The Collierville Police Department was recently credited with assisting in the arrests of nine West Tennessee residents for their roles in two separate drug rings responsible for distributing large quantities of methamphetamine, oxycodone and marijuana.
On June 11, Taquita James, Tavious Jones, Martavious Taylor, Marcus Moore, Brandon Heard and Fredrick Burton were all indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute oxycodone. Taylor, Moore, Heard and Burton were also indicted for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute less than 50 kilograms of marijuana.
On the same day, in a separate indictment, Antonio Montgomery, Dylon Chambers and Kirby Jackson were charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The Memphis Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Multi-Agency Gang Unit; United States Postal Inspection Service; and the Memphis Police Department Organized Crime Unit conducted an investigation of the defendants.
Agencies who assisted with arresting the defendants on June 17, were the Memphis Police Department; Shelby County Sheriff’s Office; Bartlett Police Department; Collierville Police Department; Germantown Police Department; Tipton County Sheriff’s Office; United States Marshals Service; ATF; and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
Search warrants were executed on 10 residences identified during the investigation.
During the round-up, officers seized:
• Approximately $30,000
• 1 SKS rifle, 2 handguns
• 1 pound of methamphetamine
• 2 kilograms of cocaine
If convicted for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute oxycodone, James, Jones, Moore, Burton, Heard and Taylor face up to 20 years in jail. They also face a fine of up to $1 million.
If convicted for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute less than 50 kilograms of marijuana, Taylor, Moore and Burton face up to five years imprisonment and up to a $250,000 fine.
If convicted for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, Montgomery, Chambers and Jackson face up to 10 years in jail and a fine of up to $500,000.
Defendants Taquita James and Fredrick Burton have been released on bond. The remaining defendants will appear before Magistrate Judge Charmiane Claxton on June 22 for detention hearings.
