Mountain City Police Lieutenant Sentenced to Serve 37 Months in Federal Prison for Drug and Firearm Offenses

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. – On March 19, 2018, Ronald Glen Shupe, 44, of Butler, Tennessee, was sentenced by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, U.S. District Court Judge, to serve 37 months in federal prison for possession with the intent to distribute oxycodone, a Schedule II controlled substance, and the use of a firearm during and relation to a drug trafficking offense.   Shupe was a  lieutenant with the Mountain City Police Department at the time of his offenses.  Upon his release from prison, U.S Probation will supervise him for three years. 

According to information on file with the U.S. District Court, in 2016 and 2017, while serving as the third-ranking member of the Mountain City Police Department, Shupe bought and sold oxycodone pills, supplied pills to another Mountain City Police Officer, and used controlled substances, including methamphetamine and pain pills.  In one incident, a confidential witness reported that in 2017 she gave Mr. Shupe an intravenous injection of methamphetamine while he was in his patrol car and on duty.   In November 2017, Mr. Shupe purchased oxycodone pills for distribution from another individual working on behalf of law enforcement.  During the transaction, Shupe was in full uniform, driving a Mountain City Police car, and armed with a department-issued Glock pistol and ammunition. 

“Law enforcement officers are sworn to protect the public and uphold the law. The U.S Attorney’s office will prosecute vigorously those that choose to violate that trust by committing crimes, especially while on duty and in uniform,” said J. Douglas Overbey, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee.

Renae McDermott, FBI Special Agent in Charge, Knoxville Division commented, “Citizens have the right to expect that law enforcement officers act legally and in accordance with the law.  The FBI is committed to ensuring that all violations of the law are aggressively investigated.”

Agencies involved in this investigation included the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, First Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and Johnson County Sheriff’s Department.  Assistant U.S. Attorney David Gunn represented the United States in court proceedings.    

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