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Press Release

Cherokee County Man Sentenced For Drug Trafficking In East Texas

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

Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs

BEAUMONT, Texas – A 44-year-old Alto, 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.

Kerry Wayne Griffin pleaded guilty on Aug. 29, 2012, to conspiracy to posses with intent to distribute over 15 kilograms or more of cocaine and was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Ron Clark.

                According to information presented in court, from 2008 to June 20, 2012, Donald Dixon, a.k.a. “Black”, Cedrick Fowler, a.k.a. “C” and “C-Murder”, Kerry Wayne Griffin, a.k.a. “Big Boy”, Omar Paunetto, Jose Angel Bustillos, Michael John Pereira, Rodney Stevenson, a.k.a. “Arod”, Darius Thorn, a.k.a. “Bs” and “Beez”, Tremaine Smith and Anthony Fowler conspired to traffic cocaine and crack cocaine throughout East Texas. 

                Griffin's role in the organization was to acquire powder cocaine from Dixon, and then redistribute the cocaine and cocaine base through others.  Griffin and Thacker first began obtaining cocaine from Dixon in 2008, and in 2009 Griffin became the source of supply for C. Fowler.  C. Fowler utilized the assistance of Stevenson, Thorn, A. Fowler, and Smith in the subsequent distribution of cocaine and cocaine base.  Federal agents learned of the drug trafficking activity and conducted an extensive investigation of Griffin and his associates.  On May 25, 2012, investigators executed an arrest and search warrant at Griffin’s residence and seized approximately $18,450 in cash as well as three firearms.

                On June 20, 2012, a federal grand jury returned a 10-count indictment charging 10 defendants, including Griffin, with drug trafficking violations. 

                This case is the result of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) joint investigation.  The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. 

                This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Nacogdoches Police Department, and the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Baylor Wortham.

Updated March 12, 2015