Meth Kingpin Rose Gets 25 Years

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Robert L. Rose, 65, of Knoxville, Tennessee, will spend the next 24 years and 7 months behind bars after being sentenced to 295 months in prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. U.S. District Judge Pamela L. Reeves handed down the sentence on March 13, 2018, with a mandatory five-year supervised release following his incarceration. Rose also faced charges related to possessing a firearm during the commission of a drug trafficking offense, a detail that likely contributed to the lengthy sentence.

Rose pleaded guilty in October 2017 to a federal grand jury indictment, admitting his central role in a wide-ranging operation dealing with at least 50 grams of methamphetamine. This wasn’t a small-time operation; the scale suggests a sophisticated network designed to flood the streets with the deadly drug. The investigation, spanning three years, exposed a web of co-conspirators, many of whom have already faced justice.

The takedown wasn’t limited to Rose. Several others involved in the conspiracy have received significant prison terms. Brandon S. Hill, 42, of Knoxville, received 115 months. Ruth Ann Oliver, 42, of Kodak, Tennessee, got 92 months. Bobby R. Leach, 52, of Blaine, Tennessee, faces 151 months. Melvin L. Swiney, 38, of Rutledge, Tennessee, was sentenced to 138 months, also charged with firearm offenses. Kevin R. Addington, 47, of Wise, Virginia, is headed to prison for 144 months.

The sentencing spree continued with John R. Elrod, 55, of Talbott, Tennessee (120 months), William A. Dyer, 49, of Knoxville, Tennessee (151 months), Melissa D. Coffey, 45, of Rutledge, Tennessee (102 months), and Tiffany N. Coffey, 23, of Morristown, Tennessee (120 months). Each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, showcasing the breadth of this criminal enterprise. The Coffey’s, mother and daughter, both received substantial sentences, indicating their significant involvement in the operation.

This wasn’t a solo effort by federal agencies. The indictment and convictions were the result of a massive collaborative investigation involving the Bean Station Police Department, Grainger County Sheriff’s Office, Knox County Sheriff’s Office, Knoxville Police Department, Tennessee 4th Judicial Drug Task Force, Southwest Virginia Narcotics Task Force, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The combined resources and manpower were clearly necessary to dismantle this dangerous operation.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Caryn L. Hebets successfully prosecuted the case, securing convictions and lengthy sentences for all involved. This case serves as a stark warning: those who profit from the misery of others through drug trafficking will face the full force of the law. The streets of Knoxville, and beyond, are a little safer thanks to the work of these law enforcement agencies and the courts.

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