MORE Arrests made in recent drug overdose cases in Middle Tennessee

Dec 06, 2016 at 06:15 am by bryan


Investigation into Nashville overdose case continues:

A fourth person is now facing a 2nd degree murder charge in connection with the April 2015 fentanyl overdose death of a 38-year-old woman in nearby Hermitage.

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Nicole Aylward died on April 3, 2015, from a fentanyl/heroin overdose while in the Central Pike apartment of Shannon Wise and Joseph Thompson. Aylward suffered a non-fatal overdose in that same apartment just days earlier.

Wise and Thompson were arrested on the day Aylward died on a charge of 2nd degree murder and a number of felony drug offenses. Specialized Investigations Division narcotics detectives allege that the two provided Aylward with drugs. As detectives continued to work on this case, they identified Michael Lacefield, 28, and Najir Ellis, 19, as the persons who allegedly sold/delivered fentanyl laced heroin to the apartment. Lacefield was arrested last year. Ellis was arrested in Clarksville this week. Because he was age 17 at the time of the alleged drug delivery, Ellis is presently charged with 2nd degree murder in Juvenile Court.

The second-degree murder charges against Wise, Thompson and Lacefield are pending in Davidson County Criminal Court. Their next court appearance is scheduled for December 15th. Indicted in the same case on felony heroin charges is James E. Cooke, 39, who is alleged to have shipped fentanyl laced heroin from Detroit to Nashville.

Past Details involving Murfreesboro cases below:

The Department of Justice called a news conference in October concerning a drug problem that is plaguing the state of Tennessee.

U.S. Attorney David Rivera was there, along with local, state and federal law enforcement officers. They announced federal charges stemming from a major drug overdose outbreak in Murfreesboro earlier this year.

Back in July, dozens of people overdosed from Percocet pills laced with a potent painkiller Fentanyl, a prescription medicine typically used on cancer patients. Fifteen incidents were reported in one day.

Five of the seven people were indicted on nine counts Wednesday. Three of the suspects are from Murfreesboro, one from Nashville and one person from Florida. Two others were charged earlier in the case.

A federal grand jury sitting in Nashville returned a nine-count indictment against the following persons:

  • Jonathan Barrett, a.k.a. "Punky," 29, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee
  • Eric Falkowski, 34, of Kissimmee, Florida
  • Davi Valles, Jr., 25, of Nashville, Tennessee
  • Johnny Williams, 30, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee
  • Jason Moss, 26, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee

More Details on the Case:

Count one of the indictment charged all five with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, the use of which resulted in death and serious bodily injury. One additional count charged all five with distribution of fentanyl, the use of which resulted in death. All five were also charged with five additional counts of distribution of fentanyl, the use of which caused serious bodily injury. Falkowski, Valles, Williams and Moss were also charged with one additional count of distribution of fentanyl that resulted in serious bodily injury. Additionally, Falkowski was charged with one count of distribution of fentanyl resulting in death.

Jennifer Dogonski, 33, of Murfreesboro, was previously charged on July 29, 2016, with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, the use of which caused serious bodily injury. She has since pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing.

Preston Davis, 22, of Madison, Tennessee, was charged on September 13, 2016, with one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, the use of which resulted in death. Davis was also charged with possession of an AR-15 assault rifle in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Davis' charges are pending.

According to charging documents, in May 2016, Falkowski moved his pill operation to the home of Preston Davis, in Madison, Tennessee, after law enforcement conducted a search of his home in Florida and seized his pill presses. The indictment further alleges that at Davis' Madison home, Falkowski and Davis possessed, among other things, a pill press, multiple dies used for embedding text onto pills, including a die for "A333," a pill grinder, fentanyl, alprazolam and other drug manufacturing equipment.

The indictment alleges that Preston Davis, Davi Valles, Jr., Jonathan Barrett, Johnny Williams and Jason Moss all distributed pills produced by Falkowski and that during the period of July 5-6, 2016, they distributed hundreds of counterfeit Percocet pills containing fentanyl, with the markings "A333" in and around the Murfreesboro, Tennessee area. On July 6, 2016, Barrett learned that some individuals who had purchased the counterfeit pills had overdosed, and that one had possibly died, and then continued to distribute the counterfeit pills. In total, the indictment alleges that the distribution of fentanyl caused two individuals to die and six persons to experience serious bodily injury requiring medical intervention.

"Today's indictment and enforcement related efforts could not have been possible without the strong partnerships and support of our state and local law enforcement partners as well as the office of the United States Attorney David Rivera," said DEA Assistant Special Agent in Charge Christopher Tersigni. "Let today's efforts send a resounding shot to be heard by all that of those who profit from preying on the addicted and distribute the poison that continues to plague our communities at epidemic proportions; they will be investigated and prosecuted to the highest extent of the law."

TBI Director Mark Gwyn said," Let me be clear: "This is the emerging drug issue in Tennessee, with the potential to be far more destructive and far more deadly than any other drug issue we've worked to fight. We've warned the public about this issue several times this year and once again, we would urge anyone with a substance abuse issue to seek help. Turning to the streets to find your next fix isn't the answer. And it might very well cost you your life."

Six of the defendants are currently in custody. Jason Moss remains at large and is a fugitive.

If convicted, the defendants charged in this indictment face a mandatory minimum term of twenty years in prison, up to life and up to a $1,000,000.00 fine for each count charged.

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation; and the Murfreesboro Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Courtney L. Coker and Amanda J. Klopf.

These charges are merely accusations. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

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