MEMPHIS, TN – Robert Ingram, 39, is headed to federal prison for 15 years after being convicted of illegally possessing firearms while running a marijuana distribution operation out of his Memphis apartment. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Court Judge Jon Phipps McCalla on August 5, 2025, reflects Ingram’s status as a career offender, meaning a lengthy stay behind bars is the only way to keep him from repeating his crimes.
The investigation began in June 2022 when detectives with the Western District of Tennessee Multi-Agency Gang Unit (MGU), working alongside special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), zeroed in on Ingram’s activity in the 6500 block of S. Country Oaks Circle. Intelligence indicated Ingram was stockpiling and distributing significant quantities of marijuana. A subsequent search warrant executed on June 28, 2022, confirmed their suspicions.
Detectives found Ingram inside the apartment and took him into custody without incident. The search revealed over 10 kilograms of raw marijuana, neatly bundled for sale. But the drugs weren’t the only illegal items present. Investigators also recovered two loaded pistols: a Glock 9mm and a stolen Smith & Wesson 9mm. The presence of these firearms, combined with the drug trafficking, escalated the severity of the charges.
Ingram was indicted in February 2023, facing charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and two counts of felon in possession of a firearm. He ultimately pleaded guilty on January 15, 2025, to one count each of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. The guilty plea didn’t spare him from the full weight of the law, given his history.
“This individual persistently violates the law by illegally possessing firearms and distributing narcotics,” stated Assistant Special Agent in Charge Matthew Belew of the ATF Nashville Field Division. “The ATF will continue to work collaboratively with our local, state, and federal partners to combat violent crime and hold these criminals accountable.” Ingram’s 180-month sentence (15 years) is followed by a three-year period of supervised release, but with no parole in the federal system, he will serve the full term.
The investigation was a joint effort by the Western District of Tennessee Multi-Agency Gang Unit, the Memphis Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Nashville laboratory. Assistant United States Attorneys Bryce H. Phillips and William Crow prosecuted the case. For media inquiries, contact USATNW.Media@usdoj.gov. Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office on Facebook or X at @WDTNNews for updates.
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Key Facts
- State: Tennessee
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime|Weapons|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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