Today, federal, state and local authorities arrested seven Madisonville, TX, residents charged in connection with a methamphetamine trafficking operation announced United States Attorney Richard L. Durbin, Jr., Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston Division, and Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw.
Those arrested today include: 26-year-old Ezequiel Guevara (aka “Ziek”); 23-year-old Pedro Martinez-Castandeda (aka “Dro,” “Pedro”); 27-year-old Manuel Martinez (aka “Meme”); 19-year-old Victor Doubrovski; 28-year-old Steven Jerrell Manning (aka “Rell”); 23-year-old Dedrick Dondre Whaley (aka “Lowkey”); and 23–year-old Jeremy Shaffer (aka “Jergo”).
A federal grand jury indictment returned in Waco and unsealed this afternoon charges the defendants with one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. According to the indictment, the defendants conspired to distribute methamphetamine since April 2015. During this year-long investigation, authorities took possession of approximately 1.5 kilograms of “crystal” methamphetamine through undercover purchases from the defendants.
Upon conviction, the defendants face up to 20 years in federal prison.
All of the defendants remain in federal custody at this time. Detention hearings are expected to occur next week before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Manske in Waco.
This investigation was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Texas Department of Public Safety -- Criminal Investigation Division together with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Houston Division, and Madison County District Attorney Brian Risinger. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), United States Marshals Service, and the Brazos County Sheriff’s office assisted with today’s arrests. Assistant United States Attorney Mary Kucera is prosecuting this case on behalf of the Government.
An indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.