Cocke County Residents Arrested For Drug Violations

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – Billy Webb, 77, Gary Eugene Teague, 45, Emily Suzanne Sexton, 26, Timothy Jay Gilbert, 50, Christopher Lynn Suggs, 52, Tammie Brown Suggs, 43, and Ella Mae Gregg, 63, all of Newport, Tenn., and Regina Faye Webb, 36, of Cosby, Tenn., were all arrested on Feb. 6, 2013, after being indicted by a federal grand jury on charges involving drug trafficking, specifically involving oxycodone. Ralph Edward Teague, 81, and Clayton Carroll Owenby, 45, both of Newport, Tenn., were also named in the indictment and were already in custody on other charges.

Gary Teague, Emily Sexton, Regina Webb, Christopher Suggs, Tammie Suggs, and Ella Mae Gregg each made their initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dennis Inman on Feb. 6, 2013, and were temporarily detained pending detention hearings scheduled for Feb. 7, 2013. Ralph Teague, Billy Webb, and Timothy Gilbert are scheduled for initial appearance on Feb. 7, 2013. Clayton Owenby is scheduled for an initial appearance on Feb. 20, 2013.

According to the indictment on file with the U.S. District Court, the eight count indictment charges these individuals with conspiring to distribute oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance. The indictment also charges Ralph Teague and Gary Teague with distribution or possession with intent to distribute oxycodone on five occasions in 2012. Ralph Teague and Gary Teague are also charged with maintaining a residence for the purpose of distributing oxycodone.

If convicted, the defendants face the following penalties: Ralph Teague faces up to 170 years in prison and fines of up to $10,500,000; Billy Webb faces up to 30 years in prison and fines of up to $2,000,000; Gary Teague faces up to 110 years in prison and fines of up to $6,500,000; Clayton Owenby, Regina Webb, Timothy Gilbert, and Ella Gregg each face up to 30 years in prison and fines of up to $2,000,000; Emily Sexton, Christopher Suggs, and Tammie Suggs each face up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $1,000,000.

This indictment is the result of a joint investigation by the Cocke County Sheriff’s Office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanne Kerney-Quillen will represent the United States.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment constitutes only charges and that every person is presumed innocent until their guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.