Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Memphis, TN – A local man has been sentenced to 190 months in federal prison for possession with intent to distribute heroin; being a felon in possession of a firearm; and possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. D. Michael Dunavant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee announced the sentence today.

 

According to information presented in court, in November 2016, Bartlett Police Department, Narcotics Unit, initiated an investigation into the illegal drug trafficking of Randy Martell Robertson, 35, a/k/a/ "Black." The investigation revealed Robertson was selling heroin and various other narcotics out of his apartment as well as two hotel rooms on Lamar Avenue, in Memphis.

 

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Armed drug traffickers present a significant risk to public safety in multiple ways. Targeted enforcement and aggressive prosecution of such dangerous offenders is crucial to combating addiction and violent crime in our neighborhoods. Robertson was a one-stop shop drug dealer who was willing to protect his product at all costs, and this 15 year sentence brings closures to an important drug trafficking case that helps to restore the safety of the community."

 

Detectives in the Narcotics Unit orchestrated two controlled purchases from Robertson using a confidential source. A search warrant was later executed on November 29, 2016, at Robertson’s residence and hotel rooms, which yielded 187 grams of heroin, 31 grams of ICE, 28 grams of cocaine, 25 grams of methamphetamine, 19.6 grams of crack, 14 ounces of codeine, 82 hydrocodone pills and 74 oxycodone pills. Three loaded firearms were also found on the scene.

 

On July 31, 2018, U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Parker sentenced Robertson to 190 months imprisonment followed by four years of supervised release.

 

This case was investigated by the Bartlett Police Narcotics Unit; Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Raney Irwin prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf.