DOJ: Gray man sentenced to 23 years had meth mailed from Mexico to grandparents’ home

Faith Little
·2 min read

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) — A man from Gray was sentenced on Monday to more than 23 years in prison for his role in trafficking and distributing meth in the Tri-Cities.

A release from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Greeneville said Michael Wayne Bentley III, 28, was sentenced to 284 months in prison and supervised release for five years following incarceration.

Bentley was found guilty in a December 2023 trial of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of meth, attempting to possess with intent to distribute and using/carrying/brandishing a firearm during a drug trafficking offense.

BVPD: Two arrested after police find 100+ fentanyl pills

Evidence presented during the trial showed that Bentley arranged to have packages of meth from a source in Mexico delivered to him in the Tri-Cities via the U.S. Postal Service.

The release said law enforcement intercepted a package containing more than 894 grams of meth, and then three weeks later, another package was intercepted containing more than 839 grams of meth and addressed to Bentley’s grandparents’ home in the Kingsport area.

Agents replaced the meth with items of a similar weight and the second package was delivered, according to the release. Agents testified in court that they observed Bently’s grandmother accept the package, and shortly after, Bentley arrived at the residence.

Once he left the residence, agents attempted to approach Bentley and arrest him, when he pointed a firearm at them and fled on foot, the release said. Bentley then pointed the firearm at agents again while they were pursuing him on foot, and two of the law enforcement officers then discharged their weapons at Bentley.

Bentley was taken into custody uninjured, according to the release.

“During a post-arrest interview, Bentley admitted to agents that he had been receiving methamphetamine through the U.S. mail and distributing it. He also admitted that he had acquired the firearm for protection from other drug dealers,” the release states.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather.