FBI Nashville Field Office: 2025 Investigative and Intelligence Successes
News2025-12-31
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Keeping Tennesseans Safe
FBI Nashville Special Agent in Charge Joseph E. Carrico is providing the following statement for attribution:
"As we head into 2026, I think it’s valuable to hear directly from us about the work we are doing across the great state of Tennessee.
The dedicated professionals of the FBI Nashville Field Office continue to be committed to partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies, the private sector, and the communities we serve.
Our work has led to notable successes for our entire territory in 2025. Our Violent Crimes Against Children squads arrested 82 individuals, secured 61 indictments, identified 110 child victims, recovered 67 child victims, and dismantled two crimes-against-children organizations. As a result, there were 42 convictions and 59 sentencings.
In other accomplishments, throughout 2025:
- Memphis Safe Task Force: FBI personnel from across the state of Tennessee devoted thousands of hours to the Memphis Safe Task Force, a joint operational effort targeting violent criminal actors in the Memphis metropolitan area. FBI personnel assigned to the task force contributed to solving cold-case homicides and locating missing children. In addition, the intelligence team completed over 2,000 tactical intelligence products used to bring violent fugitives to justice. Since September 29, the FBI has been involved in 1,832 arrests, the recovery of 373 guns, and 335 drug seizures. (The total number of arrests for all agencies involved is 4,595.)
- CRIME Team: From May 1 to September 12, the FBI Nashville Field Office's Memphis Resident Agency partnered with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies on an initiative called the Crime Reduction in Memphis (CRIME) Team to deliver a united, strategic response to combat violent crime in Memphis. As a result of this partnership, significant results for the Memphis community were achieved. Please see the September 25 press release for a list of agencies involved.
- 489 arrests of violent criminals
- 118 guns seized from violent offenders
- 25 search warrants
- 131 federal indictments
- Violent Crime Program: Our Violent Crime squads arrested more than 569 individuals, secured federal indictments for more than 69 people, and secured federal convictions of more than 55 subjects. In addition, the squads assisted our partners at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – Immigration and Customs Enforcement with immigration enforcement operations throughout the state. To date, more than 239 individuals were arrested for immigration violations. Other successes included:
- More than 26 individuals were arrested for Hobbs Act violations, more than 25 individuals were indicted for Hobbs Act violations, and more than eight individuals were convicted for Hobbs Act violations.
- More than eight individuals were arrested for bank robberies, more than four individuals were indicted for bank robberies, and more than 11 individuals were convicted for bank robberies.
- More than 21 individuals were arrested for firearms violations, more than 23 individuals were indicted for firearms violations, and more than 19 individuals were convicted for firearms violations.
- More than five individuals were convicted for carjacking violations.
- Homeland Security Task Force: The FBI and our partners at Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) spearheaded the creation and implementation of a Homeland Security Task Force. This task force represents the power of partnership, combining federal, state and local resources to address threats more effectively than any agency can alone. In partnership with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Appalachia HIDTA [High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area], Crossville Police Department, and HSI, we investigated a multi-kilogram fentanyl and methamphetamine dealer supplying upwards of 20-plus mid-level dealers with quantities of fentanyl and crystal methamphetamine in the Cumberland County, Crossville, Tennessee area. This case targeted a cartel fed fentanyl organization that involved gangs and severely impacted the community. On November 6, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee—along with local, state, and federal partners—announced that 38 defendants – including eight members and associates of MS-13—were charged on a variety of charges involving trafficking in fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine; carjacking; assault on law enforcement; the use of firearms during the commission of a violent crime; unlawful possession of firearms; and immigration offenses.
- U.S. attorney's office (USAO) press release: Thirty-Eight Defendants Charged Following Investigations by the Nashville Homeland Security Task Force
- Joint Terrorism Task Force: From October 1, 2024 to October 1, 2025, the FBI Nashville Field Office’s Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF)—working alongside federal, state, and local partners—achieved significant results in its domestic terrorism mission. Through intelligence-driven investigations and coordinated operational efforts, the JTTF made 12 arrests and secured eight convictions related to domestic terrorism cases, with multiple defendants receiving sentences ranging from 20 months to life in prison. These efforts also resulted in five successful threat disruptions, three federal indictments, and three judicial complaints underscoring the JTTF’s commitment to identifying, mitigating, and preventing domestic violent extremists’ threats before they escalate into acts of violence. In addition, the JTTF deployed in support of our local partners to over 43 special events across the state which had over 3.36 million combined individuals in attendance.
