Nine Drug Traffickers Charged in Major Takedown in Brownfield, Texas
Nine individuals alleged to be involved in drug trafficking operations in Brownfield, Texas, and surrounding areas have been federally charged, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton announced. The defendants were arrested Thursday in a coordinated takedown involving multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Brownfield Police Department, the DEA’s Dallas Field Office – Lubbock Resident Agency, the Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, the Lubbock Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety, and Homeland Security Investigations.
The defendants made their initial appearances before U.S. Magistrate Judge Amanda ‘Amy’ R. Burch on Friday.
The charged individuals are:
- Kirkland Ryan Longoria: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine
- Sandra Kay Cavazos: Conspiracy to distribute cocaine, distribution of cocaine
- Arthur Lee Willingham: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, felon in possession of a firearm
- Steven Blake Johnston: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
- Steven Rene Rodriguez: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine
- Lorraine Riojas Davila: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine
- Dewayne Deshae Willis: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine
- Larry Joe Franco, Jr.: Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine
- Demetrick Ward: Distribution of cocaine
DEA Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chavez emphasized the success of partnerships between federal, state, and local agencies, stating, “DEA Lubbock and its counterparts will continue to bring violent drug traffickers to justice.”
Brownfield Police Chief Chris Kotzur affirmed his department’s commitment to investigating and prosecuting those distributing illegal narcotics.
If convicted, some defendants could face life in federal prison. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Rancourt and Sean Long.
