MEMPHIS, TN – Shelby County District Attorney Bill Gibbons, Memphis Police Director Larry Godwin and Millington Police Chief Richard Jewel announced Thursday that Memphis and Millington police officers served or attempted to serve warrants to 130 defendants indicted this week. The state Grand Jury for Shelby County returned the indictments following a joint investigation, “Operation Rock Star” by the Memphis Police Department’s Organized Crime Unit (OCU) and the Millington Police Department. One defendant was indicted on federal weapons charges.
The round-up of defendants started around 4:00 a.m. Thursday. The names of defendants in custody at this time will be released separately. It is illegal in Tennessee to announce the names of individuals indicted by the Grand Jury unless those individuals are in custody on the charges.
During the round-up, Memphis police officers also served notices to the owners of ten residential properties, including an apartment complex, that the District Attorney’s Office intends to close the properties as public nuisances, due in large part to the continued pattern of drug sales and use at the locations. The nuisance actions were also the result of the OCU investigation.
“It’s going to take a joint effort, by police and prosecutors, to target drug dealers and hold them accountable. We are going to do what we can, by working with police to bring forth indictments and closing properties under the nuisance law, to stop illegal drug trafficking in Shelby County,” said District Attorney Bill Gibbons about the efforts of the D.A.’s Office to fight drug-related crime.
Earlier this week, the state Grand Jury returned 302 indictments against 129 defendants. The indictments stem from an investigation that started in January 2007. The investigation extended to various neighborhoods throughout Memphis and Millington. The defendants and properties were targeted as part of the MPD’s ongoing Operation Blue CRUSH™.
The indictments returned by the Grand Jury include charges of sale of a controlled substance, and unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture, deliver or sell. The drug charges involve the sale or possession of crack cocaine, heroin, oxycodone (Percocet), morphine, fentanyl, marijuana, Ecstacy, hydrocodone (Vicodin), methamphetamine, alprazolam (Xanax), amitriptyline hydrochloride, and metoprolol tartrate. The amount or types of drugs involved resulted in numerous felony charges.
“Crime knows no boundaries. These criminals conduct their crimes across our entire community. Our joint undercover investigations with the Millington Police Department, illustrates our commitment to work with all agencies in the area to rid our community of these criminals. The number of defendants in this roundup doubles any of our previous roundups. We will continue to work together to reduce crime in our community.”
“This joint drug enforcement initiative with the Memphis Police Department and the Millington Police Department reflects a spirit of cooperation with both departments and further underscores our determination to rid our community of the scourge of drug use and drug trafficking,” said Chief Jewell.
The charges range from Class B to Class E felonies. The standard sentence for a Class B felony is 8-12 years, with a maximum sentence of 30 years; the standard sentence for a Class C felony is 3-6 years, with a maximum sentence of 15 years; the standard sentence for a Class D felony is 2-4 years, with a maximum sentence of 12 years; the standard sentence for a Class E felony is 1-2 years, with a maximum sentence of 6 years.