A gang member in the Lubbock County jail started a riot in June. A surveillance camera caught the man stomping and kicking members of a rival gang, sparking a riot. Officers were able to stop the violent activity by using pepper spray and placed the whole facility on lockdown.
The man responsible for this riot pleaded guilty to possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute back in March. According to the plea documents, he ditched his vehicle and attempted to flee law enforcement after they pulled him over in September of 2020. An officer used his taser, and the alleged suspect fell to the ground, dropping a clear plastic baggie filled with around 48 grams of crack cocaine. He was arrested and booked into the Lubbock County Jail to await sentencing.
The Dallas Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the alleged crimes. The Lubbock Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, Texas Anti-Gang Unit, and Homeland Security also assisted with the investigation.
Members of law enforcement found a trap house in East Lubbock run by the man they had arrested. They alleged that he used the house to sell crack cocaine for approximately $100 per gram. They also discovered videos of the suspect on his phone flaunting his drug trafficking business. In one of the videos, he was holding cash and stated it was $200,000. He also discussed trafficking crack cocaine in freestyle rap videos.
During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors showed evidence of the defendant starting and participating in the riot at the jail. They stated that he was a member of the Crips gang, and others referred to him as the “Mayor of the Eastside.” Other gang members admitted to participating in the riot because the defendant ran the crack cocaine distribution in East Lubbock.
The Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas sentenced the man on July 28 to more than 21 years in federal prison. His main co-defendant also received a 210-month federal prison sentence for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
Contact Rosenthal Kalabus & Therrian
If you were arrested or charged with a drug crime, you should immediately contact the Collin County criminal defense lawyers of Rosenthal Kalabus & Therrian. You will need an experienced legal team on your side to advocate for your rights and secure your freedom and future. We have successfully defended individuals facing criminal drug charges and are ready to do the same for you.
Rosenthal Kalabus & Therrian has the resources we need to build a solid defense and get the charges against you dropped or reduced. We will dedicate the time and attention necessary toward gathering sufficient evidence and developing a strategy to argue against the prosecution’s case. You can depend on us to fight for you until the end.
Call us today at (972) 369-0577 for an initial consultation and learn more about how we can help you after an arrest for a drug offense or another Texas crime.