Memphis, TN - A complaint against Shelby County Sheriff's Office Deputy Jailer Carl White and four co-defendants was unsealed today. White and one co-defendant (his wife) were arrested yesterday, and a search warrant was executed at their residence. The defendants are charged with conspiring to distribute cocaine in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846. According to the affidavit filed in support of the complaint, an informant was used in a sting operation in which four purchases of cocaine were made in February and March 2007. This announcement was made today by David Kustoff, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, Mark Luttrell, Shelby County Sheriff, and My Harrison, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Memphis Division.

Carl White has been a Shelby County Deputy Jailer since 2005. The other defendants are Sarah White (his wife), Edwardo White, Marcus McCraven, Terrance Roper.

According to the affidavit, the informant made two purchases of cocaine from defendant McCraven at Carl White's house (approximately 68.4 grams of cocaine and approximately 104.6. grams of cocaine) on February 6 and 8, 2007. The affidavit further alleges that the informant made an additional drug purchase at the same

location on February 13, 2007: he purchased approximately 252.6 grams of powder cocaine and approximately 26.4 grams of crack cocaine, and the drugs were handed to him by defendant Terrance Roper. According to the complaint, Carl White and the informant agreed on the sales price and counted the purchase money, and Carl White's wife helped the informant package the drugs. The affidavit further alleges that, on March 19, 2007, the informant made another drug purchase: Edwardo White delivered approximately 25.1 grams of powder cocaine, and the informant met with defendants Carl White and Terrance Roper before the sale to arrange the transaction.

PENALTIES

The penalties for a violation of section 846 are a minimum prison term of ten years and a maximum term of life, a $4,000,000 maximum fine, plus five years supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.

CONCLUSION

In addition to the agencies listed above, assistance was provided by the Memphis offices of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Memphis Police Department. These agencies are participating with the Internal Revenue Service in Operation Tarnished Blue, and this matter was investigated as part of Operation Tarnished Blue. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joe Murphy, with the Memphis office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.

Update: Deputy Jailer White has been relieved of duty with pay pending the outcome of the investigation.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT:
LEIGH ANNE JORDON THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2007 PHONE: (901) 544-4231 www.usdoj.gov/usao/tnw FAX: (901) 544-4230