Timothy Joe Swallows, 39, of Cleveland, was sentenced Friday by Judge Curtis L. Collier to serve 262 months in prison. Swallows pleaded guilty in July 2014 to a federal indictment charging him with, among other things, aiding and abetting the possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine (actual).
On June 17, 2012, Swallows was taken into custody after a routine traffic stop in Bradley County revealed he was driving on a revoked license. The passenger in the vehicle, Amber Flowers, was also taken into custody on an outstanding warrant for her arrest. During the stop, two large bags of methamphetamine were recovered from Ms. Flowers. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed syringes, digital scales, seven cellphones, cut straws, and $1,404 in cash. The amount of methamphetamine seized totaled 84.7 grams with a 94.3 percent purity level. Swallows stated he was helping Ms. Flowers sell the methamphetamine that was seized following the traffic stop. Ms. Flowers previously pleaded guilty to the same offense and was sentenced to serve 77 months in prison.
Swallows was classified as a “career offender” under federal law because he had four prior drug trafficking convictions, including three separate convictions for distributing methamphetamine in Bradley County within the last 10 years. His federal sentence reflected his prior state convictions and the risk of harm his conduct posed to society, prosecutors said. Judge Collier recommended that Swallows participate in a drug treatment program while he is in prison.
The indictment and subsequent conviction of Swallows was the result of an investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Bradley County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael D. Porter represented the United States.