminal copyright infringement and agreed to make full restitution to his victims, including the return of the approximately 1,160 stolen DVDs and Blu-rays seized from him to the company where he worked. The same day, in the gun case, Hale pleaded guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. The cases were consolidated for sentencing.

The FBI is investigating the case.

Senior Counsel Matthew A. Lamberti of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Raney Irwin for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted 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.

A court in Tennessee today sentenced a former employee of a DVD and Blu-ray manufacturing and distribution company used by major movie studios to 57 months in prison for stealing DVDs and Blu-rays of blockbuster movies from the company and selling them before their official scheduled release dates, as well as for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. A digital copy of at least one of the stolen Blu-rays was illegally distributed tens of millions of times over the internet, causing the copyright owner tens of millions of dollars in losses.

“The defendant profited from the creativity and intellectual property of others by stealing DVDs and Blu-rays of movies that were being prepared for commercial distribution,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Today’s sentencing signals our commitment to protecting American innovation from pirates that would exploit others’ work for a quick profit, which, in this case, cost one copyright owner tens of millions of dollars.”

“The copyright owner lost tens of millions of dollars as a result of Steven Hale stealing DVDs and Blu-rays of blockbuster movies and selling them before their official scheduled release dates,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “Today’s sentence should send a strong message that willfully stealing another party’s intellectual property is a serious crime and the FBI is committed to holding violators accountable.”

According to court documents and statements made in court, Steven R. Hale, 38, of Memphis, worked for a multinational company that, among other things, manufactured and distributed DVDs and Blu-rays of movies. From approximately February 2021 to March 2022, Hale stole hundreds of “pre-release” DVDs and Blu-rays, that is, discs being prepared for commercial distribution in the United States and not available for sale to the public. These included DVDs and Blu-rays for such popular films as “F9: The Fast Saga,” “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” “Godzilla v. Kong,” “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” “Dune,” and “Black Widow.” Hale sold the DVDs and Blu-rays through e-commerce sites. At least one pre-release Blu-ray that Hale stole and sold, “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” was extracted or “ripped” from the Blu-ray by bypassing the encryption that prevents unauthorized copying. That digital copy was then illegally made available over the internet more than a month before the Blu-ray’s official scheduled release date. Copies of “Spider-Man: No Way Home” were downloaded tens of millions of times, with an estimated loss to the copyright owner of tens of millions of dollars.

In addition, Hale unlawfully possessed a pistol that was loaded with one live round in the chamber and 13 rounds in the magazine. Hale has prior felony convictions for armed robbery and attempted robbery.

In May 2025, in the DVD and Blu-ray case, Hale pleaded guilty to criminal copyright infringement and agreed to make full restitution to his victims, including the return of the approximately 1,160 stolen DVDs and Blu-rays seized from him to the company where he worked. The same day, in the gun case, Hale pleaded guilty to being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. The cases were consolidated for sentencing.

The FBI is investigating the case.

Senior Counsel Matthew A. Lamberti of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Raney Irwin for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.

Memphis, TN – A Memphis woman was recently sentenced to federal prison in connection with her scheme to defraud the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) “Emergency Cash Assistance” program which was administered by the State of Tennessee to provide emergency cash assistance to families who lost jobs or substantial income due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, Rochelle L. Turner, 32, created and submitted fraudulent unemployment letters falsely indicating that she and others had lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Turner attempted to defraud the Emergency Cash Assistance program out of over $15,000 and caused an actual loss of $6,000 to the program.

Turner pled guilty to a one-count information charging her with making false claims against the United States on May 8, 2025. On August 14, 2025, Chief United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Turner to five months in federal prison and five months of home detention. Turner was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and ordered to pay restitution to the United States. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Inspector General.  Assistant United States 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 – The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the 50-year federal prison sentence handed down to Louis Holloway, 44, following his conviction for the attempted robbery of John Stambaugh in 2002 and firearms crimes. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the affirmation of the sentence today.

On September 8, 2002, John Stambaugh, a student at the University of Memphis, was robbed and murdered by a shotgun blast while delivering pizza in Memphis’s Cooper-Young neighborhood. Holloway was identified as a suspect and later charged with attempted robbery and gun crimes.  

