Score:   1
Docket Number:   WD-TN  1:18-cr-10030
Case Name:   United States of America v. Taylor
  Press Releases:
 

Jackson, TN –Marlon "Jazz" Taylor, 34, has been sentenced to life in prison on federal charges of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.

This is the first sentencing in a case involving multiple defendants including Nicholas Rodgers, Tarus Taylor, Elizabeth Espey, Terry Weathers, Richie Henderson, Derrick Howard, Duane Smith and Bobby Joe Kemp, Jr. on charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

According to information presented in court, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force (JDDTF) and Carroll County Sheriff’s Office began an investigation into Jazz in late 2016. Agents discovered that Jazz and other co-conspirators were trafficking in methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana from California and Georgia. Investigators used multiple investigation techniques to dismantle this drug trafficking organization to include surveillance, confidential sources, traffic stops, and search warrants.

USPIS and the JDDTF intercepted a package mailed from California to an address in McKenzie, Tennessee. A federal search warrant was executed on the package, which contained approximately 893 grams of actual methamphetamine, with a purity level of 91%, and 1,810 grams of marijuana. In October 2017, the USPS discovered similar shipments from California to a residence in Trezevant, Tennessee. Surveillance of the residence revealed that after the packages were delivered to the residence, they would be delivered to Jazz’s residence in McKenzie, Tennessee. On or about April 2018, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office deputies obtained an arrest warrant for Jazz. Pursuant to the warrant, deputies conducted a parole search at Jazz’s residence and found multiple firearms in the bedroom. Also found was approximately 4.5 pounds of marijuana,

$14,000 in U.S. currency and multiple cell phones. A search of the cell phones revealed multiple text messages between Jazz and co-defendants, detailing drug and money transactions. As a result, FBI agents traveled to California and executed a search warrant on the drug trafficking organization’s source of supply.

On April 10, 2019, Jazz pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

During the sentencing hearing, the United States put on multiple co-defendants who testified about their involvement in the drug conspiracy, including the drug amounts that were being obtained on behalf of Jazz. The total amount of actual methamphetamine obtained during this drug conspiracy was approximately 7 ½ kilograms of actual methamphetamine, 963.8 grams of cocaine and 12,922.7 grams of marijuana. Jazz was found to be the leader or organizer of the organization involving five or more participants. Jazz’s sentence was also enhanced because firearms were present and for maintaining a stash house.

Also, during the sentencing hearing the United States showed evidence that Jazz attempted to influence the testimony of a co-defendant by sending a note to falsely claim that Jazz had no involvement with methamphetamine. Jazz was found to have attempted to obstruct justice based on this conduct.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Drug trafficking offenses are at the root of some of the gravest problems facing our country. The ‘fruit’ of the drug plague is everywhere; it fills our jails, our courts, our streets, and our nurseries. Accordingly, given that drug dealers themselves sentence many individuals to a lifetime of addiction and dependency, a life sentence for repeatedly dealing large quantities of dangerous drugs is a just and proper punishment in this case. Criminal enterprises that distribute harmful drugs into our rural communities can no longer hide, and this maximum sentence demonstrates our ability to dismantle their organizations."

"Drug dealers are committed to poisoning our neighborhoods with narcotics, but this sentencing should demonstrate that law enforcement has an even greater commitment to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking organizations," said M.A. Myers, Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. "This sentence should cause drug traffickers to truly rethink their chosen path, because the FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to work tirelessly to eliminate these criminal enterprises and lock them up."

"The war on drugs has been an on-going and hard fought battle for law enforcement" stated David M. McGinnis, Inspector in Charge, Charlotte Division. "The U.S. Postal Inspection Service aggressively investigates cases involving the misuse of the U.S. mail system by criminals who traffic illegal contraband such as narcotics. I fully commend the hard work and countless hours put forth by all of the law enforcement agencies involved, which resulted bringing this individual to justice."

Carroll County Sheriff Andy Dickson said: "I would like to begin by taking this opportunity to thank U.S. Attorney Michael Dunavant and his staff of attorneys, especially Jerry Kitchen, who without their tireless work this operation would not have been possible. I would also like to thank all of the agencies that played a part in this intensive drug operation to include the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, 24th Judicial District Drug and Violent Crime Task Force, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee National Guard Counter Drug Unit and the United States Postal Inspection Service.

The sentence handed down in this case was just part of an ongoing criminal investigation into the distribution of illegal narcotics that affects Carroll and surrounding counties. Others have already been sentenced involving this case and others await their day in front of a United States Federal Court. I would like for this operation to send notice to others in our jurisdiction that if you continue to attempt to poison our citizens with the illegal substances that you sell that we will be working diligently to build a case against you and others."

On July 24, 2019, Senior U.S. District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen sentenced Jazz to life in federal prison followed by 5 years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force (JDDTF) and Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Kitchen prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.

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Jackson, TN – Nine members of the Gangster Disciples have been indicted for distribution of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. D. Michael Dunavant, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee announced the indictments today.

Marlon Jazz Taylor, a known Gangster Disciple member, was the main subject of an investigation of a drug trafficking organization that shipped narcotics from California to distribute in West Tennessee.

The nine defendants currently in custody are:

Marlon Jazz Taylor, 33, McKenzie, Tennessee

Nicholas Rodgers, 37, Willows, California

Tarus Taylor, 37, McKenzie, Tennessee

Elizabeth Espey, 35, McKenzie, Tennessee

Terry Weathers, 35, McKenzie, Tennessee

Richie Henderson, 48, Paris, Tennessee

Derrick Howard, 38, McKenzie, Tennessee

Duane Smith, 46, McKenzie, Tennessee

Bobby Joe Kemp, Jr., 35, Huntington, Tennessee

If convicted, each defendant will face a possible sentence of not less than 10 years imprisonment, $10,000,000 fine, and five years of supervised release.

In addition, Taylor was also charged with two counts of being felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted, he faces a sentence of 10 years imprisonment, a fine of $250,000, and three years of supervised release for each count.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Criminal enterprises that distribute harmful drugs into our rural communities can no longer hide. We are taking the fight to the gangs in order to dismantle their drug trafficking organizations and remove them from our streets."

Carroll County Sheriff Andy Dickson said, "I would like to thank the agents with the Carroll County Sheriff's Office, the 24th Judicial District Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force for their successful efforts in the dismantling of an illegal drug organization operating in our county. During the operation, the agents seized and gained intelligence on multiple pounds of marijuana, cocaine, crack cocaine and methamphetamine, which were being distributed in our local communities. Operations such as this are made possible through the strong working relationships being forged between the Sheriff's Office and the other agencies involved. These agents are progressively working the drug trade in our county by constantly gathering intelligence on transactions and drug organizations in an effort to rid our streets of the persons responsible for these illegal activities. "

This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Safe Streets Task Force, the 24th Judicial District Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force, and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Kitchen is prosecuting this case on the government’s behalf.

The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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Docket (0 Docs):   https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/14rJplHpGZ6zJLun3BwiX_OJADVWy23tEiS_cP8jfYgI
  Last Updated: 2024-02-20 04:49:15 UTC
Description: The fiscal year of the data file obtained from the AOUSC
Format: YYYY

Description: The code of the federal judicial circuit where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: The code of the federal judicial district where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: The code of the district office where the case was located
Format: A2

Description: Docket number assigned by the district to the case
Format: A7

Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which cannot be modified by the court
Format: A3

Description: A unique number assigned to each defendant in a case which can be modified by the court
Format: A3

Description: A sequential number indicating whether a case is an original proceeding or a reopen
Format: N5

Description: Case type associated with the current defendant record
Format: A2

Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, defendant number, and reopen sequence number
Format: A18

Description: A concatenation of district, office, docket number, case type, and reopen sequence number
Format: A15

Description: The status of the defendant as assigned by the AOUSC
Format: A2

Description: A code indicating the fugitive status of a defendant
Format: A1

Description: The date upon which a defendant became a fugitive
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which a fugitive defendant was taken into custody
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date when a case was first docketed in the district court
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which proceedings in a case commenced on charges pending in the district court where the defendant appeared, or the date of the defendant’s felony-waiver of indictment
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: A code used to identify the nature of the proceeding
Format: N2

Description: The date when a defendant first appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: A code indicating the event by which a defendant appeared before a judicial officer in the district court where a charge was pending
Format: A2

Description: A code indicating the type of legal counsel assigned to a defendant
Format: N2

Description: The title and section of the U.S. Code applicable to the offense committed which carried the highest severity
Format: A20

Description: A code indicating the level of offense associated with FTITLE1
Format: N2

Description: The four digit AO offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: The four digit D2 offense code associated with FTITLE1
Format: A4

Description: A code indicating the severity associated with FTITLE1
Format: A3

Description: The FIPS code used to indicate the county or parish where an offense was committed
Format: A5

Description: The date of the last action taken on the record
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which judicial proceedings before the court concluded
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which the final sentence is recorded on the docket
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The date upon which the case was closed
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: The total fine imposed at sentencing for all offenses of which the defendant was convicted and a fine was imposed
Format: N8

Description: A count of defendants filed including inter-district transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants filed excluding inter-district transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of original proceedings commenced
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants filed whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated including interdistrict transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated excluding interdistrict transfers
Format: N1

Description: A count of original proceedings terminated
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants terminated whose proceedings commenced by reopen, remand, appeal, or retrial
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period including long term fugitives
Format: N1

Description: A count of defendants pending as of the last day of the period excluding long term fugitives
Format: N1

Description: The source from which the data were loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: A10

Description: A sequential number indicating the iteration of the defendant record
Format: N2

Description: The date the record was loaded into the AOUSC’s NewSTATS database
Format: YYYYMMDD

Description: Statistical year ID label on data file obtained from the AOUSC which represents termination year
Format: YYYY

Data imported from FJC Integrated Database
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