NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — At least a dozen men have received prison sentences for their roles in a multi-state drug conspiracy, which involved distributing drugs in Middle Tennessee and other states, officials said.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) said agencies began investigating in 2022 after large shipments of counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills, methamphetamine and marijuana were shipped from California to Tennessee and approximately 16 other states.
Amid the investigation, agents reportedly reviewed shipped materials, social media accounts and surveillance video, which led them to identify 28-year-old Mathew Cox as the individual who was shipping the packages to other members in the drug trafficking conspiracy.
In one of the social media messages, another suspect —identified as Quortez Duncan— allegedly told Cox that he wanted “stronger pills to get customers hooked on the pills to increase profits.” Officials said Cox complied and attempted to ship the drugs to Duncan, but they were intercepted by agents.
The DOJ detailed one specific incident, on July 25, 2022, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents seized a package from a UPS store in Sebastopol, California, which was supposed to be shipped to Nashville. Inside the package, agents said they discovered thousands of counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills weighing over two kilograms and more than eight pounds of methamphetamine.
A month later, on Aug. 9, agents intercepted two more packages from Santa Rosa, California, which were also destined for Nashville. One package reportedly contained 472 grams of fentanyl-laced pills, and the other package had approximately four pounds of methamphetamine.
After collecting an “overwhelming amount of evidence,” officers conducted search warrants at multiple residences in Tennessee and California. During the searches, law enforcement recovered handguns, assault rifles, cash in bulk, expensive cars, marijuana, and large amounts of counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills.
“These defendants took part in a cross-country conspiracy that brought significant amounts of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and marijuana to Tennessee,” said Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain committed to holding those accountable who attempt to poison our communities.”
All 12 men were convicted of conspiring to distribute controlled substances, according to the DOJ. In addition, three of the men were also convicted of unlawfully possessing firearms after previously being convicted of felony offenses.
Those sentenced as part of the drug trafficking conspiracy include:
- Quortez Duncan, 37: Sentenced to 15 years
- Mathew Cox, 28: Sentenced to 11 years and 8 months
- Jonny Rodriguez-Gonzalez, 26: Sentenced to 11 years and 2 months
- Ricardo Molinero-Alcarez, 29: Sentenced to 10 years
- Khyre McClain, 23: Sentenced to 10 years
- Davontay Holt, 30: Sentenced to 10 years
- Marcus Johnson, 27: Sentenced to 5 years
- Tristain Orr, 25: Sentenced to 5 years
- Ethan Kimes, 22: Sentenced to 2 years
- Marquitues Sawyers, 24: Sentenced to 1 year and 8 months
- Jahari Armstrong, 22: Sentenced 3 years probation
- Jaydan Armstrong, 22: Sentenced 3 years probation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and the Columbia Police Department all assisted with the investigation.
