Western District of Tennessee

Memphis, TN – Jermaine Brown, 19, and Alvin McGee, 23, both of Memphis, have each been sentenced to federal prison for possession of a machinegun. Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren, announced the sentences today.

According to the information presented in court, on July 10, 2023, Memphis Police Department officers observed Brown and McGee driving in a stolen Hyundai Sonata through the Kensington Manor apartment complex and attempted to stop the vehicle. When the vehicle reached a dead end, the driver, Jermaine Brown, and front passenger, Alvin McGee, both jumped out of the moving vehicle, which crashed into a dumpster. Brown had a Glock .40 caliber pistol with an attached Machinegun Conversion Device (commonly referred to as a “switch”) that was loaded with 17 rounds.  Brown threw the machinegun after a short foot pursuit.  McGee had a Radical Firearms AR-15 style .223 caliber rifle with approximately 60 rounds and a “drop-in auto sear,” which turns the rifle into a machinegun, and he also fled from the police.  Officers apprehended McGee quickly.  

Brown and McGee were indicted in December 2023 for possession of machineguns.

On July 12, 2024, Brown pled guilty before Senior United States District Judge Jon Phipps McCalla and was sentenced on November 8, 2024 to 27 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.

On October 18, 2024, McGee pled guilty before Judge McCalla and was sentenced on January 24, 2025 to 41 months in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.

There is no parole in the federal system.  

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

Assistant United States Attorney Greg Wagner prosecuted this case on behalf of the government. Acting United States Attorney Fondren thanked the law enforcement partners who assisted 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.

Jackson, TN – A Dyersburg man was recently sentenced to prison in both federal and state courts for sexual abuse. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, and Danny H. Goodman, Jr., District Attorney General for the Twenty-Ninth Judicial District, jointly announced the sentence today.

According to the information presented in court, Robert Galler, 52, traveled to Iowa in 2020 and returned to Tennessee with a victim, identified as Minor A in the indictment. In 2022, the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services received a referral of sexual abuse at Galler’s residence in Dyersburg. Upon arrival, DCS workers encountered three minor females who each alleged sexual and physical abuse by Galler. The victims underwent forensic interviews with the Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse detailing the abuse, which had occurred continually over four years.

On September 11, 2024, Galler pled guilty in federal court to transporting a minor with the intent to engage in illicit sexual conduct. On January 8, 2025, Senior United States District Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Galler to 300 months in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release and lifetime placement on the sex offender registry. There is no parole in the federal system.

Following federal sentencing, Galler returned to state custody. On January 21, 2025, he entered guilty pleas to one count of rape of a child and one count of rape. Dyer County Circuit Court Judge Mark Hayes sentenced Galler to 25 years’ imprisonment, placement on the sex offender registry, and lifetime supervision. Pursuant to state law, Galler must serve 100% of the sentence. The sentences between both courts were ordered to run concurrently.

District Attorney General Danny H. Goodman, Jr., who assigned Andrew Hays as a Special Assistant United States Attorney, stated, “I would first like to thank Assistant District Attorney, Andrew Hays, for the time he dedicated to this case. The goal of the Office of the District Attorney General is to seek justice on behalf of the State of Tennessee and victims of crime. This case is a perfect example of how the partnership with our office and the United States Department of Justice allowed us to accomplish that goal. This office will always prosecute crimes involving children with as much zeal as possible.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services, and the Dyersburg Police Department.

Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Hays for the Western District of Tennessee, who prosecuted the case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated it.  

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

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Fayette County, Tennessee, alleging that the Board of County Commissioners violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act when it adopted a redistricting plan that denies the city’s Black voters an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, alleges that during the 2021 redistricting cycle, the County Commission deliberately rejected multiple districting plans that would have combined Black communities in districts that would allow Black voters to elect representatives of their choice. In doing so, the Commission disregarded the guidelines and recommendations of its own redistricting committee and the advice of the attorney it hired specifically to guide it through the redistricting process.

“The right to vote is sacred and is the foundation for our ability to exercise all other civil rights,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Black voters should have the equal opportunity to elect their candidates of choice, but the redistricting map adopted by Fayette County did not provide that opportunity. The Justice Department is committed to enforcement of the Voting Rights Act and ensuring all eligible citizens have an equal opportunity to choose their elected officials. Our democracy works best when all communities have a fair and equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.”

“The right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, and Black voters in Fayette County deserve the same opportunity as anyone else to elect leaders who represent their voices,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee. “Our office is committed to ensuring fairness and equality in the electoral process.”

The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section, working with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Civil Rights Acts and the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

More information about voting and elections is available at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section. Complaints about possible violations of federal voting rights laws can be submitted through the Civil Rights Division’s website at civilrights.justice.gov or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931.

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CRT

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Memphis, TN – Four men from Mexico and California have been convicted for their role in trafficking multiple kilograms of cocaine between California and the Western District of Tennessee.  On January 14, 2025, Senior U.S. District Judge John T. Fowlkes sentenced the fourth defendant.  Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney, announced the sentencings today.

According to information presented in court, in September 2022, Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI") Border Enforcement Task Force investigators learned of a drug trafficking organization operating in West Tennessee.  They determined that José Iban-Arcos, 52, and Edwin Mayorga, 42, were obtaining kilogram quantities of cocaine.  Both Iban-Arcos and Mayorga had previously been convicted for narcotics trafficking in the Western District of Tennessee. Investigators also found that José Hernandez-Gonzalez, 29, was distributing cocaine on behalf of the organization and that Jesús Serrano-Mayorquin, 43, transported cocaine from California to the Western District of Tennessee.  Agents seized over 25 kilograms of cocaine and several firearms during the investigation; this included more than 45 pounds of cocaine which was seized during a traffic stop.

The defendants were indicted in June 2023.  Each defendant subsequently pled guilty and was sentenced by Senior U.S. District Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr. or U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Parker.

• José Iban-Arcos of Aguascalientes, Mexico, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and illegal re-entry into the United States. He was sentenced to 144 months of incarceration to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.
• Edwin Mayorga of Long Beach, California, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute. He was sentenced to 66 months of incarceration to be followed by 4 years of supervised release.
• Jesús Serrano-Mayorquin, of Los Angeles, California, pled guilty to possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. He was sentenced to 24 months of incarceration to be followed by 3 years supervised release. 
• José Hernandez-Gonzalez, of Tamaulipas, Mexico, pled guilty to conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. He was sentenced to 18 months of home detention to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.

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.

“This investigation and the resulting sentences highlight the exceptional work of HSI Nashville and the vital law enforcement partnerships that are essential to protecting our communities,” said HSI Nashville Deputy Special Agent in Charge, Colin Jackson.  “We remain dedicated to dismantling drug trafficking networks that endanger lives through the illegal distribution of narcotics, ensuring those responsible face the full force of the law.”

“This case is a perfect example of the impact and effectiveness of law enforcement working together at the local, state, and federal levels to combat drug trafficking and the violent offenders engaged in this activity,” said Director David Rausch of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.  “Countless lives have been saved as result of these outstanding efforts!”

This case was investigated by HSI, in collaboration with the Bartlett Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Internal Revenue Service, the Memphis Police Department, the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the West Tennessee Drug Task Force, and K-9 Officer Athena.

Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Gregory D. Allen and Bryce H. Phillips, 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 leader in the Hoover Criminal Gang was sentenced to 15 years in prison today for ordering fellow gang members to murder a suspected rival gang member.

Markell Young, 33, was the last of five defendants, all from Gibson County, to be sentenced in this case. Young, Octavius Ferguson, 27, and Jordan Powell, 25, were convicted after trial, while Bakari Lenon, 25, and Monterio Ross, 29, pleaded guilty.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, all defendants were members of the Hoover Criminal Gang subset known as the 83rd or Eight Tray. The gang was engaged in racketeering activities including murder, robberies, and trafficking of marijuana, cocaine, and cocaine base.

“These defendants were members of the violent Hoover Criminal Gang who were responsible for murdering a suspected rival gang member to further the aims of the gang,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Gang violence traumatizes communities and makes our streets less safe. The Criminal Division is committed to vigorously prosecuting those who engage in gun violence and other violent criminal activity.”

“This case serves as notice to all that engage in organized criminal activity that we will use every available resource to bring you to justice,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee. “The citizens of this district deserve a safe and secure community, one not riddled with gun violence, and this is a great example of the diligent and collaborative work of law enforcement to protect those rights to safety.”

“This case is an outstanding example of what federal, state, and local law enforcement can accomplish when we dismantle gang networks that spread violence and fear,” said Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The sentences imposed demonstrate the commitment of the FBI and our partners to thwarting gang violence and reinforcing the severe consequences awaiting those who threaten the safety of our communities.”

“The individuals who wreak havoc in the communities that we serve are a huge concern,” said Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division. “The ATF works collaboratively with our law enforcement partners, day and night, to swiftly remove individuals who traffic narcotics, participate in organized crime and show total disregard for human life from the streets. The ATF’s primary mission is to combat violent crime in our communities, and we will work tirelessly to keep the communities that we serve, safe.”

The evidence showed that, on Jan. 31, 2017, the defendants murdered a suspected member of the rival Gangster Disciples gang in Humboldt. On that date, Young ordered Ferguson, Powell, Lenon, and Ross to commit the murder, which they carried out by going to the victim’s home and indiscriminately shooting several firearms through the open front door, killing the victim. Based on their participation on this killing, all of the shooters were promoted to higher ranks within the Hoover Criminal Gang.

In addition to Young’s conviction at trial for aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during and in relation to murder in aid of racketeering, Ferguson and Powell were convicted at trial of murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, use of a firearm during and in relation to murder, and causing death by use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Both Ferguson and Powell were sentenced to life in prison. Lenon and Ross pleaded guilty to causing death by use of a firearm during and in relation to murder in aid of racketeering and were both sentenced to 30 years in prison.

The FBI and ATF investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by state and local law enforcement partners.

Trial Attorney César S. Rivera-Giraud of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Parham 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.

Topic

VIOLENT CRIME

Components

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

Criminal Division

Criminal - Violent Crime and Racketeering Section

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

USAO - Tennessee, Western

A leader in the Hoover Criminal Gang was sentenced to 15 years in prison today for ordering fellow gang members to murder a suspected rival gang member.

Markell Young, 33, was the last of five defendants, all from Gibson County, to be sentenced in this case. Young, Octavius Ferguson, 27, and Jordan Powell, 25, were convicted after trial, while Bakari Lenon, 25, and Monterio Ross, 29, pleaded guilty.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, all defendants were members of the Hoover Criminal Gang subset known as the 83rd or Eight Tray. The gang was engaged in racketeering activities including murder, robberies, and trafficking of marijuana, cocaine, and cocaine base.

“These defendants were members of the violent Hoover Criminal Gang who were responsible for murdering a suspected rival gang member to further the aims of the gang,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Brent S. Wible, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Gang violence traumatizes communities and makes our streets less safe. The Criminal Division is committed to vigorously prosecuting those who engage in gun violence and other violent criminal activity.”

“This case serves as notice to all that engage in organized criminal activity that we will use every available resource to bring you to justice,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee. “The citizens of this district deserve a safe and secure community, one not riddled with gun violence, and this is a great example of the diligent and collaborative work of law enforcement to protect those rights to safety.”

“This case is an outstanding example of what federal, state, and local law enforcement can accomplish when we dismantle gang networks that spread violence and fear,” said Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The sentences imposed demonstrate the commitment of the FBI and our partners to thwarting gang violence and reinforcing the severe consequences awaiting those who threaten the safety of our communities.”

“The individuals who wreak havoc in the communities that we serve are a huge concern,” said Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Nashville Field Division. “The ATF works collaboratively with our law enforcement partners, day and night, to swiftly remove individuals who traffic narcotics, participate in organized crime and show total disregard for human life from the streets. The ATF’s primary mission is to combat violent crime in our communities, and we will work tirelessly to keep the communities that we serve, safe.”

The evidence showed that, on Jan. 31, 2017, the defendants murdered a suspected member of the rival Gangster Disciples gang in Humboldt. On that date, Young ordered Ferguson, Powell, Lenon, and Ross to commit the murder, which they carried out by going to the victim’s home and indiscriminately shooting several firearms through the open front door, killing the victim. Based on their participation on this killing, all of the shooters were promoted to higher ranks within the Hoover Criminal Gang.

In addition to Young’s conviction at trial for aiding and abetting the use of a firearm during and in relation to murder in aid of racketeering, Ferguson and Powell were convicted at trial of murder in aid of racketeering, conspiracy to commit murder in aid of racketeering, use of a firearm during and in relation to murder, and causing death by use of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence. Both Ferguson and Powell were sentenced to life in prison. Lenon and Ross pleaded guilty to causing death by use of a firearm during and in relation to murder in aid of racketeering and were both sentenced to 30 years in prison.

The FBI and ATF investigated the case, with valuable assistance provided by state and local law enforcement partners.

Trial Attorney César S. Rivera-Giraud of the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Parham for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.

