Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Jackson, TN – Jimmy Horton, Jr., 54, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for possession of over 50 grams of actual methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. United States Attorney Kevin Ritz announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, on March 14, 2020, officers with the Paris Police Department conducted a traffic stop for speeding near the intersection of Highway 218 and Fairgrounds Road in Paris. During a roadside interview of a female passenger, officers discovered that the passenger was in possession of around a half-ounce of crystal methamphetamine. The female passenger told officers that she was staying in a motel room in Paris, that there was around three ounces of crystal methamphetamine and a pistol in her room, and that the items belonged to Horton.

Officers conducted a consent search of the motel room and located Horton in the room, along with around 87 grams of suspected crystal methamphetamine that was bagged for resale on the bed. Officers also located and seized digital scales, baggies, drug paraphernalia, multiple bags of marijuana, and a loaded Lorcin L380 pistol in the room.

Later on June 15, 2020, Horton was found in possession of 11 baggies containing over 16 grams of methamphetamine and $340 in cash during a traffic stop in Paris.

Horton was charged in federal court with several offenses, including possessing over 50 grams of actual methamphetamine with the intent to distribute on March 14, 2022. He pled guilty to that offense on August 16, 2022.

On December 9, 2022, Chief Judge S. Thomas Anderson sentenced Horton to 120 months imprisonment to be followed by five years of supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the Paris Police Department, TBI, DEA and the ATF. United States Attorney Kevin Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Josh Morrow, who prosecuted this case.

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