Twenty-One Individuals Indicted on Drug, Money Laundering, and Firearms Charges

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GREENEVILLE, TN—An indictment charging 21 individuals with numerous drug and gun charges was unsealed on October 25, 2011, by U.S. Magistrate Judge Dennis H. Inman, in U.S. District Court, Greeneville. The charges involved distribution and possession with the intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, distribution and possession with the intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine, distribution and possession with the intent to distribute oxycodone, and conspiracy to launder money, within the Eastern District of Tennessee and elsewhere.

On September 13, 2011, a federal grand jury sitting in Greeneville, Tenn. indicted these 21 people on 45 separate counts including, a conspiracy to distribute and to possess with the intent to distribute marijuana, cocaine, and oxycodone, a conspiracy to launder money, possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes, and other firearms violations. If convicted, the defendants face a mandatory term of 10 years in prison, a fine of $10,000,000.00, a term of supervised release of at least five years, and mandatory court assessments. In addition, three of the firearms charges carry a prison term of five years which, by federal law, is imposed consecutively to the sentence for the drug trafficking offense. The indictment is filed as a public record at the U.S. District Court, Greeneville.

Those charged in the indictment are: William McMahan, Jr., 35, of Newport, Tenn.; Buford Rogers, 65, of Knoxville, Tenn.; Lee Sharp, 56, of Sharps Chapel, Tenn.; Rodney Settles, 47, of Mt. Juliet, Tenn.; Audrey Jinks, 36, of Newport, Tenn.: Richard Black, 45, of Cosby, Tenn.; Joyce Roberts, 44, of Newport, Tenn.: Victor Loveday, Sr., 57, of Maryville, Tenn.; Danny Richardson, 28, of New Tazewell, Tenn.; Robbie Langford, 30,of Knoxville, Tenn.; Charles Parker, 35, of Powell, Tenn.; Dallas Parsley, 70, of East Bernstadt, Ky.; Billy Gibson, 45, of Newport, Tenn.; Jayson Cox, 35, of Maryville, Tenn.; Victor Loveday, Jr., 31, of Maryville, Tenn.; Monica Denton, 28, of Newport, Tenn.; Gary Bridges, 51, of Sharps Chapel, Tenn.; Terry Miller, 57, of Hartford, Tenn.; Melonie Montanaro, 25, of Newport, Tenn.; Brandon Miller, 25, of Newport, Tenn.; and, Rodney Tullock, 48, of Afton, Tenn.

As of today, all of the individuals named in the indictment are in custody. A trial date is expected to be set at a hearing in U.S. District Court on November 1, 2011.

The indictment is the result of a joint investigation between the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Tennessee Fourth Judicial Drug Task Force, Hamblen County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee Fifth Judicial Drug Task Force, Blount County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Morristown HIDTA office, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives also provided invaluable assistance during the course of the investigation.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.