NDTX Round-Up: March 13-19

GUILTY PLEA – TRACY MIRANDA

On March 16, Tracy Miranda, 19, plead guilty to aiding and abetting foreign travel in aid of racketeering. In 2019, a group of Mexican drug traffickers were importing methamphetamine in crystal and power form into the United States. One of the importers was Eduardo Ruiz-Mendoza. Ruiz-Mendoza directed Miranda to travel to McAllen to pick up methamphetamine which was concealed in audio speaker boxes after it was smuggled into the United States. Miranda picked up the speaker boxes which contained the methamphetamine then gave them to a DEA cooperating individual. Miranda faces up to five years in federal custody. This case was investigated by the DEA. Assistant U.S. Attorney Suzanna Etessam is prosecuting this case.

GULITY PLEA – JONATHAN KELLY SCOTT

On March 17, Jonathan Kelly Scott, 33, plead guilty to felon in possession of a firearm and possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance containing methamphetamine. During execution of a search warrant, Scott ran by foot from Dallas from the rear of the house where he was located through several neighbors’ yards. Scott was followed and filmed from above by Dallas Police helicopter until he was arrested. In the house, officers recovered numerous firearms, methamphetamine, phencyclidine, cocaine, heroin, and alprazolam. Prior to this arrest, Scott had been convicted of three felony drug crimes. Scott faces up to life in federal custody. The case was investigated by the ATF and the Dallas Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney John Boyle is prosecuting the case.

SENTENTENCING – PAUL AUSTIN JONES

On March 19, Paul Austin Jones, 39, was sentenced to 720 months in federal custody after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual exploitation of children. In October 2018, Jones contacted and offered to pay Rita Rose Everett, a local escort, for the opportunity to engage in sexual acts with her approximately and her eleven month old daughter. Jones met Everett in a Tarrant County hotel and used his cell phone to film sexually explicit conduct with Everett and the minor. In February 2019, Jones again created another sexually explicit video in which he filmed himself performing sex acts on a twenty-two month old toddler. This case was investigated by HSI and North Richland Hills Police Department. Assistant U.S. Aisha Saleem is prosecuting the case.