A joint investigation involving the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation’s Drug Investigation Division along with the Ripley Police Department, 25th Judicial District Drug Task Force, and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives resulted in the indictment of 31 individuals on various drug related offenses.
In the early morning hours on June 7th, 19 individuals were arrested without incident during a round up in Ripley and the surrounding areas. An additional four (4) of the 31 individuals indicted as a result of this investigation were already in custody at the time of this round up. At this time, 23 of the 31 individuals targeted in this operation are now in custody. During the course of this nearly year-long investigation, numerous purchases of illicit drugs were conducted from multiple individuals. In addition to predominantly purchasing crack cocaine; methamphetamine, marijuana and illegally diverted prescription pills were also purchased during the course of the operation.
“The TBI will continue to prioritize community impact operations like this by attacking the scourge of the illicit drug trade that has crippled so many of our rural areas in this State,” said TJ Jordan, TBI’s Assistant Director for the Drug Investigation Division. “Let me be clear, we’re coming for you, regardless of whether you are dealing in small or large amounts, you will no longer be allowed to sit back and profit from the torment and havoc you are wreaking in our communities.”
“We are very thankful for the tremendous work by the TBI, with the assistance of local Lauderdale County law enforcement agencies, to investigate and charge drug dealers in Lauderdale County who are poisoning our communities,” said 25th District Attorney General Mark Davidson. “We are dedicated to combating the opioid epidemic and illegal drugs with aggressive law enforcement and prosecution, and these cases are a reflection of that commitment.”
All those arrested were transported to the Lauderdale County Jail and have various bond amounts based on their individual cases. The TBI and Ripley Police Department received additional assistance on the arrests from the Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP), DEA, U.S. Marshals, Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office, and 25th Judicial Task Force.
Those arrested in this community impact operation and their respective charges are listed below:
*THOMAS LATTIMORE, DOB 05/19/1975
DELIVERY OF SCHEDULE II (COCAINE) LESS THAN .5 GRAMS IN A DRUG FREE ZONE
DELIVERY OF SCHEDULE II (COCAINE) LESS THAN .5 GRAMS (x2)
DELIVERY OF SCHEDULE II (COCAINE) MORE THAN .5 GRAMS IN A DRUG FREE ZONE
*SENCANTRA LATTIMORE, DOB 08/10/1970
DELIVERY OF SCHEDULE II (COCAINE) LESS THAN .5 GRAMS IN A DRUG FREE ZONE
*DONALD CAPERS SR., DOB 08/26/1961
AGGRAVATED PERJURY
DELIVERY OF SCHEDULE II (COCAINE) .5 GRAMS OR MORE IN A DRUG FREE ZONE (x3)
DELIVERY OF A SCHEDULE II (HYDROCODONE) IN A DRUG FREE ZONE
DELIVERY OF SCHEDULE II (COCAINE) .5 GRAMS OR MORE
*DONALD CAPERS JR., DOB 02/20/1996
DELIVERY OF SCHEDULE II (COCAINE) .5 GRAMS OR LESS IN A DRUG FREE ZONE (x2)
DELIVERY SCHEDULE IV IN DRUG FREE ZONE
*DAVID NIXON, DOB 05/31/1956
DELIVERY OF SCHEDULE II (COCAINE) .5 GRAMS OR LESS IN A DRUG FREE ZONE (x2)
*RAY ALLEN, DOB 08/31/1978
DELIVERY OF SCHEDULE II (COCAINE) .5 GRAMS OR MORE (x2)
DELIVERY OF SCHEDULE II (COCAINE) .5 GRAMS OR MORE IN A DRUG FREE ZONE (x2)
*VALENCIA CULBREATH, DOB 06/04/1968
DELIVERY OF SCHEDULE II (COCAINE) .5 GRAMS OR LESS IN A DRUG FREE ZONE
*CLEVEN ARNOLD, DOB 06/23/1994
DELIVERY OF SCHEDULE II (COCAINE) .5 GRAMS OR MORE IN A DRUG FREE ZONE
*BOBBY DEWALT, DOB 01/05/1968
DELIVERY OF SCHEDULE II (COCAINE) .5 GRAMS OR MORE (x3)
*AUGUSTER HARTSFIELD, DOB 02/24/1964
MANUFACTURE SCHEDULE IV MARIJUANA 10-19 PLANTS
POSSESSION OF SCHEDULE IV MARIJUANA WITH INTENT TO MANUFACTURE/DELIVER/SELL
POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA
DELIVERY OF SCHEDULE II (COCAINE) .5 GRAMS OR MORE IN A DRUG FREE ZONE (x2)
*VERONICA TAYLOR, DOB 08/11/1981
DELIVERY OF SCHEDULE II (COCAINE) .5 GRAMS OR MORE IN A DRUG FREE ZONE
*LAQUITA TOLBERT, DOB 08/20/1993
DELIVERY OF SCHEDULE II (COCAINE) .5 GRAMS OR MORE IN A DRUG FREE ZONE
*PAUL BARNES, DOB 07/28/1949
DELIVERY OF A SCHEDULE II (HYDROCODONE) (x2)
*LOUIS BONDS, DOB 03/16/1983
DELIVERY OF SCHEDULE II (COCAINE) .5 GRAMS OR MORE
DELIVERY OF A SCHEDULE II (HYDROCODONE) (x3)
*ERIC HOLLOWAY, DOB 07/22/1979
DELIVERY OF SCHEDULE II (COCAINE) .5 GRAMS OR MORE (x4)
*RONNIE COOPER, DOB 01/02/1954
DELIVERY OF SCHEDULE II (COCAINE) .5 GRAMS OR MORE (x2)
*NYANZE BONNER, DOB 03/12/1953
DELIVERY OF SCHEDULE II (HYDROCODONE) (x2)
*JESSICA SAWYER, DOB 02/14/1981 IN CUSTODY
DELIVERY OF SCHEDULE II (METH) MORE THAN .5 GRAMS
*JON LEE FIELDS, DOB 03/01/1978 IN CUSTODY
DELIVERY OF SCHEDULE II (METH) .5 GRAMS OR MORE
DELIVERY OF A COUNTERFEIT CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
