FLASH STAFF REPORT
ERATH COUNTY (November 27, 2018) – Ten Erath County residents are among a reported 32 suspects taken into custody by federal authorities as part of an extensive and long-time drug investigation involving multiple counties.
Arrests of suspects began in June and snowballed over later months with several suspects arrested on separate charges while also being held under an undisclosed “hold order” by the U.S. Marshal’s office.
Erath County residents arrested in the investigation include Lea Lea Bills of Stephenville, Heath Brewer of Lipan, Jeanne Butler of Stephenville, Shauna Michelle Campbell of Morgan Mill, Edward Martin Carranza of Dublin, Michael Tyler Davidson of Stephenville, Thomas Cruz Gonzalez of Dublin, David Wayne Green of Lipan, Brad Keith of Stephenville, Michaela Danese Moncrief of Dublin and Kara Michelle Traweek of Stephenville.
Several of the suspects had been held in the Erath County Jail prior to being transferred to the Parker County Jail. All the suspects are charged with one count of conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance.
According to a press release from the Department of Justice, the suspects were charged before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cureton.
The investigation is believed to have included suspects operating in Erath, Hamilton, and Hood Counties and there are still more arrests to come.
A complaint filed May 10 alleges that the defendants conspired to possess and distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine from July 2018 through January 2018.
The complaint alleges the operation grew and had a “fluid hierarchy” that involved reinvesting money made from drug sales back into the purchase of more drugs.
The defendants face up to 40 years in federal prison and a $5,000,000 fine if convicted.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Smith known for pursuing the maximum sentence for drug offenders is prosecuting the case.
Lock ALL drug dealers up! Then throw away the key.