Dyer County Career Drug Offender Sentenced to Over 12 Years in Federal Prison

Jackson, TN – William Frank Perry, 49, has been sentenced to 151 months in federal prison for three counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, crack cocaine and marijuana. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, on December 11, 2018, when officers with the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, Dyersburg Police Department and the United States Marshals Service attempted to execute an arrest warrant for Perry at his residence, he was not home. Officers observed the defendant's sister in the driveway getting into a vehicle and instructed her to contact Perry. When he arrived to the residence, he was immediately placed into custody. While searching the vehicle, officers observed a black bag in the front passenger floorboard of the vehicle. The defendant's sister denied ownership of the bag or knowledge of its contents.

Perry admitted to possessing the bag and provided a statement as to its contents. A search revealed 6.58 grams of crack cocaine, 5.57 grams of methamphetamine, 1.3 lbs. of marijuana and over $3,000 in U.S. currency on Perry’s person.

Perry has an extensive criminal history with prior convictions for multiple drug felonies, including possession with the intent to distribute cocaine; possession of marijuana with the intent to manufacture, sell or deliver; attempt to distribute controlled substances; and possession with the intent to distribute and attempt to possess marijuana. As a result of these prior drug felony convictions, Perry is considered to be a career drug offender under federal law for purposes of sentencing.

On October 1, 2020, U.S. District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Perry to 151 months in federal prison followed by three years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "This defendant has a long criminal history of felony drug convictions, yet continued his persistent pattern of drug trafficking. Mr. Perry has devoted his adult life to a career of repeated criminal conduct, and that prior history has finally caught up with him. This sentence removing him from the community for more than 12 years is well-deserved, and will make Dyersburg and West Tennessee a safer place."

The FBI Safe Streets Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Dyersburg Police Department investigated this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Lawler Parham prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

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