On January 13, 2020, Alex Lorenzo Robinson, 38, of Elizabethton, and formerly of Conway, South Carolina, was sentenced by the Honorable J. Ronnie Greer, Sr. in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville. As part of the plea agreement, Robinson agreed to plead guilty to conspiring to distribute crack cocaine and was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. Co-conspirator Kayla Leann Cox, 22, with residences in Elizabethton and Kingsport, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for her role in the same conspiracy in October 2019.
The conviction of Robinson was the result of an investigation by Tennessee Bureau Investigation (TBI) during 2019. After making numerous drug buys from Robinson and obtaining a federal indictment and search warrants, TBI, DEA, Carter County Sheriff’s Department (CCSD), and the Elizabethton Police Department (EPD) executed a search warrant at the residence of Robinson. CCSD Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) approached the residence, knocked and announced their presence, and breached the front door and entered the residence. Robinson and Cox were located within the residence, as well as two minors. Agents recovered a handgun located next to Cox, multiple rifles underneath the bed and a ballistic vest found at the foot of the bed. During the search of the residence, agents discovered 293.01 grams of cocaine within a vacuum-sealed bag, 1,492.41 grams of marijuana, 55.93 grams of crack cocaine, 81 Fentanyl/Acetyl fentanyl tablets and multiple firearms that included a .410 Taurus ‘Judge’ that had been reported stolen. Robinson was arrested on a federal warrant based on a prior indictment.
On the same morning, TBI, DEA, Kingsport Police Department (KPD), 2nd Judicial District Drug Task Force (DTF), and Tennessee Highway Patrol (THP) executed a second search warrant at another residence of Robinson in Kingsport, TN. During the search, agents discovered several items of contraband that included several firearms, marijuana, and powder cocaine.
This multi-agency investigation included TBI, DEA, Carter County Sheriff’s Department, Kingsport Police Department, Elizabethton Police Department, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department, 2nd Judicial District Drug Task Force, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Robert Reeves and Todd Martin represented the United States.
– Press Release Courtesy of United States Department of Justice, Eastern District of Tennessee