United States Attorney James T. Jacks
Northern District of Texas

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2010
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/

EIGHT IN CUSTODY FOR ALLEGEDLY
RUNNING HEROIN TRAFFICKING CONSPIRACY

Defendants Face Up to Life in Prison if Convicted

DALLAS — A total of eight defendants, charged in a federal indictment with operating a heroin trafficking conspiracy, are in custody following arrests made on Friday by officers with the Dallas Police Department, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. All will appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stickney beginning this afternoon.

During the execution of the arrest and search warrants officers seized several firearms, including a machine gun, and large quantities of cash, heroin and methamphetamine.

The indictment alleges that the defendants began running their drug distribution conspiracy in May 2008. The following defendants, all Dallas residents, are charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with the intent to distribute heroin:

Sylvia Anderson, 56
Jose Aveja, 22
Sonda Eaton, 36
Tracy Johnson, 48
Torrence Key, 38
Phil Kise, 36
Valentin Morillos, 31
Johnnie Myers, 55
Randy Shelton, 41
James Strange, 52
Gregory Washington, 54
Hugh Washington, 36
Marcus Washington, 38

All of the above are in custody, with the exception of Sonda Eaton, Tracy Johnson, Torrence Key and Hugh Washington.

Defendants Kise and Key are also charged with using a residence on Hatcher Street to manufacture and distribute heroin and cocaine.

Defendant Anderson and Myers are also charged with using a residence on Jamaica Street in Dallas to manufacture and distribute heroin.

Defendant Key is also charged with carrying a firearm during and in relation to and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and defendant Kise is charged with one count of felon in possession of a firearm.

An indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. However, each defendant faces a sentence of up to 20 years in prison on the heroin conspiracy charge.

The case is being investigated by the Dallas Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gary Tromblay is in charge of the prosecution.

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