Twice Deported Illegal Alien Now Sentenced For Drug Operation In East Tennessee
An illegal alien living in East Tennessee will be spending the next two plus decades in prison after running a drug operation in the area. According to federal documents, 45 year old Courtney Sterling, who is a Jamaican citizen that had been removed from the US twice, was arrested on drug charges back in 2022. In November of that year, the Johnson City, Tennessee Police Department learned about a shipment of marijuana that was scheduled to be delivered to an address in Johnson City. This led to a search warrant and investigation at Sterling’s residence where police discovered of 11 pounds of methamphetamine and 2.5 pounds of cocaine, along with several firearms. Police would later find additional firearms, cocaine and a large amount of US currency. Sterling was arrested, but was let out on bond. He then failed to appear in court and became a fugitive.
Two years later in October of 2024, Homeland Security, the TBI and the Drug Enforcement Agency intercepted a shipment of 20 pounds of methamphetamine and 2.6 pounds of cocaine to another address in Johnson City and Sterling had coordinated the delivery. This week after pleading guilty to a charge of Conspiracy to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Firearm as an Illegal Alien, and Aggravated Re-entry, Sterling was sentenced in US District Court in Greeneville to 292 months in prison followed by 10 years of probation.
There were two co-defendants in this case. 37 year old Heather Ward of Johnson City, received a sentence of 120 months and five years of probation for her part. 41 year old MJ Adams of Johnson City will be sentenced in federal court in Greeneville on February 4, 2026.