LUBBOCK, TX – A significant blow was dealt to the Crips street gang’s operations in Lubbock this week as four residents were sentenced to federal prison for their roles in a cocaine distribution conspiracy. The sentences, handed down by Senior U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings, represent the culmination of a hard-fought investigation by federal and local law enforcement.
The heaviest sentence went to Dequan Deshawn Willard, 22, who received 168 months in prison after pleading guilty in December 2016 to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine base, and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Willard was a key figure in the operation, directly involved in sales and possessing substantial quantities of the drug.
Brothers William Emmanuel Spence, 27, and Jasmine Jamal Spence, 28, along with Antonio Deon Ray Montgomery, 21, also pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base. William Spence received a lengthy 188-month sentence, while Jasmine Spence was sentenced to 151 months. Montgomery, facing a lesser role, received 30 months. All four defendants had been held in custody since their arrests in October 2016.
The investigation, a joint effort by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, began with a controlled purchase from Willard in June 2016 at a residence on East 1st Place Street. That initial buy triggered a series of searches and surveillance, revealing a complex network of drug trafficking. A subsequent search of a residence on East Cornell, linked to William Spence, uncovered approximately 110 grams of cocaine base and a loaded firearm. Montgomery admitted the residence belonged to Spence.
Further raids on October 4, 2016, at multiple Lubbock locations yielded a massive haul of drugs and cash. At a residence on 40th Street, authorities found William Spence with $1,379 in cash on his person and $15,020 stashed in a shoebox. A search of a Knoxville Street property – a known hangout for Willard and Spence – revealed a staggering 427 grams of cocaine in one location, another 427 grams in a separate bag, and $8,900 in Spence’s bedroom. An additional 84 grams was found in a pickup truck driven by Willard, and 997 grams of cocaine in a Chevrolet Impala. Jasmine Spence’s residence on 69th Street yielded 40 grams of cocaine base, 8 grams in her sock, $7,410 in cash, and a loaded handgun.
The evidence clearly demonstrated a sophisticated drug operation run by confirmed or suspected Crips members. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Long successfully prosecuted the case, securing significant prison terms for each defendant. The bust serves as a warning to other criminal enterprises operating in North Texas: law enforcement is watching, and consequences will be severe.
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Key Facts
- State: Texas
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Organized Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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