Authorities Make Arrests In Connection With Odessa-Based Methamphetamine Distribution Operation

Federal, state and local authorities have arrested 29 individuals--24 who face federal and five who face state charges--in connection with an Odessa-based methamphetamine distribution operation announced United States Attorney Robert Pitman, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Will Glaspy and Federal Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Douglas E. Lindquist.  Authorities are still searching for nine defendants charged in connection with this methamphetamine distribution operation.  A list of federal defendants is below.

On May 28, 2014, a federal grand jury in Midland returned 14 sealed indictments charging 22 of those arrested with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  Seven of the indicted defendants--Fuller, Rendon, Harless, Crosson, Merritt, Powell and Daniels--are also charged with one substantive count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  Those indictments were unsealed earlier today.  In addition, defendants Smith, Simes and Tolbert, who were already in custody prior to today, were indicted by the federal grand jury prior to last month for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

Authorities allege that under the direction of ringleader 41–year-old Shawn Allen Niece of Odessa, the defendants participated in a methamphetamine distribution scheme since September 2013 that included the supply of methamphetamine from San Diego, CA; Las Vegas, NV; and, Dallas, TX, to Niece and others in Odessa for distribution throughout the Permian Basin.

In addition to the indicted defendants, authorities arrested six other individuals this morning—one charged by a federal criminal complaint for possession with intent to distribute “crack” cocaine; the other five were arrested based on state parole violations or outstanding warrants.

During this investigation, authorities seized over eleven pounds of methamphetamine, several firearms, over $62,000 in United States Currency and other assets.

“Methamphetamine is a destructive poison that has horrific consequences to the quality of life in any community,” said Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Will Glaspy.  “Together with our local and federal law enforcement partners, DEA is holding meth traffickers accountable. We are seizing their profits, shutting down their distribution networks, and putting these dealers where they belong, behind bars.”

Upon conviction, the defendants face between ten years and life in federal prison; between five and 40 years in federal prison; or, up to 20 years in federal prison.

It is important to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt.  The defendants are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

This case resulted from a joint Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Marshals Service together with the Ector County Sheriff’s Office, Midland County Sheriff’s Office, Midland Police Department, Odessa Police Department, and the Texas Department of Public Safety.  Assistant United States Attorney V. LaTawn Warsaw is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.

DEFENDANTS ARRESTED TODAY (16)

NAME                                                 AGE       RESIDENCE          STATUTORY PENALTY
Jonathan Leelind Hensley (aka GG)        26               Las Vegas, NV            10 years to life imprisonment
Shawn Allen Niece                                          41               Odessa, TX                  10 years to life imprisonment
Shonda Tennille Crosson                             37               Odessa, TX                  From 5 to 40 years in prison
Christina Gayle Collier                                  26               Odessa, TX                  From 5 to 40 years in prison
Jarrett Tate Fuller                                          34               Amarillo, TX               Up to 20 years imprisonment
Jason Mac Rendon                                         37               Amarillo, TX               Up to 20 years imprisonment
David Lane McGill (aka Doughboy)       31                Odessa, TX                   Up to 20 years imprisonment
Dustin Alan Richey                                        23               Odessa, TX                   Up to 20 years imprisonment
Sean David Luna                                             34               Odessa, TX                   10 years to life imprisonment
Gabriel Coca                                                     22               Odessa, TX                   10 years to life imprisonment 
Annette Jessica Brown                                 31               Odessa, TX                   10 years to life imprisonment
Manuel Urbina                                                 35              Odessa, TX                   From 5 to 40 years in prison
Cristopher Jedidiah Perdue                       29              Odessa, TX                   From 5 to 40 years in prison   
Erica Marie Mitchell                                     33               Odessa, TX                   From 5 to 40 years in prison
Brandy Leeann Zaliauskas                          39               Midland, TX                Up to 20 years imprisonment
(aka Brandy Leeann Carson)
** Charles Eugene Anderson, Jr.            30                Odessa, TX                  Up to 20 years imprisonment

ALREADY IN CUSTODY PRIOR TO TODAY (8)

NAME                                               AGE         RESIDENCE            STATUTORY PENALTY
Michael James Brewer (aka Levi)           43                    Odessa, TX                  10 years to life imprisonment
Phillip Ray Powell                                         24                    Odessa, TX                  From 5 to 40 years in prison
Joseph Ray Collier                                        33                    Odessa, TX                  Up to 20 years imprisonment
Trey Matthew Lopez                                    23                    Odessa, TX                  10 years to life imprisonment
Raymond Earl Mims                                    43                    Odessa, TX                  Up to 20 years imprisonment
Clyde Smith, Jr.                                             54                    Odessa, TX                  From 5 to 40 years in prison
Walter Simes                                                   31                    Odessa, TX                  From 5 to 40 years in prison
Cheryl Tolbert                                               34                    Odessa, TX                  From 5 to 40 years in prison

FUGITIVES  (9)

NAME                                             AGE            RESIDENCE           STATUTORY PENALTY
***J. Weslee Dan Harless                         36                    Odessa, TX                  Up to 20 years imprisonment
***Joshua Lynn Merritt                            32                    Odessa, TX                  From 5 to 40 years in prison
***Angelee Danielle Daniels                    32                    Odessa, TX                  From 5 to 40 years in prison
***Dylan James Holloway                        22                    Odessa, TX                  Up to 20 years imprisonment
***Kaycie Ray Lewis                                   27                    Odessa, TX                  Up to 20 years imprisonment
Omar Addimm Hensley                             23                    Las Vegas, NV             10 years to life imprisonment
James Louis Crutcher (aka Seven)       28                    San Diego, CA             10 years to life imprisonment
Abrea Ebony Ponce                                    20                    San Diego, CA             10 years to life imprisonment
Dionna Nadine Horton                              23                    San Diego, CA             10 years to life imprisonment

Charles Anderson was arrested this morning and charged by criminal complaint with possession with intent to distribute “crack” cocaine.

*** Defendants have since been apprehended and are no longer considered fugitives.