Ladarius Blunt
Jeremy Jermaine WhatleyA federal judge this week sentenced two Chattanooga men to a combined 20 years in prison for their roles in a crack cocaine distribution ring spanning Atlanta, Chattanooga and Johnson City.
U.S. District Court Judge J. Ronnie Greer sentenced Ladarius Lebron Blunt, 27, to 15-½ years in prison on a charge of possessing at least 280 grams of crack cocaine with intent to distribute. Greer also sentenced 29-year-old Jeremy Jermaine Whatley to 5 years in prison for possessing at least 28 grams of crack cocaine with intent to distribute.
Court documents indicate both men were part of a group that bought drugs wholesale in Atlanta and Chattanooga. They then resold the crack cocaine in Johnson City. They were discovered during an undercover operation based in Washington County.
That investigation occurred around the same time that members of the Chattanooga Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. State Attorney's Office investigated crack cocaine dealers running that same route from Chattanooga to Johnson City.
Investigators arrested 34 men in that case. Then-Chattanooga Police Chief Bobby Dodd called the group the "worst of the worst" during a November 2013 news conference. Some members of the group are affiliated with gangs, such as the Rollin' 60's Crips and the Woodlawn Crips.
According to court documents, Blunt and Whatley were not among that "worst of the worst" group. But they ran in the same circles.
Blunt and Whatley worked with Robert Siler and Garry Brown, two men who were arrested in that Chattanooga operation.
Blunt pleaded guilty on April 8 and was sentenced on one of the four counts for which he had been indicted. According to his plea agreement, Blunt began running drugs from Atlanta to Johnson City in April 2012, selling 70-80 grams on some of those trips.
He sold crack cocaine to informants twice in April 2013. Later that month, police stopped a taxi with Blunt and 40 grams of crack cocaine inside. Blunt admitted the drugs were his.
Whatley pleaded guilty on April 15 and, like Blunt, was sentenced on one of four charges. According to the plea agreement, Whatley sold crack cocaine to informants wearing wires in October 2012 and December 2012.
Defense attorneys for both Blunt and Whatley did not return calls seeking comment.
Contact staff writer Tyler Jett at tjett@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6476.