22 arrested in federal meth bust that spans 3 states, 9 counties

Meth tile cropped

Nearly two dozen people were named Wednesday in a federal methamphetamine distribution indictment that spans three states and nine counties.

The 22 men and women are charged in two different indictments and hail from Chattanooga, Jasper, Tenn.,Wildwood, Ga., and about 10 other cities. Their charges include conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm by prohibited people.

Though prosecutors say the conspiracy stretched across several states, much of the activity is alleged to have taken place in Marion County, Tenn. One indictment lists criminal activity back to April 2013, while another reaches back to November of that year.

Many of the men and women were arrested Wednesday after being named in the indictments, but eight were already in custody on unrelated charges. Most are scheduled to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judges Susan K. Lee and William B. Carter Thursday afternoon.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms led the investigation, with assistance from several federal and local agencies.

Named in the indictment are:

David Henderson, 45, of Wildwood, Ga.;

Dennis Reed, 44, of South Pittsburg, Tenn.;

Charles Meeks, 41, of Tracy City, Tenn.;

Christopher Brian Janeway, 41, of South Pittsburg, Tenn.;

James Allen Sexton, 50, of Chattanooga, Tenn.;

James Ray Pritchett, 36, of South Pittsburg, Tenn.;

Jamie Harris, 43, of Whiteside, Tenn.;

Jason Boston, 35, of South Pittsburg, Tenn.;

Jeremy Toro, 40, of Tracy City, Tenn.

Kelly Nance, 34, of Jasper, Tenn.;

Kevin, Denney, 40, of South Pittsburg, Tenn.;

Mark Anthony Johnson, 33, of Tracy City, Tenn.;

Michael Patterson, 40, of Philadelphia, Tenn.;

Monica Sha Newman, 38, of Jasper, Tenn.;

Nathan Carlton, 40, of Stevenson, Ala.;

Robert Graham, 46, of Trenton, Ga.;

Rodney Craig Akins, 49, of Dunlap, Tenn.;

Ronald Green Jr., 49, of Jasper, Tenn.;

Ronald Terry Wilmore, 46, of McMinnville, Tenn.;

Steve Hankins, 58, of Jasper, Tenn.;

Terry Jones, 53, of Crandall, Ga.; and

Tiffany Hadder, 32, of Gruetli Laauger, Tenn.