Jackson, TN – Four individuals have been indicted for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney announced the indictment today.

On July 30, 2020, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment which remained sealed until the defendants’ arrest. This investigation was conducted in conjunction with federal prosecutors in Jackson as part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program, which seeks to reduce the availability of drugs by disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, money laundering organizations, and related criminal enterprises.

The four defendants listed are currently in custody:

• Jason Kennedy, 43, of Puryear, Tennessee

• Justin Barker, 31, of Atlanta, Georgia

• Derick Barker, 35, of Atlanta, Georgia

• Colby Criswell, 29, of Greenfield, Tennessee

During this investigation, agents seized large amounts of crystal methamphetamine (ICE), money, digital scales, a firearm, and other various paraphernalia from the defendants at a hotel in Jackson, TN. The defendants were arrested on July 25, 2020 and charged in a federal criminal complaint.

Criswell has also previously been charged among seventeen individuals with operating a multi-state drug trafficking conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in West Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi in "Operation Clear Cut". https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdtn/pr/seventeen-charged-multi-state-drug-trafficking-ring-operation-clear-cut.

If convicted in this case, the defendants each face mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years and up to life imprisonment.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "West Tennessee is a major logistics hub for the country, and drug trafficking organizations transport large quantities into and through our communities. We must use every available resource to disrupt and dismantle these conspiracies, and hold them accountable for distributing poisonous illegal drugs that cause addiction, injury, and death. We commend the outstanding investigative work of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in this important case involving significant seizures of dangerous narcotics."

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) - Jackson, Houston, and Chattanooga offices; Madison County Sheriff’s Department; Weakley County Sheriff’s Department; Jackson-Madison County Narcotics Unit; 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force; Puryear Police Department, and Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

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

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

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Jackson, TN – Seventeen individuals have been charged in federal court with operating a multi-state drug trafficking organization in West Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi. D. Michael Dunavant, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the unsealing of the federal complaint today.

The following individuals were charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and were arrested during a law enforcement takedown operation this week:

 • David Bone, 54, of Dyer County

 • Stacey Caksackkar, 52, of Crockett County

 • Troy Chew, 45, of Blytheville, Arkansas

 • Colby Criswell, 28, of Gibson County

 • Thomas Dacus, 43, of Crockett County

 • Stacy Edwards, 31, of Dyer County

 • Jason Glisson, 42, of Dyer County

 • Frederick Johnson, 36, of Meridian, Mississippi

 • Crystal Lee, 37, of Crockett County

 • Draper Lee, 39, of Crockett County

 • Nicholas Grant Mealer, 21, of Crockett County

 • Tammy Mealer, 50, of Crockett County

 • Madison Middlebrook, 21, of Blytheville, Ark.

 • Michael Newson, 35, of Senatobia, Miss.

 • Shawn Sherry Overton, 45, of Dyer County

 • Shawn Riley, 41, of Dyer County

 • Ronald Solomon, 40, of Dyer County

Additionally, Draper Lee, Middlebrook, and Solomon were charged with being felons in possession of a firearm. The takedown was part of "Operation Clear Cut," a multi-agency federal task force responsible for curtailing organized crime and narcotics in West Tennessee. According to information from the criminal complaint, the organization was responsible for distributing more than 70 pounds of methamphetamine in West Tennessee and elsewhere. In addition to the seizure of narcotics, law enforcement seized more than $31,000 in U.S. currency and 8 firearms during the course of the investigation.

For count one, the defendants face possible sentences of up to 20 years in federal prison, followed by 6 years supervised release and a fine of $2 million. For those defendants charged with being felons in possession of a firearm, the additional possible sentence is up to 10 years in federal prison, followed by 3 years supervised release and a fine of $250,000. There is no parole in the federal system.

The case will be presented to a federal grand jury at a later date to consider an indictment against the suspects.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "West Tennessee is a major logistics hub for the country, and drug trafficking organizations transport and distribute large quantities of drugs into and throughout our communities. We must use every available resource to disrupt and dismantle these conspiracies, and hold them accountable for distributing poisonous illegal drugs that cause addiction, injury, and death. We commend the outstanding investigative work of our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in this important case involving significant seizures of dangerous narcotics."

"The charges and arrests today were only possible due to the cooperation of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies working together to identify and target drug traffickers in our ongoing mission to ensure the safety of our communities in the tri-state area," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jermicha L. Fomby of the Memphis Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. "The FBI, with our fellow law enforcement partners, are committed to ensuring that there is no safe haven for criminal activity and that those who seek to sell drugs and engage in violence know that we are coming for them."

This case was investigated by the FBI Memphis Safe Streets Task Force, Jackson Resident Agency, Dyersburg Police Department, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), and the Crockett County Sheriff’s Office. The Lexington Police Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol, 24th Judicial District Drug Task Force, Jackson Police Department, Selmer Police Department, Bolivar Police Department, Hardeman County Sheriff’s Office, Milan Police Department, and the West Tennessee Drug Task Force also participated in the arrest operation.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations of criminal conduct, not evidence. Each charged defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and convicted through due process of law.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Wilson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

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Jackson, TN – A total of eleven individuals have been indicted for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in the Western District of Tennessee. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the indictments today.

On November 18, 2019, a federal grand jury returned indictments charging eleven defendants with federal crimes including conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, aiding and abetting possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of actual methamphetamine over five grams, and distribution of actual methamphetamine over 50 grams.

These indictments follow a year-long investigative operation known as "Operation Clear-Cut." These defendants are alleged to have participated in a conspiracy to distribute in excess of 20 kilograms of actual methamphetamine throughout West Tennessee in a twelve month period. Purity levels of methamphetamine seized during the investigation tested as high as 99%.

The defendants include:



• Travis Bradshaw, 39, Dyersburg, TN

• Casey Bailey, 32, Dyersburg, TN

• Anne Taylor Davis, 27, Dyersburg, TN

• Terry Hill, 34, Union City, TN

• Alizdez Lockett, 39, Blytheville, AR

• James Matthews, Jr., 30, Rutherford, TN

• Kimberly Parson, 26, Dyersburg, TN

• William Kreg Pierce, 32, Dyersburg, TN

• Erica Pugh, 27, Dyersburg, TN

• Carale Shields, 40, Jackson, TN

• Ashley Vazquez, 28, Union City, TN

Count 1 charges all defendants with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Count 2 charges all defendants with aiding and abetting one another to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Count 3 charges Casey Bailey with the distribution of more than five grams of actual methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Count 4 through Count 8 charges Travis Bradshaw with the distribution of more than five grams of actual methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Count 9 charges Anne Davis with the distribution of more than five grams of actual methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance.

Count 10 charges Travis Bradshaw with the possession of more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance, with the intent to distribute.

If convicted, the defendants each face mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years and up to life imprisonment.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Methamphetamine that is trafficked in and through West Tennessee is increasing in dangerous purity, and continues to destroy individuals, families, and communities. These indictments demonstrate our focus on the priority area of narcotics cases that impact public safety in our rural communities, and we appreciate the partnerships with our local law enforcement agencies in this case."

This case was investigated by the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force, the Dyersburg Police Department, the 27th Judicial District Drug Task Force, and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. This investigation was conducted in conjunction with prosecutors in Jackson as part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program, which seeks to reduce the availability of drugs by disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, money laundering organizations and related criminal enterprises.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Wilson is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

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

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