Greenville Meth Kingpin Gets 10 Years

DALLAS – Bryan Wayne Edwards, 35, of Greenville, Texas, is headed to federal prison for a decade. U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade handed down the 120-month sentence yesterday following Edwards’ guilty plea last November to his involvement in a significant methamphetamine distribution conspiracy, according to U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.

Edwards has been cooling his heels in custody since his arrest back in July 2016. The bust wasn’t a solo operation; a federal indictment in July 2016 charged eleven individuals, most hailing from Hunt County, Texas, with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine, and a separate count for actual distribution of the drug. This wasn’t small-time stuff.

The network of guilty pleas is growing. Garry Wayne Pollard, also known as “GW,” Maria Del-Consuelo Ulloa, aka “Shelley,” Felipe Antonio Bernal, aka “Flip,” Jody Lynn Brewer, Nichole Mechelle Manifold, the sentenced Bryan Wayne Edwards (known on the streets as “Cowboy”), Michael Lee Shaw, Jayson Glenn Cooke, John Willis Smith, aka “Big J,” and Judith Ann Rutledge have all admitted their roles in pushing the deadly drug. They’re all facing time, too.

The feds’ case, built on plea documents, demonstrates Edwards wasn’t just a bystander. On April 25, 2014, he personally peddled approximately 20 grams of methamphetamine. That single transaction helped solidify the government’s case and contributed to the hefty sentence. It’s a reminder that even seemingly small deals can carry serious consequences.

The investigation was a multi-agency effort, spearheaded by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Greenville Police Department, with crucial support from the Hunt County Sheriff’s Office. They weren’t alone; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office, and the Plano and Denton Police Departments all pitched in to dismantle this operation. It shows how far-reaching the impact of these drug rings can be.

One defendant, Bobby James Carroll, remains at large and is awaiting trial. Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Wirmani is leading the prosecution, determined to bring the remaining members of this conspiracy to justice. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case as it unfolds. # # #

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