VILLA RIDGE WOMAN SENTENCED TO FEDERAL PRISON

Tara Michelle Kern, 39, of Villa Ridge, Illinois, was sentenced on August 8, 2012, to 6 months in federal prison, to be followed by 6 months house arrest, for federal gun offenses and obstructing justice, Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced today. Kern was also placed on two years supervised release and was fined $400.

Kern had previously pleaded guilty to a four count Indictment which charged in Count 1 of the Indictment charges that from on or about October 8, 2006, to on or about May 17, 2011, in Pulaski County, Tara M. Kern did knowingly aid and abet a convicted felon (William A. Kern) in the possession of a firearm, a Ruger Mini 14, .223 caliber rifle, in violation of federal law; in Count 2 of the Indictment charges that from on or about September 25, 2007, to on or about May 17, 2011, in Pulaski County, Tara M. Kern did knowingly aid and abet a convicted felon (William A. Kern) in the possession of a firearm, a Ruger Model 10/22. .22 caliber rifle, in violation of federal law; in Count 3 of the Indictment charges that from on or about November 20, 2007, to on or about May 17, 2011, in Pulaski County, Tara M. Kern did knowingly aid and abet a convicted felon (William A. Kern) in the possession of a firearm, a Benelli Super Black Eagle 12 gauge shotgun, in violation of federal law; and in Count 4 of the Indictment charges that on May 17, 2011, in Pulaski County, Tara M. Kern did knowingly conceal six (6) firearms with the intent to impede, obstruct, and influence the investigation of a matter within the jurisdiction of the ATF, all in violation of federal law.

William Kern was previously sentenced to 42 months imprisonment on federal gun charges.

The investigation in this case was conducted by the ATF, Illinois State Police, Union County Sheriff's Office, Union County State's Attorney's Office, the Southern Illinois Drug Task Force. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney George A. Norwood.

FBI Requests Assistance to Locate Adam Mayes and Kidnapping Victims

Adam Mayes

JACKSON, TN—The Memphis Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is requesting any information regarding the location of victims of a kidnapping that occurred in Hardeman County, Tennessee.

Jo Ann Bain

On Friday, April 27, 2012, Jo Ann Bain, age 31, and her three children—Kyliyah Bain, age 8; Alexandria Bain, age 12; and Adrienne Bain, age 14—were reported missing by her husband. Jo Ann Bain’s vehicle was later found abandoned.

Information has developed that Adam Mayes, a white male, 35 years old, is responsible for their disappearance. Mayes was considered a friend of the family. Contact with Mayes was initiated early in the investigation, but he later fled when law enforcement authorities subsequently attempted to contact him. Mayes was last reported seen on May 1, 2012 in Guntown, Mississippi.

Adrienne Bain

Federal search warrants were executed at residences in Mississippi on May 4, 2012. During that search, two bodies were found. At this time their identities are unconfirmed.

Alexandria Bain

Information also indicates that Adam Mayes may have changed his and the missing victims appearances.

An Amber Alert was issued May 4, 2012 by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI). Based on all known information the missing victims are considered to be in extreme danger. Adam Mayes should be considered armed and dangerous.

Arrest warrants have been issued for Adam Mayes for the kidnapping of Jo Ann Bain and her three children.

Kyliyah Bain

Anyone with information that may lead to the location of Adam Mayes and the missing victims should immediately contact the Tennessee Fusion Center at 1-800-TBI-FIND (1-800-824-3463).

This case is being investigated by the Hardeman County Sheriff’s Office, the Union County (Mississippi) Sheriff’s Office, the TBI, the FBI, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Marshal’s Service (USMS), the 25th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Western District of Tennessee and the Northern District of Mississippi.

The FBI and USMS are offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information that leads to the location of the missing victims and the arrest of Adam Mayes.

Arrests Continue Related to Yesterday’s Multi-Agency Probe Targeting Drug-Related Corruption

FBI Knoxville Special Agent in Charge Richard L. Lambert, TBI Director Mark Gwyn, Internal Revenue Service-Criminal Investigative Division (IRS-CID), Supervisory Special Agent David Martin, and District Attorney General Paul Phillips announce the arrests of additional individuals who are charged with drug-related and other criminal offenses. These arrests represent the culmination of a long-term, multi-agency, undercover investigation targeting illegal activity in Union County, Tennessee.

The following individuals were arrested, without incident, as part of the ongoing investigation:

Jamison Ryan Bailey, age 21, of Maynardville, Tennessee

Tony Matthew Bailey, age 38, of Maynardville, Tennessee

Bobby Lynn Brown, age 32, of Sharps Chapel, Tennessee

Kevin Wayne Collins, age 37, of Sharps Chapel, Tennessee

Richard Ray Cooper, age 44, of Maynardville, Tennessee

Brenda Corum, age 31, of Luttrell, Tennessee

Pamela Keene, age 40, of Maynardville, Tennessee

Johnny Fred Gibson, age 49, of Maynardville, Tennessee

Fred Najar, age 61, of Maynardville, Tennessee

Tony Ray Odom, age 43, of Maynardville, Tennessee

Mark Stephen Williams, age 43, of Maynardville, Tennessee

All arrests were made pursuant to state capiases issued in Tennessee’s 8th Judicial District following the grand jury’s return of a multiple count indictment charging the above named persons. This investigation was a collaborative effort between the TBI and the Knoxville offices of the FBI and IRS-CID. Troopers from the Tennessee Highway Patrol, officers from the 8th Judicial Drug Task Force, and deputies from the Union County Sherriff’s Office assisted with the arrests.

Anyone with information related to this matter is encouraged to call the FBI’s toll free tip hotline at 888-678-6720.

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