A 72-year-old from Sparta who disappeared five years ago during a trial has been arrested by U.S. Marshals and agents with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
Reports stated 72-year-old Ronald Eli Lewis and his cousin, identified as Clifford Lewis, were convicted of conspiring to distribute more than 100 kilograms of marijuana throughout Middle Tennessee. That conviction came in March 2012.
Authorities said the two allegedly tried to deliver 900 pounds of marijuana to the Lewis’ family farm in Sparta on March 28, 2007.
The marijuana was tracked to the farm by TBI agents where the two were arrested as they started unloading the marijuana.
Evidence showed the delivery was part of a larger plan that shipped thousands of pounds of marijuana on a tractor trailer from Texas to Tennessee.
Ronald had to be convicted in absentia since he failed to show up for the remainder of the trial shortly after it began in March 2012. On Wednesday, officials confirmed he had been taken into custody after more than five years on the run.
Clifford was convicted and sentenced to prison.
Authorities said two other co-defendants, identified as Jimmy Clinton Smith, of Texas, and Eliseo Gavin, of Oklahoma, previously pled guilty and were also sentenced to prison.
“I join with the leadership of our law enforcement partners in commending the outstanding work of the U.S. Marshals’ Service and the TBI for the capture of Ronald Lewis,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Jack Smith. “This district is fortunate to have the dedicated professionals of these agencies. Because of their efforts and their careful planning and execution of this operation, a dangerous fugitive is back in custody and his freedom to scoff at the justice system has come to an abrupt end.”
Both the DEA and TBI conducted the investigation into the drug distribution conspiracy.
