Cody Andrew Seals Sentenced To Thirty Years In Prison For Drug Trafficking And Attempted Murder Of Law Enforcement Officers

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - On September 13, 2024, Cody Andrew Seals, 27, currently of Luttrell, Tennessee, was sentenced to 30 years in prison by the Honorable Katherine A. Crytzer, United States District Judge, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville.

On April 16, 2024, pursuant to a filed plea agreement, Seals pleaded guilty to a conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, in violation of 21 U.S.C. §§ 846 and 841(b)(1)(A); discharge of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 924(c); and the attempted murder of two Tennessee Highway Patrol Troopers who were assisting federal law enforcement agents, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1114.

According to filed court documents, federal law enforcement agents and task force officers were investigating a Mexican drug trafficking cartel that was distributing hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine into the Eastern District of Tennessee and elsewhere. On January 9, 2020, law enforcement officials conducting surveillance observed Seals driving up to a hotel to purchase large quantities of methamphetamine and heroin. Law enforcement followed Seals and requested assistance from the Tennessee Highway Patrol ("THP") to stop Seal's vehicle. As two THP Troopers attempted to conduct a traffic stop of Seals' pick up on Highway 27 north of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Seals fled at a high rate of speed and fired a handgun at the Troopers. After a chase lasting several minutes, THP Troopers were able to force Seals' truck to a stop on the highway. Seals got out of his truck and began rapidly firing a rifle at both THP Troopers, striking one of the Troopers in the leg. The Troopers returned fire, striking Seals non-fatally. Seals stopped shooting and was arrested. A subsequent search of Seal's truck resulted in the seizure of 1.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, 500 grams of heroin, and several firearms.

United States Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III and Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud made the announcement.

Law enforcement agencies participating in the joint investigation which led to the indictment and subsequent conviction of Seals include Homeland Security Investigations, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee's 9th Judicial District Drug Task Force, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the Georgia State Patrol, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Assistant United States Attorney Kevin Quencer represented the United States.

This case is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks.
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