United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

THREE MORE NORTH TEXAS RESIDENTS
RECEIVE LENGTHY FEDERAL PRISON SENTENCES
IN METHAMPHETAMINE TRAFFICKING CONSPIRACY

FORT WORTH, Tx. — In federal court in Fort Worth on Friday, three individuals, who were part of a massive methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, were sentenced by U.S. District Judge John McBryde, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas.

Teresa Smith, 45, of Abilene, Texas, was sentenced to 309 months (more than 25 years) in federal prison. She pled guilty in May to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

Daniel Hall, 29, of Fort Worth, and Franklin Pearce, 54, of Garland, Texas, each pled guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Hall was sentenced to 262 months (more than 21 years) in federal prison and Pearce was sentenced to 125 months (more than 10 years) in federal prison.

The ringleader of the conspiracy, Riland Dale Martin, 53, of Arlington, Texas, was sentenced in June to 240 months (20 years) in prison. Another member of the conspiracy, Gracie Walker, 49, of Granbury, Texas, was sentenced last month to 290 months (more than 24 years) in federal prison, and yet another member of the conspiracy, Rebecca Jackson, 48, of Dallas, was also sentenced last month to 360 months (30 years) in federal prison. Defendant Lynn Smirl’s husband, Rick Smirl, 56, also of Wichita Falls, Texas, was sentenced to 216 months (18 years) in prison.

A total of 17 defendants were charged in the nine-count superseding indictment which was returned by a federal grand jury in Fort Worth in February. Each of the defendants pled guilty to one count — either conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance or possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Sixteen of the 17 defendants have been sentenced. The one remaining defendant in the case, Byron Chrisenberry, of Fort Worth, is scheduled to be sentenced this Friday, August 31, 2007. He pled guilty in May to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

1 According to documents filed in Court, beginning in January 2006 and continuing until in or around December 2006, Riland Dale Martin conspired with Jerry Wayne Blanton, Jeremy Michael Hays, Rebecca Jackson, Melanie English, Teresa Smitherman, Gracie Walker, Franklin Pearce, Daniel Hall, Rebecca Ramos, Michael Shanowat, Teresa Smith, Vicki Robertson, Byron Chrisenberry, Rick Smirl, Lynn Smirl, and Roberto Perez, and agreed to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Camille Sparks.

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