Case unsealed in federal court shows suspects accused in Kingsport heroin ring

A federal judge in Greeneville unsealed a case this week involving several individuals indicted back in August for their role in a heroin distribution ring in Kingsport.

The final defendant was arrested on Monday and a total of 11 individuals will face trial later this year, according to a report from US District Court.

Seven of the 11 suspects reside in Kingsport and federal prosecutors said several task forces were established within the past few months because of an increase in heroin trafficking and overdoses.

The suspects listed in the court report are:

– Jonathan Bryant Taylor, also known as “Marquis”, 45, of Charlotte, North Carolina;

– Kendall Pitts, also known as “Face”, 44, of Raleigh, North Carolina;

– Rodney Jenkins, also known as “Unk”, 54, of Brooklyn, New York;

– Ricky Allen Overbay, 59, of Kingsport, Tennessee;

– Angela Beth Bernard, 37, of Kingsport, Tennessee;

– Tessa Rae Hines, 39, of Kingsport, Tennessee;

– Cierra Brionna Long, 25, of Kingsport, Tennessee;

– Bethany Kay Childress, 51, of Kingsport, Tennessee;

– Alexander Shamell Powell, also known as “Big Mike”, 43, of Kingsport, Tennessee;

– Clarence L. Benjamin, also known as “Streets”, 43, of Johnson City, Tennessee;

– Kirk Estes, 61, of Kingsport, Tennessee.

The drug runners are accused of picking up heroin supplies in Brooklyn, Raleigh, and Charlotte and then returning to the Tri-Cities to sell and distribute the opioids.

(IMAGE: Associated Press)