A federal grand jury in Chattanooga has returned a 9-count indictment, charging 12 people with conspiracy to manufacture and distribute 280 grams or more of cocaine base (“crack”), and/or 5 kilograms or more of cocaine.
Charged were Timothy Wade Sawyer, 45, of Chattanooga; Carol Chalk, 45, of Chattanooga; Eric Crockett, 37, of Ooltewah; Jackie M. Sawyer, 43, of Chattanooga; James McClendon, 47, of Chattanooga; Brandon Harris, 24, of Chattanooga; Thaddeus Lewis, 61, of Chattanooga; Antonio Mathis, 37, of Chattanooga; Connie Moore, 59, of Chattanooga; Jeff Spencer, 32, of Chattanooga; Terry Williams, 58, of Chattanooga, and Ronald Edward Todd, 43, of Chattanooga.
Attorney Lee Davis represents Sawyer. He said he would be pleading not guilty to the charge.
Carol Chalk, Brandon Harris, Thaddeus Lewis, Antonio Mathis, Connie Moore, Terry Williams, and Ronald Edward Todd made their initial appearances Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan K. Lee.
If convicted, each defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years and is exposed to a maximum term of life imprisonment. Due to their prior criminal history, some defendants face an increased mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years, authorities said. Some defendants face additional distribution charges.
This indictment is the result of an investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, the Hamilton County District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Special Assistant United States Attorney Meredith Edwards will represent the United States.