United States Drug Enforcement Administration

(FORT WORTH, - Texas - Following a four-day trial before U.S. District Judge John McBryde, late yesterday a federal jury convicted seven defendants, including members and associates of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas prison gang, for their roles in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy that operated in north Texas from approximately January 2014 to April 2016.  In addition, between April and August 2016, 80 defendants charged in drug conspiracy cases related to this one have pleaded guilty.  U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas made today’s announcement.

Each of the defendants listed below was convicted on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

Charles Ben Bounds, a/k/a “Pretty Boy,” 31, of Fort Worth, Texas.
Billy Fred Gentry, a/k/a “Fred Gentry,” 30, of Fort Worth, Texas. 
Kevin Kyle Killough, a/k/a “Kilo,” 29, of Fort Worth, Texas.  
Billy Ray Skaggs, 48, of Brownwood, Texas.  
Michael Clay Heaslet, a/k/a “Whisper,” 38, of Fort Worth, Texas. 
Nicole Cynthia Herrera, a/k/a “Nikki Single,” 21, of Dallas, Texas.
Trae Short, a/k/a “Twig,” 31, of Dallas, Texas. 

One defendant, James Marcus Laxson, was acquitted.

The penalty for the offense is not less than five years or more than 40 years in federal prison and a $5 million fine.  The defendants are scheduled to be sentenced by Judge McBryde in February 2017.

The government presented evidence at trial that some of the defendants were members, including ranking members, or associates, of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas.  The government presented further evidence identifying the defendants and the role of each in the conspiracy.  Text messages from some defendants’ phones, and recordings of phone calls from jail were introduced that detailed their methamphetamine trafficking.

The Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Immigration and Customs (ICE) Homeland Security (HSI) and the Fort Worth Police Department investigated.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Shawn Smith and Frank Gatto are prosecuting the case.