posted May 15, 2008
Federal authorities say Demarcus Akins, 32; Marcus Lewis, 24; David Robinson, 49; and Michael Kelley, 44, were among the leaders in a Chattanooga cocaine ring busted on Wednesday.
Also charged in the case is City Councilman John "Duke" Franklin, who an indictment says was trying to help Kelley cover up a $69,500 cocaine purchase in March.
A federal grand jury sitting in Chattanooga returned a series of indictments charging 42 Chattanooga area individuals with cocaine trafficking, money laundering, and related offenses.
Franklin is charged with conspiring to commit money laundering and to obstruct justice in connection with the seizure of over $69,000 cash from Kelley.
Five separate indictments charge that the ring leaders and their co-conspirators named in the indictments conspired to distribute multiple kilograms of cocaine, and stem from an investigation conducted over the past two years, which intensified beginning last fall with a broadly cooperative law enforcement effort undertaken by the 11th Judicial District Attorney General’s Office, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics and Special Operations Division, Tennessee Bureau
of Investigation , Chattanooga Police Department, United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Internal Revenue Service, and the United States Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee.
Additional law enforcement agencies assisting with the arrest of these individuals include the United States Marshals Service, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Federal Bureau of Investigation.
United States Attorney Russ Dedrick said he was extremely pleased with the close work and professionalism exhibited during the investigation by the officers and deputies of the Chattanooga Police Department and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department working with the TBI and federal agencies.
U.S. Attorney Dedrick praised the close support and coordination provided by District Attorney General Bill Cox and his staff. "I am confident these arrests will make our Chattanooga community a safer place for our children to grow and allow our two Weed and Seed sites, Eastside and MLK, to thrive," Mr. Dedrick said.
Rodney G. Benson, Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Field Division commented, "Drugs and money are a lethal combination that helps to breed the very corruption that is evident in this case. Taking down drug trafficking organizations like this one is a good way to help break this unfortunate and sometimes tragic cycle. This investigation would not have been possible without the cooperation of our local, state and federal counterparts."
"These indictments represent a tremendous amount of cooperative effort and diligence on the part of the law enforcement agencies represented here today. The cooperation of these agencies, working closely together on a daily basis, over many months, has been the key to the success of this operation," said Hamilton County District Attorney General Bill Cox.
Chattanooga Police Chief Freeman Cooper added, "The results of the search warrants served on Wednesday will have an immediate effect on the drug traffic in our community.
However, I am saddened to see that another elected official has been named in illegal activity in our City."
Acting Hamilton County Sheriff Allen Branum noted, "This is just another example of what we can do when local, state and federal law enforcement work together toward a common goal. We expect to continue this type of cooperation in future investigations."
TBI Director Mark Gwyn stated, "This operation is a clear example of how law enforcement can identify and arrest major distributors of narcotics when resources are combined and information is shared. Drugs are the root of the majority of crime in Tennessee and today by successfully dismantling this distribution ring we have made Chattanooga that much safer."
"Money laundering occurs when individuals involved in illegal activities attempt to disguise or use funds derived from such activities in financial transactions. With both law enforcement and financial investigation expertise, IRS-Criminal Investigation special agents are uniquely qualified to help identify individuals who engage in this type of illegal activity by following the money." said Special Agent in Charge Christopher R. Pikelis with IRS Criminal Investigation.
Others charged are David Robinson, Melvin Hardy, Joseph Ector, Greg Miller, Will D. Linder, Andrew Hibbs, Jeffery Bonds, Theodore Wright, Marvin Thornton, Bastiana Lem Jones, Marcus Lewis, Edward Byrdsong, Shanna Bridgeman, Lakisha Cross, Walter Fortson, Jason Lee, Fredginald Bridgeman, Terrance Ware, Derrick Hampton, Ulysses Bradley Jr., Jonah Franklin, Terrance Lee, Mark Young, Jerry Daniel, Shaun Sanders, Cory McNeal, Patricia Nash, Gregory Woodget, Wyletta Watkins McNeal, Kelvin Watkins, Alphonso Few and David Brooks.
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