Memphis resident Mervin Anderson, 40, has been convicted by a federal jury for the possession of contraband in a federal detention center, including two homemade knives, known as shanks. According to an announcement made by Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew Galeotti and U.S. Attorney Joseph C. Murphy for the Western District of Tennessee, the evidence presented at trial included video surveillance footage showing Anderson with the makeshift weapons. As reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the incident escalated to a confrontation with another inmate, where Anderson was witnessed brandishing the shanks.
During the ordeal, the corrections officer who intervened to de-escalate the situation found Anderson still clutching the shanks. Upon their confiscation, Anderson proclaimed, "God is on my side, I was about to kill that boy." The gravity of this possession is magnified by the fact that Anderson is facing further legal queries. He is awaiting trial on charges of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, with the proceedings set to begin on Nov. 3, 2025.
The maximum penalty for Anderson's conviction stands at five years in prison, although the sentencing date remains undetermined. The U.S. Marshals Service and the Shelby County Division of Corrections are credited with investigating the case. Meanwhile, the prosecution is in the hands of Trial Attorneys Amanda J. Kotula and Cesar Rivera-Giraud from the Criminal Division’s Violent Crime and Racketeering Section.
This Memphis case is part of a broader Violent Crime Initiative undertaken by the Criminal Division in collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Tennessee and various law enforcement partners. The initiative targets gang-related activity by leveraging federal law to prosecute members and affiliates where deemed suitable.
