United States Attorney
Northern District of Texas

1100 Commerce St., 3rd Fl.
Dallas, Texas 75242-1699

Telephone (214) 659-8600
Fax (214) 767-0978

FORMER BROWNWOOD POLICE OFFICER
SENTENCED TO NEARLY SIX YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE,
FOLLOWING DRUG CONSPIRACY CONVICTION

A former officer with the Brownwood Police Department was sentenced today in federal court in Lubbock, Texas, on drug conspiracy charges, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper, of the Northern District of Texas. Britt Brownlee, 29, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to 71 months in prison. Brownlee pled guilty in November to a superseding information charging one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Brownlee has been in federal custody since his arrest on July 30, 2006.

Brownlee, along with five co-defendants, was originally indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2006 on a drug conspiracy charge. Three of his co-defendants have pled guilty and one is set for trial. Co-defendants Adrian Chapa and Rene Carrasco pled guilty and were sentenced to 57 months and 71 months, respectively. Co-defendant Dewayne Elias Lopez pled guilty earlier this month and is awaiting sentencing. Co-defendant Armando Ruiz is awaiting trial.

Brownlee pled guilty to a superseding information admitting that beginning in 2003, he and his co-conspirators, as well as others, conspired together to acquire quantities of methamphetamine. Some of these conspirators would acquire large quantities of methamphetamine for distribution to other member of the drug trafficking conspiracy. The conspirators would package, store, distribute and possess with intent to distribute the methamphetamine. Proceeds from the sale of the drugs would then be used to purchase more drugs for further distribution and to pay their drug/money couriers.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Brown County Sheriff’s Department, the Brownwood Police Department, and the West Central Texas Interlocal Crime Task Force. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tanya Pierce and Jeffrey Haag, of the Lubbock, Texas, U.S. Attorney’s Office.

###