Marijuana Grower Sentenced to Nineteen Years

A man convicted of growing 522 marijuana plants was sentenced today to serve nineteen years in prison. The sentence was imposed upon Travis Joe Braunm, 33, by Judge Scott Green after Felony Drug Unit prosecutor Sean McDermott argued that Braunm deserved an enhanced sentence based on the his prior criminal convictions including multiple felony convictions in multiple jurisdictions in Tennessee and North Carolina. Braunm must also pay the $100,000 fine assessed by the jury at trial.

In a two-day trial last September, ADAs Sean McDermott and Hector Sanchez proved that Travis Joe Braunm, 33, manufactured marijuana at 1817 and 1823 Thompson Road in west Knox County. The jury found Braunm guilty-as-charged of Manufacturing Marijuana, Possession with Intent to Sell Marijuana, and Possession with Intent to Deliver Marijuana and fixed a fine in the amount of $100,000.

The case began in June 2010 with a report of domestic abuse committed by Braunm against his ex-girlfriend. Knox County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Shawn Hensley responded to the domestic call and continued the investigation. Sgt. Hensley discovered that Braunm had outstanding arrest warrants for failing to appear in court to answer for previous charges. Sgt. Hensley eventually tracked down Braunm at a motel off Lovell Road and took him into custody on the outstanding warrants. Braunm had marijuana and $11,000 in cash with him at the motel. The investigation also uncovered that Braunm was keeping drugs, firearms, ammunition, and cash at 1817 and 1823 Thompson Road. He was also described as”readying himself for a ‘law-enforcement confrontation’ by arming himself with weapons” and wearing”military style body armor.”

Based on this and other information received by officers, Sgt. Hensley obtained a search warrant that was executed on June 10, 2010, at the two homes on Thompson Road. At the scene, officers found 522 marijuana plants in an outdoor grow, grow cabinets used in the early stage of marijuana cultivation, $32,000 cash, multiple firearms, ammunition, and other items of drug paraphernalia.

DA Allen believes the citizens on the jury sent a message through their verdict today.”A conviction for a marijuana grow, especially when the jury assesses such a high fine, shows me that our community takes seriously the dangerous combination of drug and gun crimes. My office will continue to aggressively prosecute offenders who commit these crimes, and we will seek enhanced penalties for those with prior convictions.”

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.