Cumberland Co. Sheriff's Department - 2011 Press Releases

CROSSVILLE — It is hard for one to determine which is more disturbing — getting a phone call advising that your son has been kidnapped, or being told the ramsom being sought is $200.

That is what happened to a Lantana Rd. couple on March 5 when they were told their son had been abducted, beaten, and was being held for $200 ransom. The following day, their son and a friend were charged with extortion.

Charged with one count of extortion each are John Collin Phipps, 20, and Jennifer Marie Houston, 22, both of Lantana Rd.

The father traveled to the Justice Center and met with Deputy Gary Green and told the officer that he had received a call from his son, claiming an abduction and that he was being held against his will.

A second call was received, reporting that the son had been hit in the head with the butt of a shotgun, blindfolded and taken to an unknown location. The son then told his dad that he had been released to retrieve the $200 and meet his father in the parking lot of Mr. Zip's on Peavine Rd.

The call was monitored by investigators who then provided $200 in cash which they marked for tracking purposes. In the meantime, a daughter called to say she had heard from John Collin Phipps who told her he was being held at a residence in Fairfield Glade.

Investigator Scott Griffin was called in to assist in the investigation and after the father met with his son to pass on the ramson money, the two went separate ways. Later, warrants were obtained for the arrest of the pair.

CROSSVILLE — 

What started out as local investigations by the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department and Crossville Police Department rapidly expanded in scope with multiple agencies joining forces during a multi-month investigation into distribution of illegal prescription narcotics on the Plateau.

The result was the roundup of some 30-plus defendants beginning Friday and continuing over the weekend, all charged on a variety of drug charges. Included in the arrests was a Cumberland County sheriff's deputy.

In addition, the list includes one man and his two sons; another man and his son; a well-known hair stylist; and several whose names have repeatedly appeared in arrest reports.

"We started an investigation several months ago and when the scope widened and we realized one of our own might be implicated, we joined forces with federal agencies," Chief Sheriff's Investigator Casey Cox said. "It was a great example of multiple agencies working together."

All defendants are from the Crossville area and if convicted, each defendant faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine.

Those arrested as identified by the U.S. Attorneys Office in Nashville at a 1 p.m. press conference Monday are:

•James Alan Wyatt, 47.

•Spike William Hedgecoth, 64.

•Kevin Wade Hedgecoth, 38.

•Samuel William Hedgecoth, 40.

•Matthew Lee Cowart, 27.

•Joseph Allen Cowart, 50.

•Tommy Mason Rosecrants, 23.

•Joy Marie Lewis, 23.

•Howard Wayne Bell, 27.

•David Franklin King, 69.

•James Robert Crawford, also known as “JimBob,” 30.

•Kyle Richard Barrier, 26.

•Emily Carol Bradley, 26.

•Timothy Richard Forrester, 37.

•Michael Ray Gant, also known as “Jimmy,” 51.

•Robert Duane Hicks, also known as “Repo Man,” 44.

•James Gale Kennedy, 55.

•Vanessa Renea Mims, also known as “Mama Mims,” 49.

•James Russell Norris, 46.

•Tiffany Brook Norris, 22.

•Marcia Bernice Press, 31.

•Samuel Douglas Profitt, also known as “Doug,” 73.

•Travis Kurt Proffitt, 34.

•Tresha Mae Sherrill, 35.

•Christie Louise Whittaker, 32.

•Kevin James Woody, 30.

•Courtney Jo Rabideau, 30.

Six other defendants remain at large.

The search warrants, executed on Friday, resulted in the seizure of more than 1,000 pills, approximately $335,000 in cash and jewelry, 25 firearms, and more than 40 vehicles.

“Deputy District Attorney Gary McKenzie and Assistant District Attorneys Amanda Hunter and Carolyn Knight and I have pledged to do everything in our power to disrupt the illegal sale of narcotics in Cumberland County.

"We all strive to maintain a community that is safe for our children and grandchildren.  This is my home county where I live and raised my children and I will do my part to keep this a wonderful place to live,” said District Attorney General Randy York.

All defendants are charged with participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy involving pharmaceuticals that were illegally diverted from legitimate channels of distribution, such as pharmacies and hospitals. 

 The indictment specifies three controlled substances: oxycodone (which includes OxyContin, Percocet, and Roxicodone), hydrocodone (which includes Vicodin and Lortab), and alprazalom (which includes Xanax). 

According to the indictment, the defendants conspired to acquire the controlled substances in multiple ways. Their schemes included employing other individuals to obtain and fill a prescription for controlled substances while intending to distribute those controlled substances illegally; traveling out of state to fill a prescription for controlled substances while intending to distribute those controlled substances illegally; purchasing controlled substances that had been obtained in the name of another individual; traveling to other states to obtain controlled substances from co-conspirators who had acquired them illegally; and requesting shipment and sending through the U.S. Mail, controlled substances that had been obtained illegally.

 In addition, the indictment alleges that some of the co-conspirators threatened the use of violence and actually employed violence to collect drug debts, protect their supply of controlled substances, and safeguard their illicit profits.

Joining U.S. Attorney Martin in announcing the charges at an early afternoon press conference were Brad Uhl, Group Supervisor, Drug Enforcement Administration , Nashville Division-Atlanta Field Office (DEA), Ron Waller, Team Leader, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Nashville Domicile-Atlanta Division;  Amy S. Hess, SAC, Federal Bureau of Investigation-Memphis Division (FBI); Mike McElroy, Supervisory Special Agent, IRS-Criminal Investigation;  Randy York, District Attorney General, 13th Judicial District; William Benson, Assistant Director, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI); John Albertson, Director of CID- Tennessee Highway Patrol;  Crossville Asst. Police Chief Darrell Sherrill, Putnam County Sheriff David Andrews; and Cumberland County Sheriff Butch Burgess.

This case was investigated by the DEA, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, ATF, FBI, IRS, TBI, the Crossville Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff's Department and the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department.  Assistance was also provided by the U.S. Marshals Service, Department of Veterans Affairs- Office of Inspector General, Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department and the 13th Judicial District Drug Task Force.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Alex Little is representing the government.

An indictment is merely an accusation and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants have the right to a trial by jury at which the government would have to bear the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.