Department of Justice

Jackson, TN – Daniel Ranger, 33, has been sentenced to 240months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine, aiding and abetting the distribution and attempted distribution of a detectable amount of Fentanyl and being a felon in possession of firearms. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant announced the sentence today.

 

This is the latest sentencing in a case involving multiple defendants including Rolando Lopez, Saul Vega Flores, Virginia Torres, Kenneth Edward Garrett, Ronald Lynn Parham, Tammy Ranger, Marcus Jones, and Xavier Demetrius James for charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.

 

According to information presented in court, on February 28, 2017, officers with the Lawrenceburg Police Department conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle operated by Ranger. Ranger was found to be in possession of various items located throughout the vehicle to include: a Taurus 9mm handgun, a ballistics vest, three cellular phones, 5.5 grams of methamphetamine/ice and $10,241 in cash. On October 7, 2017, Ranger was again stopped operating a motor vehicle while having a suspended driver’s license. The Perry County Sheriff’s Office searched the vehicle and recovered $98,360 in cash, 37 sildenafil tablets, 50 tadalafil tablets, and a drug ledger. After deputies removed Daniel Ranger from their patrol vehicle, they found a $5 bill, a syringe, and 2.4 grams of methamphetamine/ice in the backseat.

 

On October 24, 2017, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call regarding an automobile wreck. The caller advised that a vehicle with front end damage was located in the ditch. Daniel Ranger was identified exiting the scene of the accident. As officers arrived, they began investigating the car crash and observed a blue cooler in the tree line. The cooler contained 222 grams of methamphetamine at 95% purity, 20.15 grams of fentanyl/heroin, a small amount of cocaine, and numerous pills. Also recovered was $20,000 in cash, 195 grams of marijuana, and a drug ledger that listed prices based on drug quantity and money owed by customers.

 

Later that same day, investigators executed a search warrant at 3439 Red Bank Creek Road in Lobelville, Tennessee, the residence of Daniel Ranger and Tammy Ranger. Investigators found 1.51 kilograms of marijuana in a trash bag in the kitchen. They also located .78 kilograms of methamphetamine/ice and 260 grams of heroin in the dishwasher.

 

On October 28, 2017, after receiving further information regarding additional narcotics, U.S. currency, and firearms that were still either in the home or on the property, investigators executed a second search warrant at Daniel Ranger and Tammy Ranger’s residence. Inside the residence, investigators found an additional set of digital scales, and assorted pills in sample packs. In a trailer behind the residence, officers located another assortment of sample packs of pills and a Glock pistol case with a 9mm magazine, a Remington five-round magazine, fourteen .223 rounds in a plastic clip, and ten 12-gauge shotgun shells.

 

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Fentanyl and Methamphetamine are deadly drugs that destroy lives, and the substantial quantity of illegal narcotics possessed by the defendant for resale could have caused countless injuries and deaths. This armed recidivist drug dealer will now have to pay for his crimes with a 20 year federal prison sentence."

 

During his guilty plea, Ranger was held accountable for 963.9 grams of actual methamphetamine, 228.15 grams of heroin/fentanyl, and 1,480 grams of marijuana.

 

On May 31, 2019, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Anderson sentenced Ranger to 240 months in federal prison followed by 5 years supervised release.

 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) – Nashville, Jackson, Knoxville, Atlanta; Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; 23rd Judicial Drug Task Force; Metro Nashville Police Department; Jackson Police Department; Carroll County Sheriff’s Office; Madison County Sheriff’s Office; Lewis County Sheriff’s Office; Perry County Sheriff’s Office; Tennessee Highway Patrol; Lawrenceburg Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Knox County Sheriff’s Office and Obion County Sheriff’s Office.

 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Kitchen prosecuted this case on behalf of the government.