7 Colombia men plead guilty to trafficking fentanyl, methamphetamine and marijuana

June 21, 2024 – Eleven members of a drug trafficking conspiracy pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances in Middle Tennessee, according to United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis for the Middle District of Tennessee.

• Davontay Holt, 30, of Columbia, Tennessee, pleaded guilty on April 8, 2024.
• Ricardo Molinero-Alcarez, 29, of Santa Rosa, California, pleaded guilty on April 9, 2024.
• Khyre McClain, 21, of Columbia, Tennessee, pleaded guilty on May 17, 2024.
• Marcus Johnson, 26, of Santa Rosa, California, pleaded guilty on May 29, 2024.
• Ethan Kimes, 22, of Columbia, Tennessee, pleaded guilty on May 29, 2024.
• Jahari Armstrong, 22, of Columbia, Tennessee, pleaded guilty on May 29, 2024.
• Jaydan Armstrong, 22, of Columbia, Tennessee, pleaded guilty on May 29, 2024.
• Mathew Cox, 28, of Santa Rosa, California, pleaded guilty on June 7, 2024
• Tristain Orr, 24, of Columbia, Tennessee, pleaded guilty on June 17, 2024
• Jonny Rodriguez-Gonzalez, 25, Elmira, California, pleaded guilty June 17, 2024
• Quortez Duncan, 36, of Columbia, Tennessee, pleaded guilty on June 18, 2024

According to charging and plea documents, agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and Homeland Security Investigations were investigating the distribution of methamphetamine, marijuana and counterfeit oxycodone tablets containing fentanyl marked “M30” that were shipped from the Santa Rosa, CA area. in Tennessee and more than a dozen other states. A subsequent investigation, including monitoring and review of social media sites and mobile payment records, identified members of the drug distribution network. Law enforcement officers in Columbia, Tennessee, executed multiple search warrants at the defendants' homes and recovered loaded firearms and blue tablets marked “M30.”

On July 25, 2022, HSI agents seized a package from a UPS store in Sebastopol, California that was destined for Nashville. This package contained thousands of counterfeit Oxycodone “M30” tablets containing fentanyl, weighing more than two kilograms. The package also contained more than eight pounds of methamphetamine.

On August 9, 2022, HSI agents intercepted two additional packages originating from the Santa Rosa area and destined for residences in Nashville. One package contained 472 grams of counterfeit Oxycodone “M30” tablets containing fentanyl and the other package contained approximately four pounds of methamphetamine.

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

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration; Homeland Security Investigations; the United States Postal Inspection Service; the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Memphis Field Office, Nashville Resident Agency; and the Columbia Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Ahmed Safeeullah and Rachel Stephens are prosecuting the case.

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