News from DEA, Domestic Field Divisions, Dallas News Releases, 06/29/04

News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 29, 2004
CONTACT: Davilyn Brackin, (409) 839-2538

Methbusters makes District-Wide Sweep

Matthew D.Orwig, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas announced indictments and arrests across East Texas, one day after the public announcement of METHBUSTERS. This aggressive initiative was implemented to address the growing problem of methamphetamine in East Texas. Methbusters will attack the methamphetamine scourge as the United States Attorney’s Office teams with law enforcement to prosecute wholesale distributors of chemicals, methamphetamine cooks and dealers. Wholesale distributors of chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine will be closely monitored to ensure they follow DEA requirements in distributing pseudoephedrine. Additionally, there will be a strong emphasis on prosecuting methamphetamine cooks and dealers. U.S. Attorney Orwig said, “Methamphetamine is destroying lives. This office is committed to disrupting the supply of this deadly drug. Those who supply chemicals, cook or distribute methamphetamine in this district, will go to federal prison.”

As part of the Methbusters initiative, the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Texas announced today that forty-two defendants had been indicted on federal charges related to methamphetamine manufacture and distribution.Two defendants were arrested by complaint for a total of forty-four defendants. There were nine indictments returned by United States Grand Juries sitting in Sherman, Tyler and Beaumont. Nineteen defendants were indicted in three indictments in the Sherman Division. In one indictment, the following twelve people from Paris, Texas were indicted in a twelve count indictment alleging Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Listed Chemicals and Possession of a Firearm by an Unlawful User of a Controlled Substance: Richard Raymond Dixon, 31; Julia May Dawes, 45; Shane Ray Doescher,38; Toney Joe Freelen, 39; James Stacy Hughes, 30; Tina George Morales, 31; Tom Franklin Morris, 34; Steven Wayne Payne, 39; Steven Dale shumaker, 35; Toby Jack Tidwell, 34; Rex Levon Wilkins, 24; and Jay Armstrong, 39. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Paris Police Department,Narcotics Section, is investigating the case. Assistant U.S.Attorney Ernest Gonzalez is prosecuting the case.

In a second Sherman Division indictment, the following fourteen people were indicted Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Marijuana:Michael James Holland, 57 of Plano;Sergio Orlando Solis, 25 of Dallas; Randall Thomas Clark, 54 of Dallas; Samuel Carney, 44 of El Paso; Ginger Lynn Egan, 45 of Plano; Steve Martin, 53 of Mt Pleasant; Jesus Rayle Espinoza, age unknown of the Dallas area; Mario Rosales, age unknown of the Dallas area; Larry Benson Sparks, 56 of Irving; Tom White, 49 of Dallas; Raul Cruz Lopez, age unknown of the Dallas area; Christopher Bethany, 32 of The Colony; and Ashleigh Brooke Pelt, 36 of Dallas. This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Allen Police Department, Dallas Police Department, Collin County Sheriff's Office, and Red River Task Force.Assistant U.S. Attorney Heather Rattan is prosecuting the case. In a third Sherman Division indictment, the following four people were indicted for Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine and Marijuana: Miguel Angel Nava,19 of Dallas; Robert Leroy Benavidez, 34 of Dallas; Jaime Luiz Cantu, 39 of Rowlett; Garold Trace Arnold,III, 38 of Justin. Miguel Angel Nava was also charged with Use of a Firearm During a Drug Trafficking Crime.

This case is being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Denton Police Department and Plano Police Department. Assistant U.S.Attorney Maureen Smith is prosecuting the case. In the Beaumont Division,six defendants were indicted in three indictments. In the first indictment, Michael Glenn Keene, 48, and Gordon Dale Bryan, 42, both of Lufkin, were indicted on charges of Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine. This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, The Texas Department of Public Safety and the Lufkin Police Department. Special Assistant U.S.Attorney Lisa Flournoy is prosecuting the case. In a second indictment, Bobby Gene Pevehouse, 30 and Ashley Cole Pevehouse, 20, both of Moss Hill, on "The Promised Land" premises were indicted on charges of Conspiracy to Manufacture and Attempt to Manufacture Methamphetamine.This case is being investigated by the Liberty/Chambers County Narcotics Task Force.Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Englade is prosecuting the case.

In a third Beaumont Division indictment, Thomas Eric Gillespie, 36, and Rebecca L.Dixson, 37, addresses unknown, were indicted for Conspiracy to Possess a Listed Chemical, Pseudoephedrine with the Intent to Manufacture Methamphetamine. This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Beaumont Police Department.Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Englade is prosecuting the case. In Tyler, three defendants were indicted in three indictments. Two defendants were charged by complaint.The first indictment out of the Tyler Division charges Paula Mitchell, 27 of Avery, Bowie County, Texas with Distribution of Methamphetamine. This case is being investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety.Assistant U.S.Attorney Barry Bryant is prosecuting the case. In a second Tyler indictment, Michael Paul MacMillan, age 33 of Hillsboro, Texas was charged in an eleven count indictment with Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Possession of a Firearm by an Unlawful User of Controlled Substance, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Possession of a Machine-gun and Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number.

This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Dogwood Trails Narcotics Task Force. Assistant U.S.Attorney Alan Jackson is prosecuting this case. In a third Tyler indictment, Melody Lynn Quick, 29 of Anderson County, Texas was indicted for Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute and Conspiracy to Possess with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol,Tobacco,Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S.Attorney Alan Jackson is prosecuting this case. In a fourth Tyler case, Justin Pickett, 25, and Amber Pickard, 20, of Smith County, Texas,were arrested pursuant to a federal complaint on charges of Conspiracy to Possess with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm in Relation to the Drug Trafficking Crime. Pickett was also charged with Felon in Possession of a Firearm. This case is being investigated by the Tyler Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Baldwin is prosecuting this case. Assistant U.S.Attorney Maureen Smith leads the Methbusters' initiative under the direction of United States Attorney Matthew D.Orwig.