February 28, 2024 – On December 15, 2023, the Lebanon Police department took a report of a mini skid steer that had been stolen from Sunbelt rentals. After an investigation into the missing piece of equipment, Zamion Sharkey 30, of Blytheville, Arkansas was identified as a suspect. LPD Detective Erick Brockman then coordinated his efforts with the authorities in Arkansas.
Sharkey was one of twenty-one people that were later indicted in a multi-state organized crime case named “Operation Heavy Lift”. This case involved many jurisdictions and agencies including, the Lebanon police department, Blytheville police department, Arkansas state police, Osceola police department, the Arkansas Attorney General’s office, the 2nd judicial District Attorney’s office, the Memphis police department, and the Department of Homeland Security. The thefts of property occurred in Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, Illinois, and Arkansas.
Blytheville Chief of Police Ross Thompson gave a press conference on January 11, 2024, in that interview he said, “Operation Heavy Lift, it’s an investigation into an organized theft ring that was originating in the city of Blytheville,” Thompson revealed the investigation originally began in 2020, but the department was unable to prosecute the crime ring at that time. But the investigation was given new life when the information given by both Home Depot and Sun Belt Rentals on December 2023 led police to identify 21 men in the crime ring.
In another statement provided to news outlets in Arkansas, Attorney General Tim Griffin, said “organized crime is often a funding source for other activities, such as violent crimes, human trafficking, and murder”.
Zamion Sharkey will be extradited back to Lebanon, Tennessee where he will be prosecuted by the 15th Judicial District Attorney Jason Lawson’s office for the theft of property that occurred in Lebanon.
Source: Lebanon Police
