El Paso Standard

Twelve individuals involved in a drug trafficking conspiracy have been sentenced to over 70 years collectively for distributing controlled substances across middle Tennessee and other regions. The sentencing follows an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Nashville, along with other federal agencies.

Court documents reveal that in 2022, ICE Nashville, the FBI, and the Drug Enforcement Administration began tracking large shipments of counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills marked “M30,” methamphetamine, and marijuana being sent from California to Tennessee and 16 other states.

Investigators identified Matthew Cox as the person responsible for shipping these drugs after examining shipping materials, monitoring social media accounts, and conducting surveillance. Communication among the defendants showed discussions about drug prices, shipments, and quality. Quortez Duncan requested stronger pills from Cox to increase addiction among customers for higher profits. However, agents intercepted these shipments before they reached Duncan. Another defendant, Khyre McClain, attempted money laundering through a limited liability corporation.

In July 2022, ICE agents seized a package at a UPS Store in Sebastopol, California destined for Nashville containing thousands of counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills weighing over two kilograms and more than eight pounds of methamphetamine. In August 2022, two additional packages were intercepted from Santa Rosa destined for Nashville residences; one contained 472 grams of counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills while the other had approximately four pounds of methamphetamine.

Search warrants executed at various locations in California and Tennessee led to the recovery of firearms, cash, expensive vehicles, marijuana, and large quantities of counterfeit fentanyl-laced pills.

The convicted individuals received varying sentences:

- Quortez Duncan: 15 years

- Mathew Cox: 11 years and 8 months

- Jonny Rodriguez-Gonzalez: 11 years and 2 months

- Ricardo Molinero-Alcarez: 10 years

- Khyre McClain: 10 years

- Davontay Holt: 10 years

- Marcus Johnson: 5 years

- Tristain Orr: 5 years

- Ethan Kimes: 2 years

- Marquitues Sawyers: 1 year and 8 months

Additionally:

- Jahari Armstrong was sentenced to three years probation.

- Jaydan Armstrong also received three years probation.

The investigation was conducted by ICE in both Tennessee and California alongside the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), FBI Nashville Field Office, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), and Columbia Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ahmed Safeeullah and Rachel Stephens.