13 arrested unloading Memphis chicken shipment allegedly stolen for drug debt

On September 15, 2026, Memphis Safe Task Force officers went to a hotel parking lot in the 3800 block of Lamar Avenue to execute an aggravated-robbery warrant for Javunte Johnson. They found Johnson and 12 others unloading pallets of chicken from an 18-wheeler. The group ran when police appeared, but all 13 were arrested and three handguns were recovered. Johnson, 33, was charged with possession of a firearm and theft of property $60,000-$250,000 and held on $280,000 bond. Semi-truck driver Robert Wilson told police he traded the load to settle a drug debt owed to one of the arrested men. Quantrivious Shavers, 25, and Jessie Moore, 37, were charged with felon in possession and held on $100,000 and $200,000 bonds. Identities and charges for the other 10 were not released. Outlets disagreed on the shipment value: KLRT, WHBQ and WMC reported $250,000 while WATN reported $110,000. Those named are set to appear in court Thursday morning.