In 2008, after a jury trial, Holloway was found guilty of attempted robbery, discharging a firearm in furtherance of attempted robbery, and three counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.  He was sentenced to life in prison.

Due to changes in the law which went into effect in 2022, Holloway’s life sentence was vacated, and the district court scheduled a resentencing hearing.  At that hearing, United States District Judge Samuel H. Mays sentenced Holloway to 50 years in federal prison, the statutory maximum sentence in light of the changes in law, followed by three years of supervised release.  

The Sixth Circuit affirmed the 50-year sentence, holding that it was reasonable considering the horrific nature of the offense and Holloway’s very serious criminal history.

This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department.

On behalf of the government, Assistant United States Attorney Tony Arvin prosecuted this case in the district court and at the post-conviction stage.  AUSA Naya Bedini prosecuted this case at the post-conviction stage and on appeal.

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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 Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the 108-month federal prison sentence handed down to Jaquan Bridges, 22, following his conviction for possession of a machinegun in the Western District of Tennessee.  Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the affirmation of the sentence today.

On February 1, 2022, a Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy observed Bridges driving a gray Ford Fusion near I-240 and Walnut Grove, traveling slowly while looking at his cell phone.  The deputy activated emergency equipment to alert Bridges to put his phone down.  Bridges rolled down his passenger-side window and fired gunshots at the deputy’s vehicle, striking it several times.  Bridges then fled at a high rate of speed, leading deputies on a 10-mile pursuit, before Bridges hit at least three other vehicles and crashed into a concrete barrier at I-240 and Highway 385.  When Bridges was taken into custody, deputies recovered a Glock .40 caliber pistol with an attached machinegun conversion device (known as a “switch”) and extended magazine.

On February 6, 2024, Bridges pled guilty to possessing a machinegun.  On September 17, 2024, Senior United States District Judge John T. Fowlkes sentenced Bridges to 108 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Bridges appealed the judgment of the district court, arguing that his prosecution for machinegun possession violated his Second Amendment right to bear arms.  In an opinion filed August 7, 2025, the Sixth Circuit upheld the 108-month sentence and the constitutionality of the federal statute regulating the possession of machineguns.  This is the first published case in which the Sixth Circuit has addressed this issue since the Supreme Court’s holding in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, 597 U.S. 1 (2022).

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.

The case was investigated by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department.

Assistant United States Attorney Eileen Kuo prosecuted this case and handled the appeal 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 – The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the 228-month federal prison sentence handed down to Jason Autry, 50, following his conviction on firearm offenses in the Western District of Tennessee. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

Autry, a 16-time convicted felon, was released on September 16, 2020, after serving time for being a felon in possession of a gun and after serving an eight-year state prison sentence for Solicitation of First-Degree Murder and Facilitation of Especially Aggravated Kidnapping that resulted from his role in the kidnapping and murder of Holly Bobo, a Decatur County nursing student, on April 13, 2011.  Bobo’s body was found over three years later.

Approximately 25 days after his September 2020 release, Autry was found in possession of a gun, which he had stolen.  And within 78 days of his release, he possessed other guns and ammunition.  In November 2022, he pleaded guilty to three counts of being a felon in possession of guns and ammunition.  

At the sentencing hearing in 2024, the United States asked U.S. District Judge S. Thomas Anderson to apply an upward departure from Autry’s guidelines range, arguing that Autry had an egregious criminal history that was not sufficiently reflected in that range.  Judge Anderson agreed and sentenced Autry to 228 months in federal prison for the gun offenses.    

The Sixth Circuit upheld the 228-month sentence. It emphasized that Autry had a serious criminal past that included aggravated assault, drug trafficking, burglary, active membership in the violent Aryan Nation gang, and admitted participation in Bobo’s abduction and murder.  Furthermore, Autry had a reputation for violence in his community, was violent towards his romantic partners and family members, committed a racially-motivated assault, and was involved in violent altercations and drug trafficking while serving prison sentences and during pre-trial detention.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, as well as the Benton County Sheriff’s Department.

Assistant United States Attorneys Beth Boswell and Josh Morrow prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. AUSA Naya Bedini assisted at sentencing and handled the appeal.

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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 has been sentenced to 180 months of imprisonment for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute in Memphis, Tennessee. Joseph C. Murphy, Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, in June 2022, detectives with the Western District of Tennessee Multi-Agency Gang Unit (MGU), assisted by special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), began investigating Robert Ingram, 39, who was selling marijuana out of an apartment in the 6500 block of S. Country Oaks Circle in Memphis, Tennessee. Based on information linking Ingram and his apartment to the storage and distribution of large amounts of marijuana, MGU and ATF executed a search warrant on the apartment on June 28, 2022.

Ingram was detained by detectives without incident when they entered the apartment.  Once inside, detectives discovered more than 10 kilograms of raw marijuana bundled in various increments and two loaded pistols: a Glock 9mm and a stolen Smith & Wesson 9mm.

Ingram was indicted in February 2023 on possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and two counts of felon in possession of a firearm charges. On January 15, 2025, Ingram entered a guilty plea to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.

At the time of sentencing, Ingram was determined to be a career offender under the United States Sentencing Guidelines. On August 5, 2025, United States District Court Judge Jon Phipps McCalla sentenced Ingram to 180 months of incarceration with a three-year period of supervised release to follow.

There is no parole in the federal system.

“This individual persistently violates the law by illegally possessing firearms and distributing narcotics,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Matthew Belew, ATF Nashville Field Division. “The ATF will continue to work collaboratively with our local, state, and federal partners to combat violent crime and hold these criminals accountable.”

This case was investigated by the Western District of Tennessee Multi-Agency Gang Unit and the Memphis Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The Drug Enforcement Administration's Nashville laboratory assisted in this investigation.

Assistant United States Attorneys Bryce H. Phillips and William Crow 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 - A federal judge sentenced a Memphis man to over 18 years in prison and five years of supervised release today for carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury and discharging a firearm during the carjacking.

“This was a calculated and brutal act of violence against an unsuspecting man in his own front yard in broad daylight,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “We are grateful to our law enforcement partners for their swift response and commitment to public safety. The Criminal Division will continue to aggressively prosecute armed offenders who threaten the safety of our neighborhoods.”

“The premeditated and horrendous acts of violence that this individual committed demonstrates a blatant disregard for human life,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division. “The ATF along with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, remains committed to combatting violent crime and swiftly bringing these individuals to justice before they commit other senseless acts of violence.”

According to court documents, on May 16, 2024, at around 7:45 a.m., Jaylen Simpson, 23, of Memphis, shot a 60-year-old victim in the stomach as the victim stepped outside his home to mow the lawn. Simpson, who had been hiding in the victim’s backyard, then stole the victim’s car keys and fled in his vehicle.

Home surveillance footage from the victim’s home, showing the defendant entering the victim’s vehicle with a black handgun after shooting the victim in the stomach.

After pursuing him for nearly three hours by car and on foot, Memphis Police apprehended Simpson, who was carrying inside his backpack a loaded Walther Creed 9mm pistol that had been reported stolen days before. In an interview later that day, Simpson admitted to waiting outside the victim’s home, discharging the firearm, and stealing the victim’s car. The victim was hospitalized for four weeks and underwent multiple surgeries to treat the gunshot wound.

Before any evidence was presented at trial, Simpson pleaded guilty to carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of the crime.

The ATF and the Memphis Police Department Violent Crime Unit investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Ashleigh Atasoy of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods efforts to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee and surrounding areas.

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A federal judge sentenced a Memphis man to over 18 years in prison and five years of supervised release today for carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury and discharging a firearm during the carjacking.

“This was a calculated and brutal act of violence against an unsuspecting man in his own front yard in broad daylight,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “We are grateful to our law enforcement partners for their swift response and commitment to public safety. The Criminal Division will continue to aggressively prosecute armed offenders who threaten the safety of our neighborhoods.”

“The premeditated and horrendous acts of violence that this individual committed demonstrates a blatant disregard for human life,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division. “The ATF along with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, remains committed to combatting violent crime and swiftly bringing these individuals to justice before they commit other senseless acts of violence.”

