Indictment Charging 14 with Drug Trafficking Unsealed

MEMPHIS, TN—Edward L. Stanton, III, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee; Amy Hess, Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Sheriff Jeff Box, of the Dyer County Sheriff’s Office; and Chief Arthur Heun, of the Dyersburg Police Department, announced the unsealing of an indictment today charging 14 people with several federal drug trafficking violations.

The indictment, which contains a total of 39 counts, was returned by a federal grand jury in Memphis on October 27, 2010. Count 1 of the indictment charges Pierre Demon Isom, Terry Lee Adams, Tanisha Bonds, Joseph Dewayne Caldwell, Cortez Dewayne Cooper, Chistopher Shane Curry, Omar Shaierf Dubose, Monteith Alvarez Haley, Dafany Isom, Murrial Lee, Kenneth Wayne Lewis, Branden Amere Reed, Clethos Lance Robertson, and Dontonio Dupree Tate with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute more than 500 grams of cocaine and more than 28 grams of cocaine base in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846. The indictment charges that the conspiracy ran from November of 2009 through June of 2010. A violation of Section 846 is punishable by no less than five nor more than 40 years’ imprisonment and a fine of no more than $2,000,000, together with a mandatory term of supervised release of at least four years.

In addition to being charged with conspiracy, Pierre Demon Isom, a 23-year-old resident of Dyersburg, Tennessee, is charged in Counts 5 and 9 with possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1). Each violation of Section 841(a)(1) is punishable by a term of imprisonment of no more than 20 years and a fine of no more than $1,000,000, together with a mandatory term of supervised release of at least three years. Isom is charged in Counts 4, 8 and 10 with possessing cocaine with intent to distribute in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1). Each of these violations is punishable by a term of imprisonment of no more than 20 years and a fine of no more than $1,000,000, together with a mandatory term of supervised release of at least three years. Counts 13 through 38 of the indictment charge Isom with use of a telephone in committing a violation of the Controlled Substances Act in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843. The Controlled Substances Act is a federal statute that makes it unlawful for individuals to illegally manufacture, possess with the intent to distribute or distribute controlled substances. Under federal law cocaine and cocaine base are defined as controlled substances. Each violation of Section 843 is punishable by a term of imprisonment of no more than four years and a fine of no more than $250,000, together with a term of supervised release of no more than one year.

Charged with conspiracy in Count 1 of the indictment, Terry Lee Adams, a 35-year-old resident of Dyersburg, Tennessee, is also charged in Counts 13 and 14 with use of a telephone in committing a violation of the Controlled Substances Act in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843. Each violation of Section 843 is punishable by a term of imprisonment of no more than four years and a fine of no more than $250,000, together with a term of supervised release of no more than one year.

In addition to being charged with conspiracy, Tanisha Bonds, a 31-year-old resident of Dyersburg, Tennessee, is charged in Counts 15 and 16 with use of a telephone in committing a violation of the Controlled Substances Act in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843. Each violation of Section 843 is punishable by a term of imprisonment of no more than four years and a fine of no more than $250,000, together with a term of supervised release of no more than one year. In Count 39 of the indictment Bonds is charged with controlling the property at 103 Crawford Avenue in Dyersburg and making it available for “the purpose of unlawfully manufacturing, storing and distributing a controlled substance” in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 856(a)(2). A violation of Section 856 is punishable by no more than 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of no more than $500,000, together with a term of supervised release of three years.

Charged with conspiracy in Count 1 of the indictment, Joseph Dewayne Caldwell, a 25-year-old resident of Dyersburg, Tennessee, is also charged in Counts 17 and 18 with use of a telephone in committing a violation of the Controlled Substances Act in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843. Each violation of Section 843 is punishable by a term of imprisonment of no more than four years and a fine of no more than $250,000, together with a term of supervised release of no more than one year.

In addition to being charged with conspiracy, Cortez Dewayne Cooper, a 22-year-old resident of Dyersburg, Tennessee, is charged in Counts 19, 20, 21 and 22 with use of a telephone in committing a violation of the Controlled Substances Act in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843. Each violation of Section 843 is punishable by a term of imprisonment of no more than four years and a fine of no more than $250,000, together with a term of supervised release of no more than one year.

Charged with conspiracy in Count 1 of the indictment, Christopher Shane Curry, a 35-year-old resident of Dyersburg, Tennessee, is also charged in Counts 23, 24 and 25 with use of a telephone in committing a violation of the Controlled Substances Act in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843. Each violation of Section 843 is punishable by a term of imprisonment of no more than four years and a fine of no more than $250,000, together with a term of supervised release of no more than one year.

In addition to being charged with conspiracy, Omar Shaierf Dubose, a 37-year-old resident of Dyersburg, Tennessee, is charged in Count 8 with possessing cocaine with intent to distribute in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1). This violation is punishable by a term of imprisonment of no more than 20 years and a fine of no more than $1,000,000, together with a mandatory term of supervised release of at least three years. In addition, Dubose is charged in Count 26 with use of a telephone in committing a violation of the Controlled Substances Act in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843. A violation of Section 843 is punishable by a term of imprisonment of no more than four years and a fine of no more than $250,000, together with a term of supervised release of no more than one year.

