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On July 24, Steven Shelton, 39, of Greeneville and Shannon Crittenden, 45, of Mosheim were sentenced to prison on methamphetamine-related charges.

Previously on June 26, Arthur Tidwell, 46, of Greeneville, was sentenced as a co-defendant of the case.

The three defendants appeared to be part of a methamphetamine chain of production and distribution, with Tidwell supplying Shelton and then Shelton supplying the substance to Crittenden and potentially other distributors.

Tidwell was first pulled over for a traffic stop in Washington County by the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Law enforcement found a significant amount of methamphetamine in Tidwell’s possession, though he was released on bond. He was then arrested a little more than a month later in Greeneville with more methamphetamine in his possession.

Shelton and Crittenden, however, sold methamphetamine to an individual working with law enforcement on five separate occasions. This led to the execution of a search warrant for Shelton’s Greeneville residence. The search yielded a large amount of methamphetamine, a schedule II drug in the state of Tennessee.

An investigation was launched and revealed that Tidwell had been supplying Shelton with methamphetamine, who was supplying other individuals to include Crittenden.

“The United States Attorney’s Office is committed to targeting the ongoing threat to our communities from drug traffickers who bring large quantities of high-purity methamphetamine into our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III.

“We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who seek to profit from flooding our communities with dangers drugs will face justice.”

Shelton faces 168 months of imprisonment and Crittenden faces 120 months. This verdict was made by the Honorable H. Ronnie Greer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court at Greenville.

Tidwell’s sentencing will last 180 months and began on June 26.

Sentencing made in this case was the result of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces.