Eric Scott Smart, Methamphetamine Trafficking, Texas 2014

Seven individuals face federal charges in connection with a lengthy investigation into a criminal enterprise in Cherokee County, Texas.

A federal grand jury indicted the defendants on multiple counts of federal drug and firearms violations after a probe by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Jacksonville Police Department.

The Rusk Police Department assisted in the apprehension and arrest of four of the suspects. Authorities seized over 100 grams of methamphetamine, 10 firearms, and cash at the time of the arrests.

The defendants, all residents of Cherokee County, are currently in custody. Initial appearances were held before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nicole Mitchell in Tyler, Texas, on March 11, 2014.

The charges carry significant penalties, with defendants facing between 5-40 years in prison and fines of up to $5,000,000 on the drug charges, and additional incarceration on the weapons charges.

The defendants named in the indictment are Eric Scott Smart, 30; Steven Ray Davis, 42; Michael Wayne Christopher, 52; Jimmy Royce Stafford, aka “Jimmy Loven,” 28; Karl Dwayne Underwood, 23; Jimmy Chance Guillen, 23; and Darren Michael Massey, 20.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard L. Moore is prosecuting the case. It is essential to note that an indictment is merely a charge and should not be considered as evidence of either innocence or guilt.

The investigation and arrests are a significant blow to organized crime in Cherokee County, and authorities will continue to work to dismantle the remaining structures of the criminal enterprise.

The case is a testament to the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies in the region and their commitment to keeping their communities safe.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edtx/pr/criminal-enterprise-results-multiple-arrests-cherokee-county-texas