BEAUMONT, TX – The streets of East Texas are a little less flooded with poison today. Cedrick Fowler, 30, of Nacogdoches, has been sentenced to a staggering 245 months – over 20 years – in federal prison for his role as a kingpin in a widespread crack cocaine trafficking operation. The sentence, handed down January 29, 2013, by U.S. District Judge Ron Clark, sends a clear message: move weight in East Texas, and you’ll pay a heavy price.
Fowler, known on the streets as “C,” “C-Murder,” and a host of other aliases, pleaded guilty August 28, 2012, to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 5 kilograms or more of crack cocaine. This wasn’t a small-time operation; Fowler and his crew were moving serious volume, saturating East Texas with their product. The case, built by an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) investigation, peeled back layers of a criminal network that had been operating with impunity for years.
The investigation revealed a complex web of co-conspirators, including Tremaine Smith, 27, of Nacogdoches, who also pleaded guilty September 5, 2012. But Fowler wasn’t working alone. The court record names Donald Dixon, a.k.a. “Black”; Kerry Wayne Griffin, a.k.a. “Big Boy”; Omar Paunetto; Jose Angel Bustillos; Michael John Pereira; Rodney Stevenson, a.k.a. “Arod”; Darius Thorn, a.k.a. “Bs” and “Beez”; and Anthony Fowler as fellow participants in the conspiracy. From 2008 until June 20, 2012, this group allegedly worked together to distribute cocaine and crack throughout the region, preying on vulnerable communities.
A federal grand jury returned a 10-count indictment on June 20, 2012, charging the ten defendants with various drug trafficking violations. The OCDETF program, the driving force behind the investigation, is designed to dismantle these kinds of large-scale criminal enterprises. It’s a joint effort, bringing together federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies to target the most dangerous drug traffickers and money launderers. This wasn’t a quick bust; it was a methodical takedown of an entire organization.
The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Nacogdoches Police Department, and the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Baylor Wortham skillfully prosecuted the case, ensuring that Fowler and his associates faced justice. While Fowler’s 245-month sentence is a significant victory, it’s a stark reminder of the pervasive drug problem plaguing East Texas and the relentless work required to combat it.
The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing of the remaining defendants. East Texas may be a rural area, but it’s far from immune to the reach of organized crime. This case proves that, even in the shadows, the law will eventually catch up.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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