George Mooneyham, 57, of Cosby, Tenn., is headed back to federal prison for a decade after being caught red-handed in a marijuana distribution scheme—while already under federal supervision for a prior cocaine conviction.
On Nov. 16, 2016, U.S. District Court Judge J. Ronnie Greer handed down a 120-month sentence to Mooneyham, hammering him with 60 months for possession with intent to distribute marijuana and another consecutive 60 months for violating the terms of his supervised release.
The bust came after a multi-agency investigation revealed Mooneyham was dealing drugs despite being on federal probation. Back in 2004, he served time for distributing cocaine in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee. His release came with strict conditions—conditions he shattered with his 2016 drug activity.
Mooneyham pleaded guilty in July 2016 to the marijuana charge, admitting his role in the trafficking operation. Prosecutors emphasized his pattern of criminal behavior, arguing that his return to drug distribution showed a blatant disregard for the law and public safety.
The investigation was a coordinated push by the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the U.S. Marshal Service, and U.S. Probation. Their joint effort dismantled Mooneyham’s operation and ensured accountability for his breach of federal supervision.
Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Gregory Bowman prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States, securing a sentence that sends a clear message: violating parole and peddling drugs in East Tennessee carries steep consequences.
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Key Facts
- State: Tennessee
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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