Federal investigators say an alleged years-long narcotics network operated from drug houses across Dallas, including locations near schools, parks, and Boys & Girls Clubs. Six defendants remained at large Tuesday.
Federal prosecutors have charged 19 people in an alleged Dallas drug trafficking network involving cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana distribution, as well as allegations of money laundering, firearms offenses, and operating drug-involved premises across the city.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould said Tuesday that 13 defendants were in custody and six remained at large.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas announced Tuesday that a federal grand jury returned a 24-count indictment following a long-term investigation involving the Dallas Police Department, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, and IRS Criminal Investigation.
The charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Prosecutors accuse Avery Wayne Davis, also known as “AD,” who prosecutors say is a previously convicted federal drug trafficker, and Sterling Lawrence Taylor, also known as “Bo,” of leading the organization.
According to the indictment, investigators uncovered multiple alleged narcotics distribution networks, four wiretap targets, and numerous suspected drug houses throughout Dallas.
Federal prosecutors said many of the alleged drug houses were located adjacent to schools, Boys & Girls Clubs, and public parks.
Drugs, Guns, Cash Seized
Federal authorities said agents seized cocaine, crack cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, and multiple firearms during the investigation.
According to the Justice Department’s account of the indictment, weapons involved in the case include a .50-caliber Desert Eagle, a Glock Model 33, Taurus pistols, and other firearms.
The Justice Department also said agents seized more than $40,000 in alleged drug-related proceeds, along with additional currency and jewelry totaling more than $500,000.
The indictment includes allegations of conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute, conspiracy to launder monetary instruments, possession with intent to distribute controlled substances, maintaining drug-involved premises, firearms offenses, and using a communications facility to facilitate drug trafficking.
Five Dallas streets identified in counts alleging the maintenance of drug-involved premises are Roberts Avenue, Munger Avenue, Cedar Mountain Circle, Woodmeadow Parkway, and Abrams Road.
Two additional counts concern alleged drug-involved premises on Coolidge Street.
The most serious cocaine conspiracy charge carries a potential sentence of 10 years to life in federal prison upon conviction.
Several defendants are also accused of possessing firearms in furtherance of drug trafficking crimes. Those offenses carry a mandatory five-year sentence consecutive to any sentence imposed on other counts if convicted.
Dallas Police, Federal Agencies Target Alleged Network
Dallas Police Chief Daniel Comeaux said local officers worked alongside federal investigators over an extended period.
“Our officers and investigators worked alongside our federal partners over an extended period to identify and disrupt an alleged drug trafficking network operating in Dallas neighborhoods,” Comeaux said in the federal announcement.
DEA Dallas Special Agent in Charge Joseph B. Tucker described what investigators encountered as a “highly organized, poly-drug distribution organization.”
Tucker said the organization was “feeding our streets with cocaine, MDMA, methamphetamine, and fentanyl.”
The federal indictment itself centers primarily on allegations involving cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana.
IRS Criminal Investigation agents focused in part on alleged money laundering and tracing funds authorities say were connected with the operation.
“IRS Criminal Investigation special agents helped uncover alleged money laundering activities involving drug proceeds tied to drug houses near where our children learn and play,” IRS-CI Texas Field Office Special Agent in Charge Christopher J. Altemus Jr. said.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould said the prosecution resulted from cooperation through the Homeland Security Task Force.
The Dallas task force includes personnel from the FBI, DEA, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Marshals Service, IRS Criminal Investigation, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, and U.S. Secret Service, working with the Texas Department of Public Safety, Dallas Police Department, Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, and other agencies.
Separate Federal Drug Cases
The latest indictment comes amid several separate federal drug prosecutions with North Texas connections.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, two Chinese nationals were indicted earlier this month in an unrelated Homeland Security Task Force investigation involving allegations of synthetic drug trafficking.
In another separate North Texas case, The Dallas Express reported in March that a Dallas-area methamphetamine trafficking cell leader was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison following an investigation into a large-scale distribution operation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Myria Boehm of the Northern District of Texas Major Crimes Section is prosecuting the latest case.
An indictment is an allegation of criminal conduct and is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
Provided by Dallas Express
