DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Middle District of Tennessee

For Immediate Release

Monday, June 26, 2017
Jack Smith
, United States Attorney
Contact: David Boling

Nashville Man Indicted for Illegally Importing and Distributing Molly from China

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – June 26, 2017 – Terrence Deon Reames, aka Santos, 39, of Nashville, Tenn., formerly of Riverdale, Georgia, was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 24, 2017, on charges of operating a continuing criminal enterprise relating to the illegal importation and distribution of methylone and ethylone (Molly) announced Jack Smith, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. 
 
A four-count indictment was unsealed today and outlines the operation of the criminal enterprise from May 2011 through August 2014, during which time Reames obtained or attempted to obtain over 100 kilograms of Molly and conspired with at least five other persons to distribute the drug in the Nashville area.  The government also seeks to forfeit at least $1 million, which represents the value of the proceeds derived from and the property used to facilitate the illegal activity.
 
According to the indictment, by May 2011 Reames had obtained a source of supply known as “Alice” in China for methylone and ethylone, commonly known as “Molly.”  Reames met with others in Nashville and explained the profit potential of selling Molly and recruited others to obtain the drug through him.  Reames became a substantial distributor in the Nashville area as Molly became more widely available. 
 
The indictment outlines the methods used by Reames to communicate with Alice, including encrypted communications, when discussing price, quantity, quality of the controlled substance and shipment and payment methods.  Reames provided Alice with the names, including the name of a dead relative and addresses to ship to through the U.S. Postal Service and international shipping companies.  The controlled substances were subsequently shipped to addresses in and around Nashville, Tenn. and Riverdale, Georgia.  Reames also arranged for the transfer of funds by others, totaling approximately $300,000 to Chinese bank accounts and wire transfers to individuals in China. He also provided cash to these persons to use for the transactions. 
 
The indictment also alleges that Reames, a previously convicted felon, unlawfully possessed and transferred firearms to safeguard the criminal enterprise and its assets, such as drugs, cash, firearms and other items, including jewelry obtained through the criminal enterprise which he claimed was valued at $150,000.   
 
Reames was arrested by Metropolitan Nashville Police officers in Nashville on Friday night and will appear before a U.S. Magistrate Judge later today.
 
If convicted, Reames faces 20 years, up to life in prison.
 
This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms & Explosives; the IRS-Criminal Investigation; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the DEA: Homeland Security Investigations; and the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sunny A.M. Koshy and Ahmed Safeeullah are prosecuting the case.
 
The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
           
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Nashville Field Division