Memphis, TN - An indictment was unsealed today which charges twelve defendants with conspiring to distribute cocaine and marijuana. Most of the defendants and several additional individuals have been arrested, fourteen federal search warrants were executed, and law enforcement officers seized what appears to be in excess of 2,000 pounds of marijuana, ten (10) kilograms of cocaine, one million dollars ($1,000,000) in cash, 15 illegal firearms and dozens of vehicles. This announcement was made today by David Kustoff, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, My Harrison, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Memphis Division, Larry Godwin, Director of the Memphis Police Department, and Mark Luttrell, Shelby County Sheriff.

On July 9, 2007, a federal grand jury in Memphis returned an indictment charging ARGEO GONZALEZ-PEREZ, a/k/a "Nicolas," "El Enano", REYLER SANCHEZ-PEREZ, a/k/a "Pezuna", JUAN CARLOS COSS, JUAN JOSE HERNANDEZ, a/k/a "Mario," "Vato", PORFIRIO MONTEJANO, ANTOWINE CONWAY, TERRELL WALLS, a/k/a "C," "Crackrah", GREGORY MABONE, RODERICK TUCKER,RAY ALEXANDER, REGINALD BEAN, a/k/a "Marcus D. Jones", "Marcus D. Allen", and DAVID STAPLES, with conspiring to distribute an amount in excess of five kilograms of cocaine and marijuana, in violation of Title 21, United States Code, Section 846.

On July 10, 2007, most of the charged defendants were arrested. In addition, fourteen federal search warrants were executed and another location was searched pursuant to the consent of the occupant. The searches were conducted at fifteen locations in Memphis. At two of these locations, law enforcement officers seized large quantities of illegal drugs. Both of these locations contained not only bales of packaged marijuana, but also a sophisticated marijuana growing operation, complete with fully developed marijuana plants ripe for harvesting. The total seizures appear to be in excess of 2,000 pounds of marijuana, ten (10) kilograms of cocaine, one million dollars ($1,000,000) in cash, fifteen (15) illegal firearms and dozens of vehicles. In addition, ten (10) individuals were arrested. Additional charges are expected today.

The penalties for the drug conspiracy offense charged in the indictment are a minimum prison term of ten (10) years, a maximum prison term of life, a maximum $4,000,000 fine, a term of at least five (5) years of supervised release. If a defendant has one prior drug felony conviction, the minimum prison term is increased to 20 years and the maximum fine is increased $8,000,000 fine, and the minimum term of supervised release is increased to ten (10) years. If a defendant has two or more prior drug felony convictions, the minimum prison term is life.

CONCLUSION

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Braden Boucek, with the Memphis office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.

Today's operation was headed by the FBI’s Memphis Division, and the operation and underlying investigation were conducted with the assistance of Memphis Police Department and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In addition to the agencies listed above, assistance was provided by, among other agencies, the U.S. Marshal’s Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms.

This operation stands out as a model of interagency cooperation and should be a warning for all would-be drug dealers that the city of Memphis is closed for business. The Office of the United States Attorney extends its admiration to all of these agencies for their superior work.

Contact:

Leigh Anne Jordon
Law Enforcement Coordinator
167 North Main Street, Suite 800
Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 544-6761 Direct
(901) 544-3427 Fax