- Cyber Program: Our Cyber Program led and supported numerous criminal and national security investigations regarding violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and other federal statutes stemming from unauthorized access into victims’ systems or networks. These investigations across Tennessee’s three federal judicial districts were a key part of our strategy; another key component was enhancing capabilities—carried out via outreach to raise public awareness and, also, to train trusted partners. To that end, cyber personnel led dozens of outreach engagements, serving as keynote speakers or main presenters at colleges and universities, private sector organizations, financial investigative associations, military-related groups, and multinational corporations with U.S. citizens forward-deployed. Beyond its area of responsibility, our team also participated in FBI and U.S. government initiatives, leveraging cyber personnel with adjunct-faculty status in training trusted foreign law enforcement officers and prosecutors at International Law Enforcement Academies and other overseas venues in coordination with the U.S. Department of State. Overall, the cyber program’s investigations, intelligence, outreach, and instruction successfully mitigated threat actors’ impact on a global scale, and the following case summaries depict some of this impact:
- A government entity suffered an estimated $5 million loss as a result of a computer intrusion, with approximately half of the funds recovered to date. The investigation remains ongoing and has involved more than 100 subpoenas, roughly a dozen search warrants, extensive audio and phone forensic analysis, and cryptocurrency tracing.
- In July, an Athens, Georgia woman pled guilty to cyberstalking and threat offenses. The sentencing is scheduled for January 2026.
- USAO press release: Athens, Georgia, Woman Pleads Guilty to Cyberstalking and Threat Offenses
- In August, Matthew Isaac Knoot, 38, of Nashville entered a guilty plea for his efforts to generate revenue for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK or North Korea) illicit weapons program, which includes weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). Knoot was arrested in August 2024. The sentencing is scheduled for February 2026.
- Health Care Fraud Program: Significant health care fraud cases across the state:
- In June, a lab owner, marketing company owner, and doctor were sentenced for their roles in a multimillion, multistate Medicare and Medicaid conspiracy to pay and receive illegal kickbacks.
- In November, a gynecologist was federally charged with crimes related to his performance of medically unnecessary gynecologic procedures with medical devices he held under unsanitary conditions and reused on patients, when he was required to dispose of or properly reprocess those devices.
- Counterintelligence Program: Two significant counterintelligence cases in the state:
- In April, a former Army Intelligence Analyst Krobein Schultz was sentenced to seven years for conspiring to collect and transmit national defense information, unlawfully exporting controlled information to China, and accepting bribes in exchange of sensitive, non-public U.S. government information.
- In October, Portia Anyamba, a former program management operational specialist in the National Security Program Office at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a Department of Energy facility, pled guilty to acting as an agent of the Republic of South Africa and making false statements in her security clearance application.
- Forensic Accountants:
- Instrumental in $6.8 million in financial forfeitures, money judgements, and restitution ordered by the courts
- In addition, delivered financial analysis and testified in three trials resulting in convictions and sentencings
- Intelligence Program: The Intelligence Program produced four strategic intelligence products that were either included in the President’s Daily Briefing, the FBI Director’s Briefing, or for other policymakers or decision makers in the Intelligence Community. In addition, the Intelligence Program produced 19 intelligence products for state and local law enforcement partners.
For more information on the FBI Nashville Field Office, please visit our web page and follow us on social media:
- Facebook: FBI Nashville
- Instagram: @fbinashville
- X: @fbi_nashville
These examples make up a fraction of the impactful success across the state of Tennessee in 2025, and I’m proud of my team and the work they do every day for the American people. This work is conducted with partner agencies and community partners, enabled by supportive FBI Headquarters leadership and collaboration with other FBI field offices, and focused on achieving justice for victims. We are honored and humbled to serve alongside them and remain steadfast in our joint commitment to all Tennesseans.
On behalf of the FBI Nashville Field Office, we wish you and your loved ones a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2026!
Sincerely yours,
Joseph E. Carrico
Special Agent in Charge
FBI Nashville Field Office"
FBI Nashville
Public Affairs Officer Elizabeth Clement-Webb
615-232-7500
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
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