Memphis, TN – A Memphis man, Richard Collins, 35, has been sentenced to 100 months of imprisonment for aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine in Memphis, Tennessee.  Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

In June 2023, agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives began investigating drug distribution by members of the 92 Bishop Blood street gang.  On June 13, 2023, ATF Special Agents, acting in an undercover capacity, asked to purchase approximately two ounces of pure methamphetamine from Richard Collins for $500.  Collins arranged for the agents to meet him at a location on Jackson Avenue in Memphis the same day.  When they arrived, Collins coordinated with another individual to bring the methamphetamine onsite.  This individual arrived at Collins’s request moments later and exchanged 63.34 grams of 100% pure methamphetamine for the agreed-upon amount of currency.

Collins was indicted in February 2024, on conspiracy and aiding and abetting distribution of methamphetamine charges.  On October 10, 2024, Collins entered a guilty plea to aiding and abetting the distribution of methamphetamine.

On January 8, 2025, United States District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Collins to 100 months of incarceration with a four-year period of supervised release to follow.  There is no parole in the federal system.

“The ATF works collaboratively with its state, local, and federal partners to ensure that justice is served on those individuals who repeatedly and intentionally violate the law,” said Special Agent in Charge Marcus S. Watson, ATF-Nashville Field Office.  “Organized crime is a huge problem in many cities and none of our law enforcement partners are a stranger to it.  We strive hard each day to remain in lockstep with our law enforcement partners and remove these individuals from the communities that we serve.”

This case was investigated by the Memphis Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.  The Drug Enforcement Administration’s Nashville laboratory assisted in this investigation.

Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Bryce H. Phillips and Wendy Cornejo who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.

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

The Justice Department filed a lawsuit against Fayette County, Tennessee, alleging that the Board of County Commissioners violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act when it adopted a redistricting plan that denies the county's Black voters an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, alleges that during the 2021 redistricting cycle, the County Commission deliberately rejected multiple districting plans that would have combined Black communities in districts that would allow Black voters to elect representatives of their choice. In doing so, the Commission disregarded the guidelines and recommendations of its own redistricting committee and the advice of the attorney it hired specifically to guide it through the redistricting process.

“The right to vote is sacred and is the foundation for our ability to exercise all other civil rights,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Black voters should have the equal opportunity to elect their candidates of choice, but the redistricting map adopted by Fayette County did not provide that opportunity. The Justice Department is committed to enforcement of the Voting Rights Act and ensuring all eligible citizens have an equal opportunity to choose their elected officials. Our democracy works best when all communities have a fair and equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.”

“The right to vote is the cornerstone of our democracy, and Black voters in Fayette County deserve the same opportunity as anyone else to elect leaders who represent their voices,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee. “Our office is committed to ensuring fairness and equality in the electoral process.”

The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section, working with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, enforces the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Civil Rights Acts and the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act.

More information about voting and elections is available at www.justice.gov/voting. Learn more about the Voting Rights Act and other federal voting laws at www.justice.gov/crt/voting-section. Complaints about possible violations of federal voting rights laws can be submitted through the Civil Rights Division’s website at civilrights.justice.gov or by telephone at 1-800-253-3931.

Jackson, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Michael Eaton, 41, of Union City, Tennessee to 105 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Reagan Fondren, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to evidence presented in court, on February 11, 2023, an officer with the Union City Police Department saw a silver Ford SUV driving near the area of Todd Street. The Ford SUV was pulled over for a window tint violation. During the stop, the passenger, Eaton, became involved in a confrontation with law enforcement officers, who eventually detained him and found him in possession of a loaded Charter Arms .38 special caliber revolver.

Eaton is a felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms. Previously, in 2000, Eaton was sentenced to 10 years of incarceration for possession of a controlled substance with the intent to resell it. In 2010, he was sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment for attempting to rob a Union City grocery store at gunpoint.

In January 2024, Eaton was indicted in the Western District of Tennessee for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He pled guilty to the offense in August 2024. On December 30, 2024, United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Eaton to 105 months in federal prison with three years of supervised release to follow. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is part of the Project Safe Neighborhood Initiative, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our communities 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.

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

Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorney Immanuel Chioco who prosecuted this case on behalf of the government and the law enforcement partners who investigated 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.

Jackson, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Brantley Miller, 39, of Humboldt, TN, to six years in federal prison for his role in an organized drug trafficking scheme in West Tennessee. Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee announced the sentence today.

According to evidence presented in court, in 2019, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, along with the West Tennessee Violent Crime and Drug Task Force; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Drug Enforcement Administration, began an investigation into the illegal distribution of narcotics in the Western District of Tennessee.  By using controlled purchases of narcotics, search warrants to review the contents of suspicious packages, and other investigative tactics, the agents determined that Kendall Young, Cortez Jackson, and others were shipping methamphetamine, fentanyl, and marijuana from California to Tennessee for redistribution.  

Throughout the investigation’s course, law enforcement agents seized over 32 pounds of methamphetamine and over 101 grams of fentanyl in the Western District of Tennessee.  Further, agents seized three firearms from the individuals involved in this conspiracy.      

On September 24, 2024, Miller pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  On December 20, 2024, United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Miller to 72 months in federal prison and ordered Miller to serve 3 years of supervised release upon completion of the prison term.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Miller was the final co-defendant to be sentenced in this drug trafficking conspiracy.    Additionally, each of the following co-conspirators pled guilty and were sentenced by Judge Anderson as follows:

• Kendall Young, 32, Humboldt, TN: 188 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
• Cortez Jackson, 29, Humboldt, TN: 134 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
• Vanessa Umanzor, 28, Huntingdon, TN: 43 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
• Tristen Teague, 28, Paris, TN: 100 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
• Orlando Sangster, 35, Humboldt, TN: 24 months in prison and 2 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
• Jonathan Sandoval, 31, Chula Vista, CA: 120 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
• Dejahn Jarrett, 31, Spring Valley, CA: 72 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
• Ronnie Young, 69, Humboldt, TN: 120 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
• Jaycent Montrell Pankey, a/k/a Jaycent Montrell Cox, 28, Jackson, TN: 42 months in prison and one year of supervised release for use of a telephone device to aid the distribution of methamphetamine.
• Devon Avery Landers, 53, Jackson, TN: 36 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. 
• Joel Lynn Arnold 45, Lexington, TN: 84 months in prison and 4 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.

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.

This case was investigated by the FBI Jackson RA; the West Tennessee Violent Crime and Drug Task Force; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Christie R. Hopper and Hillary Parham, 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 – Tommie Conner, 49, of Memphis, has been sentenced to 200 months in federal prison for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.  Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren announced the sentence today.

According to evidence presented in court, on March 4, 2021, an officer with the Memphis Police Department observed a Dodge Durango speeding on American Way.  The Durango was pulled over and the driver, later identified as Conner, fled.  Conner was later located by officers who arrived at the scene.  While investigating the offense, officers saw a handgun in plain view in the Durango.  Officers obtained a search warrant and recovered a loaded SCCY 9mm pistol.  

Conner is a felon who is prohibited from possessing firearms.  Specifically, in 1993, Conner pled guilty to two counts of robbery and three counts of aggravated robbery in state court and was sentenced to 10 years of incarceration. In 2005, Conner was convicted in federal court in the Western District of Tennessee for being a felon in possession of a firearm and was sentenced to 15 years of federal imprisonment after he was determined to be an armed career criminal.  

In September 2021, Conner was indicted in the Western District of Tennessee for being a felon in possession of a firearm.  In June 2024, a jury found Conner guilty of that offense.  It also found that at least three of Conner’s prior offenses occurred on different occasions, as required for him to be sentenced as an armed career criminal under the ACCA (Armed Career Criminal Act).

On December 19, 2024, United States District Court Senior Judge John T. Fowlkes sentenced Conner to 200 months in federal prison with three years of supervised release to follow.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case is part of the Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) Initiative, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our communities 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.

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

Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Greg Wagner and Jermal Blanchard who prosecuted this case on behalf of the government and the law enforcement partners who investigated 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 federal grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee recently returned an indictment charging a Memphis resident, Catherine Corrine Daly, 54, with embezzlement from a local law firm.  Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the indictment today.

According to the indictment in the case, Daly was employed by a local law firm as its office manager.  As office manager, she had access to the firm’s bank accounts, including the firm’s operating account, which was used to pay the firm’s operating expenses.  The operating account was both opened and located at a Memphis branch of what was then known as SunTrust Bank.

Daly had two American Express (AmEx) charge accounts in her name with a total of five AmEx charge cards issued through the two accounts to Daly and two of her relatives.  The cards were used to purchase various goods and services such as clothing, shoes, designer handbags, and jewelry; fixtures and furnishings for Daly’s residence; food purchased at restaurants; personal services at nail and beauty salons; and travel expenses.

As these charges were made, Daly is alleged to have used the money in the firm’s operating account to pay the amounts due on her personal AmEx charge accounts.  She conducted the embezzlement scheme from June 2019 until October 2021, allegedly making multiple payments on her personal AmEx bills directly from the law firm’s operating account.  Using this method, Daly embezzled and converted $1,289,085.00 of the law firm’s funds to her own use.

Daly is charged with six counts of violating Title 18, United States Code, Section 2314.  This statute makes it a crime to transfer money in interstate commerce that has been “stolen, converted or taken by fraud.”  Each count of the indictment is punishable by a term of up to 10 years of imprisonment, a fine of no more than $250,000.00, or both, as well as a term of court-supervised release of no more than three years.

The United States Secret Service is investigating the case.  Assistant United States Attorney Joe Murphy for the Western District of Tennessee is prosecuting the case.

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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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 Cordova, Tennessee woman has been sentenced to a year and a day in federal prison for tampering with a vial of Benadryl while on duty as an Emergency Medical Technician. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, Cleola Hogan, 40, was working her shift as an EMT on March 20, 2022, when she removed Benadryl from a vial using a syringe and injected the Benadryl into her arm.  Hogan then replaced the missing Benadryl with saline solution and glued the cap back onto the Benadryl vial. Benadryl is commonly used to treat patients with severe allergic reactions, and replacing Benadryl with saline would place patients who needed Benadryl at risk of death or serious bodily injury.

Hogan entered a guilty plea on September 3, 2024, to tampering with a consumer product with reckless disregard that another person would be placed in danger of death or bodily injury.

On December 4, 2024, Chief United States District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman sentenced Hogan to 12 months and one day of incarceration with a three-year period of supervised release to follow.  Hogan was also ordered to undergo drug and mental health treatment and counseling.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the United States Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Criminal Investigations, working with the Priority Ambulance Diversion Task Force.

Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorney Carroll L. André III and former Assistant United States Attorney Courtney Lewis 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 – Following a comprehensive investigation, the Justice Department announced today that the Memphis Police Department (MPD) and City of Memphis (City) engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the U.S. Constitution and federal law.

Specifically, the Justice Department finds that:

• MPD uses excessive force.
• MPD conducts unlawful stops, searches and arrests.
• MPD unlawfully discriminates against Black people when enforcing the law.
• The City and MPD unlawfully discriminate in their response to people with behavioral health disabilities.

The Justice Department also identified serious concerns about MPD’s treatment of children. Finally, the Department identified deficiencies in policy, training, supervision and accountability that contribute to MPD’s and the City’s unlawful conduct.

“The people of Memphis deserve a police department and city that protects their civil and constitutional rights, garners trust and keeps them safe,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Our exhaustive investigation found that the Memphis Police Department engages in a pattern or practice of using excessive force, conducting unlawful stops, searches and arrests and discriminatory policing of Black people and residents with behavioral health disabilities. Our investigation also identified troubling policing practices that impact some of Memphis’ most vulnerable residents — its children. We acknowledge Memphis’ cooperation during our investigation and look forward to instituting reforms that will address the harms we identified.”

“This process and these findings uncovered that our city has a lot of work to do,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee. “Memphians are rightly concerned with gun violence and violent crime. They are also rightly concerned about the collective approach that we must take to tackle these issues. We hope to work with Mayor Young, Chief Davis, the Memphis Police Department and our Memphis partners to move forward.”

The City and MPD cooperated fully with the Justice Department’s investigation. The department provided a comprehensive written report of its investigative findings to the City and MPD. The report acknowledges the changes already made by the City and MPD, and it identifies additional remedial measures that the department believes are necessary to fully address its findings.

The department opened this investigation on July 27, 2023. The investigation was conducted by career attorneys and staff in the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee. The team conducted numerous onsite tours; interviewed MPD officers, supervisors and command staff; spoke with City officials and employees; accompanied behavioral crisis responders and officers on ride-alongs; reviewed thousands of documents; and reviewed hundreds of hours of body-worn camera footage. Department attorneys and staff also met with community members, advocates and service providers in the Memphis area.

The department conducted this investigation pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12601 (Section 12601), which prohibits law enforcement officers from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law, the Safe Streets Act of 1968, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The findings announced today are the result of the department’s civil pattern or practice investigation and are separate from the department’s criminal cases against former MPD officers for federal crimes related to the death of Tyre Nichols.

The department will be conducting outreach to members of the Memphis community for input on remedies to address the department’s findings. Individuals may also submit recommendations by email at Community.Memphis@usdoj.gov or by phone at 888-473-3730. The department will hold a virtual zoom community meeting on Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m. CT. Please use this link to register for the event: www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_hf-KK_oOTpWQ6qinosSN2w. Members of the public are encouraged to attend to learn more about the findings.

This is one of 12 investigations into law enforcement agencies opened by the Justice Department under Section 12601 since April 2021. In 2023 and 2024, the department issued findings reports regarding five of those investigations: the Louisville, Kentucky, Metro Police Department, Minneapolis Police Department, Phoenix Police Department, Lexington, Mississippi, Police Department, and Trenton, New Jersey, Police Department. The five other ongoing investigations cover the Louisiana State Police; Mount Vernon, New York, Police Department; New York City Police Department’s Special Victims Division; Oklahoma City Police Department; and Rankin County, Mississippi, Sheriff’s Department.

Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available at www.justice.gov/crt.

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Following a comprehensive investigation, the Justice Department announced today that the Memphis Police Department (MPD) and City of Memphis (City) engage in a pattern or practice of conduct that violates the U.S. Constitution and federal law.

Specifically, the Justice Department finds that:

• MPD uses excessive force.
• MPD conducts unlawful stops, searches and arrests.
• MPD unlawfully discriminates against Black people when enforcing the law.
• The City and MPD unlawfully discriminate in their response to people with behavioral health disabilities.

The Justice Department also identified serious concerns about MPD’s treatment of children. Finally, the Department identified deficiencies in policy, training, supervision and accountability that contribute to MPD’s and the City’s unlawful conduct.

“The people of Memphis deserve a police department and city that protects their civil and constitutional rights, garners trust and keeps them safe,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Our exhaustive investigation found that the Memphis Police Department engages in a pattern or practice of using excessive force, conducting unlawful stops, searches and arrests and discriminatory policing of Black people and residents with behavioral health disabilities. Our investigation also identified troubling policing practices that impact some of Memphis’ most vulnerable residents — its children. We acknowledge Memphis’ cooperation during our investigation and look forward to instituting reforms that will address the harms we identified.”

“This process and these findings uncovered that our city has a lot of work to do,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee. “Memphians are rightly concerned with gun violence and violent crime. They are also rightly concerned about the collective approach that we must take to tackle these issues. We hope to work with Mayor Young, Chief Davis, the Memphis Police Department and our Memphis partners to move forward.”

The City and MPD cooperated fully with the Justice Department’s investigation. The department provided a comprehensive written report of its investigative findings to the City and MPD. The report acknowledges the changes already made by the City and MPD, and it identifies additional remedial measures that the department believes are necessary to fully address its findings.

The department opened this investigation on July 27, 2023. The investigation was conducted by career attorneys and staff in the Civil Rights Division’s Special Litigation Section and in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee. The team conducted numerous onsite tours; interviewed MPD officers, supervisors and command staff; spoke with City officials and employees; accompanied behavioral crisis responders and officers on ride-alongs; reviewed thousands of documents; and reviewed hundreds of hours of body-worn camera footage. Department attorneys and staff also met with community members, advocates and service providers in the Memphis area.

The department conducted this investigation pursuant to 34 U.S.C. § 12601 (Section 12601), which prohibits law enforcement officers from engaging in a pattern or practice of conduct that deprives people of rights protected by the Constitution or federal law, the Safe Streets Act of 1968, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The findings announced today are the result of the department’s civil pattern or practice investigation and are separate from the department’s criminal cases against former MPD officers for federal crimes related to the death of Tyre Nichols.

The department will be conducting outreach to members of the Memphis community for input on remedies to address the department’s findings. Individuals may also submit recommendations by email at Community.Memphis@usdoj.gov or by phone at 888-473-3730. The department will hold a virtual zoom community meeting on Dec. 9 at 6:30 p.m. CT. Please use this link to register for the event: www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_hf-KK_oOTpWQ6qinosSN2w. Members of the public are encouraged to attend to learn more about the findings.

This is one of 12 investigations into law enforcement agencies opened by the Justice Department under Section 12601 since April 2021. In 2023 and 2024, the department issued findings reports regarding five of those investigations: the Louisville, Kentucky, Metro Police Department, Minneapolis Police Department, Phoenix Police Department, Lexington, Mississippi, Police Department, and Trenton, New Jersey, Police Department. The five other ongoing investigations cover the Louisiana State Police; Mount Vernon, New York, Police Department; New York City Police Department’s Special Victims Division; Oklahoma City Police Department; and Rankin County, Mississippi, Sheriff’s Department.

Additional information about the Civil Rights Division is available at www.justice.gov/crt.

Memphis, TN – A federal grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee recently returned a 53-count indictment charging two North Mississippi women with multiple schemes defrauding the government of COVID-19 relief funds.  Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the indictment today.

Renata Walton, 44, and Nicole Jones, also known as Nicole Dickerson, 36, both of Olive Branch, Mississippi, are alleged to have falsified numbers provided to the IRS on personal and business tax returns from 2020 through 2024. Walton owns and operates R&B Tax Express in Moscow, Tennessee, where she and Jones prepared tax returns.  On behalf of their clients, the two women would file for COVID-19 related tax credits (namely the Employee Retention Credit and the Sick and Family Leave Credit) to which their clients were not entitled.  When the fraudulent tax returns were processed by the IRS, the clients received six-figure tax refunds.  After the funds were obtained, the clients paid Walton and Jones large fees that the two women laundered through local banks. For tax period 2022, Walton and Jones reportedly failed to file tax returns themselves.

Walton is separately charged with submitting fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications to the Small Business Administration.  

In total, Walton and Jones filed fraudulent claims seeking over $65 million dollars.

The indictment alleges one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 30 counts of wire fraud, 12 counts of money laundering, seven counts of preparing false tax returns, two counts of failing to file taxes, and one count of obstruction of justice.  

If convicted of these offenses, Walton and Jones face a maximum penalty of 20 years for each count of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 10 years for each count of money laundering, 3 years for each count of preparing false tax returns, and 1 year for each count of failing to file a tax return.  Walton faces 20 years for the sole obstruction of justice count.  Both women have been released on a $100,000 bond.

The Internal Revenue Service – Criminal Investigation is investigating the case. Assistant United States Attorney William Carey Bateman III for the Western District of Tennessee is prosecuting the case.

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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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 – Timothy Woodard, 26, was sentenced to 315 months in federal prison for his convictions related to a string of hotel robberies committed in Memphis between October and December of 2022. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

On October 19, 2022, Woodard entered a hotel and pointed a handgun at a clerk. Woodard demanded money from the cash drawer. After the register was opened, Woodard took approximately $400. Woodard then forced the clerk to open the hotel safe by threatening to kill him if he did not comply.  The clerk opened the safe, and Woodard took $300 from it.

On December 19, 2022, Woodard entered a second hotel and waved a semi-automatic handgun at two desk clerks before demanding money from the cash registers.  Woodard took approximately $1,500 from the registers.    

Approximately two hours later, on the same date, Woodard entered a third hotel with another person.  Woodard jumped over the counter, pointed a semi-automatic handgun at the clerk, and demanded money from the register and the clerk’s wallet. Woodard took approximately $800-$1000 from the register and $300-$500 from the clerk.

In December 2023, a grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee returned a six-count indictment charging Woodard with three counts of “robbery affecting commerce” (Hobbs Act Robbery), in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1951 and three counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c). On May 15, 2024, Woodard pled guilty to all counts.

On November 21, 2024, United States District Court Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Woodard to 315 months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force along with the Memphis Police Department.

Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorney Lorraine Craig, who prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated 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 man has been sentenced to over nine years of imprisonment for possession of over 200 grams of fentanyl and numerous firearms discovered during a search of his residence.  Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, in May 2023, agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Memphis and detectives with the Bartlett Police Department began investigating the distribution of large amounts of fentanyl in the Memphis area.  During the investigation, law enforcement identified Myshun Jefferson, 21, as a fentanyl distributor and learned that he was distributing narcotics from two Memphis locations.  The agents and detectives arranged for at least one controlled purchase at each property.

Based on information obtained from the controlled purchases, search warrants were executed on the two properties.  Agents and detectives discovered Jefferson at the residence on Baywood Avenue, along with more than 200 grams of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl and four firearms.

One of those four firearms was a Glock pistol discovered in a sofa near Jefferson when law enforcement officers entered the home. This pistol had an unregistered aftermarket device allowing the firearm to act as a machine gun, also known as a “switch,” installed.  Two of the other firearms discovered during the search of the residence were also unlawfully altered: a second Glock pistol, also fitted with an automatic “switch” device, and a JTS 12-gauge illegal short-barrel shotgun.

Jefferson was indicted in September 2023 for possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking activity. On September 4, 2024, Jefferson entered a guilty plea on the two-count indictment.

On November 19, 2024, United States District Court Judge Mark S. Norris sentenced Jefferson to 117 months of incarceration with a three-year period of supervised release to follow.  There is no parole in the federal system.

“HSI, alongside our law enforcement partners across Tennessee, will continue to pursue those who pose a significant threat to public safety through the illegal possession of firearms and contribute to the opioid crisis,” said Homeland Security Investigations Deputy Special Agent in Charge Colin Jackson.  “Today’s sentence reflects the serious nature and consequences of engaging in the illegal possession and distribution of fentanyl, a drug that continues to claim lives and devastate communities.”

This case was investigated by HSI Memphis and the Bartlett Police Department. The United States Customs and Border Patrol Laboratories in Savannah, Georgia assisted in this investigation.

Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorney Bryce H. Phillips 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 – A Memphis man was recently convicted by a federal jury of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute along with multiple counts related to his illegal possession of firearms.  Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the verdict today.

According to information presented in court, on July 13, 2022, detectives in the Multi-Agency Gang Unit executed a search warrant on an apartment in Memphis where Andre Blue, 37, was living. There, they discovered a loaded Glock Inc. .45 caliber pistol, a Sig Sauer Inc. 9mm caliber pistol, and a loaded Smith and Wesson .45 caliber pistol in the primary bedroom. Detectives also found 15 grams of pure methamphetamine in the primary bathroom toilet bowl. An American Tactical Imports Inc. multi-caliber pistol was found in the closet of a child’s bedroom on the top shelf next to a magazine loaded with at least 50 live rounds.  

On February 23, 2023, detectives with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on another residence occupied by Blue, where they found a Sig Sauer pistol under the primary bathroom sink along with various drug-sale paraphernalia.  

Due to his prior felony convictions, Blue is prohibited by federal law from possessing firearms and ammunition.  On November 20, 2024, after a three-day trial, a federal jury found Blue guilty of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

Blue faces a mandatory statutory minimum of five years in federal prison for possession of five grams or more of actual methamphetamine as well as a consecutive five-year mandatory minimum prison sentence related to his conviction for possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking.  Sentencing is set on February 26, 2025 before United States District Judge Jon P. McCalla.

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 investigation in this case was conducted by the PSN Gun Task Force, along with the Multi-Agency Gang Unit and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.

Acting United States Attorney Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Eileen Kuo and Regina Brittenum, 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 – A federal judge recently resentenced former Tennessee State Senator Katrina Robinson, 43, of Memphis, Tennessee to time served and imposed a fine in the amount of $48,600 for misrepresentations made to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).  Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren announced the new sentence today.

According to the information presented in court, Robinson was the founder and director of The Healthcare Institute (THI), a for-profit provider of educational and training programs for jobs in the healthcare field.  Between 2015 and 2019, THI received over $2.2 million in federal grants from HRSA, an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services.

In 2021, a jury found Robinson guilty of two counts of wire fraud in connection with transfers that she made from THI’s operating account for personal expenditures for her wedding.  The jury also found Robinson guilty of two counts of wire fraud for fraudulent misrepresentations made by Robinson to HRSA when completing Annual Performance Review forms for years 2017-2018 (Count 19) and 2018-2019 (Count 20).  With respect to Count 19, the government presented evidence that Robinson reported to HRSA that 215 students had received scholarships in 2017-2018, but an investigation had confirmed that only 161 of those students actually received scholarships.

The district court granted Robinson’s post-verdict motion for judgment of acquittal as to the wire fraud counts that involved fraudulent misrepresentations to HRSA, setting aside the jury’s verdict on Counts 19 and 20.  The United States appealed the district’s court’s acquittal on Count 19 to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.  The appellate court reversed the district court’s grant of acquittal and reinstated the jury’s verdict with respect to Count 19.  It held that the evidence at trial showed that Robinson made material misrepresentations to HRSA in 2017-2018 with the intent to deprive HRSA of grant funds and to induce HRSA to continue funding Robinson’s organization.

Upon remand, Chief United States District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman resentenced Robinson to time served and assessed Robinson a fine of $48,600 for the misrepresentations she made to HRSA in 2017-2018.  

