Memphis, TN – In April 2023, federal grand juries in Jackson and Memphis returned indictments against four convicted sex offenders for failure to register or maintain their registration when they moved to Tennessee, in violation of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). United States Attorney Kevin Ritz announced the indictments today.
According to United States Attorney Ritz and information presented in court, the following sex offenders failed to update their registration to reflect travel to the Western District of Tennessee (WDTN).
• Terrell Chase Powell, 40, present in the WDTN from September 27 to December 15, 2022.
• Edward Elbert Thompson, 75, present in the WDTN from January 2022 to March 2, 2023.
• Jose Lozano, 45, present in the WDTN from November 29, 2021, to January 6, 2022; and
• Lorenzo Mitchell, 41, present in the WDTN from October 29 to December 5, 2022
SORNA requires sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction in which they reside, work, or go to school.
“Most convicted sex offenders who live and work in West Tennessee meet their registration requirements and are productive members of our communities. Compliance with SORNA holds convicted sex offenders accountable to law enforcement and helps to keep our communities safe. Failure to register is a serious offense, and my office will aggressively pursue those offenders who attempt to avoid their legal obligations whenst Tennessee,” said United States Attorney Kevin Ritz.
United States Marshal for the Western District of Tennessee Tyreece Miller said, “Congress directed the United States Marshals Service to locate absconded sex offenders through the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act in July 2006. Our office takes this responsibility seriously and is proactive in locating and arresting non-compliant sex offenders. These indictments are examples of our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and commitment to protecting the citizens in the Western District of Tennessee.”
If convicted, each defendant faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and a period of supervised of five years to life. There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.
Members of the public are reminded that an indictment only contains charges. Each defendant is presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove each defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Davis and Lauren Delery are prosecuting the case.
Original source can be found here.