James Silas, Heroin Distribution, Tennessee 2018
Heroin Distribution Ring Busted in Chattanooga
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - A notorious figure in the Chicago underworld has been brought to justice for his role in a large-scale heroin distribution operation. James Silas, a 50-year-old resident of Dolton, Illinois, was convicted of conspiring to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin after a five-day jury trial.
The trial, which took place before the Honorable Curtis L. Collier, Senior U.S. District Judge, revealed that Silas was a multi-kilogram source of supply to heroin distributors and fellow gang members based in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Knoxville, Tennessee; Atlanta, Georgia; and elsewhere.
Silas, who is reputed to be a member of the nationwide street gang Mafia Insane Vice Lords and known by the moniker “the Prince,” was arrested in Illinois and brought to the Eastern District of Tennessee for trial. Witnesses at trial testified that Silas served as a key player in the heroin distribution ring, which operated across state lines.
The investigation, which was conducted by the DEA in conjunction with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office and local and federal law enforcement agencies in the Chicago area, utilized court-authorized wiretaps on multiple telephones belonging to gang members.
Through these wiretaps, authorities discovered Silas's involvement in the interstate conspiracy, which led to his arrest and subsequent conviction. Silas faces a statutory mandatory minimum of 20 years to life in prison, to be followed by no fewer than 10 years of supervision by U.S. Probation.
He also faces a fine of up to $20,000,000. Sentencing is set for 2:00 p.m. on April 24, 2019, in U.S. District Court in Chattanooga. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kyle Wilson and Scott Winne, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Porter indicting the case and handling pre-trial matters.
The conviction of James Silas marks a significant blow to the Mafia Insane Vice Lords, a notorious gang with a presence in multiple states. The case highlights the importance of law enforcement's efforts to combat large-scale heroin distribution operations and bring perpetrators to justice.
Key Facts
- State: Tennessee
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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