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Press Release
Memphis, TN – Four individuals have been indicted for conspiracy to commit robberies of drug dealers in the Western District of Tennessee, one of which resulted in a fatality. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee announced the indictments today.
On March 7, 2018, a federal grand jury returned the indictment, which remained sealed until the defendants’ arrest. This investigation was conducted in conjunction with prosecutors in Memphis as part of the Department of Justice’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program, which seeks to reduce the availability of drugs by disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, money laundering organizations and related criminal enterprises.
This indictment follows a four-month investigation involving agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) as well as other federal and state agencies. These defendants participated in a conspiracy to rob drug dealers throughout the Western District of Tennessee.
The four defendants listed are currently in custody:
Marcus Danner, 38, Memphis, Tennessee
Quintez Agnew, 33, Memphis, Tennessee
Shuntario Johnson, 37, Memphis, Tennessee
John Lott, 29, Memphis, Tennessee
Count 1 charges Marcus Danner; Quintez Agnew; Shuntario Johnson; and John Lott with conspiracy to obstruct, delay and affect commerce by robbery, in that the defendants did
plan on robbing persons engaged in interstate commerce, that is, narcotics trafficking, of drugs and drug proceeds.
Count 2 charges Marcus Danner; Quintez Agnew; Shuntario Johnson; and John Lott with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of a mixture of substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine.
Count 3 charges Shuntario Johnson with carjacking by force, violence and intimidation, with the intent to cause serious bodily injury.
Count 4 charges Shuntario Johnson with carrying and discharging a firearm, during and in relation to a crime of violence, that is, the taking a motor vehicle, that had been transported, shipped and received in interstate commerce by force, violence and intimidation, with the intent to cause serious bodily injury.
Count 5 charges Shuntario Johnson with using and discharging a firearm, during and in relation to a crime of violence, that is, the taking of a motor vehicle, that had been transported, shipped and received in interstate commerce by force, violence and intimidation, with the intent to cause serious bodily injury.
Count 6 charges Shuntario Johnson with possessing a firearm after having previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
Count 7 alleges Marcus Danner; Quintez Agnew; Shuntario Johnson; and John Lott being aided and abetted by the other did unlawfully obstruct, delay and affect commerce by robbery in that the defendants did attempt to rob an individual then engaged in interstate commerce, that is, narcotics trafficking, of drugs and drug proceeds.
Count 8 alleges Marcus Danner; Quintez Agnew; Shuntario Johnson; and John Lott, being aided and abetted by the other did knowingly carry and discharge a firearm, during and in relation to a crime of violence, that is, to obstruct, delay and affect commerce by robbery in that the defendants did attempt to rob B.B., an individual then engaged in interstate commerce, that is, narcotics trafficking, of drugs and drug proceeds.
Count 9 alleges Marcus Danner; Quintez Agnew; Shuntario Johnson; and John Lott, being aided and abetted by the other did knowingly use and discharge a firearm, during and in relation to a crime of violence to obstruct, delay and affect commerce by robbery in that the defendants did attempt to rob B.B., an individual then engaged in interstate commerce, that is narcotics trafficking, of drugs and drug proceeds by threats of physical violence.
Count 10 charges Marcus Danner with possessing a firearm after having previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
Count 11 charges Quintez Agnew with possessing a firearm after having previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
Count 12 charges Shuntario Johnson with possessing a firearm after having previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
Count 13 charges John Lott with possessing a firearm after having previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
Count 14 alleges Marcus Danner; Quintez Agnew and Shuntario Johnson being aided and abetted by the other, did knowingly possess a firearm, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, that is, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine.
Count 15 alleges Marcus Danner; Quintez Agnew and Shuntario Johnson, being aided and abetted by the other, did knowingly carry a firearm, in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, that is, conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of a mixture or substance containing detectable amount of cocaine.
Count 16 alleges Marcus Danner having previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, did knowingly possess in and affect interstate commerce with a firearm.
Count 17 alleges Quintez Agnew having previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, did knowingly possess in and affecting interstate commerce with a firearm.
Count 18 alleges Shuntario Johnson, having previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, did knowingly possess in and affecting interstate commerce with a firearm.
During this investigation, agents seized multiple firearms; approximately $2,000 in U.S. currency; and approximately 28 grams of crack cocaine.
If convicted, the defendants face mandatory minimum sentences of 10 years imprisonment up to life.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Memphis Police Department, Multi Agency Gang Unit and Shelby County Sheriff’s Office investigated this case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jerry Kitchen is prosecuting this case on the government’s behalf.
The charges and allegations in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proved guilty.