Angelina County Individuals Arrested On Federal Drug Trafficking Charges
LUFKIN, Texas - U.S. Attorney John M. Bales along with Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agent in Charge Joseph M. Arabit, Houston Division, announced today that five individuals are in custody following a lengthy investigation into drug trafficking in the Eastern District of Texas.
On July 14, 2015, a combined task force of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies began executing federal arrest warrants for defendants indicted following a two year investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine in the Eastern District of Texas and elsewhere. The agencies also executed three search warrants in Diboll and one in Lufkin.
Two separate indictments were returned by a federal grand jury on July 1, 2015 charging 10 individuals with federal drug and firearms violations. Of those, five defendants were arrested on July 14th and the indictment was unsealed by a federal magistrate late that night. Those defendants in custody are:
Ruben Enriquez, 42 of Diboll, Texas;
Agustin Enriquez, 48 of Diboll, Texas;
Alonso Enriquez, 33 of Diboll, Texas;
Jorge Enriquez, 33, of Lufkin, Texas; and
Douglas Wayne Williams, 40 of Lufkin, Texas
Law enforcement officers seized eight firearms, approximately 26 pounds of methamphetamine, $20,000 cash and eight vehicles during the arrests. The remaining five defendants are being sought by law enforcement at this time.
According to the first indictment, beginning in 2013, Ruben Enriquez, Agustin Enriquez, Alonso Enriquez, and Jorge Enriquez are alleged to have conspired with each other and others to possess with the intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine. Nine of the defendants are charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute a controlled substance. One defendant is charged with possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
According to the second indictment, on Jan. 15, 2015, Douglas Wayne Williams is alleged to have possessed with the intent to distribute methamphetamine and possessed a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
If convicted of the drug conspiracy charges, the defendants face a minimum of 10 years and up to life in federal prison. If convicted of the drug possession charges, Douglas Wayne Williams faces a minimum of five years and up to 40 years in federal prison. If convicted of the weapons violations, those defendants face at least five years in federal prison. The indictments also seek forfeiture of any property used to commit or facilitate the crimes or derived from proceeds of the conspiracy.
The cases are being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Texas Department of Public Safety - Criminal Investigation Division. The U.S. Marshals Service, DEA Aviation, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations, Texas Department of Public Safety-Highway Patrol Division, Texas Department of Public Safety-Aircraft Division, Angelina County Constable Precinct 1 and Precinct 4, Angelina County Sheriff’s Office, Lufkin Police Department, Diboll Police Department, Houston Police Department, Conroe Police Department and the Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the execution of the arrest warrants and search warrants in the Eastern District of Texas. The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren Gaston.
A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. -