Pill Dealer Sentenced to Twelve Years without Parole

A repeat offender was sentenced to twelve years without the possibility of parole after being convicted by prosecutors in District Attorney General Charme Allen’s Felony Drug Unit. In a June trial, Calvin Lyndell Dibrell, 52, was convicted of Possession with Intent to Sell and Deliver Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, and Alprazolam in a Drug Free School Zone. After listening to arguments at a sentencing hearing today, Judge Steve Sword imposed the twelve-year sentence.

At trial, Assistant District Attorney Hector Sanchez and Acting Assistant District Attorney Ronald Coleman explained to the jury that on February 17, 2014, Knoxville Police Department Officers Joey Whitehead and Thomas Turner responded to the Walgreens at 2514 E. Magnolia Avenue based on a complaint that someone in a black Chrysler 300 at that location was selling drugs. Once on scene, officers found Dibrell in a black Chrysler 300. Ofc. Whitehead’s K9 partner alerted to the odor of narcotics in the vehicle. During a subsequent search of the vehicle, officers found oxycodone, hydrocodone, and alprazolam pills. Dibrell claimed he had a prescription for the hydrocodone and alprazolam pills, but the prescription was from years earlier and were for different types of pills than what he currently possessed. Ofc. Chris Jones with KPD’s Repeat Offender Squad testified as an expert witness about various ways pill dealers try to hide their pill distribution from law enforcement.

“”The opiate epidemic started with and skyrocketed because of the illegal diversion of prescription pills like the ones in this case,”” said DA Allen.””My Office will continue to aggressively prosecute dealers who perpetuate the opiate problem in our community.””

At sentencing, in order to obtain the twelve-year sentence, prosecutors cited Dibrell’s history of criminal convictions including felony convictions for Attempted Second Degree Murder, Aggravated Burglary, Distribution of Cocaine, Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, and Carrying a Firearm during a Drug Trafficking Offense. Additionally, the jury assessed a total of $34,000 in fines.

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.