Police went to a Memphis hotel looking for a man wanted on an aggravated robbery warrant. Behind the building, officers found people unloading boxes from a semi-trailer carrying a chicken shipment that Memphis police later told FreightWaves was worth approximately $110,000.
The truck’s driver, Robert Wilson, 56, told officers he had agreed to turn over the load to settle a drug debt, according to court affidavits reviewed by FreightWaves.
The refrigerated Koch Foods shipment was supposed to travel from Morton, Mississippi, to Swedesboro, New Jersey. The publication reported that Wilson was transporting it as an independent contractor operating under Armada Freight’s authority.
Memphis police named Wilson among 12 people arrested during the September 15 operation. The department announced charges against him of theft of property in the $60,000 to $250,000 category and evading arrest in a vehicle.
A Robbery Warrant Brought Officers to the Hotel
The Fugitive Unit arrived at the Economy Inn, 3896 Lamar Avenue, at about 9 a.m. after receiving information that Javunte Johnson, 33, was there. Police said officers located him behind the hotel and took him into custody on the aggravated robbery warrant.
While at the property, officers noticed approximately a dozen people removing boxes from the semi-trailer. Detectives investigated and determined that the merchandise was stolen, according to the department’s announcement.
The Memphis Safe Task Force also participated. The U.S. Marshals said members of the group fled when officers arrived but were caught. Three handguns were recovered, and Memphis police also reported finding fentanyl and cocaine.
Chicken Was Found in Three Other Vehicles
According to FreightWaves’ review of the affidavits, Wilson described the person he owed as a man wearing an orange shirt who drove a blue SUV. Police recovered 30 cases of frozen chicken from that vehicle. Detectives found Wilson inside the truck, the publication reported.
Marcellous McKinney attempted to leave the parking lot in a 2009 Nissan Armada, according to the same report. Detectives activated their lights and sirens, but he continued through the property before officers stopped him. They found 50 boxes of frozen chicken matching merchandise removed from Wilson’s trailer.
Another affidavit described a 2009 Cadillac DTS that Robert Dishmon told detectives belonged to him. A search produced 41 boxes matching the shipment, FreightWaves reported. The three vehicle searches accounted for 121 boxes or cases of chicken.
Armada Said It Recovered the Truck and Trailer
In a company response published by FreightWaves, Armada Freight said it owned the tractor and trailer and that Wilson had no permission to distribute the shipment. The carrier said the reported conduct violated its policies and the instructions for the delivery.
Armada said police alerted it after discovering its equipment at the hotel. It terminated Wilson’s contracting relationship after learning about the incident, recovered the truck and trailer, and disposed of the remaining cargo, according to the published response.
The company also said it filed a claim and contacted the shipment’s broker and its insurance provider. Armada described using GPS and electronic logging devices to monitor equipment and driver activity and said it would cooperate with law enforcement and other investigators upon request.
The Announced Charges Include Theft, Firearms and Drugs
Memphis police listed aggravated robbery, theft and possession of a handgun as a convicted felon among Johnson’s charges. Quantrivious Shavers faces theft, a convicted-felon handgun charge and a fentanyl offense. Samuel Jackson faces theft and a cocaine offense, while McKinney was charged with theft and evading arrest in a vehicle.
The Shelby County inmate record lists Wilson’s commitment date as September 15, 2026, and a $100,000 court-assessed bond. The entry identifies case number 26021966 and lists his next court date as October 1, 2026, at 9 a.m.
The two agencies published different totals for the operation. Memphis police named 12 defendants and reported recovering approximately $110,000 in stolen merchandise. The Marshals Service reported 13 arrests and valued the chicken at $250,000. FreightWaves subsequently reported that MPD confirmed the entire shipment was worth approximately $110,000.
Under Tennessee Code Section 39-14-105, theft involving property worth at least $60,000 but less than $250,000 is a Class B felony. Theft involving property worth $250,000 or more is a Class A felony.
Wilson and the other defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.