On February 10, 2025, Bryan Cornelius, a 34-year-old resident of Knoxville, Tennessee, received a 45-year prison sentence for his involvement in drug trafficking, firearms offenses, and money laundering. The sentencing, delivered by United States District Judge Thomas A. Varlan, took place in the Eastern District of Tennessee’s federal court. After serving his prison term, Cornelius will be subject to five years of supervised release.
Cornelius’s conviction followed a federal trial in April 2022, where a jury found him guilty of conspiring to distribute controlled substances such as methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, and marijuana. Evidence presented during the trial included wiretapped communications, search warrants executed at various Knoxville residences, and the seizure of narcotics, firearms, and cash. Cornelius, identified as a member of the Gangster Disciples street gang, was found to have ordered narcotics from suppliers in California and received shipments through postal services like USPS, FedEx, and UPS throughout 2019. He maintained multiple addresses in Knoxville to store narcotics, firearms, and cash to support his drug distribution operations.
Latest TN News
In addition to drug trafficking, Cornelius was involved in a violent incident on November 21, 2019, when he and two others fired fifteen rounds into a Mercedes-Benz at a Stop-n-Go on Brooks Avenue, injuring the driver. The jury also convicted him of conspiracy to commit money laundering, and court documents revealed that twenty-two other individuals involved in the conspiracy had previously pleaded guilty.
Judge Varlan considered several aggravating factors in determining Cornelius’s sentence, including his leadership role, threats of violence, and use of firearms in connection with his crimes. The announcement of the sentencing was made by U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III, FBI Special Agent in Charge Joe Carrico, and U.S. Postal Inspector Tommy D. Coke.
The conviction resulted from an investigation by the FBI HIDTA Task Force and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). The task force included multiple local law enforcement agencies, such as the Roane County Sheriff’s Office, Knoxville Police Department, and Knox County Sheriff’s Office. Additional support came from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration, which conducted drug analysis on the seized narcotics.
Assistant United States Attorneys Cynthia Davidson and Alan Kirk represented the prosecution. This case was part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) programs, which aim to combat high-level drug trafficking and coordinate drug control efforts among various law enforcement agencies.
Additionally, the case was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a Department of Justice initiative focused on reducing violent crime. PSN aims to address community crime problems through collaboration with local stakeholders, focusing enforcement on violent offenders, and supporting prevention and reentry programs for long-term crime reduction.
For further information, you can read the full announcement on the [Department of Justice website](https://www.justice.gov).
Source: Read Original Release
Deshawn Williams Arrested for Multiple Domestic Warrants
A 31-year-old convicted felon, Deshawn Williams, has been arrested in Hermitage, Tennessee, on 19 outstanding warrants linked to domestic incidents involving the mother of his children. Williams’ aggressive actions include stalking, property damage, and harassment, leading to charges such as aggravated stalking and child endangerment. He was previously convicted of attempted second-degree murder in 2010. For more information, visit the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department website.
