Memphis Man Sentenced to 10 Years Imprisonment for Distribution of Fentanyl

Memphis, TN – Mark Nunnally, 51, of Memphis has been sentenced to 120 months in federal prison for distribution of fentanyl. U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant for the Western District of Tennessee announced the sentence today.

According to information presented in court, on May 18, 2017, members of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at the defendant’s residence after receiving information about narcotics being sold from this location. A search revealed 519.95 grams of fentanyl, a Lorcin .380 caliber handgun, and $14,629 in cash.

A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against Nunnally in September of last year, charging possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. On January 10, 2018, the defendant pleaded guilty to the two-count indictment.

U.S. Attorney D. Michael Dunavant said: "Fentanyl is a deadly drug that destroys lives, and the substantial quantity of fentanyl possessed by the defendant for resale could have caused countless injuries and deaths. Under the new opioid strategy of this office and the Department of Justice, we will seek maximum sentencing penalties for any person distributing any amount of fentanyl in West Tennessee. If you are a drug dealer causing addiction, pain, and death for selfish personal gain, we will find you and hold you accountable."

On April 30, 2018, U.S. District Judge John T. Fowlkes Jr., sentenced Nunnally to ten years imprisonment. The sentence will run consecutively to a thirty-month sentence for violation of supervised release as the defendant was on federal supervised release at the time for conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine.

This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF). OCDETF is a joint federal, state and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and conducting the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets.

This case was investigated by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Kimbril-Parks prosecuted this case on the government’s behalf.