On March 23, 2023, Chester County Sheriff Deputy Eric Talbott, while on patrol, observed a red truck fail to come to a complete stop at the intersection of Trice Road and Rabbit Ranch Road. Deputy Talbott initiated a traffic stop as the truck made a sudden turn into a driveway on Rabbit Ranch Road. As the vehicle was pulling into the driveway, an occupant threw a fanny pack – style bag from the vehicle. Deputy Talbott identified the driver as Stedman Ingram. Deputies searched the bag and recovered 164 blue pills with “M30” pressed onto the pill. The pills were packaged in torn pieces of plastic. Deputies also recovered a white powdery substance from the bag thrown onto the road.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation tested the pills and white powder. The pills tested positive for fentanyl. The total weight of the pills was over fifteen grams. The white powder tested positive for cocaine and weighed almost twelve grams. A Chester County Grand Jury returned an indictment for possession of fentanyl over fifteen grams with intent to sell and/or deliver, possession of cocaine over .5 grams with intent to sell and/or deliver and driving on a revoked license.
The State of Tennessee, represented by Assistant District Attorney Justin Prescott, tried the defendant before a jury on July 25, 2024. The jury convicted the defendant on all counts of the indictment. On Oct. 3, 2024, Judge Donald Allen sentenced Ingram to twelve years in the Tennessee Department of Corrections (TDOC) for each count of the indictment involving the sale and/or delivery of fentanyl and cocaine. Ingram was also sentenced to six months on the driving on revoked license charge, representing the maximum sentences allowed by law for each offense. Additionally, the jury imposed fines of $75,000 for the counts involving fentanyl, $50,000 for the counts involving cocaine, and $500 for driving on a revoked license. The total effective sentence that Ingram received was twelve years to serve in TDOC and $125,000 in fines.
“The Chester County Sheriff’s Department did an outstanding job apprehending this defendant who was in possession of a large amount of fentanyl, which is killing Tennesseeans everyday,” said District Attorney General Jody Pickens. “While we will never know their names, I have no doubt that by bringing this man to justice, several Chester Countians’ lives were saved. This case stands as an example of what good police work coupled with aggressive prosecution can accomplish. Lastly, thank you to the good citizens of Chester County who served on the jury that returned these verdicts.”