U.S. Attorney John Parker, Northern District of Texas, announced that nineteen (19) defendants have been charged in a federal indictment with various felony offenses stemming from their respective roles in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy.  The conspiracy operated out of the Pleasant Grove, Seagoville and Balch Springs areas of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

The 12-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Dallas earlier this month and just unsealed, charges each of the defendants with one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 500 grams or more of methamphetamine.  All but three of the defendants are also charged with one substantive count of either distribution of methamphetamine or possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.  Two defendants are charged with a firearms offense.

Charged in the indictment are:

Josue Tijerina, aka “J,” 30, of Dallas            

Christina Bruffy, 47, of Mesquite            

Stephanie Laza, 44, of Mesquite            

Rebecca Grimes, 31, of Dallas            

Stephanie Hernandez, aka “Stephanie Kinney,” 27, of Dallas            

Luan Vo, 40, of Irving            

Shelby Wiggins, 24, of Greenville            

Katy Anderson, aka “Kay Scott,” 35, of Garland            

Deborah Uribe, 45, of Kaufman            

Oralia Acosta, aka “Oralia Morris,” 51, of Dallas            

Guadalupe Segovia, aka “Sleepy,” 43, of Mesquite            

Carson Baker, 23, of Mesquite            

Earvin Gibson, 45, of Dallas            

Tina Connolly, 55, of Dallas            

Edgar Fallad-Martinez, 28, of Dallas            

Tiffany Gundermann, 26, of Waco            

Michael Ramos, 20, of Mesquite            

Leo Najera-Padilla, 29, of Dallas            

Joshua Diaz, 27, of Dallas

Defendants Segovia and Connolly are also each charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The defendants were arrested in a joint operation led by the Dallas Police Department and the Texas Department of Public Safety. 

The investigation into this drug trafficking organization, which operated out of the Pleasant Grove, Seagoville and Balch Springs areas of the DFW metroplex, began in early January 2016.  During the investigation, law enforcement has seized more than 6700 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 13.2 kilograms of methamphetamine oil, 62 grams of marijuana, 2.5 grams of heroin, and 20 ml of gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), as well as 12 firearms and $12,379 in cash.

A federal indictment is an accusation by a federal grand jury, and a defendant is entitled to the presumption of innocence unless proven guilty.  However, if convicted, the conspiracy count carries a statutory penalty of not less than 10 years and up to life in federal prison, as well as a fine of up to $5,000,000.  The maximum statutory penalty for distribution of methamphetamine as well as for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine is 20 years in federal prison and a $1,000,000 fine.  The maximum statutory penalty for being a felon in possession of a firearm is 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.