Federal Jury Convicts Joshua Roberts In Crack Cocaine Conspiracy

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On Nov. 20, 2013, following a two day trial in U.S. District Court, a jury convicted Joshua Roberts, 28, of Knoxville, Tenn., of conspiring to possess with the intent to distribute over 28 grams of cocaine base, also known as crack.

Sentencing is set for Mar. 24, 2013 at 1:30 p.m., in U.S. District Court in Greeneville. Roberts faces a minimum mandatory 10 year sentence up to life in prison, a fine of up to $8,000,000 and at least eight years up to life on supervised release following the prison term.

The investigation of Roberts and his co-conspirators, all of whom entered guilty pleas prior to Roberts’ trial, began when Johnson City Police Officers responded to a request from the Motel 6 in Johnson City that officers investigate suspicious activity in a room. There, officers found Roberts and three of his four co-defendants in a room with packages of crack cocaine and tools of the drug trade. Another room rented by the group also contained crack cocaine. In all, nearly 3.5 ounces or 97.97 grams of crack cocaine, having a street value of approximately $10,000, was found in the rooms. Testimony at trial established that Roberts, and the others, came to Johnson City from Knoxville to sell crack cocaine, initially staying at the Red Roof Inn. After selling out of crack cocaine at the Red Roof Inn, the group returned to Knoxville to get more crack, then returned to Johnson City, this time staying at the Motel 6, where law enforcement intervened.

U.S. Attorney, William C. Killian, stated: “This should send a message to drug dealers wishing to peddle their poison on the streets of East Tennessee. You are not welcome here.”

Law enforcement agencies participating in the joint investigation which led to indictment and subsequent conviction of Roberts included the Johnson City Police Department, First Judicial District Drug Task Force, and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Gregory Bowman represented the United States.