West Tennessee Round-Up Nets 14 Suspects On Methamphetamine, Marijuana, And Gun Charges

Jackson, TN – Law enforcement officials from at least 10 federal, state, and local agencies participated in today’s round-up of individuals indicted for federal drug trafficking violations, announced United States Attorney Edward L. Stanton III and Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Division of the FBI A. Todd McCall.

The indictments were returned by a federal grand jury in Jackson on January 21, 2014, but remained under seal until today’s arrests. The charges in the indictments stem from the illegal activity of selling, manufacturing, and distributing methamphetamine and marijuana, as well as possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

The suspects arrested during the operation were:

• Richard Alley, 40, of Hardin County
• Scotty Alley, 41, of Wayne County
• Sherill Douglas, 43, of Henderson County
• Steven Flowers, 41, of Henderson County
• Brandon Frazier, 35, of Wayne County
• Sherry Gilbert, 36, of Henderson County
• Bryant Hart, 43, of Decatur County
• Carol Ann Lee, 38, of Wayne County
• Jamie Pearson, 34, of Henderson County
• Kelvin Pettigrew, 38, of Henderson County
• Bartee Rich, 36, of Hardin County
• Diana Williams, 42, of Hardin County
• Emanuel Lopez, 24, of Tarrant County (Texas)
• Francisco Lopez, 28, (Already In Federal Custody)

During the course of this investigation, law enforcement officials have seized illicit narcotics, including at least 550 grams of methamphetamine, U.S. currency, drug paraphernalia, and at least 70 firearms, which included both handguns and long guns.

Law enforcement agencies participating in today’s round-up include the FBI, the United States Marshals Service, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Dyer County Sheriff’s Department, Dyersburg Police Department, Henderson County Sheriff’s Department, Jackson Police Department, Lexington Police Department, and Wayne County Sheriff’s Department.

The case was investigated by members of the FBI’s Memphis Safe Streets Task Force (ME SSTF), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force. The ME SSTF is a FBI sponsored task force comprised of agents from the FBI Memphis Division’s Jackson Resident Agency, the Dyer County Sheriff’s Department, the Dyersburg Police Department, the Jackson Police Department, and the Lexington Police Department. The ME SSTF focuses on bringing together the combined resources of the FBI and other federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to address violent criminal threats. This investigation is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Beth Hall on behalf of the government.

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