Federal Jury Convicts Eloy “Chino” Alonzo of Methamphetamine Distribution and Firearms Violations

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Following a three-day trial before the Honorable Thomas A. Varlan, Chief U.S. District Court Judge, a jury found Eloy “Chino” Alonzo, 31, of Sweetwater, Tennessee, guilty of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of his drug trafficking.  Sentencing is set for 2:00 pm, April 26, 2018, in U.S. District Court.  

Evidence presented at trial showed that Eloy Alonzo, an illegal alien and citizen of Mexico, was a large-scale drug distributor that brought and sold pounds of methamphetamine into east Tennessee.  A large quantity of methamphetamine and multiple assault rifles were found at Alonzo’s residence during the execution of a search warrant in Monroe County, Tennessee, in September 2016.

Law enforcement agencies participating in this joint investigation included the Ninth Judicial Drug Task Force, Drug Enforcement Administration, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, Sweetwater City Police Department, U.S. Homeland Security Investigations, Blount County Sherriff’s Department and Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force.   Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cynthia Davidson and LaToyia Carpenter represented the United States.

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