United States Attorney James T. Jacks
Northern District of Texas

FRIDAY, MAY 14, 2010
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/

LEADER IN METHAMPHETAMINE TRAFFICKING CONSPIRACY
SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON

LUBBOCK, Texas — Rolando Garcia Carrasco, 56, of Abernathy, Texas, who admitted to his role as the leader in a major methamphetamine trafficking organization, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings to 240 months (20 years) in federal prison, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. In addition, Judge Cummings ordered that Carrasco forfeit residences in Abernathy and Littlefield, Texas, as well as eight vehicles, that were either used to commit or facilitate his offense and/or were derived from the proceeds obtained as a result of his offense. Carrasco pleaded guilty in March 2010 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

In a DEA-led takedown on December 1, 2009, Carrasco and several others were arrested on charges outlined in two indictments. Those indictments charged a total of 10 defendants with cocaine/methamphetamine trafficking and some with substantive drug and/or firearm charges. In addition to the arrests, law enforcement officers executed several search warrants at various locations that resulted in the seizure of additional quantities of cocaine, drug trafficking paraphernalia, firearms, and U.S. currency.

One indictment charged Carrasco and seven co-defendants with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine and 500 grams or more of cocaine, alleging that the defendants ran their conspiracy since January 2006. All of the defendants were also charged with various substantive cocaine and/or methamphetamine counts and one defendant, Rene Zuniga, is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. All have pleaded guilty to their role in the methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy. One defendant, Juan Manuel Carrasco, 55, of Olton, Texas, received a 300 month (25 year) sentence.

In the other indictment, Davey Roland Burks, Jr., 37 and Ricky Reyes, 35, were each charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine. Burks and Reyes have both pleaded guilty to their role in the conspiracy and received sentences of 24 months and 87 months, respectively.

 According to plea documents filed in Carrasco’s case, the DEA began investigating Carrasco in January 2006 for narcotics trafficking. On February 1, 2007, a confidential source (CS) acting at the direction of the DEA, made a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Rolando Carrasco at the Chili’s on University Avenue in Lubbock, Texas. The next month, on February 1, 2007, the CS, again acting at the direction of the DEA, made another controlled purchase of methamphetamine from Carrasco at River Smith’s on 5th Street in Lubbock. Other controlled purchases were made by the CS on April 4, 2007; June 20, 2007; June 21, 2007; and in October and November 2009.

The case was investigated by the DEA and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey R. Haag of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Lubbock.

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