Memphis, TN - Sixteen members and associates of a violent, drug trafficking street gang were recently indicted on federal drug charges.
This morning members of the Memphis Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force arrested nine of the defendants named in the indictment. Assisting the task force in making the arrests were officers from the Memphis Police Department’s Organized Crime Unit, the Narcotics Unit from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, the Bartlett Police Department, the Collierville Police Department, the Germantown Police Department, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The indictment and arrests are the result of an extensive investigation conducted by federal, state, and local law enforcement officials on the 7th Street Murda Squad, a criminal organization comprised of various gangs, including members of the Gangster Disciples and Vice Lords.
According to the indictment, the investigation of the 7th Street Murda Squad began in late 2012. During the investigation, officials were able to determine that members and associates of the gang were distributing large quantities of narcotics, primarily cocaine and methamphetamine, throughout the Western District of Tennessee.
Nine Defendants Arrested:
David Lenard Matlock, 32, Memphis
Joe Jones, 36, Memphis
Alvin Lewis, 41, Memphis
Carbin Junior Bullard, 55, Memphis
Albert Demarcus Calhoun, 23, Memphis
Marquice Bell, 28, Blytheville, AR
Christopher Adas Nelson III, 42, (In State Custody)
Roderick McNary, 38, Memphis
Charles Eugene Seaborn, 38, Memphis
7 At-Large Defendants:
Tavious Swift, 35, Memphis
Ronnie Kenneth Malone, 45, Memphis
Larry Hill, 45, Memphis
Antonio Anderson, 29, Memphis
Cal Griffin, 39, Memphis
Eric Grove, 38, Memphis
Markeith DeWayne McDaniel, 35, Memphis
Five firearms were also seized during the early morning round-up: an AK-47; two 12-guage shotguns;.44 caliber revolver; and 9mm Ruger.
Nine of the defendants face a sentence of up to life in federal prison if convicted: Matlock, Jones, Jackson, Swift, Malone, Hill, Anderson, and Bullard. Another five defendants face a sentence of up to 40 years if convicted: Bell, Grove, Calhoun, McDaniel, and Nelson.
The case was investigated by the Memphis DEA Task Force. Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel French is representing the government in this case.
The charges and allegations contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
