Posted 6/25/24

Eleven members of a drug trafficking ring plead guilty to conspiring to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances in middle Tennessee, according to United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.

Those charged include, Davontay Holt, 30, of Columbia, Ricardo Molinero-Alcarez, 29, of Santa Rosa, California, Khyre McClain, 21, of Columbia, Tennessee, Marcus Johnson, 26, of Santa Rosa, California, Ethan Kimes, 22, of Columbia, Tennessee, Jahari Armstrong, 22, of Columbia, Tennessee, Jaydan Armstrong, 22, of Columbia, Tennessee, Mathew Cox, 28, of Santa Rosa, California, Tristain Orr, 24, of Columbia, Tennessee, Jonny Rodriguez-Gonzalez, 25, Elmira, California, and Quortez Duncan, 36, of Columbia, Tennessee.

Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations were investigating the distribution of methamphetamine, marijuana and counterfeit fentanyl-laced Oxycodone tablets with the inscription “M30” which were being shipped from the Santa Rosa, California, area to Tennessee, Law enforcement officers in Columbia executed several search warrants of the defendants’ residences and recovered loaded firearms and blue tablets inscribed “M30.”

The defendants will be sentenced before United States District in the spring of 2025. Cox, Johnson, Molinero-Alcarez, McClain, Rodriguez-Gonzalez, and Duncan face up to life imprisonment and a $10,000,000 fine. Holt, Orr, Kimes, Jahari Armstrong, and Jaydan Armstrong face up to 20 years’ imprisonment and a $1,000,000 fine.