United States Attorney James R. Dedrick
Eastern District of Tennessee
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
PRESS RELEASE
On Tuesday, September 23rd at 10:00 a.m., the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee held a press conference at the United States Attorney’s Office in Chattanooga, Tennessee to acknowledge local and federal law enforcement agencies for their participation in the investigation and forfeiture of property involved in United States v. Joseph Swafford and JES, Inc., d/b/a Broadway Home and Garden Center, Case No. 3:02-CR-140 (EDTN).
The following agencies have received equitable sharing totaling over $300,000.00:
Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department ($209, 618.45)
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation ($19,056.22)
East Ridge Police Department ($19,056.22)
Chattanooga Police Department ($19,056.22)
Tennessee Alcoholic Beverage Commission ($19,056.22)
Internal Revenue Service-CID ($19,056.22)
A Superceding Indictment was filed in Chattanooga, Tennessee on February 24, 2005, charging Joseph Swafford and JES, Inc., d/b/a Broadway Home and Garden Center with manufacturing methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Sections 841(a), 841(c), 843(a)(6) and 846. The Indictment also included forfeiture allegations pursuant to Title 21, United States Code, Section 853 for the forfeiture of real property known as Broadway Home and Garden Center, located at 3146 South Broad Street, Chattanooga, Tennessee.
On March 7, 2006, a jury in the United States District Court found Joseph Swafford guilty of manufacturing methamphetamine, which resulted in the forfeiture of the real property located at 3146 South Broad Street, Chattanooga, Tennessee, commonly known as Broadway Home and Garden Center. After the sale of the real property, the proceeds from the sale were shared with the local and federal law enforcement agencies that participated in the investigation of the case.
On June 16, 2006, Joseph Swafford was sentenced to 360 months and supervised release for a term of 5 years. Joseph Swafford appealed his sentence and is awaiting resentencing in the United States District Court, which is scheduled for November 20, 2008.
The year to date totals that the Eastern District of Tennessee have shared to law enforcement agencies is $1,292,299.00.
For more information contact United States Attorney James R. Dedrick, Assistant United States Attorney Frank M. Dale, Jr., Supervisory Asset Forfeiture Paralegal Stephanie Smith, or Public Information Officer Sharry Dedman-Beard at (865) 545-4167.