Charged with conspiracy in Count 1 of the indictment, 31-year-old Monteith Alvarez Haley is also charged in Counts 27 and 28 with use of a telephone in committing a violation of the Controlled Substances Act in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843. A violation of Section 843 is punishable by a term of imprisonment of no more than four years and a fine of no more than $250,000, together with a term of supervised release of no more than one year.

In addition to being charged with conspiracy, Dafany Isom, a 29-year-old resident of Dyersburg, Tennessee, is charged in Count 11 with possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1). A violation of Section 841(a)(1) is punishable by a term of imprisonment of no more than 20 years and a fine of no more than $1,000,000, together with a mandatory term of supervised release of at least three years. Isom is charged in Count 12 with possessing cocaine with intent to distribute in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1). This violation is also punishable by a term of imprisonment of no more than 20 years and a fine of no more than $1,000,000, together with a mandatory term of supervised release of at least three years. Counts 29 and 30 charge Isom with use of a telephone in committing a violation of the Controlled Substances Act in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843. Each violation of Section 843 is punishable by a term of imprisonment of no more than four years and a fine of no more than $250,000, together with a term of supervised release of no more than one year.

Charged with conspiracy in Count 1 of the indictment, 36-year-old Murrial Lee is also charged in Counts 2 and 3 with possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1). A violation of Section 841(a)(1) is punishable by a term of imprisonment of no more than 20 years and a fine of no more than $1,000,000, together with a mandatory term of supervised release of at least three years. In addition, Lee is charged in Count 31 with use of a telephone in committing a violation of the Controlled Substances Act in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843. A violation of Section 843 is punishable by a term of imprisonment of no more than four years and a fine of no more than $250,000, together with a term of supervised release of no more than one year.

In addition to being charged with conspiracy, Kenneth Wayne Lewis, a 32-year-old resident of Dyersburg, Tennessee, is charged in Counts 32 and 33 with use of a telephone in committing a violation of the Controlled Substances Act in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843. A violation of Section 843 is punishable by a term of imprisonment of no more than four years and a fine of no more than $250,000, together with a term of supervised release of no more than one year.

Charged with conspiracy in Count 1 of the indictment, Braden Amere Reed, a 27-year-old resident of Dyersburg, Tennessee, is also charged in Counts 34 and 35 with use of a telephone in committing a violation of the Controlled Substances Act in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843. Each violation of Section 843 is punishable by a term of imprisonment of no more than four years and a fine of no more than $250,000, together with a term of supervised release of no more than one year.

In addition to being charged with conspiracy, Clethos Lance Robertson, a 47-year-old resident of Dyersburg, Tennessee, is charged in Counts 36 and 37 with use of a telephone in committing a violation of the Controlled Substances Act in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843. Each violation of Section 843 is punishable by a term of imprisonment of no more than four years and a fine of no more than $250,000, together with a term of supervised release of no more than one year.

Charged with conspiracy in Count 1 of the indictment, Dontonio Dupree Tate, a 30-year-old resident of Dyersburg, Tennessee, is also charged in Counts 6 and 7 with possession of cocaine base with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine base in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 841(a)(1). Each violation of Section 841(a)(1) is punishable by a term of imprisonment of no more than 20 years and a fine of no more than $1,000,000, together with a mandatory term of supervised release of at least three years. In addition, Tate is charged in Count 38 with use of a telephone in committing a violation of the Controlled Substances Act in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 843. This violation is punishable by a term of imprisonment of no more than four years and a fine of no more than $250,000, together with a term of supervised release of no more than one year.

Terry Lee Adams, Tanisha Bonds, Joseph Dewayne Caldwell, Cortez Dewayne Cooper, Christopher Shane Curry, Monteith Alvarez Haley, Murrial Lee, and Branden Amere Reed made initial appearances on Thursday, November 18, 2010, in federal court in Memphis before United States Magistrate Judge Charmiane G. Claxton. Lee, Haley, Adams and Reed are set for detention hearings in federal court in Memphis on Monday, November 22, 2010 at 2:30 p.m., 2:45 p.m., 3:00 p.m., and 3:15 p.m., respectively, before United States Magistrate Judge Diane K. Vescovo. Cooper, Caldwell and Curry are set for detention hearings in federal court in Memphis on Tuesday, November 23, 2010 at 2:30 p.m., 2:45 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., respectively, before United States Magistrate Judge Diane K. Vescovo.

The case was investigated by the following members of the West Tennessee Violent Crimes Task Force: Special Agent Wes Mayes of the Jackson, Tennessee office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Memphis Division, Sergeant Todd Thayer of the Dyersburg Police Department, and Investigator Chris Gorman of the Dyer County Sheriff’s Department. The task force is sponsored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is staffed by federal and local law enforcement officers. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joe Murphy.