Wayne County Sheriff’s Office Instrumental in FBI Roundup
Wayne County News reports:
Indictments were returned by a federal grand jury in Jackson on Jan. 21, but remained under seal until the Jan. 28 arrests of 14 suspects with charges stemming from selling, manufacturing, and distributing crystal methamphetamine, as well as possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Pieces of information surfaced months ago in Wayne County leading to activity in Hardin County. Surveillance confirmed information and Wayne County then notified the FBI and TBI, who worked with Sheriff Ric Wilson, Chief Deputy Gerald Baer and Investigator Charles Mosely. A search warrant was issued for Richard Alley, one of the recently arrested that turned up drugs, over 40 guns, and stolen property. Continued investigation found involvement from Wayne, Henderson, Decatur, and Hardin counties in Tennessee, as well as Tarrant County, Texas and all the way to Mexico.
Tidbits of knowledge began to surface as long as 2 years ago through various arrests and informant information. Recently, authorities stumbled onto things that started to put all the pieces together. After a lot of hard work, a plan was put together and 100% of the indicted were arrested at 6 a.m. last Tuesday from here to Mexico. The round up substantially slowed down the availability of crystal meth to the area and is probably the greatest major step in the war on drugs in Wayne County since the arrest of Jerry Roberts in 2006 for possession of 6 lbs. of meth.
There is no connection between the round up in Wayne County on Jan. 18, 2014 and the FBI arrests on Jan, 28, 2014.
The suspects arrested during the operation were:
• Richard Alley, 40, of Hardin County
• Scotty Alley, 41, of Wayne County
• Sherill Douglas, 43, of Henderson County
• Steven Flowers, 41, of Henderson County
• Brandon Frazier, 35, of Wayne County
• Sherry Gilbert, 36, of Henderson County
• Bryant Hart, 43, of Decatur County
• Carol Ann Lee, 38, of Wayne County
• Jamie Pearson, 34, of Henderson County
• Kelvin Pettigrew, 38, of Henderson County
• Bartee Rich, 36, of Hardin County
• Diana Williams, 42, of Hardin County
• Emanuel Lopez, 24, of Tarrant County (Texas)
• Francisco Lopez, 28, (Already In Federal Custody)
During the course of this investigation, law enforcement officials have seized illicit narcotics, including at least 550 grams of methamphetamine, U.S. currency, drug paraphernalia, and at least 70 firearms, which included both handguns and long guns.
Law enforcement agencies participating in the round-up include the FBI, the United States Marshals Service, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Dyer County Sheriff’s Department, Dyersburg Police Department, Henderson County Sheriff’s Department, Jackson Police Department, Lexington Police Department, and Wayne County Sheriff’s Department.
The case was investigated by members of the FBI’s Memphis Safe Streets Task Force (ME SSTF), the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force. The ME SSTF is a FBI sponsored task force comprised of agents from the FBI Memphis Division’s Jackson Resident Agency, the Dyer County Sheriff’s Department, the Dyersburg Police Department, the Jackson Police Department, and the Lexington Police Department. The ME SSTF focuses on bringing together the combined resources of the FBI and other federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to address violent criminal threats.
Thief Becomes Stuck in the Mud
Wayne County News reports
Branson Colt Foster, 31, of Florence, AL was arrested on Feb. 20, 2014 on charges of aggravated burglary, vandalism over $1,000.00, 2 counts of theft over $1,000.00 but less than $10,000.00, and 3 counts of burglary. He was booked into Wayne County Jail on a $205,000.00 bond. According to reports, on Sunday, February 16, 2014, Brandon Foster broke into Southgate Auto Mart and stole a 1982 Chevy pick up truck with an estimated value of $5,000.00. According to the Sheriff’s department, the truck got stuck in the mud in a field then the suspect returned and stole another vehicle. A 1985 Ford F-150 with an estimated value of $5,000.00 was driven through the fence at Southgate Auto and also driven to a field and got stuck in the mud. The suspect then returned for a third vehicle, a 1999 GMC Tow truck with an estimated value of $40,000.00. This vehicle also got stuck in the mud.
Additionally, Foster had a warrant out for his arrest for another incident that occurred on or about Friday, Feb. 4, 2013 when the defendant was accused of breaking into a house located at 210 Wall St. in Collinwood and stealing a washer and a dryer. The owner of the washer and dryer was later driving by South Gate Deli and recognized her stolen items in the back of a Ford Expedition with the back hatch open. Foster was standing in the doorway of the deli, and when he saw the owner of the property, he jumped into the Ford and drove off fast toward the Alabama state line, according to reports. The washer and dryer fell out of the vehicle.
Deputy Sheriff Gerald Baer said Foster will probably not become a professional thief and suggested he may want to try another profession.
Wayne County Sheriff Arrests.
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Jana Danielle Cole, 32, of Collinwood was arrested on February 4, 2014 on charges of DUI by allowance, Possession of schedule II controlled substance, promoting meth manufacturing, and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped for a window tint violation. She was booked into Wayne County Jail on a $32,500.00 bond. |
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Christopher Lynn Risner, 29, of Collinwood was arrested on February 4, 2014 on charges of promoting meth manufacturing, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a schedule II controlled substance, driving on a suspended license and DUI. He was stopped for a window tint violation. He was booked into the Wayne County Jail on a $36,000.00 bond. |
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Chris Lee Olive, 40, of Lawrenceburg was arrested on February 4, 2014 on charges of Possession of schedule II controlled substance, promoting meth manufacturing, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped for a window tint violation. He was booked into the Wayne County Jail on a $30,000.00 bond.
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From the Wayne County News
Wayne County Sheriff Arrests.
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Brensen Tyler Lawrence, 18, of Waynesboro was arrested on February 13, 2014 on charges of theft over $1,000.00 less than $10,000.00. He was booked into Wayne County Jail on a $25,000.00 bond. On November 8, 2013 he sold a stolen 1995 Chevrolet S-10 to Grimes Recycling in Lawrenceburg, TN. |
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Darrell Wayne Weeks, 41, of Florence, AL was arrested on February 15, 2014 on charges of reckless endangerment, aggravated assault, and leaving the scene of an accident involving property damage. According to the police report, Mr. Weeks accompanied by a passenger, Arthur Perry Gooch, was driving a 2001 Buick Regal down Whitten School Road following behind a white Ford Ranger. The female passenger in the Ford had accompanied Mr. Weeks to the bars at the state line, but left with the male driver of the truck. Mr. Weeks rammed into the rear of the Ford several times, then pulled along side the vehicle and side swiped it, causing it to exit the roadway into a ditch. He then left the scene. Mr. Weeks was booked into Wayne County Jail on a $60,500.00 bond. |
From the Wayne County News: