All of the individuals arrested are suspected of having ties to gangs in and around the Chattanooga area. The arrests were announced by FBI Special Agent in Charge (SAC) Richard Lambert, Hamilton County District Attorney Bill Cox, Chattanooga Police Chief Freeman Cooper and United States Attorney James R. "Russ" Dedrick. Several other agencies have assisted in this effort including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and the United States Marshals Service.

Of those arrested, Lapasley Bates, age 21; Reginald McKibbens, age 30; Martrel Arnold, age 22; Corey Craddock, age 28; Trammel Hubbard, age 29; and, Demetrius Howard, age 26, all of Chattanooga, Tennessee, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Chattanooga, Tennessee on federal charges including drug and weapons violations. Other federal defendants are pending arrest and their names and other pertinent information will be released upon their initial appearance before the United States Magistrate Judge. A list of each individual charge with the potential penalty, if convicted, is listed on the attached summary sheet. Those apprehended on state offenses have been charged with crimes of violence, drugs and property crimes. Initial appearances are scheduled for Monday, September 22, in United States District Court in Chattanooga, before the Honorable Susan K. Lee, United States Magistrate Judge and before judges in the Hamilton County General Sessions Court.

United States Attorney Dedrick said, "Chattanooga and the surrounding areas have been plagued by gang activity and gang violence. This cooperative endeavor between federal, state and local authorities will assist in the effort to curtail gang activity. Gang members are on notice that if their activities violate federal or state law they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent." This initiative was also a joint effort with the Weed and Seed Organizations in Chattanooga and partial funding was provided by Project Safe Neighborhoods.

United States Attorney Dedrick further announced that mini-grants were being awarded in the amounts of $30,000 to the East Chattanooga Weed and Seed Site and $35,000 to the Martin Luther King Chattanooga Weed and Seed Site, to work with at risk youth in development programs to teach basic life skills to become productive members of society without having to rely on gang membership or drugs. These grants are just a start in the fight against gangs. There is a need for the citizens of Hamilton County and surrounding areas, along with faith-based and community service organizations, to join law enforcement in the Weed and Seed sites in the fight against gang violence by providing time and resources.

Dedrick also noted that in June 2008, a gang summit was held involving law enforcement, community leaders, representatives of the school system and other social and welfare agencies. Over 65 individuals attended this summit, including the mayors of Chattanooga and Hamilton County. As a result of this summit, further initiatives are being planned to address gang violence and at-risk youth programs in the Chattanooga region.

Additionally, serious violent offenders and gang members are being identified by law enforcement agencies in conjunction with the state Board of Probation and Parole and the Tennessee Department of Corrections. This multi-gang approach, involving all local, state and federal agencies, will coordinate a comprehensive approach to identifying violent and gang offenders and insure that they are brought to justice facing the maximum extent of the state and federal laws.

Dedrick further announced that in conjunction with the new State of Tennessee Fusion Center, a law enforcement database, operated jointly by the Department of Homeland Security and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, a gang member intelligence database and program had been developed to bring on-line. This service will be free of charge to all law enforcement agencies. The database will allow agencies to identify and track gang members from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and alert law enforcement to their presence. The Tennessee Fusion Center gang database will save Tennessee law enforcement agencies millions of dollars in expenses and will unify the state's law enforcement agencies in the fight against gang activity. Funds for these initiatives were made possible by the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee and the Department of Justice's Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) and Anti-Gang Initiaitives.

District Attorney Cox stated “We applaud the efforts of all of our law enforcement agencies to address this serious problem in Hamilton County and we will commit all of our prosecutorial resources to assist with this effort.”

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

For additional information, please contact United States Attorney Russ Dedrick, 865-545-4167, AUSA Perry H. Piper, 423-752-5140, Public Information Officer Sharry Dedman-Beard, 865-545-4167, or Hamilton County District Attorney General Bill Cox, 423-209-7400.

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