Final Defendant Convicted In Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracy Is Sentenced To Serve A Total Of 240 Months In Federal Prison

Defendant Convicted on Drug Conspiracy and Federal Firearm Charges

WICHITA FALLS, Texas — Darren Scott Murphy, 26, of Electra and Wichita Falls, Texas, was sentenced yesterday, by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor, following his guilty plea in July 2013 to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute methamphetamine and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.  Judge O’Connor sentenced Murphy to 240 months on the drug count and 120 months on the firearm count, to run concurrently.  Today’s announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

All seven defendants charged in the case pleaded guilty and all have been sentenced:

                       Anthony Rueben Johnston, 28, to 480 months in federal prison
                        Rachel Dawn Billen, 21, to 36 months
                        Louis Griego, Jr., 44, to 168 months
                        Janis Hernandez, 31, to 136 months
                        James Allen Holley, 34, to 142 months
                        Christina Gail Thompson, 32, to 42 months

According to documents filed in his case, Murphy admitted that on multiple occasions, from at least August 4, 2012 through February 21, 2013, he received multi-ounce quantities of methamphetamine from supply sources in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and elsewhere, and distributed it to numerous customers in the Electra and Wichita Falls, areas.

Murphy admitted that on the evening of December 2, 2011, when the vehicle he was driving was stopped on by officers with the Fort Worth Police Department, he ran when he exited the vehicle.  While being apprehended a short distance from the vehicle, Murphy yelled to the vehicle’s passenger, “Get the pistol!  Get the pistol!”  One of the officers located a silver revolver lying in the road beneath the driver’s side of the vehicle.

He further admitted that on August 4, 2012, in Clay County, Texas, deputies with the Clay County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop on a car in which he was the front-seat passenger.  He had approximately 81.6 grams of methamphetamine hidden in a fast food restaurant bag in the front seat.

He also admitted that on November 6, 2012, in Wise County, a trooper with the Texas Department of Public Safety initiated a traffic stop on a car driven by co-defendant Johnston in which Murphy was the front-seat passenger.  Law enforcement seized a small amount of methamphetamine and approximately $10,015 in cash.  Murphy further admitted that he attempted to obstruct the investigation of this crime.

In addition, Murphy admitted that he conspired with Johnston regarding the methamphetamine that law enforcement recovered during the execution of a state search warrant on February 14, 2013, at a residence in Wichita Falls shared by Johnston and co-defendant Billen.  Murphy admitted that he possessed that methamphetamine with the intent to distribute it.  Law enforcement also recovered handwritten notes inside the residence that identified customers who owed Murphy approximately $10,925 for methamphetamine purchases.

The Texas Department of Public Safety, the Wichita Falls Police Department, the Wichita County District Attorney’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary F. Walters prosecuted.