Mother and Son Meth Team Sentenced to Federal Time

Montgomery, Alabama— A mother and son were sentenced in federal court yesterday after pleading guilty to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, announced George L. Beck, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama.  Modesto Barajas De Chavez, 50, originally from Mexico but living in Deatsville, Ala., was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison.  John Candido Chavez, 28, born in California but also living in Deatsville, Ala., was sentenced to 15 years and 8 months in federal prison. 

     Modesto De Chavez and John Chavez were part of a drug trafficking organization that was responsible for selling large amounts of methamphetamine in Autauga, Elmore, and Montgomery Counties.  They were arrested in May of 2014 at their residence in Deatsville where law enforcement seized approximately six pounds of meth, several firearms, including two assault weapons, and over $13,000 in cash.  During the sentencing hearing, the judge heard statements indicating the defendants used two of Ms. De Chavez’s other minor children to facilitate their drug trafficking operation.  Ms. De Chavez, who does not speak English, used her minor children to communicate with her suppliers.            

     “This family was not only spreading poison to our citizens, but were protecting their drugs with assault weapons and hiding these assault weapons under a child’s bed,” stated U.S. Attorney Beck.  “Drug dealers that use illegal firearms and children to further their drug dealing should be and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

     The case was investigated by the Central Alabama Drug Task Force, the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office,  the Millbrook Police Department,  the Prattville Police Department,  the, Autauga County Sheriff’s Office, the Montgomery Police Department,  the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office,  the Alabama Attorney General’s Office,  the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA),  the Alabama High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Operations Center, the Alabama National Guard Counterdrug Program, and the Alabama Fusion Center. This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Verne Speirs.