United States Attorney Richard B. Roper
Northern District of Texas

CRACK COCAINE DISTRIBUTOR SENTENCED TO 128 MONTHS

Defendant Produced Musical CD’s Glorifying the Distribution of Crack Cocaine

DALLAS — Terrence Damon Randolph, a/k/a “Bo-Leg,” 32, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sam A. Lindsay to 128 months (nearly 11 years) in prison, announced U.S. Attorney Richard B. Roper of the Northern District of Texas. Randolph was on State probation for possessing a controlled substance with the intent to deliver at the time of his arrest in this case. In December 2006 he pled guilty to one count of a federal indictment charging conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribute cocaine base. This 128-month sentence is to run consecutive to any sentence imposed at the State level.

U.S. Attorney Roper said, “I applaud the efforts of the Dallas Police Department, in cooperation with federal law enforcement, who, in “Operation Southside,” used every tool at their disposal to aggressively pursue individuals distributing drugs and weapons in South Dallas. A year and a half after the federal indictments were unsealed and 29 individuals were arrested and charged in this operation, the positive impact is still being felt in the community.”

Beginning in February 2004, Kenneth George Ebanks, a/k/a “Bigs” and “Kenneth Bell,” and Randolph, along with co-defendants Markeques Dewayne Linnear, Wendell Turner, Jimmy Wayne Frost, Apollo Lasalle Blake and others, agreed to and engaged in the distribution of cocaine base. Ebanks and Randolph admitted that on numerous occasions between February 2004 and the date of their arrests, they received quantities of powder cocaine from a local supply source. They both admitted that after receiving the cocaine, they, and others, would convert the cocaine powder into crack cocaine using a cooking procedure. Once the powder cocaine was converted into crack cocaine, Randolph would sell the crack cocaine to local distributors including Kenneth Ebanks. Once the powder cocaine was converted into crack cocaine, Ebanks and others would cut and package it for distribution. Ebanks and others sold the crack cocaine in various South Dallas apartment units known as “traps.” Randolph sold cocaine from his residence on High Street in Dallas and also used his residence to cook, package and store quantities of crack cocaine up until the date of his arrest.

1 Ebanks admitted that on May 11 and May 23, 2006, he sold 50 grams of crack cocaine to an undercover officer. Randolph admitted that on June 22, June 27 and August 16, 2006, he sold approximately 160 grams of crack cocaine to another person. When Randolph was arrested on September 22, 2006, he possessed an additional 100 grams of crack cocaine at his residence.

Kenneth George Ebanks was sentenced in December 2007 to 168 months in prison; Markeques Dewayne Linnear was sentenced in January 2008 to 132 months in prison and Jimmy Wayne Frost was also sentenced in January to 98 months in prison. Apollo Lasalle Blake is scheduled to be sentenced next month. Twenty-seven of the 29 defendants who were indicted federally in this operation have pled guilty. One was dismissed; the remaining defendant is in jail in Dallas County awaiting transfer to federal court. Twenty-four of the 27 federal defendants have pled guilty and have been sentenced. Nine other defendants were charged at the State level and all have pled guilty and have been sentenced.

Randolph also admitted that proceeds he acquired through the sale of crack cocaine were sometimes used to produce musical compact discs on a record label called Stampede Records under the name “Bo-Leg.” Randolph used drug proceeds to produce rap songs that the judge found glorified the production and distribution of crack cocaine in the Dallas community. During today’s sentencing hearing, Randolph apologized to the Dallas Police Department for the disparaging lyrics he had on his CD’s regarding the department, and its Chief, David Kunkle.

U.S. Attorney Roper praised the investigative efforts of the Dallas Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Calvert prosecuted the cases.

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