According to court documents, on May 16, 2024, at around 7:45 a.m., Jaylen Simpson, 23, of Memphis, shot a 60-year-old victim in the stomach as the victim stepped outside his home to mow the lawn. Simpson, who had been hiding in the victim’s backyard, then stole the victim’s car keys and fled in his vehicle. 

After pursuing him for nearly three hours by car and on foot, Memphis Police apprehended Simpson, who was carrying inside his backpack a loaded Walther Creed 9mm pistol that had been reported stolen days before. In an interview later that day, Simpson admitted to waiting outside the victim’s home, discharging the firearm, and stealing the victim’s car. The victim was hospitalized for four weeks and underwent multiple surgeries to treat the gunshot wound.

Before any evidence was presented at trial, Simpson pleaded guilty to carjacking resulting in serious bodily injury and discharge of a firearm in furtherance of the crime.

The ATF and the Memphis Police Department Violent Crime Unit investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Ashleigh Atasoy of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods efforts to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee and surrounding areas.

Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Richard Sniezak, 21, to 60 months in federal prison for arson. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, in April 2024, the Germantown Police and Fire Department began investigating a series of vandalisms and arsons within the city of Germantown, TN. Sniezak was identified as a suspect through a confidential informant and past encounters with the Germantown Fire Department. On April 5, 2024, Sniezak shattered several windows with a glass-breaking device at 1325 Wolf Park Drive, Suite 101 (Wolf River Surgery Center) and ignited a fire in one of the business' offices. During the early morning hours of April 14, 2024, Sniezak shattered an exterior glass door at 1374 Cordova Cove, entered the office building, and shattered additional glass doors to gain access to different areas. Sniezak then ignited fires on the ground and second-story floors, which ultimately burned a hole through the second-story floor.

In April 2025, Sniezak pled guilty to arson.  On July 23, 2025, United States District Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Sniezak to 60 months of federal imprisonment, to be followed by three years of supervised release. 

There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by special agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), and investigators with the Germantown Police and Fire Department.

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

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Memphis, TN – Austin Lineback, 59, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for possession of child pornography.  Interim U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy, Jr. for the Western District of Tennessee announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, Tipton County Sheriff’s Office detectives executed a search warrant of Lineback’s home on January 30, 2023, where he resided alone. As a result of the search, detectives recovered multiple electronic storage devices. A forensic examination revealed images of child sexual abuse material.  Following a two-day trial in January 2025, a federal jury found Lineback guilty on the one-count indictment. 

On July 18, 2025, Lineback was sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment and lifetime supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, which is a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children and to identify and rescue child victims of sexual exploitation.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

The case was investigated by detectives with the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office and agents with the FBI’s Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force.

Assistant United States Attorneys Lynn Crum, Eileen Kuo, and Lauren Delery prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf.

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Jackson, TN – A federal judge has sentenced James Calvin Hennings, 43, of Milan, Tennessee to over 27 years in federal prison for his role in an organized drug trafficking scheme in Western Tennessee as well as possession of contraband by a federal inmate. Joseph C. Murphy, Jr., Interim United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

Agents with the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation conducted a series of controlled purchases from Hennings during the months of March and April 2022.  These controlled purchases led to a Title III wiretap investigation that ran from May 20, 2022 until July 6, 2022 that revealed Hennings received drugs from a source of supply operating out of California and Middle Tennessee and then re-distributed narcotics within the Western District of Tennessee.  Hennings, a known affiliate of the Crip Street Gang, was previously injured in a shooting that left him confined to a wheelchair.  Due to his limited mobility, he compensated co-conspirators with methamphetamine and financial payments in exchange for their assistance in distributing narcotics. 

During the pendency of the Title III interceptions, Hennings was intercepted ordering drugs from sources outside the state to ship narcotics to the Western District of Tennessee; these efforts were thwarted by law enforcement.  Additionally, he made several attempts to purchase and acquire firearms, intending to retaliate for his previously sustained injury.

Between March 2022 and July 2022, agents seized 2,361 grams of methamphetamine, 4,197 pills containing 452 grams of fentanyl, several pounds of marijuana, and three firearms from this drug trafficking organization.  After Hennings’ arrest and incarceration for the federal drug trafficking charges, he was found in possession of a cellular telephone in a United States Marshals holding facility. 

