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Eastern District of Texas
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| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CONTACT: DAVILYN WALSTON | |
| WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 2010 | PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER | |
| http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txe | CELL: (409) 553-9881 DIRECT: (409) 981-7902 |
FOUR SENTENCED IN LONGVIEW METH RING
TYLER, Texas – U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced today that four defendants have been sentenced to federal prison for federal drug violations in the Eastern District of Texas. The sentencing hearings were held today before U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Davis.
MARK LINDSEY OWENS, 35, of Longview, pleaded guilty on Nov. 3, 2009, to possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison today. Owens was also assessed a $50,000 forfeiture judgment.
CASEY GENE WAITES, 30, of Overton, pleaded guilty on Nov. 5, 2009, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 78 months in federal prison today. Waites was also assessed a $25,000 forfeiture judgment.
LOIS ALLEN WATSON, 35, of Tyler, pleaded guilty on Sep. 30, 2009, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison today. Watson was also assessed a $5,000 forfeiture judgment.
JAMIE CHRISTINE BATEY, 26, of Tyler, pleaded guilty on Nov. 28, 2009, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison today. Batey was also assessed a $5,000 forfeiture judgment.
According to information presented in court, since February 2004, the defendants were involved in a drug conspiracy ring distributing methamphetamine to others in the Longview, Texas area. A federal grand jury returned a 17-count indictment on Feb. 4, 2009, charging 19 individuals with federal drug trafficking crimes.
This case was investigated by the ATF, FBI, the East Texas HIDTA Violent Crimes Task Force, the Gregg County CODE Unit, the Gregg County Sheriff's Office, the Longview Police Department, the Gregg County District Attorney's Office, and the Kilgore Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard L. Moore.
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