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the Inspector General.

Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Chris Cotten, Scott Smith, and Raney Irwin, who prosecuted this case in the district court, and Naya Bedini, who prosecuted this case on appeal with AUSA Cotten, 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 – Ashley Grayson, 35, of Dallas, Texas was sentenced to ten years in federal prison for her conviction related to a murder-for-hire conspiracy that, if successful, would have resulted in the death of a Southaven, Mississippi woman.  Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

Ashley Grayson ran an internet-based business and gained notoriety from her online presence.  In 2021, Grayson had a falling out with a woman from Southaven, Mississippi who operated an online business similar to Grayson’s.  Grayson suspected the Southaven woman of creating fake online profiles that criticized Grayson and her business.  The pair never met in person.

In August 2022, Grayson asked a Memphis woman, with whom she had worked in the past, to fly to Dallas to discuss a “business opportunity.”  The Memphis woman and her husband went to Dallas in early September 2022 and met with Grayson and her husband.  Grayson offered to pay the Memphis couple to kill three different people: the Southaven woman, Grayson’s former boyfriend, and a Texas woman who had recently made negative social media posts about Grayson.  Each one of these killings had a value to Grayson of at least $20,000.

On September 10, 2022, the Memphis woman video-recorded a call to Grayson where Grayson confirmed that she wanted the Southaven woman killed as soon as possible and offered an extra $5,000 for the murder to be carried out in the next week.  

Later, the Memphis couple sent Grayson a picture of police lights from an unrelated incident in Memphis under the guise that they had attempted to carry out Grayson’s murder-for-hire but were unsuccessful.  They demanded $10,000 (half of the promised price) from Grayson for the attempt. The Memphis couple went to Dallas where they met with Grayson and her husband and received $10,000 from them for the “attempt".

In July 2023, a grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee returned a one-count indictment for Use of Interstate Facility in Commission of Murder-for-Hire in violation of 18 U.S.C. §1958 against both Ashley Grayson and her husband, Joshua Grayson.  The case proceeded to trial in March 2024 where, after a week-long trial, a jury acquitted Joshua but found Ashley Grayson guilty as charged.  

On October 31, 2024, United States District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Ashley Grayson to 120 months, the maximum sentence of imprisonment available for a violation of 18 U.S.C. §1958, and three years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren said, “This was a twenty-first century crime where online feuds and senseless rivalries bled into the real world.  The defendant tried to hire someone to murder a woman over things that happened exclusively on the internet.  Fortunately, no one was physically hurt in this case, but the victim and her family still felt a severe and emotional impact as the result of the defendant’s actions.  The proactive response from the investigating agencies and our prosecutors prevented an even more serious crime from occurring.”

“This murder-for-hire plot underscores the strength of joint federal law enforcement efforts to ensure the safety of the citizens in our community,” said Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office, Memphis Resident Agency.  “This sentence demonstrates the commitment of the FBI and our partners to investigate violent crimes and root out those who seek to prey on the public.”

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

Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Neal Oldham and Bryce Phillips who prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated 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 man was recently sentenced to federal prison in connection with his scheme to defraud the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a federal program intended to help small businesses survive the COVID-19 pandemic.  Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, Herman Shaw, 44, used an accomplice to assist him in submitting a fraudulent PPP loan application in the name of “Freight Masters, Inc.,” his small trucking business, to a United States Small Business Administration (SBA) approved lending institution.  The application contained numerous false statements, including false information about the number of persons Freight Masters employed.  Shaw received $782,212 in loan proceeds to be used for approved purposes such as paying his purported employees.  Shaw, instead, used the loan proceeds to pay gambling debts and other personal expenses and to provide his accomplice with a $262,000 kickback. 

On August 2, 2024, Shaw pled guilty to a one-count information that charged him with wire fraud.  United States District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Shaw to 30 months in federal prison on November 6, 2024.  He was also ordered to pay restitution to the United States Small Business Administration in the amount of $782,212.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren stated: “Individuals preying on the generosity provided by the Paycheck Protection Program stole money from U.S. taxpayers for personal gain without regard to the economic losses felt around the country.  This sentencing reflects the severity of thefts from COVID-19 relief programs.

I commend the federal law enforcement agents who uncovered this fraud and brought this defendant to justice.  I would especially like to thank the SBA Office of Inspector General – Central Region, the United States Secret Service – Memphis Field Office, FDIC – Office of Inspector General, Federal Housing Finance Agency – Office of Inspector General, the Gulf States Field Division of the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), and the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee who jointly investigated this fraud in an effort to protect the integrity of the Paycheck Protection Program in this instance and COVID-19 relief programs in general. 

My office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to bring those who committed pandemic benefit fraud in the Western District of Tennessee to justice and use all appropriate tools to recover stolen pandemic relief funds.”

The case was investigated by the Small Business Administration, the U.S. Secret Service, TIGTA, the FDIC, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee.

Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren also thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Tony Arvin, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners for their roles in the investigation.

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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 – Two men employed as hunting guides were recently sentenced for violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.  The men were convicted for placing “bait”—grain, feed, or salt to serve as a lure—to attract waterfowl for the purpose of hunting.  Reagan Fondren, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentences today.

A federal grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee indicted the following individuals on March 19, 2024, with placing bait to take or attempt to take a migratory game bird, violations of Title 16, United States Code, Sections 704(b)(2) and 707:

• Chase Michael Courville, 27, of Abbeville, Louisiana; and
• Dalton Harrison, 20, of Shelby County, Tennessee.

Violations of these statutes are punishable by a term of imprisonment of up to one year, a fine of $100,000, or both, and forfeiture of any firearm used to hunt the waterfowl attracted by the bait.

In early December 2023, Courville and Harrison placed corn and wheat on the ground next to a small pond in a field near Rosemark, Tennessee, a rural area in northern Shelby County.  In the early morning hours of December 7, 2023, special agents of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service went to the pond and found Courville, Harrison, and several other people hunting waterfowl there.  The agents saw corn and wheat on the ground and in the pond.  By the time the agents arrived, the group had killed eight mallard ducks and a Canada goose.  Both Courville and Harrison had worked as waterfowl hunting guides prior to this incident.

Courville and Harrison both pled guilty to the baiting charge.  On September 6, 2024, Senior United States District Court Judge Jon Phipps McCalla sentenced Harrison to one year of probation and a fine of $7,500.00.  On November 1, 2024, Judge McCalla sentenced Courville to one year of probation and a fine of $7,500.00.  Courville and Harrison are prohibited from hunting or working as hunting guides during their probation.  Courville and Harrison also agreed to forfeit the shotguns they were using on December 7 to the government.

“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Office of Law Enforcement strives to ensure a fair and equitable hunting experience for all members of the public while protecting waterfowl populations from unsustainable methods of harvest,” said Doug Ault, the Special Agent in Charge of the Service’s Southeast Region.  “We take the illegal placement of bait for the hunting of migratory birds seriously, and we will continue to work closely with the United States Attorney’s Office to investigate and prosecute these cases.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Murphy, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners for their role in the investigation.

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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 – Four Nigerian citizens residing in the United States and Canada have been sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a conspiracy that perpetuated a series of romance and investment scams against victims across the United States, including in Western Tennessee.  All four defendants were convicted of conspiracy to commit money laundering as part of a scheme that used false identities and email accounts on internet dating sites to trick people into wiring or mailing money to shell companies and fictitious agents.  Reagan Fondren, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentences today.

A federal grand jury in the Western District of Tennessee indicted the following individuals on June 29, 2023 with conspiracy to commit fraud and money laundering:

• Patrick Edah, 40, a Nigerian citizen residing in the Toronto, Canada area,
• Efe Egbowawa, 41, a Nigerian citizen residing in the Atlanta area,
• Igocha Mac-Okor, 40, a Nigerian citizen residing in the Atlanta area, and
• Kay Ozegbe, 44, a naturalized U.S. citizen residing in Atlanta.

Evidence presented in court revealed that from 2017 to approximately November 2021, members of the conspiracy assumed false identities on social media, gaming applications, dating websites, and other internet-based platforms in a scheme to trick victims into entering friendships and romantic relationships. These defendants then played various roles in exploiting those connections to convince individuals to send them money via wire, check, U.S. mail, and package delivery services.

As part of the conspiracy, romance scammers or “handlers” posed as potential friends or romantic partners and entered online relationships with unwitting victims. The relationships usually developed quickly through social media contact, text messages, email, and phone calls. Once the victim was clearly engaged in the scam, the scammer would begin to ask for emergency financial assistance. If the victim sent money, the scammer would ask for increasingly larger amounts of financial assistance. There were dozens of victims who each lost amounts ranging from several thousand dollars to several hundred thousand dollars. For example, one victim who resided in the Western District of Tennessee lost over $400,000 to this scheme over the course of several months.

Edah, Egbowawa, Mac-Okor, and Ozegbe functioned as “money mules” in the conspiracy. That is, they worked in conjunction with other members of the conspiracy to move the financial proceeds of the scams through several layers of bank accounts and shell companies to hide the sources of the money and make it difficult to trace.

U.S. District Court Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Egbowawa to 60 months in federal prison on April 17, 2024.  Judge Parker later sentenced Ozegbe to 36 months in federal prison on September 23, 2024.  On October 30, 2024, Edah and Mac-Okor were sentenced by Judge Parker to 30 months and 50 months, respectively, in federal prison.

“These individuals used deception and fraud to prey on the vulnerable causing unmeasurable emotional damage and significant financial losses,” said Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico of the FBI - Nashville Field Office, Memphis Resident Agency.  “The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to target these predators and bring them to justice.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tony Arvin and Scott Smith, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners for their role in the investigation.

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

Memphis, TN – A federal grand jury returned indictments charging ten people in West Tennessee with federal gun and violent crime offenses, including Lavaughn Gilmore, 26, who is facing charges for illegally possessing a machine-gun conversion device (also known as a “switch”). Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren announced the indictments today. 

“Violent crime endangers every resident and every family in Western Tennessee,” said Acting United States Attorney Fondren.  “These indictments reflect our commitment to tackling violent crime and sending a strong message: if you break federal gun laws, you will face significant penalties. The safety of our citizens remains our top priority and we will continue to pursue justice for our communities.”

The following defendants were charged with other firearm or violent crime offenses:

• Colton Sisco, 30, was indicted on multiple charges involving making and possessing a firearm – specifically a pipe bomb – in violation of the National Firearms Act;
• Anthony Wells, 33, was indicted with being a felon in possession of a firearm;
• Derrico Childs, 21, Exavier Spivey, 25, and James Howard, 22, were charged in a superseding indictment for four counts of armed carjacking and four counts of use of a firearm during a violent crime;
• Derrion Turner, 19, was indicted for two armed car jackings and an attempted armed carjacking in Memphis committed over a 10-day span in August and September 2023;
• Justin Bobo, 33, was indicted for possession of a firearm after having at least three prior convictions for serious drug offenses or violent felonies;
• Keihdra Bledsoe, 28, was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm; and
• Mike Alex Burks Jr., 46, was indicted for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

These cases are being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force; the Project Safe Neighborhoods Gun Task Force; the Memphis Police Department; and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.  Anyone with information about switches or other federal gun crimes can call 1-800-ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4867).

The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence.  The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.  If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of the factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records (if any), the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation.

These indictments are 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, using data-driven methods to set focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked the Assistant United States Attorneys prosecuting these cases, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the cases.   

Memphis, TN – Jarrod Sanford, 43, was sentenced to 82 years’ imprisonment after a federal jury convicted him of production of child pornography, possession of child pornography, and committing a felony sex offense against a minor while required to register as a sex offender. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee announced the sentence today.

This is Sanford’s third conviction for sex offenses against children. He had previously been convicted of sexual battery in Crockett County, TN, for his participation in the rape of a fifteen-year-old child and of transporting an individual for prostitution in federal court in the Central District of Illinois for the sex trafficking of another fifteen-year-old child.

Because of those earlier convictions, Sanford was required to register as a sex offender in the State of Tennessee and to comply with the requirements of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). In addition, Sanford was placed on lifetime federal supervised release. Sanford committed these new crimes despite those protections.

According to information presented during Sanford’s July trial, on November 19, 2023, deputies with the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report that Sanford had raped a 13-year-old child. Sanford’s DNA matched DNA samples taken from the child victim. While investigating the rape, TCSO deputies recovered a phone from Sanford’s residence. Agents with the FBI Violent Crimes Against Children Task Force were able to bypass the phone’s encryption and discovered photographs that Sanford had taken between July and November of 2023 showing himself raping the same child.

A federal grand jury indicted Sanford for the child pornography and registry offenses in February 2024.  On July 25, after a four-day trial, federal jurors convicted Sanford as charged.

On October 31, United States District Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Sanford to 70 years for the child pornography offenses, a mandatory consecutive ten years for the SORNA violation, and an additional two years for violation of his supervised release, for a total of 82 years’ imprisonment. There is no parole in the federal system.

Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren said, “Jarrod Sanford is a sexual predator whose monstrous crimes caused immeasurable harm to the girls upon whom he preyed. We must all come together to combat this kind of abuse that plagues the very foundation of our society. This prosecution, achieved through the collaborative work between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and multiple law enforcement partners, is essential to bringing justice to the survivor of his depraved acts and holding Sanford accountable for his actions. Today’s sentence should send a message to child predators everywhere: Our children deserve better, and you will suffer severe consequences if you harm them.”

“The victimization of children tears at the fabric of our community,” said Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico of the FBI Tennessee, Memphis Resident Agency. “This sentence will protect other children from harm by this predator and should serve as a warning to like-minded individuals who are considering engaging in similar reprehensible behavior. The FBI will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to target, catch, and bring to justice those who victimize our most vulnerable.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Probation Office for the Western District of Tennessee, and the Tipton County Sheriff’s Office.

Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Lynn Crum and Lauren Delery, 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 registered sex offender from Missouri was recently sentenced to prison. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today. 

According to the information presented in court, Jayson Lance Luther, 32, met a minor child residing in Dyersburg, TN at a holiday event in December 2022. Luther and the minor child exchanged phone numbers and, shortly thereafter, began texting one another. In January 2023, the minor child’s parent uncovered the messages and reported it to the police. The investigation revealed over 1,200 pages of messages between Luther and the minor child. Many of the texts were sexually explicit.

On August 13, 2024, Luther pled guilty to knowingly enticing a minor to engage in any sexual activity for which a person can be charged. United States District Court Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Luther to 235 months in federal prison followed by 10 years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.

“We are committed to protecting all citizens of this District, but most importantly the young and vulnerable,” said Acting United States Attorney Fondren. “This sentence is a reflection of the seriousness of this offense, and we will continue to work to ensure that dangerous perpetrators see justice.”

Danny H. Goodman, Jr., District Attorney General for the Twenty-Ninth Judicial District of Tennessee, who assigned Andrew Hays as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney to the Western District, stated, “The partnership that the Twenty-Ninth Judicial District of Tennessee has established with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee has been invaluable for the citizens of our district.  This case is a perfect example of this collaboration of teams which allows us to remove dangerous individuals from our communities to keep our citizens and children safe.”  

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

Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Hays for the Western District of Tennessee, who prosecuted the 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.

On October 24, the U.S. Attorney’s Office held a “Protecting Places of Worship” forum to address security concerns faced by religious communities in the current climate of increased threats. The forum is part of a U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service (CRS) program that focuses on safeguarding religious institutions from violence, discrimination, and hate-based incidents. Leaders from diverse faith communities, law enforcement, and federal agencies gathered to discuss collaborative strategies for enhancing security and promoting unity.

Key speakers at the event underscored the importance of fostering resilient partnerships between law enforcement and religious communities. Discussions centered on best practices for threat assessment, active shooter response, and emergency preparedness. Additionally, representatives from CRS and the Department of Homeland Security provided insights into federal resources, such as grants, and other support mechanisms available to religious organizations.

In addition to security, the forum also addressed the need for greater understanding and respect among communities of different faiths. Religious leaders expressed concerns over rising incidents of hate crimes and emphasized the value of building trust with local authorities to ensure swift, effective responses to potential threats.

Representatives from the U.S. Attorney’s Office reaffirmed their commitment to protecting the rights of all individuals to worship freely and safely. They highlighted the Office’s proactive role in prosecuting hate crimes and supporting communities through educational initiatives, outreach, and collaboration with religious organizations.

This forum serves as a reminder of the shared responsibility to safeguard places of worship and promote inclusivity within communities. The U.S. Attorney’s Office remains dedicated to working with community leaders and law enforcement to protect the freedoms that define our nation.

For more information on resources available to religious institutions, please visit our grant resources page.

Memphis, TN – A Florida man has pled guilty to a mail fraud scheme in which he defrauded FedEx Corporation by falsely claiming that high-value items were misdelivered. The scheme had a potential loss to the company of $764,250. Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, made the announcement today.

According to information presented in court, Shaun C. Kavanaugh, 46, of Orlando, Florida, defrauded FedEx between June 2015 and September 2018 by shipping packages containing worthless goods via FedEx. He then claimed the packages were not delivered and filed claims with FedEx seeking reimbursement for the contents of the packages. During that reimbursement process, Kavanaugh submitted fraudulent invoices to FedEx that inflated the value of the contents. As a result of his scheme, Kavanaugh fraudulently obtained over $750,000.

“Mr. Kavanaugh’s case serves as a reminder that fraud and the pursuit of quick gains can come with severe consequences,” said Inspector In Charge Tommy D. Coke, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Atlanta Division. “I’m proud of the women and men of the United States Postal Inspection Service for their continued commitment to protect the U.S. Mail and our customers, as well as their resolve to ensure that those who engage in fraudulent activities are held responsible for their criminal activities.”

United States District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes accepted the guilty plea and set sentencing for February 20, 2025. At that time, Kavanaugh faces up to 20 years in prison for mail fraud. He could also be ordered to pay up to $250,000 in fines and possible restitution up to $764,250.      

The United States Postal Inspection Service conducted the investigation. Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren thanked the law enforcement partners who investigated the case, as well as Assistant United States Attorney Reid Manning who 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 – Christopher C. Brown, 47, of Cordova, Tennessee, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $5,214,302.00 in restitution after his conviction related to a multi-year scheme to defraud four insurance companies.  Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentence today.

While operating a music recording business on Monroe Avenue in Memphis, Brown made claims to Main Street Assurance Company for alleged losses of over $340,000 due to water damage and a purported burglary at the business location.  Main Street paid Brown’s claims.  Brown then obtained insurance coverage for the same business location from Markel Corporation.  Brown made a claim to Markel for $2,840,000 for alleged fire damage to the location, and the claim was honored.

Brown then formed a limited liability corporation named Tattooed Millionaire Entertainment (TME).  This action allowed Brown to apply for insurance coverage without disclosing his previous insurance claims.  Through TME, Brown purchased a second Memphis property at Rayner Street which had previously housed a well-known recording studio known as the House of Blues.  Brown obtained insurance coverage for the Rayner property and music recording business from Hanover American Insurance Company.  Brown later filed a claim with Hanover for purported damages from an arson fire that damaged the Rayner property, and Hanover paid him $2,200,000 on that claim.

During this time, Brown also obtained vehicle insurance from Progressive Insurance on a 1985 diesel bus.  He later filed a claim with Progressive alleging that the bus had been stolen.  Progressive paid Brown $109,580 in settlement of that claim.

In Brown’s claims with the four victim insurance companies, Brown made false statements and representations.  This included the submission of fake or altered documents to the companies.

In September 2023, Brown pled guilty to mail fraud.  On October 17, 2024, United States District Court Judge Samuel H. Mays sentenced Brown to 27 months of incarceration followed by 2 years of supervised release and ordered him to pay $5,214,302.00 in restitution.  There is no parole in the federal system.

Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren said, “Insurance fraud schemes like this cheat honest companies and their policyholders.  These schemes also raise the cost of insurance for everyone and make it harder for people to obtain needed insurance in the first place.  Whenever fraud like this occurs in the Western District of Tennessee, this office will be prepared to hold offenders accountable for such crimes of dishonesty.”

Inspector in Charge Tommy D. Coke, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Atlanta Division, said, “This defendant misused the U.S. Mail to defraud four insurance companies of millions of dollars.  I believe this sentence will send a message that this type of crime is serious and let criminals know that our agency will continue to hold them accountable for their actions.”  

This case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.

Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys David Pritchard and Tony Arvin who prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated 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 – Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Will Crow will lead District efforts in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election.

AUSA/DEO Crow has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Western District of Tennessee, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the district’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.

“Voting is the cornerstone of American democracy,” said Acting United States Attorney Fondren. “We have a duty to ensure that every citizen who chooses to exercise their right to vote can do so without interference or discrimination and that those votes are counted in a fair and free election.”

Fondren added, “Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. Our office and the Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud.  The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.

Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying, and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).

Acting United States Attorney Fondren said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate.  It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”

AUSA/DEO Crow will be on duty while the polls are open to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities. He can be reached by the public at 901-544-4231. 

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The Nashville Division of the FBI, which covers the entire state of Tennessee, can be reached by the public at 865-544-0751.

Anyone with specific information about voting rights concerns or election fraud should make that information available to the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/.

However, if you witness a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities.  State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.

Memphis, TN — Faith-based leaders, law enforcement, and community members will gather on Thursday, October 24, 2024 for the Protecting Places of Worship Forum in Memphis, Tennessee. Hosted by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service (CRS) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee, this vital forum will address the growing concern over hate crimes targeting places of worship.

What:                       Protecting Places of Worship Forum

When:                      Thursday, October 24, 2024, 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM CT

Where:                     FedEx Event Center at Shelby Farms Park - 415 Great View Dr. E. - Cordova, TN 38018

Why Attend:

As the frequency of hate crimes and violent threats against religious institutions increases, this forum offers an essential opportunity for faith-based leaders, security personnel, and community members to learn how to protect places of worship. Participants will receive expert advice on federal and state hate crime laws, as well as tools and resources for assessing safety and preventing violence. Key highlights of the event include:

• Overview of Hate Crimes Laws: Learn about the latest federal and state protections.
• Active Shooter Training: Prepare for emergency situations with practical insights from law enforcement.
• Best Practices for Prevention: Explore strategies to safeguard your congregation from threats and ensure the safety of your community.

Speakers and Partners:

Experts from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Shelby County Sheriff’s Department, Memphis Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), and other local and federal agencies will lead sessions. This forum is also supported by the Governor’s Office, the City of Memphis, and several community organizations, including the Memphis Baptist Ministerial Alliance and the National Black Prosecutors Association.

How to Register: Attendance is free, but registration is required. Visit the registration link to secure your spot.

Contact Information:  

For more information about this forum and how you can participate, please contact Cherri Green in the U.S. Attorney's Office at Cherri.Green@usdoj.gov. 

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This forum serves as an essential platform for protecting vulnerable spaces and ensuring that places of worship remain safe, inclusive environments for all. Don't miss this important opportunity to engage with experts and strengthen the security of your faith community.

Memphis, TN – October marks the observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren joins the U.S. Department of Justice in commemorating DVAM, paying tribute to victims and survivors, and saluting the dedication of advocates, service providers, justice professionals, law enforcement officers, and first responders who tirelessly work in support of survivors.

DVAM serves as an important reminder to raise awareness and engage the community in efforts to end intimate partner violence. According to the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women, domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship, used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, psychological, or technological actions or threats of actions or other patterns of coercive behavior that influence another person within an intimate partner relationship. Domestic violence can happen to anyone regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, sex, or gender identity. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and educational levels and occurs in both opposite-sex and same-sex relationships. It can also happen to intimate partners who are married, living together, dating, or share a child.

“Domestic violence is more prevalent than most people realize,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren. “We want the community to know that federal prosecutors for the Western District of Tennessee are using all the tools at our disposal — and leveraging our partnerships with local law enforcement and prosecutors — to ensure victims have a viable path to safety and justice. Our office will continue to prioritize the prosecution of domestic violence offenders who unlawfully possess firearms, or whose criminal conduct occurs online or crosses state lines.”

Domestic violence, dating violence, and intimate partner violence can have long-lasting impacts and consequences. Data from the National Domestic Violence Hotline suggests that approximately one in four women and one in seven men will experience severe domestic violence in their lifetimes. Rates are disproportionately higher for historically underserved populations, including LGBTQI+ individuals, persons with disabilities, and racial and ethnic minorities. DVAM provides an opportunity to spread awareness about domestic violence and encourage everyone to play a role in ending gender-based violence.

Purple Thursday, observed this Thursday, October 17, 2024, is a National Day of Action during DVAM. It is an opportunity to raise awareness about domestic violence and to show commitment to promoting safe communities. Please join us on October 17 by wearing purple and starting a conversation about domestic violence.

If you need help, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or the Strong Hearts Native Helpline at 1-844-762-8483. For more information on domestic violence, visit: https://www.justice.gov/ovw/domestic-violence#dv.

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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 – October marks the observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month (DVAM). Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren joins the U.S. Department of Justice in commemorating DVAM, paying tribute to victims and survivors, and saluting the dedication of advocates, service providers, justice professionals, law enforcement officers, and first responders who tirelessly work in support of survivors.

DVAM serves as an important reminder to raise awareness and engage the community in efforts to end intimate partner violence. According to the Justice Department’s Office on Violence Against Women, domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship, used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, psychological, or technological actions or threats of actions or other patterns of coercive behavior that influence another person within an intimate partner relationship. Domestic violence can happen to anyone regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, sex, or gender identity. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and educational levels and occurs in both opposite-sex and same-sex relationships. It can also happen to intimate partners who are married, living together, dating, or share a child.

