Jackson, TN – A Jackson man has been sentenced to 80 months in federal prison for distributing between 100 and 400 grams of a heroin and fentanyl mixture to residents of Gibson and Madison Counties. This mixture caused at least two users to overdose, but survive. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, in early 2018, Stephen Thompson, 67, admitted that he distributed at least 100 grams or more of a mixture and substance that contained a detectable amount of heroin, that he knew that the substance was a mixture that contained a detectable amount of heroin and that he did distribute the mixture.

On April 16, 2018, a federal grand jury then returned an 8-count indictment against Thompson for distributing and possessing a heroin and fentanyl mixture. This mixture was being distributed to buyers from the Gibson and Madison County areas.

On March 1, 2019, Chief U.S. District Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Thompson to federal prison for 80 months followed by 48 months of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Our nation, state, and district are suffering from the opioid epidemic, causing increases in drug trafficking, violence, addiction, and overdoses that are tearing families and communities apart. The U.S. Attorney’s Office has developed a district-specific strategy to prioritize and aggressively prosecute cases involving heroin and fentanyl distribution causing overdoses, and this case demonstrates the significant penalty that we will use to hold dealers accountable and deter others from selling poison to our citizens. We commend the outstanding investigative work of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, and we hope this sentence will send a strong message."

Deputy Director Johnie Carter of the West Tennessee Drug Task Force said, "If you think that you can run outside of our normal area of operation and hide in a big city and then sell drugs back into it, you really need to think again. We have state jurisdictional authority and we have forged strong partnerships with many amazing agencies such as the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Jackson-Metro Narcotics and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. We will find you and we will bring you to justice."

This case was investigated by the West Tennessee Violent Crime and Drug Task Force, Jackson-Madison County Metro Narcotics and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Hillary Parham prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

If you have information about drug sales in the 28th Judicial District please contact the 28th Judicial District Drug Task Force at 731-784-0555. Caller I.D. is not used and callers can remain anonymous. You may also call Crime-Stoppers at 731-424-Tips.

The 28th Judicial Drug Task Force is comprised of officers assigned full-time from the Gibson, Crockett and Haywood County Sheriff’s Offices and the Humboldt, Milan and Trenton Police Departments.

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