A 41-year old Texas man received a 142-month sentence in federal prison for drug trafficking. News or the arrest and subsequent sentencing came from the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas.
The man pleaded guilty to violating criminal law by conspiring to possess and distribute methamphetamine. The guilty plea became official in January 2020, and nine months passed before the judge decided on a sentence in October. An order for the defendant to pay $8,000 is also part of the judgment.
The arrest and sentencing
The evidence produced against the man in court included an account of the actions of a co-conspirator who sold more than 10 grams of methamphetamine to an undercover officer executing a controlled buy. The methamphetamine sold by the co-conspirator was part of a stash kept at a residence the two men shared. Investigators say the defendant had full knowledge of the sale. Less than a month after the controlled buy, law enforcement officers found 135 grams of meth in a home the defendant owned in Van Zandt County. Authorities determined that the possession was to facilitate distribution.
The defendant pleaded guilty to his role in a 20-month drug operation in which he and others distributed meth to customers across Texas. The man also confessed to being personally responsible for the distribution of half a kilogram of methamphetamine before being caught by police.
The investigation that led to the man’s arrest was a joint operation between the Sheriff’s Office of Van Zandt County and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.
Prosecutors and judges are often hard on individuals who are suspected of dealing methamphetamine. Individuals facing these accusations will need a strong defense to minimize their exposure to potential punishments. Involving a criminal defense attorney as early in the process as possible is likely the best option for individuals facing serious drug charges.