Department of Justice

Jackson, TN – Robert Newsome, 36, has been sentenced to 220 months imprisonment for conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee announced the sentence today. This is the latest sentencing in a case involving multiple defendants including Bernard Cooper, Courtney Cooper, Brandon Weddle, Stephen Williams, Morgan Bond, and Ronricus Chapman on charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. Each defendant has now pled guilty.

 

According to information presented in court, on December 2, 2015 officers conducted an undercover drug purchase from a co-defendant who was supplied with 28.4 grams of actual methamphetamine. The methamphetamine has a purity level of 98.7 percent. Newsome also aided co-defendants in the packaging of four ounces of actual methamphetamine into smaller amounts for resale. The investigation determined that Newsome was responsible for distributing a total amount of marijuana equivalency of 12,128.94 kilograms. This amount is the result of distributing methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana.

 

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said, "Methamphetamine that is trafficked in and through West Tennessee is increasing in dangerous purity, and continues to destroy individuals, families, and communities. As a result of this successful conspiracy investigation and prosecution, 7 dangerous drug dealers have now received total combined sentences exceeding 132 years in prison, and West Tennessee is a safer place because they have been removed from our streets."

 

On May 17, 2019, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Thomas Anderson sentenced Robert Newsome to 220 months in federal prison followed by 5 years supervised release. Facts revealed during the hearing determined that Newsome fled the state for about one year, after learning that the United States had an arrest warrant for him for conspiracy. Judge Anderson found that Newsom qualified as a career offender. He was the last defendant to plead guilty. The defendants in this case received the following sentences: Bernard Cooper was sentenced to 220 months; Courtney Cooper sentenced to 120 months; Brandon Weddle sentenced to 121 months; Morgan Bond sentenced to 360 months and Ronricus Chapman received 188 months and Stephen Williams sentenced to 360 months in federal prison.

 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Jackson Metro Narcotics, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

 

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