Two Cumberland County men were arrested on sealed indictments, charged with arson.
One of the men is also charged with insurance fraud, according to court documents unsealed by the arrest of the suspects.
Vernon Keith Hughes, 64, and James Don Cumby, 37, both of rural Cumberland County, were named in the two-count indictment. Both men are charged with arson. Hughes is additionally charged with insurance fraud.
The indictment alleges on July 6, 2024, a fire or explosion damaged a structure “without the consent of all persons who had a possessory or proprietary interest” in the dwelling.
The indictment further alleges Hughes filed “a false or fraudulent claim to Liberty Mutual Insurance for the payment of a loss … in an amount over $2,500.”
The indictment was handed down April 8, and witnesses include TBI Special Agents Nick Hamby and Shawn Scott, ATF Agents Lucas Speer and Michael Walton, various insurance investigators and a representative of Taco Bell.
Cumby was taken into custody April 11 at the state probation office where he was reporting to his probation officer. In January, Cumber pleaded guilty to possession of meth and auto burglary and received an eight-year suspended sentence to be served on supervised probation.
Hughes was served his arrest warrant the same day and posted bond Monday. Cumby remains in jail in lieu of $150,000 bond.
The charges and allegations referenced are merely accusations of criminal conduct and not evidence. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and convicted through due process of law.
Both men and all defendants in this report are scheduled to appear in Cumberland County Criminal Court for arraignment on May 6.
Pickup indictments
The following defendants were arrested following their indictments on the listed charges. The indictments were sealed until the arrests and the grand jury true bills were handed down with prior warrants and hearings in General Sessions Court.
•Jimmy Luther Bowman Jr., two counts of possession of more than .5 grams of meth for sale, two counts of possession of more than .5 grams of meth for delivery, sale of fentanyl/ANPP and delivery of ANPP, alleged on Feb. 14, Feb. 28, March 8 and March 15, and investigated by Cumberland County Sheriff’s Investigators Lucas Turner and John Wirey.
•Kamryn Jayce Melton, statutory rape, alleged on Oct. 20, 2024, involving a juvenile age 15, and investigated by CCSO Investigator Anthony Loshbough.
Burglary/theft
•Shannon Michelle Richardson, aggravated burglary alleged on Aug. 20, 2024, and investigated by CCSO Investigators Gary Green and Bobby Moore and Deputies Jeff Brown and Tashua Stone.
•Troy Lee Rice, theft of property of more than $2,500 (jack, two bows, model cars and collectibles, tools and other items), alleged on Aug. 20, 2024.
Possession
•Jimmy Luther Bowman Jr., possession of more than .5 grams of fentanyl/ANPP for sale/delivery, possession of more than .5 grams of meth for sale/delivery and possession of para-flurofentanyl for sale/delivery, alleged on March 18, 2024, and investigated by CCSO Investigators Lucas Turner and Jon Wirey.
Also, possession of more than .5 grams of meth for sale/delivery, possession of more than .5 grams fentanyl/ANPP for sale/delivery, two counts of intruding contraband into a penal institution and driving on a suspended license, alleged on Dec. 10, 2024, and investigated by CCSO.
•Trevone Deshawn Boykin, possession of fentanyl with intent to sell/deliver, tampering with evidence, vandalism of up to $1,000, assault on a first responder, resisting a stop, arrest or search and driving on a revoked license, investigated by Tennessee Highway Patrol Troopers Donald Seiber, Leo Auger, Shane Ballet and William Morgan.
•Danny Ellison Phillips Jr., possession of heroin for sale/delivery, possession of fentanyl/ANPP for sale/delivery and possession of Tramadol for sale/delivery, alleged on July 18, 2024, and investigated by CCSO Investigators Bo Kollros, Jon Wiry, Sgts. Ryan Ashburn and Dustin Jackson and Deputies Shawn Ayets and Josh Matthews.
•Johnny Dewayne Ogle, possession of 26 grams of meth or more with intent to sell and/or deliver and possession of fentanyl/ANPP with intent to sell/deliver, alleged on Jan. 22 and investigated by Crossville Police Sgt. Keith Sadula, Det. Koby Wilson, Ptl. Haylee Osmun and Sptls. Jackie Grant and Jessie Henson.
•Michael Dale Rushing, possession of more than 26 grams of meth for sale/delivery, possession of more than .5 grams of cocaine for sale/delivery, driving while in possession of meth and driving on a revoked license, alleged on Dec. 17, 2024, and investigated by THP Troopers Donald Seiber, Andrew Phillips and Douglas Foster.
•Wesley Stuart Wood, two counts of possession of more than .5 grams of meth for sale/delivery, two counts of possession of more than .5 grams of fentanyl for sale/delivery and possession of a weapon during commission of a dangerous crime, alleged on April 3, 2024, and investigated by CCSO Investigators Lucas Turner and Mitchell Ward.
•Tara Jean Reeves, two counts of possession of more than .5 grams of meth for sale/delivery, two counts of possession of more than .5 grams of fentanyl for sale/delivery and possession of a weapon during commission of a dangerous crime, alleged on April 3, 2024, and investigated by CCSO Investigators Lucas Turner and Mitchell Ward.
Assault
•James Lee Quarry, superseding indictment of aggravated assault (knife), alleged on Feb. 15, 2025, and investigated by CCSO and CPD.
DUI
•Joshua Lee Garland, DUI, per se, alleged on April 20, 2024, and investigated by THP Trooper Donald Seiber.
•Gigi Lindberg, DUI, per se, alleged on July 16, 2024, and investigated by Fairfield Glade Police Officers Logan Jan and Nicolas Brendel and THP Trooper Bobby Barker.
•Miranda Jean McNeal, DUI, per se, alleged on Aug. 31, 2024, and investigated by CPD Ptl. Ethan Wilson.