PHOTO ABOVE: Defendants Muriel Glimps and Duricco Johnson share a laugh before being escorted by Deputies Bill Melton and Jason Fuqua into the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center Friday. Glimps was indicted on a charge of conspiracy to distribute more than 300 grams of cocaine and Johnson was indicted on a charge of conspiracy to distribute more than 70 pounds of marijuana.
Twenty-five defendants were indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute more than 300 grams of cocaine and more than 70 pounds of marijuana after a 15-month investigation by the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office’s Narcotics Division, said Detective Sgt. Tony Hall. Robert Rickman takes it from there...
VERBATIM:
Teams of Sheriff’s Office detectives and deputies rounded up 15 of the 25 defendants beginning early Friday morning after the grand jury issued the sealed indictments this month.
The investigation launched in July 2012, which led to the University Street neighborhood in Murfreesboro. In the summer of 2013, Sheriff Robert Arnold received requests from law-abiding residents about drug trafficking and shootings in same neighborhood.
Sheriff Robert Arnold said the narcotics detectives responded to the complaints.
“We take the complaints from citizens about drug-trafficking and violence very seriously,” Sheriff Arnold said. “We want to make sure people feel safe in their neighborhoods and children are protected from firearms and violence.” Robert Rickman, WGNS news.
Sheriff’s Narcotics Detective Richard Williams said the case consisted of a long-term investigation into a structured organization to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine and marijuana that led to the indictments of 25 people on 27 charges.
As part of the investigation, 13 search warrants were served simultaneously Sept. 7 in Murfreesboro, Smyrna, La Vergne, Rutherford County and Nashville by Rutherford Sheriff’s Office detectives, deputies and the Felony Arrest Search Tactical Team, Murfreesboro Police’s Special Operations Unit, Vice and Gang Unit detectives, Smyrna Police and La Vergne Police detectives, Metro Nashville Police detectives, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and the Drug Enforcement Administration agents and DEA Task Force. Other search warrants were conducted earlier in the long-term case.
Sgt. Hall said officers recovered more than $45,000 worth of illegal drugs and seized about $160,000 cash, 15 weapons, 27 vehicles, a boat and electronic equipment.
“The violence that caused an outcry for help from the sheriff was mostly gun-related,” Sgt. Hall said.
Detectives confiscated an AR-15 from defendant Marcus Marquice Nelson, 32, of 1134 Nahanee Court in Murfreesboro, who is a convicted felon.
Detective Williams said the majority of the suspects indicted are repeat offenders.
“Some are convicted felons with guns and stolen guns,” Detective Williams said. “If you are a convicted felon, you can’t possess a firearm or be in a house with a gun.”
Many of the suspects indicted don’t work.
“Their job on a daily basis is to sell highly addictive narcotics to narcotics addicts,” Detective Williams said. “That’s how they fund extravagant lifestyles off the proceeds of the sales of highly addictive narcotics.”
After the search warrants were served, the amount of illegal sales of cocaine and marijuana were disrupted for a few days, the detective said.
“We had an impact on a portion of the community who prey on others who supply a highly addictive substance for monetary gain,” Detective Williams said. “It’s going to have an impact on people. It’s not going to stop it but it will change the community for the better.”
The investigation remains in progress and more indictments are anticipated, he said.
Both Nelson and Torre L. Knox, 39, of 4262 Lytle Creek Road near Murfreesboro, were indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute more than 300 grams of cocaine and conspiracy to distribute more than 70 pounds of marijuana
Defendants indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute more than 300 grams of cocaine include:
- Reginald Lavon Cooper, 30, of 724 Revels Drive in Nashville.
- Ingrid S. Espinoza, 36, of 1134 Nahanee St. in Murfreesboro.
- Kimberly Baker, 46, of 546 E. Sevier St. in Murfreesboro.
- Kiricca K. Alsup, 25, of 456 Drexel Court in Murfreesboro.
- Michael Shondale Cantrell, 35, of 1206 Wingate St. in Murfreesboro.
- Elliot Jared Dumas Jr., 27, of 903 Hunt St. in Murfreesboro.
- Tameka Shanee Nelson, 36, of 410 University St. in Murfreesboro.
- Patrick Ellis Haynes, 53, of 314 S. University St. in Murfreesboro.
- Levarus Deran Martin, 31, of 808 Bridge Ave. in Murfreesboro.
- Muriel Agatha Windrow Glimps, 42, of 1807 Old Lascassas Road in Murfreesboro.
- Kentory Sanders, 33, of Nashville.
Other defendants charged with conspiracy to distribute more than 70 pounds of marijuana include:
- Marcus Jerome Malone, 36, who is already incarcerated.
- Duriccoo Artavius Johnson, 20, of 1308 Rutherford St. in Murfreesboro.
Bond for the defendants was set at $100,000. They will receive copies of the indictments Monday from Circuit Court Judge David Bragg.
Sheriff Arnold said he appreciated the efforts of the Narcotics detectives who worked additional nights and weekends away from their families to conduct the investigation.
“The Narcotics Unit detectives were vigilant in conducting a thorough investigation into the complaints,” Sheriff Arnold said. “We appreciate their dedication and thank the officers from other agencies who assisted in serving search warrants and apprehending these defendants. We also recognize the Communications staff for their support that was instrumental in this lengthy investigation.”
PHOTO BELOW: Deputy Randy Morrow escorts defendant Torre Knox into the Rutherford County Adult Detention Center Friday. Knox was indicted on charges of conspiracy to distribute more than 300 grams of cocaine and 70 pounds of marijuana.
The following mugshots have already been released by the Sheriff's Office:
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