Kingsport Man Sentenced To 24 Years In Multi Drug Conspiracy

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. - On June 17, 2026, Aaron Tyshawn Jackson, 27 of Kingsport, TN and formerly of Chattanooga, TN was sentenced to 288 months by the Honorable Clifton L. Corker, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville. Following his imprisonment, Jackson will be on supervised release for 10 years.

In February, a federal jury convicted Jackson of conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine both in violation of 21 U.S.C. § § 846, 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(A); two other drug related offenses in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1). Additionally, the jury found that the enhanced penalties, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 851, were applied to Jackson.

The evidence offered at trial showed that for years Jackson was purchasing large quantities of methamphetamine and fentanyl in Chattanooga and distributing the drugs in Kingsport. On October 22, 2024, following trip to Chattanooga to purchase drugs, Jackson, who was not driving, and three other people were traffic stopped near Greeneville, TN. When the police activated their lights and sirens to conduct a traffic stop Jackson told the driver to "drive" and a pursuit ensued resulting in a crash. Jackson threw a duffel bag out of the window while fleeing. The duffel bag contained over 2.7 kilograms of methamphetamine and 11 ounces of fentanyl. Before the car crashed, it reached speeds in excess of 120 mph.

U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III of the Eastern District of Tennessee made the announcement.

Law enforcement agencies participating in the joint investigation which led to the indictment and subsequent conviction of Jackson include Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Kingsport Police Department, Sullivan County Sheriff's Office, Greene County Sheriff's Office, Chattanooga Police Department, and Etowah Police Department.

Assistant United States Attorneys Meghan L. Gomez and AnCharlene Davis represented the United States.

On December 15, 2025, the President issued an Executive Order designating fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/12/designating-fentanyl-as-a-weapon-of-mass-destruction/Links to other government and non-government sites will typically appear with the "external link" icon to indicate that you are leaving the Department of Justice website when you click the link.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime.

###