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U.S. Attorney: 27 Charged in East Texas Drug Trafficking Organization

Posted/updated on: April 2, 2015 at 2:54 pm
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thumb_dept-justice-sealJACKSONVILLE – Authorities have begun rounding up suspects charged with distributing methamphetamine in Cherokee County. The suspects are among 27 indicted following a lengthy investigation into a drug trafficking organization dealing methamphetamine. At last report, 17 of the 27 suspects have been arrested. U.S. Attorney John Bales announced a combined task force of federal, state and local law enforcement began executing federal arrest warrants and search warrants this week as a result of the investigation. If convicted, the defendants each face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison.

According to the indictment, beginning in July 2014, the defendants conspired to distribute at least 1.5 kilograms of methamphetamine in the Jacksonville and Cherokee County area. During the investigation, agents conducted about 40 controlled buys of over $65,000 worth of methamphetamine. The drug trafficking organization uses a network of drug couriers, distributors and multiple sources of supply bringing methamphetamine to Cherokee County, Angelina County, Marshall, Texas and into Louisiana. The indictment also charges two of those defendants with being criminal aliens unlawfully present in the United States after having been deported and four with firearms violations.

This investigation is being led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Jacksonville Police Department, and the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office with assistance from multiple federal, state, and local agencies. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Moore is prosecuting the case.

Suspects arrested yesterday:
1. Jose Luis Servin-Escalera, 32, of Jacksonville, Texas
2. Felipe Gonzales, 31, of Jacksonville, Texas
3. Juan Armando Servin, 28, of Jacksonville, Texas
4. Javier Secara Servin, 39, of Jacksonville, Texas
5. Jose Alfredo Servin, 31, of Jacksonville, Texas
6. Flavio Fernando Balderas, 46, of Jacksonville, Texas
7. Gerardo Servin Escalera, 29, of Jacksonville, Texas
8. Jose Juan Garcia, 32, of Jacksonville, Texas
9. Johnny Ray Johnston, 49, of Jacksonville, Texas
10. Austin Tamas Gipson, 20, of Rusk, Texas
11. Milton Cynell McFarland, 44, of Jacksonville, Texas
12. James Carlos Simms, 33, of Jacksonville, Texas
13. Toyn Bernard McCuin, 29, of Jacksonville, Texas
14. Vandorus Tranode Horn, 35, of Jacksonville, Texas
15. Raul Hernandez, Jr., 25, of Jacksonville, Texas
16. Jessica Lee Wolf, 32, most recently of Bullard, Texas
17. Penny Ann King, 41, of Lufkin, Texas



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