Eighteen Individuals Indicted For Conspiracy To Manufacture Methamphetamine

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - A federal grand jury in Knoxville returned two separate indictments on July 16, 2014. In one, 17 individuals were charged in a conspiracy to manufacture 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Those indicted in that case include:

Timothy Chesser, 34, Harriman, Tenn.; Raymond Racey, 33, Rockwood, Tenn.; Eddie Powers, 40, Harriman, Tenn.; Christopher Ryan Jenkins, 27, Rockwood, Tenn.; Linda Barron, 38, Rockwood, Tenn.; Brie Chandler, 25, Harriman, Tenn.; Jack Chesser, 43, Harriman, Tenn.; Bobbie Jo Forrester, 20, Harriman, Tenn.; Regina Green, 35, Kingston, Tenn.; Jessica Jenkins, 25, Rockwood, Tenn.; Roy Jenkins, 27, Rockwood, Tenn.; Jeff McFalls, 34, Kingston, Tenn.; Amber Murphy, 21, Harriman, Tenn.; Wanda Phillips, 44, Oakdale, Tenn.; Rebecca Sandifer, 35, Harriman, Tenn.; James E. Roberts, 25, Harriman, Tenn.; and David Trentham, 38, Harriman, Tenn.

In addition, Timothy Chesser, Racey, Powers, and Christopher Ryan Jenkins were indicted for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine.

In a separate case, David Neal, 33, of Kingston, Tenn., was indicted for conspiracy to manufacture five grams or more of methamphetamine.

Fifteen of these individuals were arrested and appeared in court between July 29, 2014, and July 31, 2014, before U.S. Magistrate Judge H. Bruce Guyton and pleaded not guilty to the charges in the indictment.

The investigation has shown that the individuals involved were purchasing pseudoephedrine at local pharmacies and using that pseudoephedrine to manufacture methamphetamine at various locations in Roane County.

If convicted, all 17 charged in the first indictment face a minimum mandatory term of 10 years in prison and a maximum of life, a maximum fine of $10 million, and at least five years of supervised release. Neal, if convicted, will face a minimum mandatory prison term of five years and a maximum of 40 years, a $5 million fine, and at least four years of supervised release. All also face mandatory court assessments.

This indictment is the result of a multi-agency investigation including the Roane County Sheriff’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Harriman Police Department, Kingston Police Department, Rockwood Police Department, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, 9th Judicial Drug Task Force, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Blount County Sheriff’s Office, and Tennessee Methamphetamine and Pharmaceutical Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brooklyn Sawyers will represent the United States.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.