Burnet County Man Sentenced to Federal Prison on Firearms and Drug Trafficking Charges

In Austin yesterday, 44-year-old Bertram, TX, resident Jimmy Don Hardin was sentenced to a total of 360-months in federal prison on firearms and drug trafficking charges announced Acting United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr. and Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw.

United States District Judge Lee Yeakel sentenced Hardin to 300-months imprisonment on conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine.  Hardin also received two 120-month sentences (to run concurrent with the 300-month sentence) on charges of possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm by a felon.  In addition, Judge Yeakel sentenced Hardin to 60-months imprisonment on possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime to run consecutive to the other sentences.

In February, a jury convicted Hardin of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime, possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  Evidence presented during trial revealed that from May 2013 to December 2013, Hardin conspired with others to distribute methamphetamine throughout Burnet, Llano, Lampasas, Travis and Williamson counties.  Authorities arrested Hardin on December 4, 2013, during the execution of a search warrant at his residence.  At the time, Hardin was in possession of a stolen .45 caliber pistol as well as nine other firearms.  Hardin’s criminal history revealed multiple convictions for manufacture of methamphetamine in Burnet County, TX.

Two co-defendants – 57-year-old Guillermo Naranjo Reyna, an illegal alien residing in Austin, and 60-year-old Nebes Montemayor of Austin – pleaded guilty to the drug conspiracy charge prior to trial.  On March 10, 2015, Judge Yeakel sentenced Reyna to five years imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release. Montemayor is scheduled to be sentenced on August 7, 2015.

This case was investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety, Burnet County Sheriff’s Office, Burnet County District Attorney’s Office, Llano County Sheriff’s Office, Bastrop County Sheriff’s Office, Williamson County Sheriff’s Office, Austin Police Department, and the Cedar Park Police Department together with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).  Assistant United States Attorneys Doug Gardner and Matt Harding prosecuted this case on behalf of the Government.

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