Skyline Piru Gang Member Sentenced to Seventy-Two Years for Heroin Distribution

A member of the Skyline Piru street gang was sentenced today to seventy-two years in prison for his role in a heroin distribution enterprise following a trial by prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Career Gang Unit. Antonio Smith, 45, was convicted in a June trial of two counts of Sale and Delivery of Heroin in a Drug Free Zone, Possession with Intent to Sell Heroin in a Drug Free Zone, Simple Possession of Marijuana, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, and Possession of a Firearm during the Commission of a Dangerous Felony.

At trial, Assistant District Attorney TaKisha Fitzgerald explained to the jury that in December 2014, Knoxville Police Department Officer Robert Rose with the Repeat Offender Squad received information that Heather Montgomery was selling heroin in the Southmont Apartments in South Knoxville. On December 8, 2014, Ofc. Rose used a confidential informant to make a controlled purchase of two””points”” of heroin from Montgomery for $90. A””point”” of heroin is approximately one tenth of a gram. On January 6, 2015, Ofc. Rose again arranged a controlled buy from Montgomery, but during this transaction, Montgomery had to wait for her heroin supplier, Smith, to arrive. Once Smith arrived, Montgomery could complete the heroin sale to the confidential informant. Officers stopped Smith after he left the apartment complex and found him to be in possession of multiple bags of heroin, a Glock .45 caliber pistol, and some of the marked undercover funds used during the controlled purchase of heroin from Montgomery.

At the sentencing hearing today, prosecutors asked to have Smith classified as a Career Offender because he has seven prior felonies for Especially Aggravated Robbery, Robbery, Vandalism, and four convictions for Aggravated Assault. Judge Steve Sword agreed with prosecutors and sentenced Smith to seventy-two years.

“”As a gang member with so many prior violent convictions who continues to sell heroin on the streets of our community, Smith has earned every day of the sentence he received,”” said DA Charme Allen.

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.