HANCOCK COUNTY – An East Tennessee law enforcement officer faces theft and conspiracy charges. In October 2019, TBI Special Agents began investigating allegations of theft involving 36-year-old Dusty Douglas Lamb (09/08/83). Agents determined that Lamb, who is employed as a deputy with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, stole several appliances along with other items from the Cumberland View Apartment Complex in Sneedville. This week, the Hancock County Grand Jury returned indictments charging Lamb with one count of Theft over $1,000, one count of Conspiracy to Commit Theft over $1,000, and one count of Theft under $1,000. Dusty Lamb turned himself in and was booked into the Hancock County Jail on a $15,000 bond.

HAWKINS COUNTY – An East Tennessee mayor has been accused of stealing more than a quarter of a million dollars from his grandmother. In August 2019, TBI Special Agents began investigating allegations of theft against 48-year-old Christopher Scott Jones, who is currently serving as the Mayor of Mount Carmel. Agents say that between November 2014 and January 2016 Jones (DOB 05/07/71) stole more than $300,000 from his grandmother and her estate by writing checks from her account to himself for false reimbursements. The Hawkins County Grand Jury returned an indictment charging Jones with one count of Theft over $250,000 and Christopher Jones was arrested and booked into the Hawkins County Jail on a $300,000 bond.

MCNAIRY COUNTY:  The Police Chief of Selmer, Tennessee has been arrested for theft and misconduct. In December 2019, the TBI began investigating the theft of a cell phone held as seized property by the Selmer Police Department. Agents determined that Police Chief Elmer Burks, age 77, was responsible for taking the cell phone. On Monday, February 10, 2020, the McNairy County Grand Jury returned indictments, charging Chief Burks, (DOB: 8/28/42) with one count of Official Misconduct and one count of Theft of Property Under $1,000. Later that same day, Burks was booked into the McNairy County Jail and released on $5,000 bond.
Burks’ son, Michael Burks, was also charged in this case.