Eric Paul Coleman, Crack Cocaine Trafficking, Texas 2018

BEAUMONT, Texas – In a major blow to Southeast Texas’ illicit drug trade, six Beaumont residents have pleaded guilty to federal drug trafficking charges in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown today.

The defendants, Eric Paul Coleman, 32; Clayton Devonne Howard, 41; Jason Wright, 32; Leroy Hills, 33; Arthur Jenkins, 46; and Ivy Chatman, 31, all of Beaumont, each pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute crack cocaine. Coleman also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering, carrying a firearm during a drug trafficking offense, and use of fire to commit a federal felony (aiding and abetting). Jenkins also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to carry a firearm during a drug trafficking offense.

The plea hearings were held on Aug. 14, 2018, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Giblin.

According to information presented in court, since December 2012, the defendants were involved in a drug trafficking organization that distributed both powder and crack cocaine in the Beaumont, Texas, area. Eric Coleman received powder cocaine from Christopher Dudley, who brought it to Beaumont from Houston. Clayton Howard assisted Dudley in transporting cocaine from Houston to Beaumont. Coleman distributed both powder and crack cocaine, and manufactured crack cocaine, from residences he owned in Beaumont’s North End.

Coleman’s operation was extensive, with multiple associates involved in distributing his narcotics. Jordan Marshall, Arthur Jenkins, Patrice Stoker, Jason Wright, Lee Roy Hills, and Ivy Chatman all participated in distributing Coleman’s narcotics. Coleman and his associates carried firearms to protect their territory from rival drug dealers and used physical violence to aid in their narcotics operation.

On multiple occasions, Coleman agreed to pay set fees to Arthur Jenkins to physically assault customers who were behind on drug debt payments. On Nov. 28, 2017, Coleman agreed to pay Jenkins $2,000 to kill an unknown person. Coleman told Jenkins he wanted the person dead and instructed Jenkins to shoot through the side of the person’s vehicle rather than the front.

The defendants were indicted by a federal grand jury on Jan. 10, 2018, and charged with multiple drug trafficking and firearms-related violations. Under federal statutes, the defendants each face at least 10 years and up to life in federal prison at sentencing. Sentencing hearings will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

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