Jasper County Man Guilty of Distributing Cocaine

Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs

  BEAUMONT, Texas – A 28-year-old Jasper, Texas man has pleaded guilty to federal drug violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M. Bales today.

                Shane Dwayne Hadnot pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute cocaine today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith F. Giblin.

According to information presented in court, on Nov. 7, 2013, Alfred Wright, of Jasper, Texas, was reported missing by his family after his truck broke down in rural Sabine County, Texas.  Articles of Wright’s clothing were found on private land, approximately a mile from where Wright was last seen.  After searchers initially failed to locate Wright, his body was found on Nov. 25, 2013 in brush near where his clothing had been found.  An investigation into the cause of Wright’s disappearance and death revealed his involvement with Shane Hadnot.  Phone records, witness statements, and drug evidence located during the search of Shane Hadnot’s car, indicated that Hadnot was selling cocaine to Alfred Wright.

                During the two-day period before Wright’s death, Hadnot and Wright exchanged 20 text messages.  The indictment alleges that on Nov. 7, 2013, Wright sent a text message to Hadnot at 12:36 pm requesting to purchase cocaine and other illegal narcotics from Hadnot.  Wright went missing approximately five hours later.  An autopsy was performed on Wright’s body and toxicology testing revealed that Wright’s blood contained cocaine, methamphetamine and Xanax.  The final autopsy report, and other experts in the fields of pathology, toxicology, and anthropology concluded that Wright’s cause of death was an accident due to combined drug intoxication.  Hadnot was indicted by a federal grand jury on Aug. 6, 2014 and charged with drug trafficking violations.

                “Today’s guilty plea signals that this investigation has reached a significant point of closure,” said U.S. Attorney Bales.  “Shane Hadnot is being held accountable for his criminality and the associated factual context for Hadnot’s plea provides the truth for why Alfred Wright lost his life in the Sabine County woods.  Of course, today’s court activity will provide little solace for Mr. Wright’s family who lost a husband, father, brother and son.  Can anyone doubt that the distribution and use of illegal narcotics is a cancer in American society?  On behalf of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Texas Rangers, DEA and FBI, I again express our sorrow and our condolences to those who loved Alfred Wright.  I also want to commend the Rangers, the agents and the officers who worked countless hours to determine what happened and who should be held accountable – they have done their duty and I am honored to be associated with this team.”

                Hadnot faces up to 20 years in federal prison at sentencing.  A sentencing date has not been set.

This case is being investigated by the Texas Rangers, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Brit Featherston and John B. Ross.