Thursday, July 11, 2019

Denton raid
A Cocke County man who has been in and out of prison since the 1975 Red lantern Massacre, is back behind bars today. Eddie Dallas "Rusty" Denton, 66, Newport, was arrested Monday on a federal criminal complaint which charges him with possession with the intent to distribute oxymorphone and methadone. In addition, Denton who is a felon, allegedly possessed a firearm in furtherance of the drug trafficking. The complaint filed by Agent Chuck Evans of the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Cocke County Sheriff's Department says Denton is well-known for criminal activity in Cocke County. He was convicted of second-degree murder after four men died in the Red Lantern Massacre shooting. Since then Denton has been convicted in several drug conspiracies. Agent Evans says in April, members of the DEA, sheriff's department and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, met to make a controlled purchase from Denton. The buyer purchased oxymorphone, also known as Opana. Witnesses said Denton usually kept a revolver near his chair in the living room. Another similar purchase was made from Denton on May 1, and on May 10, by a confidential subject known as "Bubba". All of the buys were allegedly made at the Denton home on Fox Chase Trail. On one occasion, Denton told an informant he didn't have a weapon he wanted to sell but would try to find one for the confidential source. On June 21, Denton allegedly sold the confidential informant a 22 caliber pistol for $225, after asking his wife to get the weapon from the "stash." Finally on Monday, law officers executed a federal search warrant on the Denton residence, seizing pills identified as oxymorphone and methadone and several revolvers. One of the weapons was under a blanket with which Denton was covering himself. Following the raid, Denton was taken into custody and he was transported to US District Court in Greeneville for an initial appearance before US Magistrate Judge Clifton L. Corker.


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