Third Family Member Arrested in Tyler Drug Case

TYLER — Tyler police say Christopher Champion, 28, was taken into custody Friday by the U. S. Marshals Task Force in Austin. Champion was the third family member who was wanted by Tyler police on outstanding warrants for engaging in organized criminal activity and possession of a controlled substance. A two-month Tyler Police narcotics investigation recently led to a large seizure of hashish, marijuana, cash, and weapons, as well as warrants for engaging in organized criminal activity.

Charged in the case are Paul Bronson Champion, 64, and his two sons Stephen, 32, and Christopher. Tyler Police narcotics investigators arrested Paul Champion for engaging in organized criminal activity (Felony 1st degree) and possession of controlled substance (State Jail Felony) with bonds totaling $1,075,000.

Tuesday night around 6:30, police received a tip on where Stephen could be found. He was arrested at a north Tyler motel without incident. He has been charged with engaging in organized criminal activity and possession of marijuana (Greater than 5 lbs.-Less than 50 lbs.). His total bond was set at $1,150,000. On March 11, investigators recovered a pound of marijuana in a vehicle that was connected to Christopher Champion in south Tyler. This was a result of an ongoing narcotics investigation.

On March 28, at 1:43 p.m., Tyler police were called to the Residence Inn Marriott, at 350 West Heritage Drive, in reference to a person acting suspicious who checked into a room. Upon further investigation officers made contact with a Stephen J. Champion in his hotel room. Officers say they smelled an odor of marijuana coming from Champion’s room during the initial contact with him.

Officers and narcotics investigators obtained a search warrant for Champion’s hotel room and reportedly located assorted narcotics including marijuana. Officers also located a pick-up truck that was registered to Stephen Champion in the hotel parking lot. Tyler police K-9 Paco signaled a positive indication on the vehicle for narcotics inside.

Investigators say they located 47 large clear plastic bags that contained marijuana. The total field weight of the bags weighed in at 49.5 pounds with an estimated street value of over $150,000, according to police. Investigators say they also located $19,120 in cash and a handgun inside the vehicle. Investigators recovered evidence that showed that several trips to California were taken to purchase large amounts of marijuana on numerous occasions. Upon further investigation numerous search warrants were executed on locations belonging to the Champion family members.

Authorities say a search warrant executed on Paul Champion’s residence in south Tyler resulted in the recovery of one pound of marijuana, 65 grams of hashish, $112,000 in cash hidden under the insulation in the attic, and numerous weapons. The total financial assets seized were estimated at $210,000 and are believed to be the proceeds of an ongoing drug trafficking operation, according to officials.