UPDATED: Law Enforcement's Frustration Evident in 'Operation Never Ending Story' Drug Sting

Jun 25, 2024 at 03:55 pm by WGNS News

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WARREN COUNTY, TN - With drug arrests, it sometimes seems like a never-ending story—arrest after arrest, with new faces confronting addiction every minute across America. Reflecting this grim reality, the 31st Judicial District Attorney's Office and the Warren County Sheriff's Office named their latest drug sting, 'Operation Never Ending Story.'

In an effort to curb the sale of methamphetamine and fentanyl, the recent operation led to the arrest of nearly 50 suspected drug dealers in nearby Warren County, Tennessee. The name of the special operation, 'Operation Never Ending Story,' is packed with significance, as Warren County District Attorney General Chris Stanford explained. It's a nod to the exasperation law enforcement feels when, after risking life and limb to catch these suspected criminals, the court system seems to let them off easier than what some might expect. According to a press release, “...our court system and laws have been far too lenient on these drug dealers.” The release also noted, “This results in the drug dealers hitting the streets again, shortly after they serve brief periods of incarceration.”

According to the District Attorney's office, illegal narcotic use and sales drive 80% to 90% of all criminal activity in places like Warren County, which is about 25 miles from the Rutherford County line. So, the special operation should cut into some of that criminal activity because, “...Operation Never Ending Story led to the largest known drug dealer roundup to date in Warren County History,” according to the District Attorney General’s office.

The nearly 50 arrests began to unfold early Thursday (June 20, 2024) morning and involved investigators from the DA's office, agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), detectives from the Warren County Sheriff's Office, and detectives from the McMinnville Police Department. Problems for those arrested grew as the DA announced that the arrested defendants would have to prove to the District Attorney's Office and/or to the Judge that their money for bond comes from a legal source, “...such as a job, before they can be released.”

The press release from the DA's Office closed with a stern warning, “If you are a drug dealer reading this press release, know this: we are coming for you and we will get you. We will make every effort to incarcerate you as long as possible until you make the decision to turn your life around. We know that if we keep you incarcerated, you cannot continue to hurt our community with your crimes. It is only when we let you out and you do not wish to rehabilitate yourself, that the repeating 'Never Ending Story' of drug dealing and criminal activity continues. If you wish to continue playing your dangerous games, you are encouraged to move from Warren County. Otherwise, you'll find our law enforcement team constantly tripping you up in life. Govern yourselves accordingly.”

Those Arrested Include:

  1. William Rambo: Four counts of delivery/sale of methamphetamine
  2. April Stembridge: One charge per delivery/sale of Alprazolam
  3. Ashtin Cripps: One count of delivery/sale of hydrocodone
  4. Terry McNeil Jr. – Seven counts of delivery/sale of methamphetamine
  5. Major Keller – One count per delivery/sale of Hydrocodone and Alprazolam
  6. Kyrie Harris – Two counts of delivery/sale of oxycodone
  7. Tracy Jennings – Three counts of delivery/sale of methamphetamine
  8. Troy Parton – Two counts of delivery/sale of methamphetamine
  9. Alexandra Goodwin – four counts of delivery/sale of methamphetamine;
    one count of delivery/sale of hydrocodone
  10. Vivian Merriman – Two cases of supply/sale of Alprazolam
  11. Adam Elrod – Two counts of supply/sale of Aprazolam
  12. Ashley Ballew – Two counts of delivery/sale of methamphetamine
  13. Ashton Griffith – Three counts of delivery/sale of methamphetamine;
    One count of delivery/sale of fentanyl
  14. Brian Tidenburg – Two counts of delivery/sale of oxycodone
  15. Carly Blankenship – Two counts of delivery/sale of buprenorphine
  16. Damon Perkins – Three counts of supply/sale of methamphetamine
  17. Ceva Goode – Two counts of supply/sale of methamphetamine
  18. Christy Goodwin – Two counts of delivery/sale of methamphetamine
  19. Danny Elrod – Two counts of delivery/sale of buprenorphine
  20. Frankie Pomales – Supply/sale of oxycodone in individual cases
  21. Glen Jennings – supply/sale of a quantity of Oxycodone;
    supply/sale of a quantity of Buprenorphine
  22. Jerry Forsythe – Two counts of delivery/sale of oxycodone
  23. Janine Elkins – Two counts of supply/sale of hydrocodone
  24. Heather Beecham – one count of supply/sale of methamphetamine
  25. Joyce Brown – Supply/sale of a quantity of Alprazolam
  26. John Carter – Delivery/sale of oxycodone in individual cases
  27. Kassandra Price – Delivery/Sale of a Quantity of Hydrocodone
  28. Kaitlyn Scott – Three counts of delivery/sale of methamphetamine
  29. Linda Campbell – Supply/sale of oxycodone in individual cases
  30. Linda Manier- One of the deliveries/sales of Buprenorphine
  31. Mary Craven – Supply/sale of a single dose of Buprenorphine
  32. Mary Johnson – Supply/sale of a quantity of Buprenorphine
  33. Randy Gilley – Supply/sale of a single dose of buprenorphine
  34. Phillip Pease – Two counts of supply/sale of Alprazolam
  35. Richard Adams – One count of delivery/sale of methamphetamine
  36. Ronald Hinds – Four counts of supply/sale of methamphetamine
  37. Rudy Almaguer – Delivery/sale of Hydrocodone; Delivery/sale of Oxycodone
  38. Shelby Johnson – Delivery/sale of oxycodone in individual cases
  39. Ryan Presley – Two counts of delivery/sale of methamphetamine
  40. Ruth Young – One count of delivery/sale of methamphetamine
  41. Sherlock Holmes – Two counts of supply/sale of methamphetamine
  42. Terry Burger – Three counts of delivery/sale of methamphetamine
  43. Terry Giddeons – Supply/sale of hydrocodone in individual cases
  44. Tracy Atterson – Four counts of delivery/sale of methamphetamine
  45. Toni Lloyd – Delivery/sale of fentanyl in individual cases

DISCLAIMER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The arrest records or information about an arrest that are published or reported on NewsRadio WGNS and www.WGNSradio.com are not an indication of guilt or evidence that an actual crime has been committed.

 

Tags: 31st Judicial District Attorney's Office Chris Stanford criminal activity drug arrests drug dealers drug sting fentanyl illegal drugs legal bond money lenient laws McMinnville Police Department methamphetamine narcotic use Operation Never Ending Story TBI Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Warren County Warren County Sheriff's Office
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