Memphis, TN – A now-33-year-old former California native has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison following a year-long investigation by local state and federal law enforcement agencies into a drug trafficking organization with ties to the Grape Street Crips gang.
In July 2019, a federal grand jury indicted 16 individuals in an eleven-count indictment for federal drug and gun charges. The indictment charged that the defendants conspired to possess with the intent to distribute controlled substances, including methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl.
The defendants charged in the indictment were:
• Travon Allen a/k/a “Little Y,” 30, Los Angeles, California
• Ozene Benson, 27, Memphis, Tennessee
• Vincent Boykin a/k/a “Veto,” 31, Memphis, Tennessee
• Antwan Brown, 31, Memphis, Tennessee
• Christopher Brown, 29, Memphis, Tennessee
• Lonnell Davis, 41, Memphis, Tennessee
• Clifton Graves, 35, Memphis, Tennessee
• Preston Hampton a/k/a “Grape da Shooter,” 26, Memphis, Tennessee
• Amber Howe, 31, Memphis, Tennessee
• Claude Cordell Irby, 23, Memphis, Tennessee
• Eddie Johnson a/k/a “Eddie Grape,” 36, Memphis, Tennessee
• Lapheal Johnson a/k/a “Peaches,” 25, Jackson, Tennessee
• Tionna Jones, 24, Memphis, Tennessee
• Terrell Kennedy, 34, Memphis, Tennessee
• Antonio Lurry, 37, Memphis, Tennessee
• Tarzell Worles a/k/a “Snugg,” 26, Memphis, Tennessee
• Lapheal Johnson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. On May 5, 2022, she was sentenced to time served, followed by 4 years supervised release.
• Amber Howe pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram of heroin and possession of heroin with intent to distribute. On June 23, 2020, she was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day imprisonment, followed by 3 years supervised release.
• Vincent Boykin pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possession of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. On April 29, 2021, he was sentenced to 150 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years supervised release.
• Clifton Graves pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. On May 11, 2021, he was sentenced to 12 months and 1 day imprisonment, followed by 4 years supervised release.
• Ozene Benson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possession of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. On June 1, 2021, he was sentenced to 180 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years supervised release.
• Terell Kennedy pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. On November 5, 2020, he was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment, followed by 4 years of supervised release.
• Eddie Johnson pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of a mixture and substance containing methamphetamine. On December 2, 2020, he was sentenced to time served, followed by 4 years of supervised release.
• Antwan Brown pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possession of 50 grams or more of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. On December 3, 2020, he was sentenced to 78 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years supervised release.
• Christopher Brown pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute more than 500 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine, and conspiracy to distribute 100 grams or less of heroin. On July 1, 2021, he was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment followed by 3 years supervised release.
• Lonnell Davis pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. On June 29, 2021, he was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment, followed by 4 years supervised release.
• Tionna Jones pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. On June 22, 2021, she was sentenced to 37 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years supervised release.
• Antonio Lurry pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. On May 27, 2021, he was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment, followed by 4 years supervised release.
• Tarzell Worles pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 1 kilogram or more of heroin, possession of fentanyl with intent to distribute, and possession of heroin with intent to distribute. On April 26, 2022, he was sentenced to 150 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years supervised release.
• Preston Hampton pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. On May 13, 2021, he was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years supervised release.
• Claude Cordell Irby pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 50 grams or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of methamphetamine. On January 25, 2022, he was sentenced to 37 months imprisonment, followed by 3 years supervised release.
• Travon Allen pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. On November 15, 2022, he was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment, followed by 5 years supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.
This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking organizations and organized criminal enterprises, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Shelby County Sheriff’s Office
Narcotics Division, Memphis Police Department Organized Crime Unit, Bartlett Police Department, and West Tennessee Drug Task Force all investigated this case.
United States Attorney Kevin G. Ritz thanked Assistant United States Attorney Mark Erskine, who prosecuted this case.