MEMPHIS, TN – Curtis Boyd, 28, is headed to federal prison for a decade after a high-speed traffic stop revealed a cache of drugs, cash, and an illegally possessed firearm. The sentence, handed down December 7, 2022, by U.S. District Judge Sheryl H. Lipman, sends a clear message about the consequences of combining drug dealing with gun crime, according to federal prosecutors.
The case began on March 8, 2021, when Memphis Police officers spotted a 2012 Infiniti M37x speeding near Jackson and North Watkins. A check of the plates revealed they didn’t match the vehicle. As officers approached the car, they observed Boyd, the driver, reaching down between his legs. When asked what he was doing, Boyd bluntly stated, “My gun.” A loaded Glock 9mm pistol immediately fell to the ground as he was removed from the vehicle.
A subsequent search of the Infiniti yielded 181.6 grams of marijuana, a digital scale commonly used for weighing narcotics, a supply of plastic baggies, and two 10mg oxycodone pills. Officers also discovered $1,650 in cash. The Glock was loaded with one live round in the chamber and nine more in the magazine – a dangerous combination for a man already prohibited from owning firearms.
Boyd’s criminal history is what sealed his fate. As a convicted felon, he’s legally barred from possessing both firearms and ammunition. This fact significantly contributed to the severity of the sentence. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee, led by Kevin Ritz, argued that Boyd’s actions demonstrated a disregard for the law and a threat to public safety.
Boyd pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm on June 16, 2022. Judge Lipman sentenced him to 120 months – ten years – in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Unlike state systems, there is no parole in the federal system, meaning Boyd will serve the entirety of his sentence. The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
Assistant U.S. Attorney Raney Irwin prosecuted the case, earning praise from U.S. Attorney Ritz. This conviction underscores the ongoing commitment of federal agencies to dismantle drug trafficking operations and remove illegal firearms from the streets of Memphis. The Grimy Times will continue to follow federal prosecutions in the region, exposing the underbelly of criminal activity.
Related Federal Cases
- Charlotte McEwen, Gun Possession, Tennessee 2024 · Tennessee
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- Edward Allen, Murder of Fellow Gang Member, Memphis TN, 2023 · Tennessee
- Jadakiss Johnson, Armed Carjacking, Memphis TN, 2024 · Virginia
- Markel Strong, Armed Career Criminal, Memphis TN, 2023 · Tennessee
Key Facts
- Agency: ATF
- Category: Weapons|Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Press Release
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