Three Dallas Roommates Indicted For Conspiring To Obstruct Justice

DALLAS — A federal grand jury has returned a six-count superseding indictment charging three Dallas residents with conspiracy to obstruct justice and related felony offenses stemming from the arrest and subsequent trial last month of one of the defendants on a federal firearm offense, announced U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

Chaddrick Darrion Ashley, 25, Daisy Emerson, 24, and Ofelia Nunez, 19, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice. The indictment also charges Ashley with one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Emerson is also charged with one count, and Nunez with three counts, of making a false declaration before the Court. Ashley is in federal custody and Nunez is on pretrial release. Emerson is expected to surrender to federal authorities this week.

According to the indictment, Ashley was arrested on March 26, 2014, for possession of a firearm by a felon. The indictment alleges that shortly after his arrest, Ashley conspired with Emerson and Nunez to execute a false affidavit, claiming the gun Ashley was charged with belonged to Nunez. Nunez executed a false affidavit, and testified at Ashley’s trial last month on that charge, that she was riding in the car with her boyfriend, and they picked up Ashley and another friend. Nunez exited the vehicle and discovered she left her gun in the car. Nunez also claimed she did not know Ashley. Emerson also testified at Ashley’s trial, claiming she did not participate in assisting Nunez file the false affidavit. At the time, Ashley, Emerson and Nunez were living together in an apartment in Dallas.

An indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. A defendant is presumed innocent unless found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. If convicted, however, each defendant faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine on the conspiracy to obstruct justice charge. Each count of false statements before the Court carries a maximum statutory penalty of five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. The possession of a firearm by a felon offense carries a penalty of 15 years to life in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.