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Release [print
friendly page] Proprietor of Odessa's Wild West Comedy Club Pleads Guilty in Drug Trafficking Conspiracy Case FEB 06 -- United States Attorney Johnny Sutton announced that 37-year-old Miguel Cantu Garcia, also known as “Big Mike,” of Odessa, Texas, faces a mandatory life sentence in federal prison under the federal “three strikes” provision after pleading guilty earlier this week in Midland to one count of conspiracy to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Just prior to jury selection on Monday, Garcia entered his guilty plea admitting that he had conspired with numerous others to distribute methamphetamine. From early 2007 through much of 2008, Garcia arranged for the transportation of several pounds of methamphetamine per month from Arizona to Odessa where he and other individuals would distribute it in West Texas, primarily Odessa. Garcia’s co-defendant, 40-year-old Renee Fleming Williamson of Phoenix, Arizona, also pleaded guilty to the same charge on Monday. During her guilty plea, Williamson acknowledged that she was one of the individuals who transported multiple loads of methamphetamine from Arizona for Garcia. As a result, she faces between 10 years and life in federal prison. On August 8, 2008, a Corvette that Williamson had driven from Arizona was seized by DEA agents in Odessa. Inside the vehicle, authorities discovered one and a half pounds of methamphetamine contained in a hidden compartment. Subsequently, the drug seizure eventually led to the arrest of other conspirators who have pled guilty to the same drug offense and are awaiting sentencing. They include Fred Williamson Clark, 32, of Evansville, Indiana; John Ramon Johnston, 36, of Corpus Christi, Texas; Russell Alan Adcox, 27, of Phoenix, Arizona; and, Richard Stephen Ortiz, 38, of Odessa. Each faces between 10 years and life in federal prison. Garcia and Johnston owned and operated the Wild West Comedy Club of Odessa. Sentencings, before United States District Judge Robert A. Junell in Midland, are scheduled as follows: Russell Adcox on March 12, 2009; The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jeff Parras. ##### |
