KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - A federal grand jury in Knoxville returned a one-count indictment on Mar. 4, 2014, against Melvin Taylor, 41, of Jefferson City, Tenn., for distribution of crack cocaine. Taylor appeared in court on Apr. 9, 2014, before U.S. Magistrate Judge C. Clifford Shirley, Jr., and pleaded not guilty. He was detained pending trial, which has been set for Jun. 17, 2014, in U.S. District Court in Knoxville.
The indictment alleges that in December 2013 Taylor distributed a quantity of crack cocaine to another individual. If convicted, Taylor faces up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000,000, and a term of supervised release of at least three years and up to life.
This indictment is the result of an investigation by the Fourth Judicial District Drug Task Force and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly A. Norris will represent the United States.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every defendant is presumed innocent until his or her guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
