Six West Texas Residents Charged With Methamphetamine and Firearm Offenses

ABILENE, Texas — Following a joint law enforcement operation involving the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the United States Marshals Service, and the Anson, Texas Police Department, six individuals are now in custody on federal drug distribution charges and more arrests are anticipated, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.

Five federal indictments, unsealed last week, charge a total of five individuals with distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The following individuals were charged:

     Jamaal Rozell Dunson, 32, of Abilene

     Joe Nathan Spafford, 28, of Abilene

     Michael James Huettl, 47, of Abilene

     Delores Denise Rodriguez, 25, of Abilene

     Driessan Scott Russell, 28, of Abilene

Trysten Keun Napper, 33, of Abilene was arrested on a complaint charging him with being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition.

Several defendants made their initial appearance last week in federal court in Abilene before U.S. Magistrate Judge E. Scott Frost. All remain in custody. Several detention hearings will be held later this week.

According to the indictments filed, in March 2017 through June 2017, the defendants intentionally and knowingly distributed and possessed with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Throughout the investigation, substantial amounts of methamphetamine, cash, and firearms were seized from the drug traffickers.

A federal indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury, and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. However, if convicted, the methamphetamine distribution counts carry a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum statutory penalty of 40 years. The firearm count carries a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in federal prison, and a $250,000 fine

Assistant United States Attorney Juanita Fielden is in charge of the prosecution.

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