James T. Jacks
Acting United States Attorney
Northern District of Texas

FEDERAL JURY CONVICTS WICHITA COUNTY MAN
ON DRUG AND FIREARMS CHARGES

WICHITA FALLS, Texas — Following a two-day jury trial before U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor, a federal jury in Wichita Falls, Texas, convicted Larry Donnell Smith on all three counts of a superseding indictment that was returned by a federal grand jury in Dallas last month. This morning, the jury found Smith guilty of possession with intent to distribute cocaine base (crack cocaine), being a felon in possession of a firearm, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Smith, 26, of Electra, Texas, faces a maximum statutory sentence of 40 years in prison on Count One, 10 years on Count Two, and on Count Three, a mandatory five years in prison in addition to any other sentence imposed. He is scheduled to be sentenced by Judge O’Connor on August 21, 2009 in Wichita Falls.

The government presented evidence at trial that on October 30, 2008, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Smith’s residence on East Franklin Street in Electra. A search of the residence revealed a handgun, substances suspected to be cocaine base and methamphetamine, and digital scales. A further search of the residence revealed a second handgun, ammunition, additional substances suspected to be cocaine base, plastic baggies, $1486 in cash, and documents linking Smith to that address. The total amount of cocaine base found in the residence amounted to 43.95 grams.

The government presented further evidence that in August 2008, Smith was convicted of possessing methamphetamine and sentenced to 190 days in prison. In November 2000, he was twice convicted of manufacturing and delivery of a controlled substance and was sentenced to four years probation.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Wichita County District Attorney’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jennifer Tourje and Mary F. Walters are prosecuting the case.

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