Two Sent to Prison for Kidnapping and Drug Charges

Prosecutors in DA Charme Allen’s Career Gang Unit sent two men from Detroit to prison today following a violent kidnapping in north Knoxville. Darius Patterson, 29, was convicted of Especially Aggravated Kidnapping, Possession with Intent to Sell Cocaine, Possession with Intent to Sell Heroin, and Employing a Firearm During the Commission of a Dangerous Felony. Patterson received a forty-year-sentence without the possibility of parole. Co-defendant Lavan Tremayne Johnson, 20, was convicted of Especially Aggravated Kidnapping, Possession with Intent to Sell Heroin, and Possession with Intent to Manufacture Fentanyl. Johnson was sentenced to serve thirty years in prison and is not eligible for parole until after he serves fifteen years.

In a hearing before Judge Bob McGee, Assistant District Attorney TaKisha Fitzgerald explained that on February 17, 2018, Johnson abducted the victim from his home on Ball Camp Pike and took him to an address on Massachusetts Avenue. At that address, both Johnson and Patterson tied the victim up with electrical cords before punching him in the face. Johnson pointed an AR-15 assault rifle at the victim. Patterson put a pistol in the victim’s mouth and threatened to kill him. The victim was eventually able to jump out of a window and run to safety. Knoxville Police Department Investigator Tim Riddle led the search that found Johnson and Patterson. When each defendant was taken into custody, they were found in possession of a variety of drugs for resale.

“The bravery of this victim and the hard work of our law enforcement partners made it possible for us to take these offenders off the streets for a very long time,” said DA 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.