United States Drug Enforcement Administration

FORT WORTH, Texas - Octavio Colin, 34, of Cleburne, Texas, was sentenced on Monday by U.S. District Judge Reed C. O’Connor to 240 (20 years) in federal prison, following his guilty plea earlier this year to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.

Co-conspirator Jason Ziegler, 32, of Justin, Texas, who pleaded guilty to the same offense, was sentenced on Monday to 60 months in federal prison. 
According to documents filed in their cases, since approximately 2013, Ziegler received methamphetamine on consignment from Colin and another convicted defendant, Erica Ayala.  In turn, Ziegler distributed the methamphetamine to various customers in the Fort Worth, Texas, area, returning to Ayala for additional supply.  From approximately July to August 2014, Ayala received ounce and multi-ounce quantities of methamphetamine on consignment from Colin that she distributed in the Fort Worth and Richland Hills, Texas, area, returning to Colin for additional supply.  Ayala was sentenced in July 2015 to 160 months in federal prison for her role in the conspiracy.

A total of 17 defendants were charged in the case; all pleaded guilty and have been sentenced.  In February 2016, Miguel Bonilla, 36, of Dallas, was sentenced by Judge O’Connor to 360 months in federal prison, following his guilty plea in October 2015 to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  Four other defendants convicted in the case received federal prison sentences of 240 months.  The remaining 10 defendants received prison sentences ranging from 72 to 210 months.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’(ICE) Homeland Security (HSI), and the Texas Department of Public Safety investigated.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Smith was in charge of the prosecution.