United States Drug Enforcement Administration

BEAUMONT, Texas - U.S. Attorney John M. Bales and Drug Enforcement (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston Division announced today that 11 Jefferson County men are in custody following a lengthy investigation into drug trafficking in the Eastern District of Texas.

On May 6, 2016, a combined task force of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies began executing federal arrest warrants for defendants indicted following a ten month investigation into the distribution of crack cocaine in Beaumont, Texas.

A federal grand jury returned a four-count indictment on May 4, 2016 charging 13 individuals with federal drug and firearms violations.  Of those, five defendants were arrested on May 6th and will be making initial appearances in court this week.  Those arrested are:

Ashton Devon Randolph, 20;
Christopher Dewayne Ooten, 38;
Clifton Ray Freeman, 26;
George Lewis, 58; and
Kody Dwayne Ardoin, 21, all of Beaumont, Texas.

Of the 13 individuals indicted on May 4th, six were already in custody and are as follows:

Kerry Arsenio Ardoin, 25;
Kristopher George Ardoin, 29;
Michael Eugene Ardoin, 29;
Patrick Alan Jackson, 27;
Seth Deandre Turner, 27; and
Terrance Ardoin, 31, all of Beaumont, Texas.

The remaining two defendants are being sought by law enforcement at this time. 

According to the indictment, for over a decade the Ardoin family and others are alleged to have openly distributed crack cocaine from their home at 1107 Avenue A in Beaumont.

“The ‘crack house’ operated by and for these defendants is just what you might expect - a vortex of misery and lost dreams,” said U.S. Attorney Bales.  “The investigators working on this case have done an excellent job in building the necessary proof to hold the named defendants accountable for the damage that they have done to the community and to the sad and desperate customers who purchased the crack.  We look forward to presenting the evidence in a court of law.”

If convicted of the drug conspiracy charges, the defendants face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison.  If convicted of the firearms charges, the defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison.  If convicted of the drug house charge, those defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison. 

This case is being investigated by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the Beaumont Police Department.  The U.S. Marshals Service also assisted in today’s law enforcement activities.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lesley A. Woods. 

A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt.  All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.