GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - Following a two-day trial in U.S. District Court, on Feb. 4, 2015, Robert Nelson Racanelli, 26, of Johnson City, Tenn., was convicted of conspiracy to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, 280 grams or more of crack cocaine. Sentencing is set for 9:00 a.m., June 8, 2014. Racanelli faces a mandatory minimum 10 years in prison up to life. There is no parole in the federal system.
From March 2012, to April 2013, Racanelli conspired with various other persons to distribute, and possess with the intent to distribute, 280 grams or more of crack cocaine. These individuals included several out-of-state drug traffickers from Atlanta, Ga. During this time, Racanelli obtained multi-ounce quantities of crack cocaine from his coconspirators and then sold those drugs throughout Johnson City. On two occasions individuals working on behalf of law enforcement purchased crack cocaine from Racanelli.
As the investigation progressed, agents received court authorization to monitor the phone calls of members of this conspiracy. The resulting wiretaps produced phone calls in which Racanelli was repeatedly heard ordering crack cocaine, arguing about prices and quantities, discussing his drug sales, and joking about the addiction suffered by his customers.
This long term investigation was the product of a partnership between the Johnson City, Tennessee Police Department, First Judicial District Drug Task Force, and Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nick Regalia represented the United States.
A total of 21 individuals were charged as part of this investigation. Those previously sentenced include:
Tavares Lashaun Dalton, 36, of Covington, Ga., 240 months; Marcus Lavoya Holliman, 36, of Atlanta, Ga., 210 months; Eullis Monroe Goodwin, 43, of Elizabethton, Tenn., 188 months; Micah Antwan Still, 34, of Covington, Ga., 120 months; Derrick Henry Connor, 40, of Sherills Ford, N.C.,, 120 months; Devin Deonte Blalock, 20, of Jonesboro, Ga., 120 months; Kwanza Tarveze Worthy, 20, of Atlanta, Ga., 120 months; Don Juan Glass, Jr., 22, of Atlanta, Ga.,120 months; Uhamma Castillo Delgado, II, 24, of Johnson City, Tenn.,120 months; Demario Jenard Serchion, 29, of Atlanta, Ga., 77 months; and Cody Alan Sherrill, 22, of Jonesborough, Tenn.,41 months.
All others are awaiting prosecution or sentencing.
The investigation is a result of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program, the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s drug supply reduction strategy. OCDETF was established in 1982 to conduct comprehensive, multi-level attacks on major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations. Today, OCDETF combines the resources and expertise of its member federal agencies in cooperation with state and local law enforcement. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt, and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking and money laundering organizations and those primarily responsible for the nation’s drug supply.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
