More defendants plead guilty in FBI drug, money laundering sting
Ronald Middlebrook, a Cookeville body shop owner, and his sister Robin Blaskis, a certified public accountant in Cookeville, were the final two of the seven defendants to admit their part in the Chicago-based drug ring that turned out to be operated by the FBI in the sting dubbed Tarnished Shield.
Middlebrook’s sentencing is scheduled for April 21 and Blaskis’ is set for April 26.
Also pleading guilty in the ring are former Cookeville police officer Reno Martin, former Algood police officer Steven Bert Williamson and former Putnam County Jail correction officer Gregory Dale Scott. Each is expected to be sentenced April 14.
Martin’s plea agreement is under a court seal, but his attorney, Richard Holcomb, said more developments of his involvement will be discussed during sentencing.
Scott could face up to a year behind bars and as much as a $500,000 fine, according to his plea agreement. He admitted that he delivered $50,000 from Nashville to Cookeville and was paid $500. He wore a Putnam County sheriff’s jacket to ward off questions in case he was stopped, court papers said.
Williamson’s plea agreement recommended a nine- to 11-year sentence for his role in delivering drug money from Florida to Nashville as well as 20 kilograms of what Williamson thought was cocaine from Nashville to Chicago.
Troy Bell, who delivered drugs and money with Williamson, and Darrell Tommy Jones, a Cookeville car lot and body shop owner who admitted to transporting drugs, also pleaded guilty.
Cookeville police officer Jason Blythe was charged with selling two revolvers to an undercover FBI agent as part of operation Tarnished Shield. However his charges were not related to the drug and money laundering ring, said his attorney, Jack Lowery Sr.
Blythe is on administrative leave from the police force, and is scheduled for an April 25 trial.