Memphis, TN – The last two defendants of a drug ring responsible for transporting heroin from Texas to Memphis for mass distribution have pleaded guilty. Edward L. Stanton III, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, announced the pleas today.
According to information presented in court, in November 2013, members of the Memphis Police Department Organized Crime Unit began investigating members of a drug trafficking organization who were selling large quantities of heroin in the Memphis and Shelby County area.
Abel Gamez, Sr. and Abel Gamez, Jr. were identified as two of the organization’s heroin sources of supply in Texas. The defendants reportedly had people transport heroin from Texas to Memphis via Greyhound.
In January 2015, Organized Crime Unit personnel set up random searches at the Memphis bus station. A narcotics-detection K-9 alerted on Liza Torress, who, along with her son, Arthur Olague, was a passenger on the bus. A search of Torress revealed 350 grams of heroin.
In September 2015, a federal grand jury returned a two-count superseding indictment against the aforementioned defendants, along with multiple others.
According to the indictment, between November 2013 and April 2015, Reginald Brewer aka "Blue," Clarence Carter, Cedric Caruthers aka "Jomo," Tremayne Jackson aka "Bookie," LaCedric Ruffin aka "Ced," and Anthony Wilbourn aka "Dale" conspired to possess with the intent to distribute less than 100 grams of heroin.
The indictment further alleges that Gamez, Sr., Gamez, Jr., Olague, Torres, and Larry Woodley aka "Coffee" conspired to possess with the intent to distribute 100 grams or
more of heroin. During the same time period, Carter and Woodley conspired to possess with the intent to distribute 500 grams or more of cocaine.
In December 2015, Carter, Wilbourn, Ruffin, Torress, Woodley, Olague, Brewer, and Caruthers all pleaded guilty to their charges in the indictment. In early March 2016, Gamez Sr. pleaded guilty to his charges.
On Wednesday, March 23, 2016, Gamez Jr. pleaded guilty to his charges in the indictment.
On Thursday, March 24, 2016, Jackson pleaded guilty to his charges in the indictment.
This case is being investigated by the Memphis Drug Enforcement Administration and the Memphis Police Department Organized Crime Unit.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sam Stringfellow, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jerry Kitchen and Michelle Kimbril-Parks are prosecuting this case on the government’s behalf.