Chattanooga Man Convicted of Trafficking Fentanyl in Catoosa County: District Attorney Promises to Keep ‘Tennessee Trash’ Behind Bars

October 6th, 2025 – On September 29, 2025, a Catoosa County jury convicted Ladarius Nollie, a 35-year-old resident of Chattanooga, of trafficking fentanyl in Catoosa County. The one-day trial was held before Chief Superior Court Judge Brian House.

On January 8, 2025, Catoosa County Detectives Zach Roden and Chris Lyons responded to an anonymous tip that Nollie was at the Econo Lodge motel in Fort Oglethorpe and had active warrants through Walker and Hamilton Counties. Detectives located Nollie inside a motel room with two women—a mother and her adult daughter.

Upon entering to arrest Nollie on his outstanding warrants, detectives observed methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia in plain view. A further search of the room revealed a large bag of powdered fentanyl hidden under the mattress, weighing just under 10 grams.

Evidence at trial established that Nollie had rented the motel room and brought the drugs himself. Testimony further showed that Nollie provided the narcotics to the mother and adult daughter in exchange for sexual acts. Video evidence played for the jury captured Nollie asking one of the women whether she thought the detectives would search under the bed and then remarking: “they ain’t going to find it.”

The case was investigated by Detectives Roden and Lyons of the Catoosa County Sheriff’s Office. The trial was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney David Wolfe, with support from Victim Witness Advocate Ashley Nicholson and District Attorney’s Investigator Christy Smith.

On September 29th, the jury returned a guilty verdict. Judge House immediately proceeded to sentencing and ordered Nollie to serve five years in prison, followed by 25 years of probation.

District Attorney Clayton M. Fuller praised the coordinated effort that brought the case to justice: “This verdict was delivered because of the strength and dedication of our law enforcement and our trial team. I want to thank Assistant District Attorney David Wolfe and his team for standing strong in the courtroom, and Sheriff Gary Sisk and his team for their tireless work to keep Catoosa County safe from fentanyl. This defendant not only trafficked poison into our community, he preyed on vulnerable women. We asked for a stiffer sentence, but that’s okay—because if you think crossing the state line to traffic fentanyl here is a free pass, think again. Stay in Tennessee. Tennessee Trash who brings their poison to Catoosa County will get an all-expenses-paid trip to one of Georgia’s finest institutional resorts — behind bars. That’s my promise to the people of this circuit and the Chattanooga region.”