A man by the name of Jesus Alfonso Castillo who was indicted by a Rutherford County Grand Jury along with four co-defendants for conspiracy to sell over 300 grams of methamphetamine in a drug free zone received a 15-year sentence behind bars after being convicted. Now, Castillo has asked the appeals court to review the case suggesting jurisdiction issues and insufficient evidence to support a conviction.
An investigation headed by the Nashville Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency in 2014 and 2015 is what led to Castillo being indicted. The case also led to the discovery of a storage unit in LaVergne, TN which contained $85,000 in cash and over 300 grams of meth. A home in Rutherford County where drugs were sold was also tied into the investigation.The case also named one buyer or transported of drugs in Atlanta, GA.
While the sell of meth in a drug free zone charges were dismissed, one count of conspiracy remained, which is what Castillo was convicted on. Court documents stated, "The evidence established a conspiracy scheme chain, filled with overt acts, which found Defendant a strong link in the loop. Defendant is not entitled to relief."
On Thursday (7/9/2020), The Court of Criminal Appeals of Tennessee released their findings in the case and sided with Judge Royce Taylor in Rutherford County who oversaw the conviction.
Source: Case No. M2019-01256-CCA-R3-CD
