Officials held a press conference Thursday afternoon to provide details about multiple arrests made in a drug sting.
28 suspects have been arrested for drug trafficking operations in the Central Texas area. They allegedly played a role in narcotics distribution activities in the Waco and Killeen area.
Nine suspects were charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances including cocaine and methamphetamine.
Killeen Police Chief Charles Kimble said those defendants are part of the Gangster Disciples, which is a national drug trafficking organization.
"If it wasn't for the cooperation for many in this room and many who are not here, we put a halt to it. We put a halt to the drug dealing, we put a halt their trafficking, we put a halt all the associated crimes that come with that," Kimble said.
The other 19 suspects were charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
"These were people who were making large amounts of money, selling large amounts of drugs, allegedly. Drugs that cause enormous physical and psychological damage to vulnerable people," United States Attorney Western District of Texas John Bash said.
The United States Attorney's Office, McLennan County Sheriff's Office, Waco police, Killeen police, Texas Department of Public Safety, DEA and FBI were among the agencies working the investigation.
Officials say that since May 2017, the suspects are believed to have distributed large amounts of meth through the Central Texas area. During the investigation, they seized approximately $16,000, over five pounds of meth and 22 firearms.
“These men and women who are criminal defendants today were plying their trade to take advantage of citizens of Central Texas,” Waco Police Chief Ryan Holt. “All of these agencies: local, state and federal agencies who were involved and have been involved and working together, stand together to protect our citizens.”
All of the defendants will remain in federal custody pending detention hearings expected to occur next week before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Manske in Waco.
Here are the 28 suspects who were arrested:
- Gabriel Luna, 30
- Samuel Earl Smith, 44
- Jomar Kenyatta Bush, 44
- Jeffrey Ellis, 33
- Donovan Lafurd Ray Jacobs, 25
- Joshua Deanthony Bailey, 29
- Derrick L. Jacques (aka "Flexx"), 41
- Terrell Jefferson, 32
- Leonta Odell Gladden, 30
- Daniel Louis Lopez, 38
- Ruben Ceja-Sanchez, 31
- Gary Keith Mahan Jr., 37
- Michael Trinidad Carbajal, 38
- Amy Michelle Tedder, 32
- Joe Victor Monzon, 35
- Ruben Arnold Mondragon, 32
- Patricia Ann Navarro-Eaton, 46
- Michael Martinez, 47
- Cory Allen Kussmaul, 28
- Darnell O'Shea McCoy, 35
- Charlotte Nicole O'Neal, 33
- Augustin Ariel Camacho, 36
- Daniel Alan Tummins, 35
- Francisco Farias III, 55
- Magan Danielle Shuemake, 29
- Polly Estes, 42
- Stephanie Nicole Davis, 31
- Trey Allen Cartwright, 36
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