United States Drug Enforcement Administration

JUNE 12  (BEAUMONT, Texas) - A 39-year-old Silsbee, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Javier Peña and U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced today.

Eric LaPaul Harper pleaded guilty on Jan. 17, 2013, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 240 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Marcia Crone.

According to information presented in court, in May 2011, Harper was stopped for a traffic violation in Liberty County, Texas after he was intercepted on a wiretap ordering 6 ounces of methamphetamine.  Harper received the methamphetamine in Conroe, Texas and was stopped while returning to Silsbee.  A search during the traffic stop revealed 165.8 grams of methamphetamine.  Additional surveillance revealed Harper’s involvement in the conspiracy to be much larger as he was recorded ordering and distributing other quantities of methamphetamine on numerous telephone conversations.  A federal grand jury returned an indictment on Mar. 7, 2012, charging Harper with federal violations.

This case is the result of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task (OCDETF) joint investigation.  The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nation’s illegal drug supply. 

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Englade.