Twelve individuals involved in a drug trafficking operation have been sentenced to over 70 years collectively for their roles in distributing controlled substances in middle Tennessee and other areas. The sentencing follows a joint investigation led by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Nashville.
Court documents reveal that around 2022, ICE Nashville agents, along with the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration, began investigating large shipments of counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills marked “M30,” methamphetamine, and marijuana being sent from California to Tennessee and about 16 other states.
Investigators reviewed shipping materials, monitored social media accounts, and conducted surveillance, identifying Matthew Cox as the person sending packages to the drug trafficking network. The defendants discussed drug prices, shipments, and quality through social media applications and phones. Quortez Duncan expressed a desire for stronger pills to increase customer addiction and profits; Cox attempted to comply but the shipment was intercepted by agents. Another defendant, Khyre McClain, was found trying to launder money through a limited liability corporation.
Agents seized packages destined for Tennessee containing drugs. On July 25, 2022, ICE agents intercepted a package from Sebastopol, Calif., intended for Nashville with thousands of counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills weighing over two kilograms and more than eight pounds of methamphetamine. Further seizures on August 9, 2022, included packages from Santa Rosa containing 472 grams of counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills and approximately four pounds of methamphetamine.
Law enforcement executed search warrants at residences in California and Tennessee after gathering substantial evidence. They recovered firearms, cash, luxury vehicles, marijuana, and large quantities of counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills.
All defendants were convicted of conspiring to distribute controlled substances. Three also faced convictions for unlawful firearm possession following prior felony offenses.
Sentences were distributed as follows:
- Quortez Duncan received 15 years in federal prison.
- Mathew Cox was sentenced to 11 years and 8 months.
- Jonny Rodriguez-Gonzalez got 11 years and 2 months.
- Ricardo Molinero-Alcarez received 10 years.
- Khyre McClain was sentenced to 10 years.
- Davontay Holt received a sentence of 10 years.
- Marcus Johnson got five years.
- Tristain Orr received five years.
- Ethan Kimes was sentenced to two years.
- Marquitues Sawyers got one year and eight months.
- Jahari Armstrong was sentenced to three years of probation.
- Jaydan Armstrong also received three years of probation.
The case involved several agencies including ICE in Tennessee and California, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the FBI Nashville Field Office, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the Columbia Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ahmed Safeeullah and Rachel Stephens prosecuted this case.
