United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

THREE OPERATION “FISH BOWL” DEFENDANTS SENTENCED
TO LENGTHY FEDERAL PRISON SENTENCES

FORT WORTH, Texas — Three defendants who were convicted at trial in July for their role in a crack cocaine distribution organization in the “Fish Bowl” area of Fort Worth, were sentenced today to substantial prison sentences, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas.

U.S. District Judge Terry R. Means sentenced Detroit Hines, a/k/a “Li’l Nut,” 28, to life plus five years in prison. He was convicted on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine, two counts of distribution of crack cocaine and three firearms offenses.

Louis E. Moody, Jr., a/k/a “Youngsta,” 33, and Derrick Woodard, a/k/a “Li’l Millet,” 27, were each sentenced to 240 months (20 years) in prison. Moody was convicted on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine and one count of distribution of crack cocaine. Woodard was convicted of one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine.

The Fish Bowl Initiative, was a joint investigation between the Fort Worth Police Department and the FBI that began in Spring 2005. The investigation focused on a well-organized, hierarchical, crack and powder cocaine distribution network of various sets of the Crips Street Gang, who operated in an area of southeast Fort Worth, commonly known as the “Fish Bowl.” Some members of these sets committed numerous violent offenses in Fort Worth including homicides, aggravated assaults and drive-by shootings.

On May 9, 2006, 38 Crips Street Gang members and associates connected with the drug trafficking operations in the Fish Bowl were indicted on federal crack and powder cocaine distribution charges. Subsequently three additional gang members were indicted on drug and gun charges. All but one defendant has been sentenced, with an average sentence of more than 15 years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the excellent cooperative investigative work of the Fort Worth Police Department and the FBI’s gang unit. These defendants were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney J. Michael Worley.

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