Meth Conspiracy Lands Three in Federal Prison

VICTORIA, Texas - The final defendant in a three-defendant methamphetamine conspiracy has been ordered to federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney Kenneth Magidson.

Michael Gregory Oertli, 40, of Brookshire, pleaded guilty in November 2014 to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Today, Senior U.S. District Judge John D. Rainey sentenced Oertli to 70 months imprisonment to be followed by four years of supervised release.

Howard Gene Hicks, 46, and Kathrine Dovey Sexton, 38, both of Port Lavaca, also pleaded guilty in November 2014 to the same charge. Judge Rainey ordered Sexton to serve 63 months imprisonment, while Hicks will serve a 60-month-term. Both sentences will also be followed by four years of supervised release.

The defendants would travel to Sexton’s source of supply in Houston and then distribute the drugs in the Victoria/Port Lavaca area. Hicks and Oertli were charged following a traffic stop in which they were found in possession of methamphetamine. The investigation later led to the identification of Sexton and the discovery that the group would travel to Houston several times a week and return with approximately two ounces of methamphetamine on each occasion.

All have been in custody since their arrests, where they remain pending transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility to be designated in the near future.

The charges stem from an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, Victoria Police Department and Texas Department of Public Safety.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lance Watt.