15 indicted for fentanyl conspiracy in Knoxville, local counties

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) — A federal grand jury indicted 15 people for heroin and fentanyl conspiracy in Knoxville and surrounding counties on April 16.

According to a release from the office of the United States Attorney Eastern District of Tennessee, a grand jury “returned an eight-count indictment” against 15 people some from Detroit and some from Knoxville.

From Detroit

– Damion Knox, 34
– Darnez Turner, 30
– Jeremiah Johnson, 23
– Papa Diop, 23

From Knoxville

– Joshua Cooper, 37
– Virgil Crawford, 45
– Jessica Bouvier, 30
– Stephen Bouvier, 38
– Jama Collier, 23
– Tina Berry, 55

The release said five people are not in custody yet.

The attorney’s office said that the 15 people named in the indictment conspired to distribute and “possessed with intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing 400 grams or more of” fentanyl and one kilogram or more of heroin.

The indictment also claims that a money laundering charge and other drug related charges have been issued for some of the 15 people.

The case has a trial date of July 1, 2019. According to the release, if convicted for conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute, each person faces a mandatory minimum of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, five years of supervised release, a fine of up to $10,000,000, any applicable forfeiture and a $100 special assessment.