Published: August 28, 2018

A MAURY COUNTY MAN FACES FEDERAL CHARGES AFTER ARRANGING TO PURCHASE A FIREARM FROM AN UNDERCOVER OFFICER.  ACCORDING TO A PRESS RELEASE, JACOB MICHAEL GOETHE, 26, OF COLUMBIA, WAS ARRESTED FRIDAY AFTER A MULTI AGENCY INVESTIGATION BY THE ATF; THE MAURY COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT; THE 17TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT DRUG TASK FORCE; THE 22ND JUDICIAL DISTRICT DRUG TASK FORCE; AND THE TENNESSEE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION.  GOETHE HAD BEEN THE TARGET OF A DRUG TRAFFICKING INVESTIGATION IN MAURY COUNTY AND HAS SOLD HEROIN TO AN UNDERCOVER OFFICER ON PRIOR OCCASIONS.  AT THE CONCLUSION OF ONE DRUG TRANSACTION, HE ALLEGEDLY ASKED THE OFFICER IF HE COULD GET HIM A PISTOL.  ON WEDNESDAY, GOETHE TEXTED THE OFFICER AND ARRANGED TO PURCHASE A HANDGUN BY NEGOTIATING A TRADE FOR APPROXIMATELY 3.5 GRAMS OF HEROIN.  ON FRIDAY A-T-F AGENTS MADE A CONTROLLED EXCHANGE AND GOETHE WAS IMMEDIATELY TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.  IF CONVICTED, GOETHE FACES UP TO 20 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON.