NASHVILLE – Brandon Ostein, 40, of Nashville, Tennessee, was convicted by a federal jury of multiple drug trafficking and firearms offenses following a jury trial in Nashville, announced United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Braden H. Boucek.The jury found Ostein guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and five kilograms or more of cocaine; two counts involving the distribution of cocaine; possession with intent to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and five kilograms or more of cocaine; possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime; and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.According to the evidence presented at trial, Ostein operated a large-scale drug trafficking business from an apartment at 1200 Broadway in downtown Nashville. The apartment, served as Ostein’s central location for storing substantial quantities of cocaine and fentanyl, cash, firearms, and equipment used to prepare and package the drugs for distribution.The investigation began in April 2023 and involved controlled purchases of cocaine, physical surveillance, and video recordings. The investigation revealed Ostein’s distribution of cocaine and fentanyl in the Middle Tennessee area. The evidence presented at trial established that Ostein worked with another individual who sold smaller quantities of cocaine while Ostein supplied the cocaine and oversaw the operation. Ostein was also present during several of the cocaine transactions.On August 31, 2023, law enforcement executed a search warrant at the apartment at 1200 Broadway. Inside the apartment, investigators recovered approximately 35 pounds of cocaine, four pounds of fentanyl, $350,000 in cash, and two loaded firearms. Investigators also recovered equipment associated with drug trafficking, including a kilogram press, packaging materials, and other items used in preparing drugs for distribution.The evidence further established Ostein’s access to and control over the apartment through building access records, surveillance footage, and personal belongings recovered inside. Investigators also discovered a telescope positioned toward a nearby parking area, which was used to monitor cocaine deals.The jury convicted Ostein on all counts charged in the indictment. In a separate phase of the trial, the jury also determined that Ostein had qualifying prior felony drug convictions, including Davidson County convictions for possession of more than 300 grams of cocaine, supporting an enhanced statutory penalty.Ostein is set to be sentenced on January 21, 2027, and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of at least thirty years but up to life in prison. The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, and the Murfreesboro Police Department. Assistant United States Attorneys Juliet Aldridge and Dina A. Shabayek prosecuted the case.######
Source: U.S. Department of Justice