January 16th, 2008
Weakley County Man Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine Base (Crack Cocaine)
Jackson, Tennessee - Michael Ellison, a/k/a “Big Mike” 38, of Dresden, Tennessee pleaded guilty today in Federal District Court, in Jackson, Tennessee, before Judge James D. Todd. Ellison, and three other co-defendants, Terri Jennings, 37, of Dresden, Tennessee, Randy Miller, 45, of Dresden, Tennessee, and William Shannon, 45, of Dresden, Tennessee, all pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute Cocaine Base (Crack Cocaine) announced David Kustoff, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.
The evidence showed that prior to December 1, 2006, Weakley County Sheriff’s Deputies, Dresden Police Department, and the 27th Judicial District Drug Task Force began conducting an undercover narcotics investigation. Agents were able to purchase various amounts of crack cocaine from Ellison, Jennings, Miller and Shannon. During the investigation, law enforcement officers were able to determine that Jennings, Miller and Shannon were obtaining their supply of crack cocaine from Ellison.
The charge, 21 U.S.C. § 846, conspiracy to distribute cocaine base (crack cocaine) carries a penalty of not less than 5 years and not more than 40 years, a $2,000,000 fine and not less than 4 years supervised release. Ellison will be sentenced on April 11, 2008, in Federal District Court, in Jackson, Tennessee, by Judge James D. Todd. Jennings, Miller and Shannon will be sentenced on April 15, 2008.
The investigation was handled by Weakley County Sheriff’s Department, Dresden Police Department, and the 27th Judicial District Drug Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Jerry Kitchen handled the case for the government.
# # # #