United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

TARRANT COUNTY MAN WHO RAN METHAMPHETAMINE
TRAFFICKING CONSPIRACY IN NORTH TEXAS,
SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON, WITHOUT PAROLE

FORT WORTH, Tx. — Riland Dale Martin, of Arlington, Texas, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John McBryde to 240 months in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper. Martin, 53, who was the ring-leader in a massive methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy in North Texas, pled guilty in February to conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and distribution of methamphetamine. Martin has been in custody since his arrest in December 2006 on charges outlined in a federal criminal complaint.

One of Martin’s 16 co-defendants, Jerry Wayne Blanton, 48, of Fort Worth, was also sentenced today. Blanton, 48, pled guilty in February to one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Judge McBryde sentenced Blanton, who has been in custody since his arrest in February, to 110 months in prison.

A total of 17 defendants were charged in the nine-count superseding indictment which was returned by a federal grand jury in Fort Worth in February. All defendants were charged with conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance and all were either charged with an additional count of distribution of a controlled substance or possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. One of the defendants was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm. All defendants have pled guilty to one or more of the charges and are awaiting sentencing.

According to documents filed in Court, beginning in January 2006 and continuing until in or around December 2006, Riland Dale Martin conspired with Jerry Wayne Blanton, Jeremy Michael Hays, Rebecca Jackson, Melanie English, Teresa Smitherman, Gracie Walker, Franklin Pearce, Daniel Hall, Rebecca Ramos, Michael Shanowat, Teresa Smith, Vicki Robertson, Byron Chrisenberry, Rick Smirl, Lynn Smirl, and Roberto Perez, and agreed to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Camille Sparks.

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