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State charges in officer conspiracy probe
A total of four Newport residents including two police department detectives and a city council member, faces charges in an alleged conspiracy to launder money through the Pit Stop convenience store on the Cosby Road. The defendants are charged with felony offenses including a conspiracy to commit money laundering, and official misconduct, and drug offenses. Detective James Holt is charged on the state presentments with numerous instances of the purchase of what he believed to be stolen merchandise from an undercover operative, including a large quantity of cigarettes and Harley Davidson clothing and gear, on more than 20 occasions, along with ten counts of official misconduct in that he did not arrest the informant when Holt was told the items were stolen merchandise. He also is charged with numerous sales and deliveries of Hydrocodone and Alprazolam in May, June and July, within 1,000 feet of the Cocke County High School. Alderwoman Kathy Holt is charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering and three counts of money laundering in that she and James Holt approved the purchase of stolen property by each other and their employees at the convenience store on the Cosby Road. Ms. Holt also allegedly prepared lists in April and May, of merchandise to be stolen and provided to she and James Holt. Cash from the store was allegedly used to purchase the "stolen" items. Detective Lynn Shults is charged with four counts of official misconduct as well as conspiracy to commit money laundering . He allegedly purchased items which he was told had been stolen from a Harley Davidson dealership. Later he communicated with James Holt the name of the seller and the availability of the stolen clothing and gear. He is charged with making a number of purchases of items which he understood to be stolen. Kenny Myers is charged with one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. In April he allegedly delivered $200 to James Holt from the business cash register to purchase 12 cartons of cigarettes and 29 packages of candy. On a later date he assisted James Holt in the negotiation to purchase cigarettes, candy and beef jerky from the undercover operative. Kathy Holt is free on a $250,000 bond, Detective Lynn Shults is free on a $50,000 bond and Kenny Myers is free on a $10,000 bond. Bond on the state charges is set at $500,000 for Detective James Holt. But he also faces federal charges of the illegal distribution of drugs and the possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking. He is being held without bond pending a detention hearing in that case.
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Return to Today's News Stories - Front PageThursday, April 29, 2021
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Mill Creek Wildfire Update
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