Four Charged with Failure to Register as Sex Offenders

Memphis, TN – In April 2023, federal grand juries in Jackson and Memphis returned indictments 
against four convicted sex offenders for failure to register or maintain their registration when 
they moved to Tennessee, in violation of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act 
(SORNA). United States Attorney Kevin Ritz announced the indictments today.

According to United States Attorney Ritz and information presented in court, the following sex 
offenders failed to update their registration to reflect travel to the Western District of 
Tennessee (WDTN).

•  Terrell Chase Powell, 40, present in the WDTN from September 27 to December 15, 2022.
•  Edward Elbert Thompson, 75, present in the WDTN from January 2022 to March 2, 2023.
•  Jose Lozano, 45, present in the WDTN from November 29, 2021, to January 6, 2022; and
•  Lorenzo Mitchell, 41, present in the WDTN from October 29 to December 5, 2022

SORNA requires sex offenders to register and keep their registration current in each jurisdiction 
in which they reside, work, or go to school.

“Most convicted sex offenders who live and work in West Tennessee meet their registration 
requirements and are productive members of our communities. Compliance with SORNA holds convicted 
sex offenders accountable to law enforcement and helps to keep our communities safe. Failure to 
register is a serious offense, and my office will aggressively pursue those offenders who attempt 
to avoid their legal obligations when
st Tennessee,” said United States Attorney Kevin Ritz.

United States Marshal for the Western District of Tennessee Tyreece Miller said, “Congress directed 
the United States Marshals Service to locate absconded sex offenders through the Adam Walsh Child 
Protection and Safety Act in July 2006. Our office takes this responsibility seriously and is 
proactive in locating and arresting non-compliant sex offenders. These indictments are examples of 
our partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and commitment to protecting the citizens in the 
Western District of Tennessee.”

If convicted, each defendant faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and a 
period of supervised of five years to life. There is no parole in the federal system.

The case was investigated by the United States Marshals Service.

Members of the public are reminded that an indictment only contains charges. Each defendant is 
presumed innocent of the charges and it will be the government's burden to prove each defendant's 
guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Assistant United States Attorneys Adam Davis and Lauren Delery are prosecuting the case.

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For more information, please contact Public Information Officer Cherri Green at (901) 544-4231 or 
cherri.green@usoj.gov. Follow @WDTNNews on Twitter for office news and updates.
 

Department of Justice
Office of the U.S. Attorney
Western District of Tennessee

Source: Justice.gov