(WBIR - KNOXVILLE) Thirty-six people have been indicted federally in what authorities say was a conspiracy to deliver crystal meth from the Atlanta area to East Tennessee.
A grand jury handed up the 32-count indictment July 21 in U.S. District Court in Knoxville. Counts also allege gun offenses and a conspiracy to launder money, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee.
The group is alleged to have taken part in obtaining the crystal meth, or Ice as it is sometimes known, in the Atlanta area and then transporting it back here for sale. Knoxville police say crystal meth, along with heroin, are main focuses of their undercover drug enforcement efforts.
Convictions, should they occur, would require a minimum mandatory 10-year sentence and perhaps a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Defendants have made a series of initial court appearances since July 28 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Clifford Shirley.
Named in the indictment: Martin Kenneth Wheeler, Jr., 50, of Tucker, Ga.; Abigail B. Thompson, 46, of Whitesburg, Tenn.; Stephen L. Maness, 46, of Maryville.; Scottie R. Gray-Stephens, 40, of Knoxville; Glenn M. Tegeler, 48, of Lawrenceville, Ga.; Richard J. Corbett, III, 27, of Strawberry Plains; Thomas O'Neil Moore, 25, of Molena, Ga.; Tracey D. Dugger, 30, of Morristown; Alexander E. Penley, 36, of Greeneville; Juan C. Solis, 38, of Rutledge; Joshua K. Guthry, 27, of Chuckey, Tenn.; Clint L. Epps, 35, of Knoxville; Randall Logan Crawford, 25, of Jacksboro, Tenn.; Lawrence H. Bond, Jr., 53, of Morristown; Jason M. Hammond, 28, of Heiskell, Tenn.; Matthew Todd Bryant, 40, of Knoxville, Tenn.; Cindy D. Davis, 41, of Morristown, Tenn.; Christopher D. Barrett, 38, of Newport, Tenn.; Lext A. Dienst, 40, of Morristown; Christopher W. Visser, 39, of New Market, Tenn.; Jason D. Lowery, 37, of Knoxville; Nathan S. James, 23, of Mooresburg, Tenn.; John R. Fields, 42, of Morristown; Steven M. Watkins, 60, of Knoxville; Brady Thompson, 49, of Soddy Daisy, Tenn.; Brandon S. Estes, 21, of Russellville, Tenn.; Joshua M. Lynn, 26, of Maryville; Eric C. Henson, 32, of Morristown; and, Eduardo Rivera Gattorno, 48, of Chattanooga.
Numerous federal, Tennessee, Georgia and East Tennessee law enforcement agencies worked the case, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
