Individuals Indicted for Their Role in the Illegal Sale and Distribution of Firearms
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Carolyn Cherry, 54, Donald Adair Cherry, 81, Donald Floyd Cherry, 54, Romie Gray, 34, and Terenda Thomas, 38, all of Chester County, Tennessee were indicted today by a Federal Grand Jury on various violations of federal firearms statutes announced Lawrence J. Laurenzi, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee
The five defendants were charged in a 16 count indictment. The indictment alleges that Carolyn Cherry and Donald Floyd Cherry aided and abetted each other to assist Donald Floyd Cherry, who is a previously convicted felon, in the acquisition and illegal possession of over 150 firearms. They are both also charged with the possession of prohibited weapons, including Uzi type Machine Guns. Donald Floyd Cherry is additionally charged with being a felon in possession of ammunition. If convicted, Carolyn Cherry faces up to 20 years in federal prison and Donald Floyd Cherry faces up to 40 years in prison.
Terenda Thomas and Romie Gray are charged with being felons in possession of firearms, including Uzi type Machine Guns, and for aiding and abetting each other, on several occasions, in the sale and distribution of firearms to an individual who they knew was also a previously convicted felon. If convicted Thomas faces up to 30 years in federal prison and Gray faces up to 90 years in prison.
Donald Adair Cherry was charged in one count as being a previously convicted felon in possession of several firearms. The count carries a penalty of up to 10 years in federal prison.
This case stemmed from a two month undercover investigation where, according to a Complaint filed earlier in federal court, on several occasions an undercover ATF agent bought from Romie Gray, firearms ,which Gray had acquired from the residence of Carolyn and Donald Floyd Cherry. In the execution of a federal search warrant, approximately 195 weapons, six of which were prohibited weapons, 125,000 rounds of ammunition, $8000 in cash, six smoke grenades, and 12 suspected silencers were seized.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U. S. Customs and Border Patrol Air and Marine Division, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Chester County Sheriff’s Office, Henderson Police Department, and the Jackson Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney James Powell is handling the case for the government.
