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Press Release

Gregg County Man Sentenced For Dealing Methamphetamine

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Texas

Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs

            TYLER, Texas – A 49-year-old Kilgore, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.

           Brett Bates pleaded guilty on Mar. 14, 2012, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis.

            According to information presented in court, up until May 27, 2011, Bates conspired with other individuals to acquire and distribute methamphetamine in the Gregg County area of East Texas.  Bates admitted to being responsible for the distribution of more than 150 grams of methamphetamine during this time.  Bates was named in a federal indictment returned by a grand jury on Nov. 2, 2011. 

            Five of Bates’ co-defendants have also been sentenced.  Terri Rhea Young received a sentence of 24 months in federal prison on July 23, 1012.  David Christopher Wheeler and Raelene Dawn Ferguson were each sentenced to 46 months in federal prison on July 20, 2012.  Matthew Dean Willis was sentenced to 15 months in federal prison on June 12, 2012.  Harold Burgess Dickens received a 210 month sentence on Jan. 10, 2013.    

            This case was investigated by the DEA, Rusk County Sheriff’s Office and Kilgore Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Baldwin.

Updated March 12, 2015