EIGHT TRI-CITIES RESIDENTS ARRESTED BY DEA

BLUFF CITY -- Eight Tri-Cities residents face federal drug charges after
being arrested under sealed indictments by agents of the Drug Enforcement
Agency, authorities said. Four states are involved in the investigation,
which still was ongoing Tuesday. DEA agents, working the Sullivan County
Sheriff's Office, Bluff City police and the Tennessee Bureau of
Investigation, made the arrests during a series of raids that began June 28.

"DEA Special Agent Brian Snedegar testified that several items including
chemicals, glassware and tubing consistent with a methamphetamine lab were
seized," said Eric Hurt, an assistant U.S. attorney in Abingdon. Those
items were found inside a house at 308 Cedar St., Hurt said. A hazardous
materials team was called in, and the house was sealed.

Authorities say the chemicals used in meth labs can be highly volatile.
"They were set up and ready to go. They could have been in operation in a
short time," Snedegar said, adding that the home was close to both City
Hall and Bluff City Elementary School.

Those arrested were Ernie Embree, 47, of 308 Cedar St.; Jeff Embree, 38, of
Bluff City; Donna Richardson, 41, of 18919 Pittstown Road, Bristol, Va.,
who now is in state custody; Bruce Bowman, 45, of Bristol Virginia; Danah
Diggs, 48, of 226 Old Thomas Bridge Road; Shelly Miller, 26, of 215
Hillcrest Road; Jimmy Dempsey, 42, of 411 Shawnee Drive; and James Tinsley,
44, of 217 Old Jonesboro Drive.

All eight have been charged with conspiracy to manufacture more than 50
grams of methamphetamine, Hurt said. In addition, Ernie Embree, Jeff
Embree, Richardson, Bowman, Diggs and Miller were charged with conspiracy
to distribute more than half a kilogram of methamphetamine and possession
with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Hurt said.

Ernie Embree, Jeff Embree, Richardson, Bowman and Diggs also were charged
with conspiracy to maintain a place to manufacture methamphetamine -- the
home at 226 Old Thomas Bridge Road. Ernie Embree and Richardson also were
charged with conspiracy to sell and distribute marijuana, and Richardson
faces additional charges of being a convicted drug user in possession of
firearms and knowingly possessing pseudoephedrine with intent to
manufacture methamphetamine, Hurt said.

Seven of the eight arrested were arraigned in federal court in Abingdon on
July 2, and each pleaded not guilty, Hurt said. Richardson remains in
custody in Tennessee and has not appeared in court in Abingdon, Hurt added.
Miller remains in the Washington County, Va., jail, while the remaining six
have been released on bond, Hurt said.

"All charges involving methamphetamine were from between May 1998 and
January 2001, while the marijuana charges were from January 1997 to July
2000," Hurt said. "Because Donna Richardson is still in custody in
Tennessee, we have not set a trial date," he said. "Once we get her, we
will set those dates."

All eight could face no less than 10 years in prison and up to life in
prison if convicted, Hurt said. Each also could face fines up to $4
million, he added.

Bluff City Police Chief Ken Potter said his agency became involved in
February. "The investigation actually began in Virginia and bled over into
this jurisdiction," he said. "Five officers from the Bluff City Police
Department provided security at the 308 Cedar St. operation and assisted
with five arrests."