A Memphis man has been handed a 45-year prison sentence for his role in a fentanyl trafficking ring. Kendrick Watson, 44, was convicted of the crimes at a February 2024 jury trial in the Western District of Tennessee.
According to the investigation, United States Postal Inspectors intercepted a parcel arriving in Memphis, Tennessee, opened it pursuant to a search warrant, and seized one kilogram of cocaine. Investigators then delivered the parcel to an address in Memphis, where Watson took the parcel inside. A SWAT team entered the address pursuant to a second search warrant and located the parcel (unopened), five firearms, ammunition, approximately $52,000 in cash, fentanyl, methamphetamine, a handpress with fentanyl residue on it, digital scales, multiple cell phones, a book titled “I.C.E. Eye See Everything the True Life of Kendrick Watson: All Facts No Fiction,” and paperwork in Watson’s name.
The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed Watson’s convictions and sentence in all respects. The court upheld the 540-month sentence, which included a 25-year mandatory term of imprisonment due to a prior federal conviction for possessing a gun during a crime of violence.
Watson raised multiple issues on appeal, including the denial of his motions to suppress and to dismiss, the sufficiency of the jury instructions, the sufficiency of the evidence presented at trial, and the reasonableness of his sentence. The Sixth Circuit affirmed the denial of the motions to suppress, stating that there was a substantial basis for the issuing judge to have found probable cause.
The case was investigated by the United States Postal Inspection Service with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant United States Attorneys Gregory Allen and Naya Bedini prosecuted this case and handled the appeal on behalf of the government.
The 45-year sentence is a result of the combined efforts of law enforcement agencies and prosecutors to combat the growing opioid crisis in Memphis. As the city continues to grapple with the devastating effects of fentanyl trafficking, this sentence serves as a reminder of the severe consequences for those involved in these crimes.
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Key Facts
- State: Tennessee
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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