NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Nashville investigation has led to two Murfreesboro men being sentenced to a combined 260 months in federal prison for an international conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine.
Steven Weaver, 51, was sentenced to 140 months in prison and five years of supervised release on May 1, announced U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Henry C. Leventis. Weaver previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine and possession and distribution of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine. Weaver’s co-defendant, Jamie Woods, was previously sentenced to 120 months in prison and five years of supervised release. Officials seized more than 20 kilograms of methamphetamine during the investigation.
According to the indictment and other documents filed with the court, in July 2019, an HSI Nashville and U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigation determined that multiple parcels containing methamphetamine were shipped from Murfreesboro to Australia and New Zealand. In most instances, the methamphetamine was packaged in cake mix boxes and the parcels were identified as a “birthday gift.”
“The sentencing of these defendants illustrates HSI’s mission of investigating the movement of illegal narcotics through importation and exportation, either to or from the United States,” said HSI Nashville Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud. “This sentencing showcases the investigative work HSI conducts alongside our partners, including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, to disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal organizations who threaten the stability of communities domestically and abroad.”
Although some of the parcels were successfully delivered to their destination, law enforcement intercepted 12 of them containing a total of over 20 kilograms of methamphetamine, some of which bore the defendants’ fingerprints. At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger found that an estimate of 50 kilograms of methamphetamine was appropriate and described it as a “tremendous amount of incredibly pure methamphetamine.”
“This prosecution and the sentences imposed are a testament to the fantastic work of the federal and local law enforcement agencies who investigated this case,” said Leventis. “Methamphetamine is an incredibly dangerous drug. We will continue to hold accountable those who distribute it, either here in the Middle District or abroad.”
Authorities determined that two of the parcels were mailed from the mail room at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro on June 25, 2019. That led investigators to video footage from the university that captured a vehicle and two individuals, which helped authorities identify the defendants. Investigators also captured surveillance footage of Weaver and Woods buying copious amounts of cake mix boxes from Walmart.
HSI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigated the case with support from the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office, the Middle Tennessee State University Police Department, the Murfreesboro Police Department and Walmart Global Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorney Amanda J. Klopf prosecuted the case.
About HSI
HSI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically those criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel and finance move. HSI’s workforce of more than 8,700 employees consists of more than 6,000 special agents assigned to 237 cities throughout the United States, and 93 overseas locations in 56 countries. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’ largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad and one of the largest international footprints in U.S. law enforcement.