KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – On October 1, 2024, Michel Harris, a 38-year-old resident of Knoxville, Tennessee, was sentenced to 380 months in prison by United States District Judge Thomas A. Varlan. This sentence was delivered in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, located in Knoxville. Following his prison term, Harris will be subject to a supervised release period lasting ten years.
As part of a plea agreement, Harris admitted guilt to charges of possessing with intent to distribute nearly a kilogram of methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1)(A), and illegal firearm possession as a felon, under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g). The plea agreement revealed that Harris, a convicted felon, unlawfully acquired a firearm, several rounds of ammunition, and various firearm accessories, including upper receivers for an AR-type rifle, and drum magazines with capacities of 100, 60, and 50 rounds for different firearms. These purchases were made at the RK Gun Show in Knoxville in April 2022.
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Following the gun show, Harris was observed committing a traffic violation and was subsequently stopped at a gas station on Clinton Highway. During a search of his van, Harris attempted to escape by getting into the driver’s seat and speeding away with a Knoxville Police Department (KPD) officer inside the vehicle. Despite efforts to control the van, the officer was unable to prevent it from crashing into oncoming traffic, resulting in a head-on collision with two other vehicles. Harris was unharmed and fled on foot but was captured shortly after. The officer involved suffered a head injury and a severely broken arm, while no other serious injuries were reported among the other drivers or passengers.
United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III commented on the case, emphasizing the danger posed by Harris’s actions, which endangered numerous lives and involved illegal weapons purchases. ATF Nashville Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson highlighted the threat of illegal firearm possession to public safety and reiterated the agency’s commitment to enforcing federal firearms laws to protect communities. Knoxville Chief of Police Paul Noel praised the recovery of Lieutenant Michael Geddings, who was injured during the incident, and expressed gratitude for the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s efforts in holding Harris accountable.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, with support from the Knoxville Police Department and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Anne-Marie Svolto and Michael Deel prosecuted the case.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program designed to reduce violent crime and gun violence through coordinated efforts by law enforcement and community partners. The initiative, re-launched on May 26, 2021, focuses on building community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, establishing strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating results.
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La Vergne Man Arrested for Drug Charges
Joshua Hardaway, a 30-year-old man from La Vergne, has been arrested on seven drug selling counts and is under investigation for a fatal overdose in Coffee County. The arrest followed a coordinated investigation by multiple law enforcement agencies, which uncovered drugs and firearms at his residence. Hardaway, who is also facing a felony gun possession charge due to a prior conviction, is being held with a $192,000 bond.