The following co-conspirators were also sentenced as part of their plea agreements in this case:            

• Robert Linningham, 41, of Humboldt, TN: 120 months and a five-year period of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute 40 grams or more of fentanyl.
• Justin Cody Rodgers, 37, of Jackson, TN: 66 months and a five-year period of supervised release for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

“This sentence reflects Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) commitment to ensuring criminals face severe consequences when they flood our communities with illegal contraband,” said HSI Nashville Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud. “The removal of dangerous narcotics from our streets affirms our commitment to ensuring public safety and protecting our citizens from the devastating impact caused by illegal drugs. We will not tolerate those individuals who prey on some of the most vulnerable members in our communities. Our communities are safer today largely due to a strong collaboration with our federal, state, and local partners.”

This investigation was conducted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.

The case was investigated by the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Jackson Police Department, Lexington Police Department, Milan Police Department, Internal Revenue Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Twenty-Sixth Judicial District Drug Task Force, the United States Marshals Service, as well as the Shelby County Sheriff’s Department.

Assistant United States Attorneys Christie Hopper and Hillary Parham prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.  

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 Larry Wilson, of Memphis, Tennessee, made his initial appearance in federal court today for his role in Young Mob (YM), a violent street gang that allegedly commits crimes including murder, assault, arson, drug trafficking, kidnapping, robbery, and narcotics trafficking. Wilson is the last of eight Young Mob defendants charged to make his initial appearance related to this case.

“As alleged, this gang shot and killed a member of a rival gang in a restaurant drive-through and robbed customers at gunpoint at another Memphis establishment, recklessly endangering innocent bystanders,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Gang violence that spills into our community spreads fear and insecurity in our neighborhoods. The Criminal Division, in partnership with our federal and local law enforcement colleagues, remains steadfast in our pursuit of gangs that inflict senseless violence in our country.”

“This gang engaged in numerous unlawful activities, including acts of extreme violence, which demonstrated a blatant disregard for human life,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “Through a coordinated effort, the ATF and its local, state, and federal partners worked tirelessly to dismantle the organization and ensure that its members are held accountable.”

Larry Wilson, 35, Brian Lackland, 35, Paul Nelson, 32, Mohamed Samba, 25, Braxton Beck, 33, Edgar Smith, 39, Jerrod Cox, 32, and Cedric Jackson, 33, all Tennessee residents, were charged for their membership and association with YM. YM members signify their membership by wearing red and/or black clothing and jewelry with an “Eight Ball” or the letters YM or YMM. YM members and recruits are required to commit acts of violence to gain membership and maintain their status in the gang.

On May 28, 2022, Samba and other, not-yet-identified, YM members, shot suspected rival KSBG gang members ─ murdering one and attempting to murder two others ─ in a McDonald’s restaurant drive-through in Memphis. After the shootings, YM members burned the stolen car used in the shooting.

The indictment further alleges that on May 13, 2023, at Tug’s Casual Grill, a Memphis restaurant, Nelson, Cox, and another unnamed YM member robbed customers at gunpoint. The unnamed member was shot and killed. Nelson and Cox left the mortally wounded man in a nearby fire station parking lot and then drove their stolen vehicle to another location and burned it. 

The indictment also alleges that on March 17, 2024, Lackland and Beck attempted the murder of a suspected gang rival, which was thwarted in part due to police presence in the area. In addition, on June 11 and June 12, 2024, Lackland, Wilson, Beck, and Jackson attempted to rob customers at a Memphis tattoo shop before abandoning the scene because of police presence. Undeterred, the same group, along with Smith this time, returned to the tattoo shop after police left the area and robbed multiple customers.

As alleged, YM receives money and income from drug trafficking, kidnappings, and robberies. Such funds are used for gang purposes, including obtaining weapons and narcotics and providing support for YM gang members, including those in prison serving time for various crimes. YM also receives money and income from various musical interests, with defendant Lackland being a well-known rapper who goes by the stage name “Stupid Duke.”

YM members and associates are also separately charged as part of a drug conspiracy that was responsible for the distribution of 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. Multiple members are also charged with various firearm offenses.  

