Tri-Cities Man Sentenced to 180 Months for Drug and Firearm Offenses

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – David Anthony Mantey, 41, of Gray, Tenn., was sentenced on Oct. 6, 2014, by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, U.S. District Judge, to serve 180 months in federal prison. Mantey was previously convicted of possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

In November 2013, officers with the Johnson City Police Department observed a gold minivan driving in Johnson City, Tenn., and identified Mantey as the driver. Knowing his driver’s license had been previously revoked, they conducted a traffic stop. Mantey parked his vehicle in an alleyway, immediately exited, and attempted to flee. However, after verbal commands from the officers, he halted and returned to the car. The officers approached the vehicle, confirmed his identity, and then removed him from the vehicle for questioning. At that time, Mantey admitted to possessing a small amount of marijuana on his person. A search yielded approximately four grams of marijuana from his vest pocket, as well as $896 in various denominations. Mantey was arrested for traffic and drug violations and transported to the Washington County Detention Center. Upon arrival he was processed and searched more thoroughly, where he was found to be hiding approximately 23 grams of cocaine base (“crack”) in his underwear.

In March 2014 members of the First Judicial Drug Task Force, in cooperation with agents of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), arranged to purchase a firearm from Mantey using an individual working on behalf of law enforcement. After a series of calls to Mantey to coordinate the transaction, he agreed to sell a rifle and a pistol for $2,000. With law enforcement agents watching, the individual working on their behalf went to a residence in Gray, Tenn., which was the ultimately agreed upon transaction site. Mantey exited a nearby trailer upon the individual’s arrival and guided him to a parked minivan which they both entered. Mantey retrieved a black bag from the back seat of the minivan which contained a Bushmaster, Model Carbon 15, .223 caliber, semiautomatic rifle; and a Glock, model 36, .45 caliber, semiautomatic pistol. While discussing the functioning of the firearms, Mantey gave the individual a single round of Winchester, .223 caliber, ammunition. The individual gave Mantey the purchase money and both individuals departed. Subsequently, law enforcement met with the individual and recovered the firearms and ammunition.

This case was the product of cooperation between the Johnson City Police Department; First Judicial District Drug Task Force; and ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Regalia represented the United States