“Domestic violence is more prevalent than most people realize,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Fondren. “We want the community to know that federal prosecutors for the Western District of Tennessee are using all the tools at our disposal — and leveraging our partnerships with local law enforcement and prosecutors — to ensure victims have a viable path to safety and justice. Our office will continue to prioritize the prosecution of domestic violence offenders who unlawfully possess firearms, or whose criminal conduct occurs online or crosses state lines.”

Domestic violence, dating violence, and intimate partner violence can have long-lasting impacts and consequences. Data from the National Domestic Violence Hotline suggests that approximately one in four women and one in seven men will experience severe domestic violence in their lifetimes. Rates are disproportionately higher for historically underserved populations, including LGBTQI+ individuals, persons with disabilities, and racial and ethnic minorities. DVAM provides an opportunity to spread awareness about domestic violence and encourage everyone to play a role in ending gender-based violence.

Purple Thursday, observed this Thursday, October 17, 2024, is a National Day of Action during DVAM. It is an opportunity to raise awareness about domestic violence and to show commitment to promoting safe communities. Please join us on October 17 by wearing purple and starting a conversation about domestic violence.

If you need help, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or the Strong Hearts Native Helpline at 1-844-762-8483. For more information on domestic violence, visit: https://www.justice.gov/ovw/domestic-violence#dv.

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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 – Reagan Fondren, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced today that two Memphis nonprofit organizations were awarded Department of Justice grants totaling more than $2 million.  

“These grantees play a critical role in serving citizens of West Tennessee who are or may become justice-involved,” said Acting United States Attorney Fondren. “These organizations have demonstrated their commitment to working with the Department of Justice to decrease crime, advance opportunities for ex-offenders, and protect our community. We applaud them for the work they have done and will do in the future.”

The grants were awarded as follows:

Smart Reentry: Housing Demonstration Program

The Returning Neighbor’s Program, led by the Shelby County Office of Reentry, seeks to provide safe, affordable housing and comprehensive services to formerly incarcerated individuals upon their release.  The initiative plans to reduce recidivism rates in Memphis and Shelby County by mitigating barriers to obtaining stable housing and employment.  This initiative will operate pre-release through partnerships with the Shelby County Division of Corrections and post-release through collaboration with local programs, such as HOPE Credit Union, Lifeline to Success, and the Hospitality Hub, to help provide safe and affordable housing and a continuum of care that includes vocational training, employment opportunities, and wrap-around services.  DOJ Grant Award: $999,101.00.

Office of Justice Programs Community Based Violence Intervention and Prevention Initiative Site-Based Grant

Heal 901 is an organization that will implement an intensive community violence intervention and prevention program.  The purpose of this project is to reduce violent crime in Memphis. Heal 901 helps to bridge the gap between the vulnerable populations of Memphis and the resources available that will allow them to live a more empowered life.  DOJ Grant Award: $1,764,992.00.

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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.

Following a trial that lasted nearly four weeks, a federal jury in Memphis, Tennessee, found three former Memphis Police Department (MPD) officers guilty of federal felonies related to the death of Tyre Nichols on Jan. 7, 2023.

“All three former Memphis Police Department officers were convicted of federal felonies for their role in Tyre Nichols’ death,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “They join two additional former officers who had already pled guilty.  With these convictions, all five of the former officers involved in the death of Mr. Nichols have been convicted of federal felonies. Tyre Nichols should be alive today. We extend our condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. Nichols. We hope this prosecution provides some measure of comfort as the law enforcement officers tied to his death have been held accountable. We thank the trial team for their extraordinary dedication to prosecuting this case, and we thank the jury for their service. We will never rest in our ongoing efforts to ensure that law enforcement officers are held accountable for violating people’s civil and constitutional rights.”

“A basic principle for our system of justice is that there is — and there only can be — one rule of law,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee. “Law enforcement officers must be held to the same rules as the citizens they’re sworn to protect. More than a year ago, this office made a commitment to following the truth where it led in this case. Thanks to our trial team who worked tirelessly over the past 21 months to ensure that this case was properly investigated and tried and to the men and women in the jury for their service. The defendants have been found guilty of serious federal felonies and face significant penalties for those actions.”

Former MPD Officer Demetrius Haley was found to have deprived Nichols of his constitutional right to be free from an officer’s unreasonable force when he, and two other former MPD officers, Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr., unlawfully assaulted Nichols and willfully failed to intervene to stop his co-defendants from using unreasonable force. The jury found that Haley’s conduct resulted in bodily injury to Nichols. The jury also found that Haley deprived Nichols of his constitutional right to be free from a police officer’s deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs resulting in bodily injury to Nichols. Defendants Emmitt Martin and Desmond Mills, Jr. previously pleaded guilty of using unreasonable force against Nichols, resulting in his death. The jury also convicted Haley of conspiring to commit witness tampering.

The jury also convicted Haley and former MPD officers Tadarrius Bean and Justin Smith for their effort to cover up the use of excessive force against Nichols by omitting material information and providing misleading and false statements to their MPD supervising lieutenant and an MPD detective who was tasked with writing the report documenting this incident.

Evidence presented at the trial established that, on Jan. 7, 2023, defendant Haley assaulted Nichols after a traffic stop. Martin initiated the traffic stop, and Haley and another MPD officer subsequently arrived at the stop. When Nichols was on the ground, Haley pepper-sprayed Nichols and another officer tried to tase him, at which point Nichols fled the area.

Bean and Mills responded to the location where dispatch reported that Nichols had run and saw Nichols walking down the street. Nichols ran from the officers, and Bean ran after him and tackled him to the ground. When Martin arrived at the scene he immediately kicked Nichols in the head at least twice. As officers held Nichols on the ground, Mills pepper sprayed Nichols, expanded his baton and repeatedly used the baton to strike Nichols. Martin then repeatedly punched Nichols in the head and chest. Nichols went back to the ground, and, as two officers held him down, Haley ran up to the scene and kicked Nichols. Martin then kicked Nichols again.

After the assault, the officers placed Nichols in handcuffs and walked away from him, leaving him writhing on the ground. After several minutes, the officers dragged Nichols to sit against a police vehicle. Haley failed to render any medical aid to Nichols despite his visibly bloodied and swollen face.

Memphis Fire Department (MFD) first responders and EMTs arrived on the scene. Despite knowing that Nichols had been injured by the officers’ kicks, punches and baton strikes and was at substantial risk of serious harm if those injuries went untreated, Haley willfully failed to inform responding emergency medical personnel of the blows suffered by Nichols. Nichols’ condition deteriorated, and he was unable to communicate or sit upright. Nichols was eventually transported to a hospital, where he died three days later. The Chief Medical Examiner for the West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center identified the manner of death as homicide due to blunt force trauma to the head, including rotational brain injury and brain bleeding and identified additional, extensive blunt force injuries to Nichols’ neck, arms, legs and torso.

A medical emergency responder testified that had they been told that Nichols’ injuries were caused by strikes to the head, they would have significantly altered their course of care. Nichols’ treating physicians testified that patients like Nichols who suffer from traumatic brain injury require immediate care and that a delay of even a few minutes of receiving appropriate care can cause death.

After the assault, the defendants spoke to an MPD lieutenant and an MPD detective tasked with writing the report documenting this incident where they omitted material information or provided false information. Specifically, the defendants falsely claimed that Nichols actively resisted arrest; Smith falsely stated that Nichols grabbed his vest and officers’ duty belts; and Mills and Smith falsely claimed that Nichols lifted both officers in the air. Each of the defendants also willfully omitted material information, including that they had repeatedly punched Nichols, that Martin and Haley had kicked him and that he had been repeatedly struck in the head.

The evidence at trial established that MPD policy and training require officers to use reasonable force and to intervene when they see other officers using unreasonable force. The defendants’ supervising lieutenant as well as MPD officers who trained the defendants on use of force all testified that Nichols posed little or no threat to officers and that Haley’s use of force was inconsistent with MPD training and policy. Co-defendants Martin and Mills also testified at trial that at the time of the beating, they knew that Nichols did not pose a threat during the incident and that the force used by them and Haley was contrary to their training. Martin testified that MPD officers regularly inflicted a “run tax,” which refers to the use of unjustified violence to punish anyone who runs from the police.

The evidence also established that MPD policy and training require officers to provide medical care to injured arrestees and that officers are trained that they must provide truthful and complete information to first responders and other healthcare providers.

The jury found that Haley disregarded this training and willfully violated Nichols of his constitutional rights. The jury found that Haley used excessive force, failed to intervene to stop other officers’ use of unlawful force and failed to provide aid to Nichols as he suffered a medical emergency and misled medical personnel who could have rendered life-saving aid. The jury found that the defendants also lied or omitted material information about the incident to their supervising lieutenant and an MPD detective in an effort to cover up their unlawful conduct.

Sentencing dates for the three defendants are set for January 2025. Haley faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for both the violations of depriving an individual of their civil rights under color of law resulting in bodily injury and for being deliberately indifferent to the known serious medical needs of a person in his custody. Haley faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy to witness tamper and witness tampering charges. Bean and Smith each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the witness tampering charge.

Martin and Mills previously entered guilty pleas on federal charges, admitting that they each used excessive force and failed to intervene in the unlawful assault, resulting in bodily injury to and the death of Nichols, and that they conspired with their co-defendants to cover up the officers’ use of unlawful force against Nichols. A sentencing hearing for Martin is scheduled for Dec. 5 and a sentencing hearing for Mills will be scheduled at a later date.

The FBI Nashville Field Office investigated the case with the cooperation of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Deputy Chief Forrest Christian, Special Litigation Counsel Kathryn E. Gilbert and Trial Attorney Andrew Manns of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Pritchard and Elizabeth Rogers for the Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.

Memphis, TN – Following a trial that lasted nearly four weeks, a federal jury found three former Memphis Police Department (MPD) officers guilty of federal felonies arising out of the assault on Tyre Nichols on January 7, 2023, which led to his death.

“All three former Memphis Police Department officers were convicted of federal felonies for their role in Tyre Nichols’ death,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “They join two additional former officers who had already pled guilty.  With these convictions, all five of the former officers involved in the death of Mr. Nichols have been convicted of federal felonies. Tyre Nichols should be alive today. We extend our condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr. Nichols. We hope this prosecution provides some measure of comfort as the law enforcement officers tied to his death have been held accountable. We thank the trial team for their extraordinary dedication to prosecuting this case, and we thank the jury for their service. We will never rest in our ongoing efforts to ensure that law enforcement officers are held accountable for violating people’s civil and constitutional rights.”

“A basic principle for our system of justice is that there is — and there only can be — one rule of law,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee. “Law enforcement officers must be held to the same rules as the citizens they’re sworn to protect. More than a year ago, this office made a commitment to following the truth where it led in this case. Thanks to our trial team who worked tirelessly over the past 21 months to ensure that this case was properly investigated and tried and to the men and women in the jury for their service. The defendants have been found guilty of serious federal felonies and face significant penalties for those actions.”

“When law enforcement officers abuse their authority, it not only violates our civil rights laws, but it also undermines the criminal justice system as a whole,” said Joseph E. Carrico, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Nashville Field Office, Memphis Resident Agency. “This verdict should send a clear message that the FBI makes it a priority to bring to justice any law enforcement officer who violates the civil rights of those they are sworn to protect.”

Former MPD Officer Demetrius Haley was found to have deprived Nichols of his constitutional right to be free from an officer’s unreasonable force when he and two other former MPD officers, Emmitt Martin III and Desmond Mills Jr., unlawfully assaulted Nichols and willfully failed to intervene to stop his co-defendants from using unreasonable force. The jury found that Haley’s conduct resulted in bodily injury to Nichols. The jury also found that Haley deprived Nichols of his constitutional right to be free from a police officer’s deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs resulting in bodily injury to Nichols. Defendants Emmitt Martin and Desmond Mills, Jr. previously pleaded guilty of using unreasonable force against Nichols, resulting in his death. The jury also convicted Haley of conspiring to commit witness tampering.

The jury also convicted Haley and former MPD officers Tadarrius Bean and Justin Smith for their effort to cover up the use of excessive force against Nichols by omitting material information and providing misleading and false statements to their MPD supervising lieutenant and an MPD detective who was tasked with writing the report documenting this incident.

Evidence presented at the trial established that, on January 7, 2023, defendant Haley assaulted Nichols after a traffic stop. Martin initiated the traffic stop, and Haley and another MPD officer subsequently arrived at the stop. When Nichols was on the ground, Haley pepper-sprayed Nichols and another officer tried to tase him, at which point Nichols fled the area.

Bean and Mills responded to the location where dispatch reported that Nichols had run and saw Nichols walking down the street. Nichols ran from the officers, and Bean ran after him and tackled him to the ground. When Martin arrived at the scene, he immediately kicked Nichols in the head at least twice. As officers held Nichols on the ground, Mills pepper sprayed Nichols, expanded his baton and repeatedly used the baton to strike Nichols. Martin then repeatedly punched Nichols in the head and chest. Nichols went back to the ground, and, as two officers held him down, Haley ran up to the scene and kicked Nichols. Martin then kicked Nichols again.

After the assault, the officers placed Nichols in handcuffs and walked away from him, leaving him writhing on the ground. After several minutes, the officers dragged Nichols to sit against a police vehicle. Haley failed to render any medical aid to Nichols despite his visibly bloodied and swollen face.

Memphis Fire Department (MFD) first responders and EMTs arrived on the scene. Despite knowing that Nichols had been injured by the officers’ kicks, punches and baton strikes and was at substantial risk of serious harm if those injuries went untreated, Haley willfully failed to inform responding emergency medical personnel of the blows suffered by Nichols. Nichols’ condition deteriorated, and he was unable to communicate or sit upright. Nichols was eventually transported to a hospital, where he died three days later. The Chief Medical Examiner for the West Tennessee Regional Forensic Center identified the manner of death as homicide due to blunt force trauma to the head, including rotational brain injury and brain bleeding and identified additional, extensive blunt force injuries to Nichols’ neck, arms, legs and torso.

A medical emergency responder testified that had they been told that Nichols’ injuries were caused by strikes to the head, they would have significantly altered their course of care. Nichols’ treating physicians testified that patients like Nichols who suffer from traumatic brain injury require immediate care and that a delay of even a few minutes of receiving appropriate care can cause death.

After the assault, the defendants spoke to an MPD lieutenant and an MPD detective tasked with writing the report documenting this incident where they omitted material information or provided false information. Specifically, the defendants falsely claimed that Nichols actively resisted arrest; Smith falsely stated that Nichols grabbed his vest and officers’ duty belts; and Mills and Smith falsely claimed that Nichols lifted both officers in the air. Each of the defendants also willfully omitted material information, including that they had repeatedly punched Nichols, that Martin and Haley had kicked him and that he had been repeatedly struck in the head.

The evidence at trial established that MPD policy and training require officers to use reasonable force and to intervene when they see other officers using unreasonable force. The defendants’ supervising lieutenant as well as MPD officers who trained the defendants on use of force all testified that Nichols posed little or no threat to officers and that Haley’s use of force was inconsistent with MPD training and policy. Co-defendants Martin and Mills also testified at trial that at the time of the beating, they knew that Nichols did not pose a threat during the incident and that the force used by them and Haley was contrary to their training. Martin testified that MPD officers regularly inflicted a “run tax,” which refers to the use of unjustified violence to punish anyone who runs from the police.

The evidence also established that MPD policy and training require officers to provide medical care to injured arrestees and that officers are trained that they must provide truthful and complete information to first responders and other healthcare providers.

The jury found that Haley disregarded this training and willfully violated Nichols of his constitutional rights. The jury found that Haley used excessive force, failed to intervene to stop other officers’ use of unlawful force and failed to provide aid to Nichols as he suffered a medical emergency and misled medical personnel who could have rendered life-saving aid. The jury found that the defendants also lied or omitted material information about the incident to their supervising lieutenant and an MPD detective in an effort to cover up their unlawful conduct.

Sentencing hearings for the three defendants are set for January 2025. Haley faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for both the violations of depriving an individual of their civil rights under color of law resulting in bodily injury and for being deliberately indifferent to the known serious medical needs of a person in his custody. Haley faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the conspiracy to witness tamper and witness tampering charges. Bean and Smith each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for the witness tampering charge.

Martin and Mills previously entered guilty pleas on federal charges, admitting that they each used excessive force and failed to intervene in the unlawful assault, resulting in bodily injury to and the death of Nichols, and that they conspired with their co-defendants to cover up the officers’ use of unlawful force against Nichols. A sentencing hearing for Martin is scheduled for Dec. 5 and a sentencing hearing for Mills will be scheduled at a later date.

The FBI Nashville Field Office, Memphis Resident Agency investigated the case with the cooperation of the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Pritchard and Elizabeth Rogers and Deputy Chief Forrest Christian, Special Litigation Counsel Kathryn E. Gilbert, and Trial Attorney Andrew Manns of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners who investigated the case.   

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Memphis, TN – Five former IRS employees were recently sentenced for defrauding federal COVID-19 relief programs.  This case was brought as a part of an interagency effort to combat and prevent such fraud by federal employees. 

According to court documents, Brian Saulsberry, 48, of Memphis, was employed by the IRS as a Program Evaluation and Risk Analyst in the Human Capital Office in Memphis, Tennessee.  Saulsberry laundered funds he received from a scheme to defraud the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program, a federal stimulus program authorized to provide loans to small businesses experiencing substantial financial disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

Saulsberry submitted false EIDL applications and obtained $171,400 in loan funds. After obtaining the fraudulent loan funds, Saulsberry transferred the funds to his personal checking account.  He then used the loan funds for purposes not authorized by the EIDL Program, but instead transferred $100,000 to an investment account, knowing that the property involved in the transaction was derived from unlawful activity. 

In addition to Saulsberry, four other former IRS employees, Courtney Quinshe Westmoreland, 40, Fatina Hewitt, 37, Roderick DeMarco White II, 29, and Tina Humes, 58, were convicted for defrauding federal stimulus programs authorized as part of the CARES Act, including the EIDL Program and the Paycheck Protection Program.  The five former federal employees collectively sought over $1 million.  They then used the loan funds to invest in personal accounts, purchase cars and luxury goods, and pay for personal travel, including trips to Las Vegas.

In October 2022, the Justice Department announced charges against the five former IRS employees.  Saulsberry pled guilty to one count of money laundering in December 2023.  On September 25, 2024, Saulsberry was sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Sheryl H. Lipman to 18 months of imprisonment with 2 years of supervised release to follow and was ordered to provide $171,400 to the Government in forfeiture.  There is no parole in the federal system. 

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren for the Western District of Tennessee, Acting Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) Heather M. Hill, and Inspector General Hannibal “Mike” Ware of the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General (SBA-OIG) made the announcement. 

TIGTA and SBA-OIG investigated the case.

Assistant Chief Justin Woodard and Trial Attorneys Sara Porter, Kelly Z. Walters, and Thomas D. Campbell of the Fraud Section’s Gulf Coast Strike Force and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carroll L. André III for the Western District of Tennessee prosecuted the cases.

On May 17, 2021, the Attorney General established the COVID-19 Fraud Enforcement Task Force to marshal the resources of the Justice Department in partnership with agencies across government to enhance efforts to combat and prevent pandemic-related fraud. The task force bolsters efforts to investigate and prosecute the most culpable domestic and international criminal actors and assists agencies tasked with administering relief programs to prevent fraud by augmenting and incorporating existing coordination mechanisms, identifying resources and techniques to uncover fraudulent actors and their schemes, and sharing and harnessing information and insights gained from prior enforcement efforts. For more information on the department’s response to the pandemic, please visit https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus.

Anyone with information about allegations of attempted fraud involving COVID-19 can report it by calling the Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) Hotline via the NCDF Web Complaint Form at www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud/ncdf-disaster-complaint-form.

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

Memphis, TN – A federal judge recently sentenced a Memphis man who pled guilty to two counts of distribution of controlled substances.  Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren announced the sentence today.

According to the information presented in court, on October 4, 2022, special agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation conducted a controlled purchase of approximately 28 grams of methamphetamine and two grams of a mixture and substance containing fentanyl from Marcus Smith, 41, in Memphis, TN.  Smith had previous state felony convictions for aggravated assault and narcotics-related offenses.

On September 26, 2024, Smith was sentenced by Senior United States District Judge John T. Fowlkes to ten years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.

The case was investigated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation in Memphis, Tennessee. Assisting in the investigation were the Homeland Securities Investigations Laboratories in Savannah, Georgia and the Bartlett Police Department.

Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorney Bryce H. Phillips for prosecuting this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.   

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Memphis, TN – A federal judge has sentenced Jaquan Bridges, 22, of Memphis, to 9 years in federal prison for possession of a machinegun.  Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren announced the sentence today.

On February 1, 2022, a Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputy observed Bridges driving 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, leading deputies on a high-speed pursuit for 10 miles, before Bridges hit at least three other vehicles and crashed into a concrete barrier.  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.

“We have a serious gun violence problem in Memphis,” said Acting United States Attorney Fondren.  “This conviction demonstrates our ongoing commitment to prosecuting violent offenders and bringing to justice those who violate federal firearms laws and endanger our community.  Our office will continue to work with the Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force and other law enforcement partners to reduce violent crime in our community.  The citizens of Memphis and Shelby County deserve to feel safe.”

“This conviction is a testament to our deputies’ hard work and dedication and to the legal team involved in this case,” said Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Anthony Buckner.  “Bridges’ actions posed a significant threat to our deputy and the community at large. We are grateful for our deputies’ swift response and the collaboration with prosecutors that led to this outcome.  It sends a strong message that we will not tolerate violence against our law enforcement personnel, and those who engage in such behavior will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.  Our top priority remains our deputies’ and citizens’ safety. This case underscores the importance of continued support for law enforcement agencies as they work tirelessly to protect our communities. We will continue to strive for justice and ensure that our streets are safe for everyone.”

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.

Acting United States Attorney Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorney Eileen Kuo, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.

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Memphis, TN – A federal judge recently resentenced Louie Holloway, 43, of Memphis, to fifty years in federal prison for attempted robbery of John Stambaugh in 2002 and firearms crimes. Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren announced the sentence today.

According to the information presented in court, 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 firearm conviction was vacated, and the district court scheduled a resentencing hearing.  At that hearing, United States District Judge Samuel H. Mays sentenced Holloway to 600 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.  There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department.

Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Tony Arvin and Naya Bedini, who prosecuted this case at the post-conviction stage, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.

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Memphis, TN – Four Memphians were recently sentenced to federal prison for their roles in an organized retail theft conspiracy that resulted in millions of dollars in goods being shoplifted and mailed across the nation through the U.S. Postal Service. Reagan Fondren, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentences today.

Evidence presented in court revealed that between approximately April 2018 and May 2020, Latasha Brooks, 42, Coyoti Carter, 47, and Tarnisha Woods, 49, shoplifted large quantities of health and beauty products including memory supplements, hair regrowth treatments, weight loss aids, and allergy medicines. During that time, Keith Guy, 38, paid Brooks for the stolen goods.  Brooks in turn paid Carter and Woods for their contributions of stolen product.  Guy then sold the stolen product to resellers over the internet and used the U.S. Postal Service to ship hundreds of parcels containing the goods to locations across the United States. The investigation revealed that the estimated retail value of the products stolen by the conspiracy was over $4 million.

The defendants were indicted in December 2023 by a federal grand jury with conspiracy to commit interstate shipment of stolen property. The defendants each pleaded guilty and have been sentenced by United States District Court Chief Judge Sheryl H. Lipman. On August 12, 2024, Woods was sentenced to 15 months of imprisonment with 3 years of supervised release to follow. On August 13, 2024, Brooks was sentenced to 34 months of imprisonment with 3 years of supervised release to follow. On August 22, 2024, Carter was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day of imprisonment with 3 years of supervised release to follow. On September 13, 2024, Guy was sentenced to 34 months of imprisonment and 3 years of supervised release to follow.  There is no parole in the federal system.

The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service Memphis Field Office.

Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorney Scott Smith, who prosecuted this case, as well as law enforcement partners for their role in the investigation.

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Jackson, TN – Five men from South Texas were indicted in Jackson, Tennessee for their role in trafficking multiple kilograms of methamphetamine.  On September 13, 2024, the Honorable S. Thomas Anderson sentenced the final defendant in the Western District of Tennessee.

According to information presented in court, in August 2019, FBI-Jackson, Tennessee, working with FBI-McAllen, Texas, learned of a drug trafficking organization operating in South Texas. Investigators determined that brothers Pablo Talavera, 64, and Elias Talavera, 52, were trafficking kilogram quantities of methamphetamine and other narcotics across the United States.

In January 2022, in a covert operation, agents seized nine kilograms of methamphetamine from an 18-wheeler in Jackson shipped by Pablo Talavera and others to Tennessee.  In March 2022, agents seized another 10.5 kilograms of methamphetamine in Camden, Tennessee sent by this organization.  Investigators determined that Pablo and Elias Talavera obtained methamphetamine from cartels in Mexico and coordinated the shipments of the controlled substances.  Luis Sorcia, 32, Jose Cordova, 32, and Guillermo Castro, 51, assisted in transporting the narcotics and attempted to avoid detection by law enforcement.

Each of the following co-conspirators pled guilty to charges brought against them and were sentenced by the Honorable S. Thomas Anderson, United States District Judge:

• Pablo Talavera, of Michoacan, Mexico: 275 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine.
• Elias Talavera, of Reynosa, Mexico: 150 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine.
• Luis Sorcia, of Edinburg, Texas: 120 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine.
• Jose Cordova, of Reynosa, Mexico: 72 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine.
• Guillermo Castro, of Brownsville, Texas: 60 months in prison and 3 years of supervised release for aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine.

