Longview Crack Dealers Guilty in East Texas
| U.S. Attorney’s Office January 07, 2009 |
TYLER, TX—United States Attorney Rebecca A. Gregory announced that two Longview men have pleaded guilty to federal drug crimes in the Eastern District of Texas today before United States Magistrate Judge John D. Love.
HOWARD WAYNE STINSON, 36, of Longview, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. He faces up to 40 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $2 million.
STEVEN LEMOND DARDEN, 31, of Longview, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $1 million.
According to information presented in court, since April 2007, the defendants had been involved in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine base, also known as crack cocaine to others in and around the Longview, Texas area. An 87-count federal superseding indictment was returned on May 13, 2008, charging 29 individuals, including these two, with federal crimes. Sentencing dates have not been set at this time.
This case is being investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the East Texas HIDTA Violent Crimes Task Force, the Gregg County C.O.D.E. Unit, the Gregg County Sheriff's Office, the Longview Police Department, the Gregg County District Attorney's Office, and the Kilgore Police Department. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Richard L. Moore.