Federal jury convicts North Texas man on methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy, firearm charges
Defendant was arrested in a November 2014 operation targeting members and associates of various white supremacist organizations
DALLAS — Following a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge Jane J. Boyle, federal jury convicted an Aryan Brotherhood of Texas member on conspiracy, drug trafficking and firearm charges, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.
The Texas Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Investigations Division (DPS-CID) Gang Unit and the Dallas Police Department’s Criminal Intelligence Unit led this investigation. Officers and agents from the Garland Police Department Neighborhood Police Officer Unit, the Mesquite and Rockwall police departments, and U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) also provided assistance in the investigation.
Specifically, the jury convicted Casey Rose, 36, of Mesquite, Texas, on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The conspiracy count carries a maximum statutory penalty of life in federal prison; the substantive possession count carries a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in federal prison; and the felon in possession count carries a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in federal prison. Sentencing has not yet been set.
Rose has been in custody since his arrest in mid-November 2014 following a law enforcement operation led by DPS-CID. During that operation, 37 individuals were arrested and charged with similar 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. Of those arrested, each defendant has pleaded guilty except Rose, who elected to go to trial. One defendant remains a fugitive.
Rose was a member of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas (ABT). Many of the defendants were members of, or associated with white supremacist organizations, such as ABT, the “Aryan Circle,” the “Irish Mob,” and the “Dirty White Boys.” Despite their differences, they often collaborated to distribute drugs or other illegal ventures.
The government presented evidence at trial that Rose purchased and distributed methamphetamine throughout the Dallas Metroplex, and used violence to obtain large quantities of methamphetamine. The trial also included expert testimony regarding ABT’s formation, history and mission.
Assistant U.S. Attorney P. J. Meitl, Northern District of Texas is prosecuting this case.
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