This investigation was conducted as part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (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.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Jackson, Tennessee and McAllen, Texas.  Assisting in the investigation were the Drug Enforcement Administration Laboratories in Nashville, Tennessee and Dallas, Texas, the Selmer Police Department, the Bolivar Police Department, the Jackson Police Department, the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office, the McNairy County Sheriff’s Office, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, and the 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force.    

Acting United States Attorney Reagan Fondren thanked Assistant United States Attorneys Gregory D. Allen and Hillary L. Parham, who prosecuted this case, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the case.   

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Memphis, TN – Effective September 19, 2024, First Assistant United States Attorney Reagan Taylor Fondren will succeed former United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz as the Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee pursuant to the Vacancies Reform Act.  Ms. Fondren has served as First Assistant since October 2022.

Fondren, a native Memphian and graduate of Central High School, completed her undergraduate studies at Spelman College and her law degree at the University of Tennessee College of Law. She has worked in federal public service with the United States Department of Justice for her entire career and has served as an Assistant United States Attorney for over 16 years.

Fondren began her career as a Presidential Management Fellow with the Drug Enforcement Administration. There, she served in the Office of the Chief Counsel and was responsible for the investigation and institution of charges against DEA registrants accused of violating federal regulations. In 2008, she joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, where she gained significant trial and appellate experience as a violent crime and homicide prosecutor. 

In 2014, Fondren returned to Memphis to serve the Western District of Tennessee as an Assistant United States Attorney.  She served as senior and lead AUSA in the Civil Rights Unit of the Criminal Division.  In this role, she managed complex investigations and trials involving multiple law enforcement partners.  She later joined the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office, where she served as Senior Litigation Counsel and defended the United States in an array of civil cases, such as employment discrimination, medical malpractice, and prisoner litigation.  As head of the Financial Litigation and Bankruptcy Divisions, she worked with government agencies to collect debts and represent the interests of the United States in bankruptcy litigation.  Additionally, Fondren served as the District Election Officer and Chair of the Diversity Committee. 

Ms. Fondren is married to Rickey Fondren II, and they have two children.  She is a Fellow of the Memphis Bar Foundation and active in community and legal organizations including the National Bar Association; the National Black Prosecutors Association; Girl Scouts Heart of the South; The Links, Incorporated; and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

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Memphis, TN – United States Attorney Kevin Ritz released the following statement today: 

"I have communicated to President Joe Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland that I am resigning as United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee effective September 18, 2024. 

It has been such a tremendous honor to serve our country in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for 19 years—and to lead the office for the last two years.  I’m especially lucky to have served as an Assistant United States Attorney and as United States Attorney in my hometown of Memphis.  I am immensely proud to say that the United States is the only client I have ever had. 

I thank President Biden, Attorney General Garland, the United States Senate, and Congressman Steve Cohen for the opportunity to serve as the chief federal law enforcement officer in West Tennessee.  I also thank our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners for the work that they do to keep our citizens safe.  Most of all, I thank the women and men of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their hard work and steadfast commitment to promoting and defending the interests of the United States of America.  I feel so fortunate to have had the chance to lead this dedicated group of federal public servants for the past two years.” 

As United States Attorney since September 2022, Ritz has supervised the prosecution of all federal crimes and the litigation of all civil matters in which the United States has an interest within the 22 counties of the Western District of Tennessee. 

Before serving as United States Attorney, Ritz worked as an Assistant United States Attorney in West Tennessee for 17 years, including 12 years as Appellate Chief.  Ritz grew up in Memphis and attended Memphis City Schools.  He and his family will continue to live in Memphis.

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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 – Cordarious Baltimore, 30, of Brownsville, Tennessee, was sentenced to 246 months in federal prison after his conviction for multiple robberies and firearm offenses.  Baltimore was the final defendant to be sentenced regarding a series of 2016 business robberies which occurred in and around Brownsville. Kevin G. Ritz, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentencing today. 

According to the information presented in court, over a period of five days in April 2016, three businesses in the Brownsville, Haywood County area were robbed by two masked men armed with pistols.  During this time, two different shootings occurred where 9mm shell casings and a .22 LR shell casing were recovered by the Brownsville Police Department on the scenes.  

On April 25, 2016, after the robbery of a truck stop, deputies with the Haywood County Sheriff's Department collected clothing on a nearby road that was worn by the armed robbers.  Deputies sent those items of evidence to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) for DNA analysis, which in 2018 linked Baltimore’s co-conspirators, Lacey Jeter and Johnny Lee Nixon, Jr., to the clothing. 

On April 26, 2016, officers with the Brownsville Police Department observed a vehicle that matched the description of the vehicle seen leaving the scene of the earlier truck stop robbery and initiated a traffic stop.  After a brief chase, the vehicle crashed in rural Haywood County and the occupants of the vehicle fled leaving behind two pistols similar to ones described by witnesses to the recent robberies.  The Brownsville Police Department collected the firearms and TBI Agents were able to confirm that the shell casings recovered after the shootings were fired from one of the firearms recovered near the scene of the crash.  

In October 2022, Baltimore pled guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, commission of Hobbs Act robbery, brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, and three counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  On September 12, 2024, United States District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Baltimore to 246 months incarceration followed by 5 years of supervised release on September 12, 2024.  There is no parole in the federal system. 

Jeter pled guilty and was sentenced in April 2022.  Nixon was convicted by a jury and was sentenced to 160 months incarceration and 5 years supervised release in February 2020. 

United States Attorney Ritz said: “This defendant’s serious violent crimes justify this significant federal prison sentence.  Our citizens deserve to feel safe in their communities, and that is why this office will continue to work with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to vigorously enforce federal firearm and robbery laws.” 

The Haywood County Sheriff’s Department said: “The Haywood County Sheriff’s Office is glad to be involved in the resolution of this case against Cordarious Baltimore.  One of the goals of the Haywood County Sheriff’s Office is to make all residents and visitors to Haywood County feel safer from the criminal element and achieving a conviction in this incident falls within that goal of the agency.  We appreciate the assistance of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives in this investigation, and the efforts of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee in helping achieve the greatest amount of time allowable under law for those involved in violent crimes, especially gun crimes.” 

This case was investigated by the Haywood County Sheriff’s Department, Brownsville Police Department, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. 

United States Attorney Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Hillary Parham who prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated 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 – United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz announced today the indictments of ten individuals who were charged with federal gun and violent crime offenses in West Tennessee.  United States Attorney Ritz also reinforced his office’s commitment to federal prosecution of individuals who commit violent crimes, illegally possess machine-gun conversion devices (also known as “switches”), or commit other federal firearm offenses. 

“As alleged, these individuals have committed serious federal crimes involving firearms or violent activity,” said United States Attorney Ritz.  “Our office will continue to work with the Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force and other law enforcement partners to reduce violent crime in our community.  The citizens of Memphis and Shelby County deserve to feel safe.” 

The following defendants were charged with federal crimes involving switches: 

• Wayne Sanders, 31. Sanders was charged in June 2024 with being a felon in possession of firearms and possessing a machine gun on February 24, 2024.  A superseding indictment returned on August 29, 2024, charged Sanders with four additional counts related to his arrest by officers in April 2024:
  • Possession of a machine gun;
  • Being a felon in possession of a firearm;
  • Assault of a Task Force Officer with the U.S. Marshals Service; and
  • Brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the assault on a federal officer. 

• Myles Bowens, 22. Bowens was indicted on August 29, 2024, for being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a gun with an attached machine-gun conversion device. 

• Taveon Earnest, 20. Earnest was indicted on August 29, 2024, for possessing a gun with an attached machine-gun conversion device. 

• Actavious Ellis, 30. Ellis was indicted on August 29, 2024, for possessing a gun with an attached machine-gun conversion device. 

The following defendants were charged with other firearm or violent crime offenses: 

• Nathenael Tekle, 23. Tekle was indicted on August 29, 2024, for four separate armed business robberies in Memphis, committed over a 10-day span in October and November 2023.  He is charged with four counts of robbery of a business affecting interstate commerce and four counts of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the robberies. 

• Caran Stokes, 26. Stokes was indicted on August 29, 2024, on one count of carjacking and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the carjacking.  

• Tony Thomas, 27. Thomas was indicted on August 29, 2024, on one count of carjacking and one count of brandishing a firearm during and in relation to the carjacking.  

• Pierre Jones, 34. Jones was indicted on August 29, 2024, for possession of a firearm after having at least three prior convictions for serious drug offenses or violent felonies.  

• Marcus Oher, 26. Oher was indicted on August 29, 2024, for being a felon in possession of a firearm on two different occasions. 

• Jermaine Cooper, 35. Cooper was indicted on August 29, 2024, for being a felon in possession of a firearm. 

These cases are being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Safe Streets Task Force; the Project Safe Neighborhoods Gun Task Force; the Memphis Police Department; and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office.  Anyone with information about switches or other federal gun crimes can call 1-800-ATF-GUNS (1-800-283-4867).

The charges and allegations contained in the indictments are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence.  The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.  If convicted, each defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after review of the factors unique to the case, including the defendant’s prior criminal records (if any), the defendant’s role in the offense, and the characteristics of the violation. 

These indictments are 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, using data-driven methods to set focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results. 

United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked the Assistant United States Attorneys prosecuting these cases, as well as the law enforcement partners who investigated the cases.   

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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 former Memphis, Tennessee, Police Department (MPD) officer facing federal civil rights charges for the tragic killing of Tyre Nichols pleaded guilty in federal court today.

Emmitt Martin III, pleaded guilty to civil rights and conspiracy charges arising out of the Jan. 7, 2023, incident. Martin is the second MPD officer to plead guilty in this case.

On Sept. 12, 2023, a federal jury returned a four-count indictment against Martin and four co-defendants. The charges included using excessive force resulting in the death of Nichols; aiding and abetting each other in using that excessive force; failing to intervene to stop the excessive force; failing to render medical aid; and conspiring or taking action to cover up their misconduct. On Nov. 2, 2023, co-defendant Desmond Mills entered a guilty plea to civil rights and conspiracy charges.

The remaining three defendants will face a federal trial scheduled for Sept. 9.

In today’s court appearance, Martin pleaded guilty to counts one and three of the indictment. Count one charged Martin with using excessive force and failing to intervene in the unlawful assault. Count three charged Martin with conspiring to cover up his use of unlawful force by omitting material information and by providing false and misleading information to his supervisor and to others. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Dec. 5. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Memphis Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Memphis Field Office investigated this case. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Pritchard and Elizabeth Rogers for the Western District of Tennessee and Special Litigation Counsel Kathryn E. Gilbert, Trial Attorney Andrew Manns and Deputy Chief Forrest Christian of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case. 

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Topic

CIVIL RIGHTS

Components

Civil Rights Division 

Civil Rights - Criminal Section 

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) 

USAO - Tennessee, Western

Press Release Number: 24-1049

A former Memphis, Tennessee, Police Department (MPD) officer facing federal civil rights charges for the tragic killing of Tyre Nichols pleaded guilty in federal court today.

Emmitt Martin III, pleaded guilty to civil rights and conspiracy charges arising out of the Jan. 7, 2023, incident. Martin is the second MPD officer to plead guilty in this case.

On Sept. 12, 2023, a federal jury returned a four-count indictment against Martin and four co-defendants. The charges included using excessive force resulting in the death of Nichols; aiding and abetting each other in using that excessive force; failing to intervene to stop the excessive force; failing to render medical aid; and conspiring or taking action to cover up their misconduct. On Nov. 2, 2023, co-defendant Desmond Mills entered a guilty plea to civil rights and conspiracy charges.

The remaining three defendants will face a federal trial scheduled for Sept. 9.

In today’s court appearance, Martin pleaded guilty to counts one and three of the indictment. Count one charged Martin with using excessive force and failing to intervene in the unlawful assault. Count three charged Martin with conspiring to cover up his use of unlawful force by omitting material information and by providing false and misleading information to his supervisor and to others. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Dec. 5. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. 

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, U.S. Attorney Kevin Ritz for the Western District of Tennessee, and Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Memphis Field Office made the announcement.

The FBI Memphis Field Office investigated this case. 

Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Pritchard and Elizabeth Rogers for the Western District of Tennessee and Special Litigation Counsel Kathryn E. Gilbert, Trial Attorney Andrew Manns and Deputy Chief Forrest Christian of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division are prosecuting the case.

MEMPHIS, TN - United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz today announced that a Memphis-area man has been charged with making threats against President Joseph R. Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former President Barack Obama.    

On July 27, 2024, Kyl Alton Hall, 37, made numerous posts on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter).  Specifically, in the posts, he threatened to kill, assassinate, shoot, and crash the plane of President Biden; assassinate Vice President Harris; and assassinate former President Obama. 

A federal indictment returned on August 20, 2024, charged Hall with two counts of threats to a sitting President and Vice President in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 871(a), and one count of a threat to a former President under Section 879(a)(1).  Each charge carries a potential penalty of up to five years in prison. 

The United States Secret Service investigated this case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Will Crow of the National Security and Civil Rights Unit in the U.S. Attorney’s Office. 

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.