February 25, 2015

Area Woman Sentenced for Crack Cocaine Conspiracy

GREENEVILLE, TN—Michelle Nicole Lane, 33, of Blountville, Tenn., was sentenced on Feb. 23, 2015, by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, U.S. District Court Judge, to serve 132 months in federal prison. Lane pleaded guilty in October 2014 to conspiracy to distribute, and to possess with the intent to distribute, 280 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine base (“crack”). There is no parole in the federal system.

Over the course of roughly three years, Lane managed a large-scale crack cocaine conspiracy. In so doing, she was responsible for distributing multi-kilogram quantities of crack cocaine in the Tri-Cities area. As part of her part of her guilty plea, Lane admitted to being personally responsible for at least 840 grams, but less than 2,800 grams, of crack cocaine.

Lane managed a network of coconspirators who assisted in distributing her crack cocaine. These individuals included couriers, runners, and street-level dealers. Lane directed the actions of such individuals while she received the majority of the reward. As part of her conduct, Lane actively took steps to thwart law enforcement and skirt federal laws. These efforts failed and caused her to receive mandatory minimum sentences in federal prison.

As part of the investigation, law enforcement conducted seven different controlled drug transactions with members of Lane’s conspiracy. On one of those occasions, Lane and a codefendant sold crack cocaine to confidential informants acting under the supervision of agents and officers.

This case was the product of cooperation between the Johnson City Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Regalia represented the United States.