Thirteen indicted in alleged drug trafficking ring

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. — Thirteen people have been indicted in a drug trafficking ring that allegedly moved more than a ton of marijuana over a period of 10 years, federal authorities said.

The defendants are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute more than 1,000 kilograms of marijuana, 500 grams of a substance containing methamphetamine and five kilograms of cocaine, according to the indictment returned by the federal grand jury in Greeneville.

The indictment alleges that between January 2005 and Dec. 13, 2005, some of the defendants would travel to Georgia, New Jersey and New Mexico to buy the drugs to be sold in East Tennessee.

Six of the 13 defendants have been arrested and made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dennis Inman on Wednesday.

If convicted, they will face a minimum of 10 years in prison, but could receive life in prison.

One of the defendants, 54-year-old Richard Glen Milburn, also has been charged with two counts of carrying a firearm during a drug offense.

The other defendants are: Victor Hugo Vargas, 35; Lewis Antonio Medina, 36; Doug Keith Davis, 45; Sidney Charles Terrell, 57; Eric Phillip Shawback, 41; Michael Damon Bawgus, 31; Mark Allen Saults, 35; Shannon Luttrell, 36; Robert Anthony Hampton, 36; Derek Anthony Keys, 43; James Franklin DeVotie, 54; and Travis Brown, 33.

Their hometowns were not specified, but authorities said they came from several states and the Eastern District of Tennessee.