Who Got Busted With Councilman Franklin

We are uncovering more details about the relationships between several people arrested, in yesterday's federal drug bust. And you may be surprised to see who they are, and how federal agents say they participated in the criminal enterprise to deal drugs and hide the money they made.

These federal indictments name 42 people in all, who are accused of taking part in one way or another in trafficking more than a million dollars worth of cocaine. But the indictments show there are just a handful of them who appear to have played a larger role in the scheme to sell and distribute large quantities of crack and cocaine.

To many Chattanoogans, the most shocking images were those of Chattanooga city councilman Duke Franklin now under indictment for allegedly laundering drug money. According to the federal indictments, these four people are among those who were instrumental in the conspiracy to distribute large quantities of cocaine.

They are Michael Kelly, Kenneth Edmond, Nanette Shropshire and Gerald Cunningham. Cunningham works with Chattanooga's Parks and Recreation Department, at the Washington Hills Recreation Center.

His supervisor, Bob Saylors said, "Surprise, of course, some level of hurt and disappointment."

Cunningham is on suspension without pay. He was one of 26 recreation specialists.

"They work with children, they work with seniors, they work with all ages," said Saylors. "Gerald has been with our city for better than 20 years."

Also instrumental in the plot to distribute cocaine according to court records, Guy Stiner, who was not happy to see our camera this afternoon and didn't want to comment. We found him working at the Broad Street Barber and Style Salon.

Perry Lawrence is also named by the feds as being instrumental in working with councilman Franklin in laundering drug money. The indictment says Michael Kelly was stopped by police with more than $69,000 in cash that was going to buy drugs. The indictment goes on to say once Kelly was caught, he got Perry Lawrence to create a false document to say the money was a personal loan, and it was councilman Franklin who helped make that happen.

Court records show some of the alleged drug dealers would use some of the money from selling drugs to buy expensive things. For example, records show Demarcus Akins allegedly used drug money to buy a Range Rover SUV.

Court records show after Akins sold cocaine and crack, he deposited cash in safe amounts that wouldn't get the FBI's attention, like $2,900, $3,000 and $4,000 increments.

Records show another key drug dealer in the Cleveland, Athens area is Darius Moss. He has numerous drug charges on his record, and was caught most recently in Bradley County with a large amount of crack during a traffic stop.

But it's councilman Franklin and city employee Cunningham who surprised most in city government.

Saylors, said, "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Gerald and to Duke Franklin.

In spite of these indictments and arrests, the federal government says all of the 42 people caught are presumed innocent until proven or they plead guilty. They'll be arraigned and will have a chance to enter a plea May 27th.

In a statement released by the Department of Justice.U-S Attorney Russ Dedrick praises the work of investigating officers adding, "I am confident these arrests will make our Chattanooga community a safer place for our children to grow and allow our two Weed and Seed sites to thrive. "