29 Arrested In Multi-State Drug Trafficking - NewsChannel5.com

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – A six month long investigation has led to the arrest of 29 people involved in a multi-state drug trafficking conspiracy.

Police said the investigation revealed that hundreds of pounds of high grade marijuana were being shipped from California, Arizona, and Nevada to two men in Nashville.

"This investigation is noteworthy in that, while 21 of the defendants are from the Nashville area, 3 are from Nevada, 2 are from California, 2 are from New Mexico and 1 is from Arizona," Chief Steve Anderson said. "The message being sent is that drug trafficking involving Nashville is very much on the radar of our detectives, regardless of where the defendants live. Serious conduct will be met with serious charges, including engaging in a marijuana conspiracy, money laundering and the requested judicial forfeiture of property."

The two main distributors of the drugs were found to be James E. Roberts Jr., 55, William Gupton III, 28. Roberts was also a volunteer assistant basketball coach at Martin Luther King, Jr. Magnet High School, but police said there was no evidence that he was disturbing the drugs at school. Police estimated that both Roberts and Gupton had been working in the Nashville area since 2008.

A local Nashville relator was also found to be involved in the nationwide trafficking. Police said that 60-year-old Alexis Mayes used homes that were for sale in the Nashville area as a place to received drug shipments.

A Nashville's General Sessions Court drug treatment manager was also alleged to have been involved. Officials said that William Scott Ross, 44, was charged with engaging in a marijuana conspiracy after it was discovered that he had tipped off a co-defendant about the drug investigation. Ross later resigned his position within the courts.

Other persons charged in this case are:

• Tifphany Wilson, 39, Roberts's girlfriend, of Candlewood Drive, Nashville. She is accused maintaining a stash house.

• Shelly Roberts, 48, Roberts' wife, of Hawkins Street, Nashville. She is accused of taking part in the marijuana conspiracy.

• Vanessa Roberts-Fuqua, 48, Roberts' sister, of Meharry Boulevard, Nashville. She is alleged to have accepted marijuana parcels on behalf of Roberts.

• Markia Gupton, 36, Gupton's wife, of Riverchase Boulevard, Madison. She is accused of engaging in the marijuana conspiracy, attempting to take part in a money laundering conspiracy and attempted forgery.

• Matthew Hoffman, 37, of Strada Mia Court, Las Vegas, Nevada. He is alleged to be one of the Nevada suppliers of marijuana that was shipped to Nashville.

• Crystal Zornes, 27, Hoffman's fiancée, of Strada Mia Court, Las Vegas, Nevada. She is accused of assisting Hoffman in supplying marijuana to Nashville from Las Vegas.

• Enrique Gomez "Pig" Ahumada, 39, of Fillmore Street, Phoenix, Arizona. He is alleged to be an Arizona supplier of marijuana that was shipped to Nashville.

• Anthony Guajardo, 28, of Waterlilly View Street, Henderson, Nevada. He is alleged to be a Nevada supplier of marijuana that was shipped to Nashville.

• Richard (Rick) Valmonte, 35, of Medinah Street, Fontana, California. He is alleged to be a California supplier of marijuana that was shipped to Nashville.

• Michael Hummer, 29, of Lyndie Lane, Temecula, California. He was arrested with Valmonte after a parcel of marijuana was sent to Gupton.

• David Davis, 30, of Packard Drive, Antioch. He is alleged to be a local distributor of marijuana received from Gupton.

• Carl Dunn, 40, of Saunders Avenue, Nashville. He is alleged to have received marijuana parcels on behalf of Gupton.

• Mark Gerald, 45, of West Yorkshire Court, Old Hickory. He is alleged to have bought large amounts of marijuana from Roberts.

• Antonio Swinger, 32, of Blackstone Avenue, Madison. He is accused of buying large quantities of marijuana from Roberts.

• Mamie Brinkley, 59, of Kirkwood Avenue, Nashville. She is charged with accepting marijuana parcels on behalf of Roberts.

• Mable Anita Sowell, 55, of N. 2nd Street, Nashville. She is alleged to have accepted marijuana parcels on behalf of the organization.

• Joseph Travierso, 48, of Green Harbor Court, Old Hickory. He is accused of buying marijuana from Roberts and investing in the organization.

• Rudolph Woodberry, 55, of Chateau Valley Drive, Nashville. He is charged with buying large amounts of marijuana from Roberts.

• Michael Phillips, 54, of Setter Court, Nashville. He is accused of picking up marijuana parcels on behalf of Roberts.

• Jubal Boyce, 34, of Wright Avenue, Alamogordo, New Mexico. He is charged with driving marijuana to shipment points on behalf of Roberts.

• Jennifer Boyce, 26, Jubal Boyce's wife, of Wright Avenue, Alamogordo, New Mexico. She is accused of accompanying her husband in the transportation of marijuana to shipment points.

• James Keith Kephart, 53, of Old Horton Highway, Nolensville. He is accused of buying large amounts of marijuana from Roberts.

• Corey Clemons, 36, of Apple Valley Road, Madison. He is charged with buying large amounts of marijuana from Gupton.

• John Scott Orr, 52, of Illinois Avenue, Nashville. He is charged with taking part in the marijuana conspiracy.

• Donald Halbert Lauderdale, 65, of Sam Davis Boulevard, Smyrna. He is accused of taking part in the marijuana conspiracy.