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

“OPERATION CRAZYWATER” DEFENDANTS SENTENCED
FOR RUNNING PCP, ECSTACY AND MARIJUANA DISTRIBUTION CONSPIRACY
NEAR A DALLAS MIDDLE SCHOOL

DALLAS — Several defendants in the “Operation Crazywater” investigation that targeted a large-scale drug distribution conspiracy operating at multiple locations, including a residence near a Dallas public middle school, have been sentenced, announced acting U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Gallon-sized quantities of phencyclidine (PCP, a/k/a “crazywater”) and multi-pound quantities of marijuana were distributed by the organization on a monthly basis. The PCP originated in California and was shipped to Dallas via commercial shipping companies.

The leader of the organization, Ricky Gyrone Williams, 38, was sentenced on January 26, 2009, by U.S. District Judge David C. Godbey, to nearly 20 years, (235 months) in federal prison. In November, co-defendant Barron Keith Fields, a/k/a “Twin,” was sentenced to 102 months by Judge Godbey. All 16 defendants named in the multi-count indictment have pled guilty.

Williams admitted that beginning in February 2007, he and others agreed to and engaged in the distribution of PCP and marijuana, and that on numerous occasions he received multi-ounce quantities of PCP and multi-pound quantities of marijuana from his supply sources and distributed the drugs to numerous customers from his residence located on Greencrest Drive in South Dallas. Williams’ residence was located within 1000 feet of Maynard Jackson Middle School. Barron Keith Fields admitted that on numerous occasions he delivered marijuana to the residence on Greencrest Drive.

Today, Judge Godbey sentenced three other defendants involved in the conspiracy. Claude Dale Harris, 58, and Chakedra Johnson, 35, were each sentenced to five years in federal prison, without parole. Harris admitted that he frequently went to the house on Greencrest and packaged quantities of marijuana so that it could be sold, and assisted Williams in distributing it to individual customers from the house. Johnson, who pled guilty to distribution of a controlled substance, admitted that she distributed approximately 140 grams of PCP to an individual she later learned was an undercover Dallas police officer. Shawn Joseph McKenzie, 37, admitted that on multiple occasions from September 2007 until the time of his arrest, he provided multi-unit quantities of 3,4 methylenedioxy methamphetamine (MDMA) (ecstacy) to individuals at the residence on Greencrest Drive.

Acting U.S. Attorney Jacks praised the excellent investigative efforts of the Dallas Police Department’s Narcotics Unit that headed this nine-month investigation, as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Calvert is the prosecutor.

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