Memphis Man Sentenced to 151 Months in Prison for Selling Heroin and Other Drugs

Memphis, TN – Antonio Rucker, 39, has been sentenced to 151 months in the Federal Bureau of Prisons for possession with intent to distribute 100 grams of heroin, 125 grams of cocaine, and over 100 oxycodone pills. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, on March 15, 2018, the Memphis Police Department Organized Crime Unit stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation in Memphis. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Antonio Rucker. Officers immediately smelled marijuana upon approaching the vehicle. A further search of the vehicle revealed a box in the floorboard containing 100 grams of heroin, 125 grams of cocaine, and over 100 30 milligram oxycodone pills. Rucker was arrested and indicted for the above federal drug offenses.

At his change of plea hearing in October, Rucker admitted to possessing the heroin, cocaine, and oxycodone with the intent to distribute. Rucker was determined to be a career offender under the United States Sentencing Guidelines due to the fact that he had several prior felony drug convictions on his record. At the sentencing hearing before U.S. District Court Judge John T. Fowlkes, Jr., Rucker was sentenced to 151 months imprisonment

.U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Drug trafficking is an inherently dangerous business that is often conducted by recidivist offenders who have dedicated their lives to criminal activity, and who have no regard for the addiction, injury, and death caused by their sale of illegal drugs. This sentence demonstrates our commitment to remove career drug traffickers from our streets by seeking significant mandatory sentences for selling poison in our community."

This case was investigated by the Memphis Police Department Organized Crime Unit, with assistance from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Special Assistant United States Attorney Joseph Griffith prosecuted the case on behalf of the government.

This case is part of the West Tennessee Heroin Initiative, a joint task force of attorneys and law enforcement from both federal and state agencies dedicated to reducing the supply of heroin and opioids in Memphis and Shelby County.