NASHVILLE - A federal grand jury has returned a 17-count superseding indictment charging eleven defendants with participating in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine throughout the Middle District of Tennessee, announced Braden H. Boucek, United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.

According to the superseding indictment and other court filings, Corey Byrd, who is currently serving a sentence in the custody of the Tennessee Department of Correction, allegedly directed much of the conspiracy from inside prison by using contraband cell phones to coordinate methamphetamine trafficking through a network of associates operating throughout southern Middle Tennessee.

The superseding indictment, returned on June 17, 2026, charges:

- Corey Byrd, 38, currently in custody of the Tennessee Department of Correction;

- Tiffany Byrd, 35, also known as "Tiffany Harris," of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee;

- Robert Miles, 52, also known as "Smiley," of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee;

- Demond Garrett, 42, also known as "Jerry," of Pulaski, Tennessee;

- Jason Bost, 45, of Pulaski, Tennessee;

- Haylee Groover, 26, of Pulaski, Tennessee;

- Chelsie Dickson, 31, of Pulaski, Tennessee;

- Alyssa Whitsett, 22, of Pulaski, Tennessee;

- Sherri Holder, 49, of Pulaski, Tennessee;

- Stacy Taylor, also known as "Stacy Ramsey," 45, of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee; and

- Lila Chester, 28, of Pulaski, Tennessee.

"Serving a prison sentence is not a license to continue running a criminal enterprise. This indictment alleges that the lead defendant attempted to turn a prison cell into the command center for a large-scale methamphetamine trafficking operation," said U.S. Attorney Braden H. Boucek. "Our office and our law enforcement partners are committed to dismantling drug trafficking organizations at every level and holding accountable those who profit from poisoning our communities, regardless of where they operate."

According to the superseding indictment, the conspiracy operated from at least 2023 through August 2025. Byrd, who is serving a 45-year sentence in the Tennessee Department of Correction, allegedly used contraband cell phones smuggled into the prison to coordinate the acquisition and distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine. Court documents allege that Corey Byrd's sister, Tiffany Byrd, served as one of the organization's primary outside coordinators, distributing methamphetamine to sub-distributors, directing runners, and maintaining money taken in by the organization.

"Drug trafficking, whether in or out of prison walls, will not be tolerated," said Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly of the FBI Nashville Field Office. "This case should serve as a warning to every drug trafficker: justice will pursue those who threaten the safety of our communities. The FBI and our partners will continue to aggressively investigate those who pollute our communities with dangerous drugs."

"When criminals build an empire on addiction, we don't settle for cutting off a branch. We remove the roots," said Tennessee Bureau of Investigations Director David Rausch. "This investigation dismantled the conspiracy from top to bottom, strengthened the safety of our communities, and proved that united law enforcement is stronger than organized crime."

The superseding indictment alleges that members of the conspiracy distributed 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, a Schedule II controlled substance. It also charges Robert Miles with multiple counts of distributing methamphetamine and with possessing, on August 28, 2025, more than 500 grams of methamphetamine, a quantity of fentanyl, and a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. The indictment further seeks the forfeiture of six firearms allegedly connected to those offenses.

If convicted, the defendants charged with conspiring to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine face penalties of up to life in prison, depending on the quantity of controlled substances attributable to each defendant and other applicable sentencing factors. The firearm charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison, to be served consecutively to any other sentence imposed.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Pulaski Police Department, the Giles County Sheriff's Office, and the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office.

Assistant United States Attorney Zachary T. Hinkle is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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