Marion County Sheriff Ronnie "Bo" BurnettThe Marion County Sheriff's Department got more than $750,000 as its share of funds forfeited in a federal marijuana trafficking case related to a scheme that spanned from 2004 to 2011.
Jackie Morrison, 66, Ollie Frizzell, 53, Sammy Nance, 51, all of Whitwell, Tenn., along with Julio Barbosa, Sr., 60, of Laredo, Texas, were charged and convicted of offenses related to the scheme. The operation was responsible for transporting more that 1,000 pounds of marijuana from Texas to East Tennessee, where it was distributed, officials said.
"The Marion County Sheriff's Office committed personnel to work with ATF Chattanooga seven years ago. This case is one of many successful cases that has been prosecuted as a result of this partnership," Marion County Sheriff Ronnie "Bo" Burnett said in a prepared statement. "The sheriff's office is grateful that this partnership has paid off not only to get criminals off of the streets but to also ensure that the sheriff's office has the needed funding to hire more personnel, conduct training, and obtain updated investigative equipment."
The money and assets were forfeited at trial or in connection with guilty pleas.
Of the total $961,413.93 ordered by the court to be forfeited, $939,553.93 was cash and $21,860.00, was the value of vehicles and an ATV.
"To ensure that crime doesn't pay, federal law allows the forfeiture of property used to facilitate crimes and assets obtained through their illegal activity," U.S. Attorney William C. Killian said in the statement. "The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Tennessee works with our federal and local law enforcement agency partners to identify, seize, and forfeit property in an effective and powerful strategy in the fight against crime as part of the Department of Justice's asset forfeiture program."
Contact staff writer Ben Benton at bbenton@timesfreepress.comor twitter.com/BenBenton or www.facebook.com/ben.benton1or 423-757-6569.