Detroit Heroin Dealer and Murderer Sentenced to Life Plus Thirty-One Years

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s office obtained a sentence of life plus thirty-one years against a Detroit heroin dealer who shot a man in Bearden. At trial last month, Jaleen Genard Allen, 24, was convicted of First Degree Murder, Especially Aggravated Kidnapping, and Employing a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony. At a sentencing hearing today, Judge Scott Green stacked thirty-one years in prison on top of the mandatory life sentence imposed for First Degree Murder.

During a four-day trial, Assistant District Attorney Hector Sanchez and Deputy District Attorney Leland Price presented proof that on August 29, 2017, Allen was at a home on Agnes Road in Bearden to sell heroin. Once inside, he encountered victim Michael Johnson, whom he believed had stolen a car from one of his friends from Detroit. Allen proceeded to kidnap Johnson by duct-taping his hands and wrists in the basement of the home. After a few minutes, Allen led Johnson upstairs to the driveway, where he executed him by shooting him thirteen times with a .40 caliber handgun. Allen then dragged Johnson’s body down the driveway and down an embankment towards Agnes Road.

Allen fled Knoxville following the murder but was taken into custody by United States Marshals in Detroit weeks later. At the time of his arrest, Allen had a .40 caliber handgun in his possession. Forensic firearm analysts with the Knoxville Police Department were able to determine that thirteen shell casings found in the driveway at Agnes Road were fired by the handgun in Allen’s possession at the time of his arrest. Further, prosecutors Sanchez and Price presented evidence of Facebook posts by Allen containing videos of him flaunting the murder weapon. These two videos were posted by Allen both before and after the murder of Johnson. Allen’s conviction is the latest in a long string of Knox County cases involving Detroit heroin dealers.

“We will continue to aggressively combat the heroin pipeline from Detroit to Knoxville,” said District Attorney General Charme P. Allen.”Detroit heroin dealers who come to Knoxville to sell drugs and commit murder can expect to spend the rest of their lives in a Tennessee prison.”

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.