District Attorney Sends Repeat Cocaine Dealer to Prison

Defendant Jack Luis Chesney pled guilty as charged Monday to Possession with Intent to Sell Cocaine in a Drug Free Zone and was sent to prison for eight years. Under the Drug Free School Zone Act, Chesney is not eligible for parole and must serve one hundred percent of his sentence. The District Attorney’s Office filed notice that Chesney had a prior federal cocaine distribution conviction and was listed as a member of the “Original Gangster Crips”” criminal gang. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Sean McDermott of the Repeat Offender Prosecution Unit.

District Attorney General Charme Allen stated, “”Offenders with prior convictions and ties to criminal gangs will receive special attention from this Office. This is an example of the first part of my office motto: Tough on Crime. Smart on Prevention.””

The case arose out of the execution of a search warrant at Chesney’s residence by Officer Brandon Stryker and other officers of the Knoxville Police Department Repeat Offender Squad. During the search, officers found over five grams of crack cocaine. Chesney also pled guilty to a Domestic Assault committed while on bond awaiting trial in the drug case.

If you have any questions, please contact Sean McDermott at 865-215-2515 or Sean.McDermott@knoxcounty.org. For more information about the District Attorney’s Office, visit our website at dag.knoxcountytn.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.