U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton announced that the final defendant arrested in a large-scale drug and gun bust in Lubbock in July 2023 has been sentenced.
The final defendant, Beatrice Eunice Gutierrez, 35, of Lubbock, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix to 216 months, or 18 years, in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine on Thursday.
A total of 23 defendants were sentenced to a combined total of 218 years in federal prison for their roles in the large-scale meth and fentanyl ring.
The investigation, led by the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, uncovered a network of traffickers who supplied fentanyl and methamphetamine to the Lubbock area.
According to court documents, the group was linked to at least one fatal overdose, and law enforcement seized over 12,354 grams of fentanyl pills, 12,7311 grams of methamphetamine, 4393 grams of heroin, and $155,204 in U.S. currency.
The sentences handed down include:
• Steven Paul Echols, 38, of Lubbock, was sentenced to 210 months for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
• Rachel Michelle Melendez, 32, of Lubbock, was sentenced to 210 months for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
• Nicolas Blake Pereida, 29, of Lubbock, was sentenced to 240 months for distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
• Brent Reed Angelle, 35, of Lubbock, was sentenced to 188 months for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
• Alexus Michelle Grubelnik, 27, of Lubbock, was sentenced to 135 months for distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
• Beatrice Eunice Gutierrez, 35, of Lubbock, was sentenced to 216 months for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
• Erik Hans Grosstueck, 39, of Lubbock, was sentenced to 216 months for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
• Brian Jacob Miller, 34, of Lubbock, was sentenced to 70 months for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
• Alexander Erik Pierce, 31, of Lubbock, was sentenced to 186 months for distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
• Christian Carlisle Enochs, 24, of Lubbock, was sentenced to 60 months for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
• Brannon Mikel Burns, 32, of Lubbock, was sentenced to 42 months for distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
• Matthew Ryan Chandler, 28, of Lubbock, was sentenced to 42 months for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
• Loddy Max Montoya, 29, of Lubbock, was sentenced to 42 months for possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
• Trey Matthew Parrish, 35, of Lubbock, was sentenced to 96 months for distribution and possession with intent to distribute fentanyl.
• Glen Donnell Nall, Jr., 40, of Lubbock, was sentenced to 135 months for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
• Anthony Ray Morales, 39, of Lubbock, was sentenced to 78 months for felon in possession of a firearm.
• Ronny Paul Spruiell, 38, of Lubbock, was sentenced to 210 months for distribution and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
• Kevontae Jalil Hawthorne, 25, of Lubbock, was sentenced to 48 months for felon in possession of a firearm.
• Daniel Anthony Moreno, 30, of Lubbock, was sentenced to 30 months for felon in possession of a firearm.
• Ethan Tyler Nieto, 28, of Lubbock, was sentenced to 32 months for felon in possession of a firearm.
• Martin Rosalez III, aka Wedo, 37, of Lubbock, was sentenced to 41 months for felon in possession of a firearm.
• Roberto Salinas, Jr., 31, of Lubbock, was sentenced to 27 months for felon in possession of a firearm.
“Project Safe Neighborhoods is designed to target an area’s most dangerous offenders. Key to the initiative’s success are productive partnerships between state, federal, and local law enforcement,” said U.S. Attorney Leigha Simonton. “We hope the Lubbock community will feel more at ease knowing these defendants will spend significant time off their streets and behind bars.”
The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, the Lubbock Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking
- Source: Official Source ↗
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