Rutherford County, TN – A man convicted in a Rutherford County courtroom for conspiracy to deliver more than 150 grams of heroin has received an answer to his recently filed appeal. Interestingly, the subject at the center of the appeal wasn't the one selling drugs in Rutherford County, instead, he reportedly sold the drugs in Nashville to two individuals that lived in Rutherford County. Those subjects reportedly turned around and took the drugs back to the Murfreesboro area to sell.
Lacorious Tyquez Fuller, a 32-year-old man convicted for conspiracy to deliver more than 150 grams of heroin, received an unfavorable response to his appeal last week on February 21, 2025. The appeal, which did not challenge the central players in the case effectively, revealed a complex yet small network where drugs sold in Nashville made their way back to Rutherford County for distribution.
Fuller was sentenced to 17 years in prison in 2022 after a thorough investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) uncovered that he was the significant player in one particular heroin arrangement that linked Nashville to Murfreesboro. The case was notable for its use of video evidence from controlled purchases made by two confidential informants who ultimately led the authorities back to Fuller.
The TBI operations began in 2018, targeting heroin sales in Rutherford County. Investigators identified Fuller as the supplier to two men from Murfreesboro, who would travel to Nashville to acquire the drugs and return to sell them locally. This interconnected scheme was significantly complicated when the TBI intercepted the two buyers, turning them into informants who cooperated with law enforcement.
During the proceedings, it was revealed that the informants had an ongoing financial obligation to Fuller, amounting to at least $10,500 owed by the time they began their cooperation. Evidence showed that they frequently made trips to Nashville to purchase heroin for personal use while reselling additional amounts in Rutherford County.
As hearings progressed, a video recording of one drug transaction was presented as evidence. Also introduced was testimony that equaled Fuller regularly asking for identification from the informants, which he photographed, further connecting him to the Rutherford County operation where both informants lived. In other words, the driver’s licenses had the informant's home address on their ID, further identifying where the drugs were being transported.
After a comprehensive review, the trial court denied Fuller’s request for a new trial and dismissed his recent appeal questioning the sufficiency of the convicting evidence and trial court's admission of the 2018 video evidence.
The Court of Criminal Appeals ultimately sided with the trial court, upholding both Fuller’s conviction and his sentence. As a result, Fuller will continue to serve his sentence and is expected to be released seven months after his 43rd birthday in 2036.
This case highlights the ongoing battle against drug trafficking in Tennessee, no matter the size. It also shows how networks can extend beyond county lines, involving various parties in the drug trade. The TBI’s proactive measures remain crucial in addressing and dismantling these operations to ensure community safety, as does the force of Rutherford County detectives who had a hand in the collection of evidence.
