United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

ELLIS COUNTY, TEXAS, MEN SENTENCED TO LENGTHY
PRISON TERMS IN METHAMPHETAMINE DISTRIBUTION CASE

DALLAS — Two Ellis County, Texas, men who were charged with distributing methamphetamine, have been sentenced, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Today, U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay sentenced John Arredondo to 216 months (18 years) in prison. Last week, in a related case, U.S. District Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn sentenced Lee Roy Chaney to 132 months (11 years) in prison. Both Arredondo, 32, and Chaney, 33, are from Ellis County, Texas, and were part of a nine-month investigation that culminated last January when the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Mobile Enforcement Team (MET), assisted by local and state authorities from the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office and the Waxahachie Police Department worked undercover to arrest numerous major drug distributors in the Ellis County area.

John Arredondo was the lead defendant in the federal indictment that charged him and eight co-conspirators with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of a controlled substance. He pled guilty in April to the conspiracy charge. All of Arredondo’s co-defendants have pled guilty and have been sentenced, or are awaiting sentencing. Co-defendant Angel Rodriguez also received a lengthy sentence, having been sentenced in July by Judge Lindsay to 135 months (more than 11 years) in prison. Lee Roy Chaney was convicted at trial in July on two counts of distribution of methamphetamine and aiding and abetting.

Arredondo admitted that beginning in April 2006, he and his co-conspirators were involved in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine to other members of the conspiracy for further distribution in Ellis County and elsewhere. Arredondo admitted he sold methamphetamine to customers including individuals he later learned were undercover agents or confidential informants. On one occasion, when returning to Ellis County after going to Dallas to pick up a half pound of methamphetamine from his supplier, law enforcement officers observed him commit a traffic violation and attempted to stop him. Arredondo did pull over to the side of the road, but sped away as one of the officers walked toward his vehicle. During the ensuing pursuit, Arredondo threw the methamphetamine out of the window of his vehicle.

1 At Chaney’s trial, the government presented evidence that on April 12, 2006, Chaney, aided and abetted by other persons, distributed methamphetamine to a confidential source. Later that same month, Chaney, aided and abetted by other persons, negotiated the sale of a quarter-pound of methamphetamine to a confidential source in exchange for $3000.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the DEA, the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, and the Waxahachie and Ennis, Texas, Police Departments. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kim McCabe.

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