Two Major Dyersburg Crystal Meth Distributors Sentenced

Jackson, TN – Two leaders of a lucrative methamphetamine distribution ring in West Tennessee have been collectively sentenced to more than 270 months in federal prison. Edward L. Stanton III, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the sentencings today.

"The production, distribution and ingestion of methamphetamine remain an issue that is ravaging communities in West Tennessee and throughout the nation," said U.S. Attorney Edward L. Stanton III. "Sentences like these two serve as strong reminders that law enforcement is committed to ridding our district of this insidious drug."

Steven Isbell, Chief of Dyersburg Police Department, said of the case, "This is an example of what good teamwork can do. This case was initiated by our patrol level response. Officers referred the beginning information to the Dyersburg Police Department Street Crimes Unit, who in turn got DEA and TBI involved in the investigation. The end result is that 15 people have now been indicted federally, and these two sentences alone have gotten two major ice distributors off our streets."

Dyer County Sheriff Jeff Box stated, "I sincerely appreciate the U.S. Attorney’s Office working with all the agencies involved to insure these defendants received appropriate punishment for the crimes they committed. Our local officers worked with DEA and TBI on this investigation, which has lasted over 1 ½ years. Everybody's hard work resulted in numerous federal indictments and has helped us eliminate a high purity ice distribution ring in the Dyer County area."

According to information presented in court, Miracle Pounds, 37, and Robert Troy Anderson, 49, both of Dyersburg, TN, spearheaded an organization responsible for distributing large quantities of meth and crystal meth, also known as "ice." Meth with greater than 80 percent purity classifies as ice and has stricter punishment levels under the United States Sentencing Guidelines. From January 2014 to December 2014, the two defendants, along with several co-conspirators, unlawfully distributed various quantities of highly pure meth throughout West Tennessee.

In January 2014, Operation Ice Breaker was initiated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in collaboration with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), Dyersburg Police Department, and Dyer County Sheriff’s Office. The operation targeted several major ice distributors in the Dyersburg area — Pounds and Anderson being two of the operation’s main targets. Several state search warrants were executed on co-conspirators' homes during the investigation. And numerous controlled purchases were conducted where ice was sold by conspirators involved in the drug trafficking organization.

According to court information, Pounds and Anderson sold ice to undercover operatives. They also had other individuals selling ice for them. The two defendants, as well as other co-conspirators, transported meth from Arkansas to West Tennessee on various occasions for unlawful distribution. The majority of the meth recovered during Operation Ice Breaker’s duration was greater than 95 percent pure, classifying it as ice.

Both Pounds and Anderson pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute actual methamphetamine.

On November 24th, 2015, Chief Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Pounds to serve 121 months in prison.

On December 4th, 2015, Judge Breen sentenced Anderson to serve 151 months in prison.

This case was investigated by the DEA, TBI, Dyersburg Police Department, and Dyer County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Beth Boswell prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf.