30-01-2025
Humboldt man pleads guilty to drug charge, running drug operation from commercial property
Joseph Brian Moss appeared in Gibson County Circuit Court on Wednesday afternoon, shackled and in a tan jumpsuit, where he pled guilty to Attempted Possession of a Schedule I Drug with Intent to Sell/Deliver.
The charge comes as a Class C Felony in Tennessee.
The West Tennessee Drug Task Force conducted a search of Moss's property located at 2500 N Central Ave. in Humboldt on July 25, 2023. Formerly a Walmart, Moss ran Humboldt Fitness LLC from the location.
During the search of the gym and the adjacent warehouse, officers seized 43 pounds of a substance containing the Schedule I drug psylocibin, 29 firearms, $153,421 in drug proceeds, drug paraphernalia, and electronic evidence and documentation of the distribution of the illegal narcotics, according to the District Attorney's Office for the 28th Judicial District.
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Under his plea agreement as a convicted felon, Moss will be under a six-year period of supervision by the Tennessee Department of Corrections with the following conditions in place:
Forfeiture of the commercial building to the WTDTF
Forfeiture of the $153,421 in drug proceeds to the WTDTF
Forfeiture of the 29 firearms seized in the search to the WTDTF
Complete a state-certified Moral Reconation Therapy course
Comply with mandatory drug testing
Maintain full-time employment
Pay court costs and a fine totaling $5,000
Truthfully testify in related criminal case if called as a witness
"Closing out this case is a win for the community of Humboldt and West Tennessee and further demonstrates the value of a specialized Drug Task Force," Carter said. "We had multiple local and federal agencies from within the 28th District who participated in shutting down this large drug operation, and we now have possession of the building that once sold drugs all over West Tennessee."
He has been in custody at the Gibson Co. Jail, held on a $750,000 bond concerning similar charges issued on Sept. 25, 2024. Currently pending investigation and prosecution by the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, he faces felony drug charges for the alleged illegal manufacturing and distribution of drugs and anabolic steroids from a commercial location.
Shortly after Moss's September arrest, WTDTF Director for the 28th, 29th, and 30th Judicial Districts Johnie Carter shared that approximately $1,200 in psilocybin, $13,000 in various marijuana products, more than $250,000 in both pill and liquid form steroids, $25,000 in weapons, and $200,000 in alleged drug proceeds were seized.
"It's good to see the wheels of justice turn, and it lets people in our community know that we're not going to tolerate things of that nature like drugs and firearms," City of Humboldt Mayor Marvin Sikes said.
Sarah Best is a reporter for The Jackson Sun. To support local journalism, subscribe to the Daily Briefing here.
This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: Plea agreement reached in Humboldt commercial drug operation
