Cleto Tarin, Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracy, Texas 2016

FORT WORTH, Texas — A 53-year-old Dallas-Fort Worth man has been sentenced to 420 months in federal prison for his role in a massive methamphetamine distribution conspiracy.

Cleto Tarin, the mastermind behind the operation, was convicted at trial earlier this year on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas, Tarin led a group of 14 co-conspirators in a scheme to distribute large quantities of methamphetamine in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Co-defendant Hector Saldivar, 33, of Wichita Falls, Texas, was also convicted on the same charge and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 2, 2016. He faces a statutory penalty of not less than five years or more than 40 years and up to a $5 million fine.

Tarin’s co-conspirators have also been brought to justice. Three defendants pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, including Miguel Antonio Martinez, 32, who was sentenced to 232 months in prison, and Bobbie Frie, Jr., 31, who was sentenced to 340 months. Defendant Marcus Caldwell, 32, is awaiting sentencing and faces a statutory penalty of not less than five years or more than 40 years and up to a $5 million fine.

Seven defendants pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine, including David Sheppard, 40, who was sentenced to 235 months in prison, and Kendra Ward, 28, who was sentenced to 220 months. Eric Overstreet, 28, was sentenced to 240 months, and Jonathan Morris, 31, was sentenced to 180 months. Three defendants who pleaded guilty to that offense, Robert Baggott, 45, Cecil Hindman, 51, and Oscar Melanson, 31, are awaiting sentencing and each face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine.

Two defendants, Susan Williams, 29, and Raymondo Acuna, 32, each pleaded guilty to one substantive count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, as charged in superseding informations. Acuna was sentenced to 200 months in federal prison. Williams is awaiting sentencing and faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Wichita Falls Police Department conducted the investigation.

Tarin faces a statutory penalty of not less than five years or more than 40 years and up to a $5 million fine.

The case was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.

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