By News Sentinel staff  Knoxville News Sentinel

Posted December 4, 2010 at midnight

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/dec/04/11-arrested-in-alleged-cocaine-crack-ring/

Eleven people have been arrested and charged in a multi-state cocaine and crack cocaine trafficking conspiracy and money laundering operation, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Federal warrants were executed on Bryan and Courtney Walden and Dorian Johnson, all of Alcoa; Curicio Hight, Travis Jackson and Thomas Goins, all of Knoxville; Willie Gilbert Jr., Tavaris Wyatt and Latara Jester, all of Atlanta; Willie Lundy of Rockford; and Jazmin Meredith of Maryland.

During a federal search executed Thursday at locations in Knoxville, Alcoa and Rockford, officials seized large amounts of money, vehicles, drugs and other evidence against the alleged ring, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

If convicted, each defendant faces a term of at least 10 years and up to life in prison, fines, and forfeiture in the amount of $2.5 million.

The men and women made initial appearances Friday in U.S. District Court in Knoxville before Magistrate Judges H. Bruce Guyton and C. Clifford Shirley. A trial has been set for Feb. 8 in front of U.S. District Judge Thomas Varlan.