A Drug Enforcement Administration investigation has resulted in indictments against 12 people. Agents allege that they were part of an organization bringing cocaine into Tennessee, and they have identified a man from Memphis as the possible ringleader. Authorities cited taped telephone conversations referring to a “ticket” as evidence of his illegal activity. Law enforcement considers “ticket” to be a code word among drug dealers for cocaine.
When agents attempted to arrest him, he made a dramatic getaway after crashing his vehicle into a DEA car. He escaped by running into the woods with two large bags. When agents recovered the bags, they allegedly contained cocaine and $195,000. Agents succeeded in arresting the man the day after his escape.
According to court records, agents have confiscated almost 100 pounds of cocaine and about $40,000 from a local bank account attributed to another man accused of drug distribution. The address assigned to that account was for a home in Orange Mound that turned out to belong to his parents. Agents claimed that the seized cash was earned by selling drugs. The second man had allegedly been laundering money with a fake janitorial business.
Drug trafficking is a serious offense under both Tennessee and federal law, and the penalties if a conviction is obtained could include a lengthy prison sentence. As a result, people who are facing these types of charges might find it advisable to meet with a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible so that a strategy to counter the allegations or to lessen their impact can be constructed.
Source: FOX 13, “Phone taps used to bust up $1 million, multi-state cocaine ring in Memphis,” Jim Spiewak, Jan. 19, 2018
