A second Kingsport man has been arrested as part of an undercover police sting originally targeting the sale of narcotics, but evolved into additional felony charges following the purchase of guns from the suspects.
Sylvanus Jones, 22, of 1214 Reedy Place, apartment 103, was served with a warrant Thursday afternoon by Kingsport police. A KPD press release states he was indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury in Greeneville, Tenn., along with his co-defendant in the case, Devin Gordon, 19, of 534 Dale St.
Gordon — who investigators say was trying to "rule the streets" — was arrested last week after selling a vice officer two handguns, then orchestrating three men to rob him on Wateree Street after the transaction was completed.
KPD Det. Nathan Elliott reports the investigation originally targeted drugs, but an undercover agent was also able to buy guns. When the two are combined it creates charges of use of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking offenses.
Detectives had planned to present their evidence against Gordon to a future grand jury before conducting an arrest, but their hand was forced by last week's attempted robbery of the vice agent. Officers conducting surveillance broke their cover to pursue the robbery suspects and Gordon, who allegedly dumped a baggie of cocaine prior to being ran down by police.
Police say Jones was an accomplice of Gordon, with an undercover officer buying firearms and marijuana from the men on multiple occasions over the past couple months. They are both charged with conspiracy to distribute marijuana, distribution of marijuana and use of a firearm in drug trafficking. Gordon is additionally charged with possession of more than a half gram of cocaine for resale within 1,000 feet of school.
The case was adopted by the ATF, prompting the indictments in federal court. Jones and Gordon are each in the custody of the US Marshal Service.
According to records in Greeneville federal court, during one purchase of a handgun Gordon told the undercover officer not to shoot anyone with the weapon, but it would be OK to, "slap people around with it." Gordon allegedly stated that if a gun was needed to shoot someone, he could get it.
Meanwhile, two of the three indivduals Gordon allegedly arranged to rob the undercover officer have been apprehended. Ronnie Hill, 18, of 228 Carver St., reportedly acted like he had a weapon during the Aug. 7 incident, and ran from the scene. He turned himself into Kingsport police three days later.
The other two suspects are juveniles. One was apprehended immediately following the incident, while the second has been identified. Each of the three suspects face charges of aggravated robbery.