15 arrested in large-scale gun, drug bust in Dallas
By Andrew Greenstein
KRLD News Radio
July 28, 2023
A large-scale gun and drug bust in Dallas leads to dozens of arrests.
"15 individuals were arrested as a result of a two-year investigation," announced Chad Yarbrough, FBI Dallas Field Office special agent in charge, during a Friday morning news conference. "(We) worked side by side with our FBI Safe Streets Task Force and the Dallas Police Department's gang unit."
More than 200 officers and agents from FBI Dallas, the Dallas Police Department, the Dallas County Sheriff's Office and other local agencies took part in the operation.
The items seized include:
more than 540 grams of cocaine
more than 1,100 grams of methamphetamine
more than 150 grams of alprazolam
more than 7 grams of fentanyl
9 firearms
over $10,000 in cash
"The 15 defendants arrested yesterday are being charged with 16 counts -- from possession with intent to distribute cocaine to possession of unregistered firearms," said Leigha Simonton, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas. "Six are being charged with possessing a firearm as a convicted felon."
The following people are charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession with intent to distribute cocaine: Alicia Slaughter, Courtney Smith, Xavier Barnes, Jordan Davis, Quentavis Zikeiy Hawkins, Lucis Lugo and Perry Taylor.
Edward Williams is facing all of those charges, along with possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.
Ladarius Holly, Sebastian Medlock, Christopher Samuel and Anthony Joe Womack are all charged with possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.
Dmarcus Quartez Roderick Moton is facing the above charges, along with being in possession of an unregistered firearm, a Glock switch.
Davonia Hart is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Brandon Bedford is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to
distribute a controlled substance and possession of a firearm as a
convicted felon.
"Prosecuting these worst-of-the-worst
offenders not only holds them accountable for past wrongs, but it also
prevents them from committing future crimes," said Atty. Simonton. "It
makes our streets safer and our communities sleep more soundly at
night."
The defendants started making their initial appearances in federal court Friday morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Irma Carrillo Ramirez.
If convicted, some of the defendants could face as much as 40 years in federal prison.
"It's not our goal to just put individuals in jail for a few days, but to build cases that cut into the capabilities of these gangs and criminal enterprises, putting the most violent offenders and facilitators behind bars for as long as we possibly can," said Yarbrough.
Dallas Police Chief Eddie Garcia praised the cooperation during the large-scale investigation.
"It takes all of us to fight and prevent crime and criminal activity," said Chief Garcia. "Violent crime continues to trend downward in the city of Dallas, and not by accident. It is because of the hard work of the men and women of our agencies, along with our community and city leaders that we see the needle trending down."
The aforementioned arrests are just a portion of a larger investigation.
"Those arrested yesterday, coupled with the 19 additional arrests already done, bring the total indicted in this investigation to 34," said Yarbrough.
1 comment:
Now they will be asked to help patrol the streets in Oakland along with the CHP, at least if the Oakland branch of the NAACP gets it's way. Strange, I thought the FBI did not primarily function as streets cops.
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