CHATTANOOGA, TN — A Chattanooga convenience store owner and several employees face criminal charges after investigators say a search uncovered drugs, guns, cash, gambling machines and EBT-related violations at the store and a nearby restaurant on Grove Street. Authorities say the case grew out of a multi-agency investigation that led to arrests on Aug. 14.

The Facts

• What: Authorities say a search turned up drugs, firearms, cash, gambling machines and EBT-related issues tied to a convenience store and adjacent restaurant.
• Where: One Stop Shop on Grove Street and the neighboring West Side Fish and Chicken in Chattanooga.
• When: The search warrant was served Aug. 14 at about 11:45 a.m.
• Who: Store owner Mohamed Selah and employees identified as Chartavius Kellogg and Latrice Dowdy were among those charged; Darrien Boseman and Taion Jackson were also detained.
• Charges: Drug offenses, possession of paraphernalia, drug-free school zone counts, firearm offenses, gambling charges and conspiracy. Dowdy and Kellogg also face conspiracy counts.
• Status: Selah and the others were booked into the Hamilton County Jail after the search.

What police say

An arrest report says Chattanooga Housing Authority investigators, Chattanooga police officers and ATF agents were serving a warrant at the store when they detained Selah shortly after arriving. Officers then searched the business, the neighboring property and Selah’s car, according to the report.

Investigators said they found a loaded Smith & Wesson revolver, a loaded Ruger pistol, more than $2,265 in cash, Percocet pills, a pressed fentanyl pill and EBT cards that were not registered to Selah. The report also says the store and restaurant sit in school zones near a daycare center and a preschool.

Police say the nearby restaurant contained illegal gambling machines and card readers. Investigators also said they recovered marijuana, fentanyl powder, amphetamine pills, additional Percocet and pressed fentanyl pills from the store area and the restaurant, along with a combined $4,507.78 in cash.

According to the arrest report, Selah admitted he knew the gambling machines were considered lottery fraud and said his EBT acceptance license had expired in 2019.

The investigation

The case appears to have started as a drug investigation focused on three main targets at the store, including Selah, according to the arrest report. Once officers executed the warrant, they expanded the search to the adjacent property after seeing signs of gambling activity there.

In cases like this, investigators typically use search warrants to secure the scene, separate people present, document evidence and photograph or collect suspected drugs, money, weapons and machine components. That evidence can later be tested, counted and matched to statements in the arrest paperwork.

The report does not mention any outstanding suspect, and it does not list a public tip line. It does show that multiple agencies were involved, which often means police are coordinating findings from different parts of the operation before the case moves further.

What the charges mean

The drug-related counts generally accuse a person of keeping illegal drugs for sale rather than just personal use. When prosecutors add a drug-free school zone allegation, they are saying the offense happened within a protected area such as near a daycare or school, which can increase penalties under Tennessee law.

Firearm charges can apply when a gun is alleged to have been carried during the commission of a felony or kept with the intent to be armed. Gambling promotion and possession of gambling devices are separate accusations that typically focus on running or helping operate an illegal betting setup.

Criminal conspiracy charges usually mean investigators believe two or more people agreed to take part in unlawful conduct. At this stage, the charges are accusations, and the state must prove them in court.

What happens next

After booking, cases like this typically move to a magistrate, general sessions court or criminal court, where bond, arraignment and later hearings are handled. Prosecutors then decide how to proceed on each count and whether to present the case to a grand jury if needed.

Defendants may enter pleas later, and evidence gathered during the search can become central to negotiations or a trial. Until then, the charges remain allegations, and each defendant is presumed innocent unless and until a court says otherwise.

Have information on a crime? Contact local police or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).