Three Tennessee Men Sentenced for Killing During Home-Invasion Robbery

Three Clarksville, Tennessee, men were sentenced for shooting and killing a man during a home-invasion robbery, announced Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney David Rivera of the Middle District of Tennessee.

Jerry Dinkins, 27, was sentenced today to 300 months in prison by Chief U.S. District Judge Kevin H. Sharp of the Middle District of Tennessee.  Cornell Oliver, 24, and Blake Wright, 26, were sentenced on Dec. 2, 2015, to 300 months and 285 months in prison, respectively, by Judge Sharp.

According to the plea agreements, on Oct. 27, 2010, Oliver, Dinkins and Wright planned a home-invasion robbery targeting a Clarksville house where a man was known to cook and sell substantial amounts of crack cocaine and to have large amounts of cash.  When the defendants arrived at the house, at least eight people were inside and one of the defendants kicked open the door.  The defendants then entered and demanded money and drugs from the victim, and one of the defendants proceeded to hit the victim with a gun.  The defendants forced the victim outside after he indicated that he did not have money or drugs.  People inside the house then heard multiple gunshots, but did not see which defendant fired the weapon.  The defendants then fled, and the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Clarksville Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case.  Trial Attorney Laura Gwinn of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynne T. Ingram of the Middle District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.