GALLATIN-TENNESSEE - A Sumner County man received the maximum possible prison sentence on Monday following a series of convictions related to narcotics trafficking and weapons charges. Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Nichols ordered Steven Tucker Hunter (pictured above) to serve 15 years in the Tennessee Department of Correction.

Assistant District Attorney Andrea Green secured the sentence after detailing Hunter's involvement in the distribution of fentanyl, cocaine, and xylazine. The defendant was convicted on seven felony counts, which included the possession of controlled substances with intent to sell and the illegal possession of firearms during the commission of a dangerous felony.

The charges originated from three separate arrests. The investigations were led by Officer Austin McCurry of the Gallatin Police Department and Investigator John Compton of the 18th Judicial District Drug Task Force.

Over the past year, state officials in Tennessee have issued a serious public safety warning about the growing presence of xylazine, a highly dangerous substance. Commonly referred to as “tranq” or the “zombie drug,” xylazine is a potent non-opioid sedative approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration strictly for veterinary use and not for humans. Despite this, it is increasingly being found mixed into illicit drugs—most often alongside fentanyl—to prolong the euphoric effects of opioids.

The recent sentencing in Sumner County marks a significant conclusion to the multi-agency effort to curb the distribution of synthetic opioids and associated violence in the region. In a statement following the hearing, the Sumner County District Attorney’s Office reiterated its commitment to holding offenders accountable and maintaining community safety.