37 members and associates of various white supremacist organizations arrested in north Texas on drug-trafficking conspiracy charges

DALLAS — Thirty-seven individuals have been charged with federal offenses stemming from their respective roles in a drug distribution conspiracy that operated in north Texas and elsewhere from January 2013 to October 2014.

These arrests were announced by U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.

This investigation is being led by the Texas Department of Public Safety Criminal Investigations Division (DPS-CID) Gang Unit with assistance from the following agencies: Dallas Police Department’s Criminal Intelligence Unit, the Garland Police Department’s Neighborhood Police Officer Unit, the Mesquite and Rockwall police departments, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).

Following are the defendants (all Texas residents) who were charged and are in custody:

• George Pass, aka “Tennessee,” 40, of Desoto,
• Rhonda Long, aka “Queen Saltine,” 51, of Mesquite,
• Brandon Crow, 29, of Garland,
• Nia Reed, 27, of Rowlett,
• John Carl Hall, aka “Scooter,” 34, of Dallas,
• Cesar Zarate, 26, of Duncanville,
• Sarah West, 27, of Dallas,
• Bradley Wiltcher, 40, of Dallas,
• Michael Bass, aka “Sleepy,” 45, of Dallas,
• Patrick Penney, aka “Pacman,” 29, of Mesquite,
• Clifton Clowers, 36, of Mesquite,
• Michael McCoy, aka “Bam Bam,” 45, of Garland,
• Christopher Jacobo, aka “Taco Chris,” 39, of Garland,
• Jason Eastham, 34, of Mesquite,
• Cheyenne Miller, aka “CJ,” 36, of Mesquite,
• Christopher Arnold, aka “Phreek,” 40, of Denison,
• Sean Sharer, aka “Cowboy Sean,” 42, of Mesquite,
• Alysha Hayes, 22, of Rowlett,
• Jaclyn Hooker, aka “Queen Bee,” 36, of Mesquite,
• Francisco Coronado, aka “Frank,” 27, of Dallas,
• Kenneth Etter, 25, of Tulsa, Oklahoma,
• Joseph Tenpenny, 29, of Tulsa, Oklahoma,
• Dusty Bryant, 21, of Tulsa, Oklahoma,
• Gregory Oldfield, aka “Casper,” 41, of Garland,
• Casey Rose, 35, of Mesquite,
• Matthew Hays, aka “Cody,” 32, of Richardson,
• Patricia Tucker, aka “Peppermint Patty,” 44, of Mesquite,
• Jeffrey Heathington, 37, of Point,
• Richard Garcia, aka “Charlie Brown,” 38, of Dallas,
• Michael Atkins, aka “Duke,” 38, of Garland,
• William McDowell, aka “Scout,” 33, of Mesquite
• Christy McCellon, aka “90,” 38, of Quitman

The just-unsealed superseding indictment in the case charges each of the above defendants with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. In addition, each of the defendants, with the exception of Garcia and McCellon, is charged with one substantive count of possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.  Penney is also charged with one substantive count of possessing heroin with intent to distribute.  Crow and Garcia are also each charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Three other individuals, Eliezer Jarillo Gonzalez, 22, Alejando Ornelas, 33 and Javier Eduardo Dominquez, 23, all of Dallas, were also arrested and have been charged in a federal criminal complaint with their roles in the conspiracy.

According to the indictment, the defendants were members of, or associated with, various white supremacist organizations, including the “Aryan Brotherhood of Texas” (ABT), the “Aryan Circle,” the “Irish Mob,” and the “Dirty White Boys.” Despite their differences, they would often collaborate for purposes of drug distribution or other illegal ventures. The indictment alleges that since January 2013, the defendants conspired together, and with others, to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine. According to the indictment, the defendants used stash houses and other locations to store quantities of methamphetamine. Each of the co-conspirators was linked to one another either directly or through another co-conspirator. Certain co-conspirators acted as hubs for narcotics trafficking, supplying methamphetamine to numerous other co-conspirators. Throughout the investigation, more than 16 pounds of methamphetamine and five firearms were seized.

A federal indictment is an accusation by a grand jury. A complaint is a written statement of the essential facts of the offenses charged and must be made under oath before a magistrate judge; the government has 30 days to present the matter to a grand jury for indictment.

A defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty. If convicted, however, the statutory maximum penalty for each count of the drug trafficking conspiracy is life in federal prison and millions of dollars in fines. The statutory maximum penalty for each substantive count of possessing methamphetamine or heroin with the intent to distribute is 20 years. The maximum statutory penalty for being a felon in possession of a firearm is 10 years. The indictment also includes a forfeiture allegation which would require the defendants, upon conviction, to forfeit all real or personal property derived from the proceeds of their offense.

Assistant U.S. Attorney P. J. Meitl, Northern District of Texas, is prosecuting this case.