East Texas Coke Bust: San Bernardino Man Gets 43 Months

TYLER, TX – A kilogram of cocaine and a cross-country trip landed Reginald Lavann Eastern, 44, of San Bernardino, California, a 43-month federal prison sentence. The bust, part of a DEA investigation, highlights the continued flow of narcotics into East Texas, despite stepped-up law enforcement efforts.

Eastern pleaded guilty on August 30, 2012, to possession with intent to distribute cocaine. U.S. District Judge Leonard E. Giblin handed down the sentence today, sending a clear message that moving serious quantities of drugs through the Eastern District of Texas won’t be tolerated.

The DEA investigation revealed that on March 4, 2012, Eastern was found to be in possession of approximately one full kilogram of cocaine. Authorities believe he was preparing to distribute the drug to contacts within the Eastern District. The source of the cocaine and Eastern’s intended network of buyers remain largely undisclosed at this time.

Federal prosecutors detailed in court how Eastern intended to profit from the distribution of the cocaine. While the exact street value of the kilogram wasn’t revealed, a quantity like that indicates a significant operation, suggesting Eastern wasn’t a first-time offender or a small-time dealer. Sources within the DEA have indicated Eastern has ties to larger west coast drug networks.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Baldwin prosecuted the case, building a solid case based on the physical evidence and likely, cooperating witnesses. The DEA agents who conducted the investigation are commended for their work in disrupting this drug pipeline. The DEA’s continued presence in East Texas remains crucial to curtailing the flow of illegal narcotics.

U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced the sentencing, reaffirming his office’s commitment to dismantling drug trafficking organizations operating within the Eastern District of Texas. Eastern will serve his 43-month sentence in a federal correctional facility, and his future remains uncertain. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case for any further developments.