Tanner Houghton, Meth Trafficking, Missouri 2021

Texas Man Sentenced to 25 Years in Federal Prison for Meth Trafficking

A Texas man, Tanner Houghton, 41, has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison without parole for his role in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and for illegally possessing firearms.

Houghton was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark on Tuesday, June 14, after pleading guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and one count of possessing firearms in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

On October 14, 2021, Houghton pleaded guilty to the charges, which involved his role in a large drug-trafficking organization. According to court documents, Houghton and his co-defendant, Brittany Brannan, 35, had purchased at least two pounds of methamphetamine twice a month for six months to a year, as well as varying amounts of fentanyl.

The organization was led by Houghton, who had absconded from parole in Texas with Brannan. They were arrested on December 27, 2020, after attempting to flee from law enforcement officers in Stone County, Missouri.

During the arrest, officers found a loaded Smith and Wesson .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol and a box of ammunition below the center console of Houghton's vehicle. They also found a loaded Amarillo Armory multi-caliber semi-automatic rifle, numerous loaded magazines, and numerous boxes of ammunition inside a duffle bag in the back seat.

In addition to the firearms, officers found another duffle bag in the front passenger floorboard that contained approximately 292 grams of pure methamphetamine, 39.8 grams of heroin, and 128 fentanyl tablets.

Houghton's co-defendant, Brittany Brannan, has also pleaded guilty to her role in the drug-trafficking conspiracy and awaits sentencing.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica R. Eatmon and was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Stone County, Mo., Sheriff's Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Branson West, Mo., Police Department.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdmo/pr/texas-man-sentenced-25-years-meth-trafficking-illegal-firearms