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10 East Tennesseans sentenced in meth distribution conspiracy

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meth

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- According to the Eastern District of Tennessee Attorney General's office, a 65-year-old Knoxville man has been sentenced to 295 months in prison for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

According to the DA, Robert L. Rose was sentenced on Tuesday, March 13, after he previously pleaded guilty in October 2017 to an indictment from a federal grand jury in which he was charged with conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.

When Rose is released from prison, the DA's office said he would be under the supervision of US Probation for five years.

The following additional individuals were convicted and sentenced for their involvement in the drug conspiracy:

  • 42-year-old Brandon S. Hill of Knoxville was sentenced to serve 115 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Hill pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
  • 42-year-old Ruth Ann Oliver of Kodak was sentenced to serve 92 months in prison, followed by four years of supervised release. Oliver pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
  • 52-year-old Bobby R. Leach of Blaine was sentenced to serve 151 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Leach pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
  • 38-year-old Melvin L. Swiney of Rutledge was sentenced to serve 138 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Swiney pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.
  • 47-year-old Kevin R. Addington of Wise, Virginia, was sentenced to serve 144 months in prison, followed by 10 years of supervised release. Addington pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
  • 55-year-old John R. Elrod of Talbott was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Elrod pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
  • 49-year-old William A. Dyer of Knoxville was sentenced to serve 151 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Dyer pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
  • 45-year-old Melissa D. Coffey of Rutledge was sentenced to serve 102 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Melissa Coffey pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.
  • 23-year-old Tiffany N. Coffey of Morristown was sentenced to serve 120 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Tiffany Coffey pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

The DA's office said the convictions of Rose and the additional co-conspirators was the result of a three-year investigation that was conducted with the cooperation of several East Tennessee law enforcement agencies, along with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration.