From the US Attorney's Office
BEAUMONT, Texas - A
Nacogdoches man has been sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking
violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney John M.
Bales today. The sentencing hearing was held before U.S. District Judge
Ron Clark.
Tremaine Smith, 27, of Nacogdoches, Texas, pleaded guilty on Sep. 5,
2012, to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and was sentenced
to 63 months in federal prison today.
According to information presented in court, from 2008 to June 20, 2012, Donald
Dixon, a.k.a. "Black", Cedrick Fowler, a.k.a. "C" and "C-Murder", Kerry Wayne
Griffin, a.k.a. "Big Boy", Omar Paunetto, Jose Angel Bustillos, Michael John
Pereira, Rodney Stevenson, a.k.a. "Arod", Darius Thorn, a.k.a. "Bs" and "Beez",
Tremaine Smith and Anthony Fowler conspired to traffic cocaine and crack
cocaine throughout East Texas.
Smith's role in the conspiracy was to acquire powder cocaine from C. Fowler and
then convert it into a "crack" cocaine base. Smith would then
redistribute the crack cocaine to others in East Texas.
On June 20, 2012, a federal grand jury returned a 10-count indictment charging
10 defendants, including Smith, with drug trafficking violations.
This case is the result of an ongoing Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task
Force (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, the Nacogdoches Police Department, and the
Nacogdoches County Sheriff's Office and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney
Baylor Wortham.
Donald "Black" Dixon, of Houston: pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute in September. Faces minimum sentence of 10 years.
Cedrick "C" Fowler, of Nacogdoches: pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute in August. Faces minimum sentence of 10 years.
Kerry Wayne "Big Boy" Griffin, of Alto: pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute in August. Twenty-year prison sentence.
Omar Paunetto, of Houston: pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute. Faces minimum sentence of 10 years.
Jose Angel Bustillos, of Houston: pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute.
Michael John Pereira, of Sugar Land: pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
Rodney "Arod" Stevenson, of Nacogdoches: pleaded guilty to
conspiracy to distribute in August. Faces minimum sentence of 10 years.
Darius "Bs" Thorn, of Nacogdoches: pleaded guilty to conspiracy to
distribute in August. Faces minimum sentence of 10 years. Scheduled for
sentencing on Jan. 16.
Tremaine Smith, of Houston: pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute. Sentenced to 63 months in prison.
Anthony Fowler, of Nacogdoches: pleaded guilty to possession with
intent to distribute in August. Sentenced to 87 months in prison.
Elmore Thacker, of Alto: pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm
during a drug trafficking crime. Faces five-year prison sentence.
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