Eleven Knox County Sheriff’s Personnel Indicted in $330,000 Theft Conspiracy
Knox County Grand Jury indicts eleven sheriff’s office employees in massive theft scheme involving over $330,000 in misused funds and resources.
KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE — Eleven current and former Knox County Sheriff’s Office employees were indicted Wednesday on theft conspiracy charges following a joint investigation that uncovered more than $330,000 in alleged misuse of department funds and resources over nearly a decade.
The Knox County Grand Jury returned indictments against the defendants after reviewing evidence from a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and Federal Bureau of Investigation probe that began examining allegations of theft within the sheriff’s office Narcotics Unit and Special Investigations Unit.
Extensive Financial Misconduct Alleged
Investigators allege that numerous individuals used a Knox County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit credit card to purchase items for personal use between 2010 and 2018. The alleged purchases included electronics, hunting equipment, and home renovation materials totaling well over $300,000, according to the TBI.
More than $30,000 in cash seized during undercover drug investigations was allegedly spent on personal expenses. Agents also gathered evidence that individuals assigned to the Narcotics Unit and Special Investigations Unit performed personal tasks while on duty using county-owned vehicles and equipment.
Those personal activities included restoring classic cars, home renovations, and construction-related projects, investigators found.
Key Arrests and Charges
Eight of the eleven indicted individuals have been taken into custody and booked into the Knox County Jail as of Wednesday afternoon. Among those charged are Captain Aaron Yarnell and former Narcotics Unit Detective Curtis Nathan Cole.
Yarnell, born July 8, 1975, faces charges of criminal conspiracy to commit theft of property over $250,000, theft of property over $250,000, and theft of services over $60,000. His bond was set at $100,000.
Cole, born December 18, 1975, faces identical charges with the same $100,000 bond amount.
Investigation Origins and Process
The current state charges stem from a federal investigation launched in 2019 that centered around theft allegations involving nearly a dozen Knox County Sheriff’s Office personnel. Last year, TBI agents began working with the FBI to review evidence gathered during that federal probe.
In November 2025, TBI agents presented the FBI’s information to 6th Judicial District Attorney General Charme Allen, who recused herself from the case. Executive Director Stephen Crump of the Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference was appointed District Attorney General Pro Tem, with Brittany Lavalle and Shari Tayloe serving as Assistant District Attorneys General Pro Tem.
The investigation is one of the largest theft conspiracy cases involving law enforcement personnel in Knox County’s recent history. The charges highlight alleged systemic misuse of public resources within specialized units tasked with drug enforcement and investigations.