If convicted, Lackland, Samba, Nelson, Smith, and Cox face a maximum penalty of life in prison. If convicted, Wilson faces a maximum penalty of 60 years in prison, Beck faces a maximum penalty of 45 years in prison, and Jackson faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

The ATF, Memphis Multi-Agency Gang Unit, and Memphis Police Homicide Unit are investigating the case.

Trial Attorneys Brian P. Leaming and Amanda Kotula of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) and Assistant U.S. Attorney P. Neal Oldham for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.

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

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

A federal jury in Memphis, Tennessee, convicted three men today for their roles in a violent bank robbery conspiracy, involving five bank robberies and an attempted sixth, in which the robbers shot two people. The defendants were found guilty of four bank robberies and using firearms during some of those robberies. Four of their co-defendants have pleaded guilty.

“The bank robberies committed by these seven defendants included gun-point threats, instilling fear and chaos in innocent victims going about their days,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Their actions terrorized bank employees and customers alike. We are grateful to our prosecutors, the FBI, and our local law enforcement partners for bringing these dangerous individuals to justice and helping make the Memphis community safer."   

“The hard work and determination of the FBI and its partners cannot be overstated,” said Assistant Director Jose A. Perez of the FBI Criminal Investigative Division, “We are proud that our actions held these criminals accountable for their harm to the Memphis community.”

Evidence at trial proved that between April 2023 and December 2023, the defendants, Courtney Trenell, 34; Devin Hinds, 36; and Joshua Cribbs, 33, all of Memphis, conspired to rob banks in and around Memphis. Four of the co-conspirators, Robert Haley, Travis Drain, Marquarius Trenell, and Monterrio Trenell, already pleaded guilty to bank robbery and using a firearm during the robberies.

During the Aug. 11, 2023, robbery of a branch of Truist Bank, Hinds raised a gun and shook it back and forth at a bank customer to instill fear and deter her from notifying law enforcement. He then served as a getaway driver. Hinds also drove a getaway car during the Dec. 22, 2023, robbery of a branch of the Independent Bank where a co-defendant pointed a semi-automatic military-style rifle at bank employees.

Courtney Trenell and Cribbs helped rob branches of the Bank of Bartlett and First Horizon Bank on Oct. 20, 2023. The defendants planned to rob the banks, which are directly across the street from each other, at the same time to confuse law enforcement and evade capture. Cribbs entered the Bank of Bartlett with a trash bag and threatened bank employees into handing over money. Cribbs unknowingly took at least one dye pack, which exploded after the robbers fled, releasing red dye that stained the stolen cash. During the Bank of Bartlett robbery, Courtney Trenell operated a second getaway vehicle stationed about a mile from the robbery, aiding one of the robbers in fleeing the area.

At trial, an FBI special agent testified that the defendants spoke over conference calls before and after the robberies, which the government argued was to coordinate the crimes. An FBI analyst testified that DNA evidence from Courtney Trenell and Hinds was found inside their respective getaway vehicles.

In total, the group stole over $170,000 cash from five bank robberies. The sixth robbery attempt was unsuccessful and ended in a shoot-out between the co-defendants and an armed security guard where the robbers shot two victims. Co-defendants Haley and Drain coordinated the five robberies and one attempted robbery throughout the conspiracy, while Marquarius Trenell robbed the Truist Bank on Aug. 11, 2023, as well as the Bank of Bartlett with Monterrio Trenell, and others, on Oct. 20, 2023. 

Cribbs is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 22, and Courtney Trenell and Hinds are scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 23. Their co-defendants who earlier pleaded guilty will face sentencing later this year. A federal district judge will determine sentences after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Hinds faces a maximum penalty of life in prison for his use of a firearm during a bank robbery; Courtney Trenell and Cribbs each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for their roles in the robberies.

A grand jury indicted an eighth co-defendant, Mario Patterson, 45, of Memphis, for his role in the conspiracy, as well as the individual bank robberies and firearm crimes he committed. He faces trial later this year and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The FBI and the Memphis Police Department Safe Streets Task Force investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Ashleigh Atasoy of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section (VCRS) and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gregory A. Wagner, Stephen Hall, and Tony Arvin for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.

This case is part of the Safe Streets Task Force’s efforts to prosecute violent crimes in Memphis, Tennessee and surrounding areas.