2 Murfreesboro men sentenced for shipping meth overseas in cake mix boxes

Sierra Rains
·2 min read
2

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WKRN) — Two Murfreesboro men will be spending several years in prison for shipping large amounts of meth overseas in cake mix boxes and packages disguised as a “Birthday Gift.”

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Postal Inspection Service launched an investigation in July 2019 during which investigators intercepted 12 packages containing a combined total of nearly 20 kilograms of meth.

‘Birthday Gifts’ with 22 lbs of meth seized: 2 Murfreesboro men federally charged

According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the packages were all being shipped to New Zealand and Australia from Murfreesboro. Two were reportedly mailed from the mail room at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU).

In addition to video footage from the university, two sets of fingerprints on some of the packages later helped investigators identify Jamie Woods and Steven Weaver as the suspects.

Investigators said they were also able to capture surveillance footage of Woods and Weaver buying “copious amounts of cake mix boxes” from Walmart. Both were arrested in April 2022 by federal agents.

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Although officials were able to intercept nearly a dozen of the packages, the DOJ said some of them were successfully delivered to their destination.

At sentencing on Tuesday, April 30, U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger found that an estimated 50 kilograms of methamphetamine was appropriate for how much was in the boxes and described it as a “tremendous amount of incredibly pure methamphetamine.”

Weaver was sentenced to 140 months—a little over 11 years—in prison and five years of supervised release. He previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, and possession and distribution of more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.

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Woods received a sentence last week of 120 months, or 10 years, in prison and five years of supervised release.

“This prosecution and the sentences imposed, are a testament to the fantastic work of the federal and local law enforcement agencies who investigated this case,” said United States Attorney Henry C. Leventis. “Methamphetamine is an incredibly dangerous drug. We will continue to hold accountable those who distribute it, either here in the Middle District or abroad.”

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