Texas Methamphetamine Traffickers Sentenced
BEAUMONT, Texas - Two Southeast Texas men were sentenced today to prison for federal drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced DEA Special Agent-in-Charge of the Houston Division, Joseph M. Arabit and Acting U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston.
Richard William Jones, 40, of Diboll, Texas pled guilty on Oct. 28, 2016, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 125 months in federal prison by U.S. District Judge Thad Heartfield.
Ronny Joe Bartz, 51, of Humble, Texas pled guilty on Oct. 28, 2016, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison also by Judge Heartfield.
According to information presented in court on January 7, 2013 San Jacinto County Sherriff’s deputies performed a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling north on Highway 59. As they attempted to pull over the vehicle, the officers observed a black bag fly out of the passenger side window and land in the grass. The driver of the vehicle continued without stopping for approximately 100 yards before stopping. The driver was identified as Richard William Jones and the passenger was identified as Ronny Joe Bartz. Officers went back and retrieved the black bag that was thrown out of the passenger side where Bartz was sitting. The deputies opened the bag and inside located a small silver handgun, a set of digital scales, clear plastic baggies containing methamphetamine, a clear glass pipe with residue in it, and a quantity of empty clear plastic baggies.
This case is the result of an extensive joint investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task (OCDETF). 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 DEA, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and the San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Englade.
