Michael Wayne Lee Sentenced For Drug Offenses Related To An Overdose Death

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On June 8, 2023, Michael Wayne Lee, 45 of Blaine, Tennessee, was sentenced to 87 months in prison by the Honorable Clifton Corker, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville.  Following his imprisonment, Lee will be on supervised release for three years. 

Following a 4-day trial, ending on January 27, 2023, Lee was convicted by the jury of Conspiring to Distribute Fentanyl in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846, 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C); Abetting the Distribution of Fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(c), and 18 U.S.C. § 2; and Using a Communication Facility to Conspire to Distribute Fentanyl, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 843(b) and (d)(1).

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, on May 15, 2020, two inmates at the former Northeast Correctional Complex, Carter County Annex (NECX) of the Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) were transported to a local hospital for treatment related to a fentanyl overdose; one inmate died.  The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and TDOC investigators responded to the facility to investigate the incident.  During the investigation, they learned that Lee, an inmate at NECX, used a contraband cell phone to communicate with a co-defendant, Debra Kathleen Vekasi.  Vekasi would acquire narcotics and transport them to Carter County.  She would hide the narcotics in tennis balls, which were thrown over a security fence and into the recreation yard.  Inmates would collect the narcotics-filled tennis balls for Lee, who would distribute the drugs throughout NECX.  On May 15, 2020, the narcotics that Vekasi provided to the inmate in NECX included 30 fake oxycodone pills that contained fentanyl.  A search of Vekasi’s cell phone included text messages between her and Lee that discussed the receipt and distribution of narcotics, as well as the receipt and payment of money for the narcotics.

On May 25, 2023, Vekasi, 70, of Knoxville, Tennessee, who was also convicted at trial, was sentenced by the Honorable Clifton Corker to time served (28 months) and three years of supervised release, for her role in the conspiracy. 

The criminal indictment was the result of an investigation by the TBI and TDOC’s Office of Inspection and Compliance.  The investigation was led by Special Agent Jason Roark of TBI.

Assistant United States Attorneys B. Todd Martin and Mac D. Heavener represented the United States.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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