FORNEY, Texas — A Forney man is among 11 co-defendants named in a 31-count federal indictment in a meth distribution conspiracy case investigated by multiple law enforcement agencies in Kaufman, Navarro, Van Zandt, and Wood Counties, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
FORNEY, Texas — A Forney man is among 11 co-defendants named in a 31-count federal indictment in a meth distribution conspiracy case investigated by multiple law enforcement agencies in Kaufman, Navarro, Van Zandt, and Wood Counties, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
The indictment, recently unsealed and obtained by inForney.com, charges 11 co-defendants in a meth distribution conspiracy in East Texas.
Count one of the indictment charges 41-year-old Christopher Lynn Colgrove of Forney, Texas; Lisa Powers, Terrance Cullins, Stephanie Stevenson, and Robby Baker, all of Canton, Texas; Shauna Thomas of Fruitvale, Texas; Christopher Herring of Wills Point, Texas; Rexford Chad Morris, aka "Hillbilly," and Nash Fuller of Grand Saline, Texas; and David Walker of Seagoville, Texas; and an 11th defendant, who is not being identified by this newspaper pending his arrest, with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
All 11 co-defendants were additionally charged in Counts two through 17 with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
Powers, Cullins, Walker, Morris, and Baker were charged in the indictment with felon in possession of a firearm, Colgrove was charged with felon in possession of ammunition, Herring was charged with unlawful user of controlled substance in possession of a firearm, and Powers, Cullins, Walker, Herring, Baker, and Thomas were charged with use, carrying, and possession of a firearm during and in the furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.
The investigation lasted several months and included assistance from the ATF, Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office, Kaufman County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Division, Canton Police Department, Grand Saline Police Department, Mineola Police Department, and Kerens Police Department, the Van Zandt County Sheriff's Office announced earlier today.
Colgrove's criminal history includes convictions for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and two convictions for possession of a controlled substance in Kaufman County in 2007, possession of a controlled substance, to-wit methamphetamine, enhanced, in McLennan County in 2017, attempted theft in Johnson County in 2016, and theft in Ellis County in 2015, according to the indictment.
Colgrove was recently arrested on April 16, 2018, in Van Zandt County for manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance in penalty group 1 greater than or equal to four grams and less than 200 grams. He was released the same day after posting a $20,000 bond, according to Van Zandt County records. A month later, on May 9, 2018, Colgrove was arrested on charges for manufacture or delivery of a controlled substance in penalty group 1 greater than or equal to 200 grams and less than 400 grams, unlawful possession of a firearm by felon, and theft of a firearm.
Many of the other co-defendants have prior convictions for possession of a controlled substance — methamphetamine and cocaine, among others — theft, grand larceny, assault causing bodily injury, criminal mischief, evading arrest or detention with a vehicle, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and DUI, according to the indictment.
A notice of intent to seek criminal forfeiture was also filed in the case and seeks forfeiture of any property constituting, or derived from, the proceeds of the drug distribution conspiracy or property used, or intended to be used, in any manner to commit or facilitate the commission of the conspiracy.
Forfeiture is also sought on several firearms, ammunition, and accessories already seized during the investigation, including: from Powers a Ruger .38-caliber LCP, a Diamondback DB9 9 mm pistol, and multiple calibers of ammunition; from Cullins a Sun City Machinery Stevens 320 12-gauge shotgun, a Henry 30-30 rifle, a Winchester 190 .22-caliber rifle, a Hipoint 995 9mm rifle, a Mossberg 500A 12-guage shotgun, an FNH FNP40 .40-caliber pistol, an Iberia JCP .40-caliber pistol, a Beretta Pietro SPA PX4 Storm 9 mm pistol, and multiple calibers of ammunition; from Walker a Smith & Wesson SD40VE .40-caliber pistol and associated ammunition; from Herring an H&R 929 .22-caliber revolver and Armscorp M30 12-guage pistol-grip shotgun; from Morris a Rohm EIG .22-caliber revolver, a Hipoint 995 9mm rifle, and multiple calibers of ammunition; from Baker a Harrington and Richardson 622 .22-caliber revolver, Malrin Firearms 75 .22-caliber rifle, and multiple calibers of ammunition; and from Thomas a Taurus .38-caliber pistol.
$5,846 in U.S. currency was also seized from Powers.
Many of the co-defendants were initially scheduled for pretrial conferences in early September 2018 with jury selection on September 13 and a jury trial on September 14. An August 13th order granting continuance has pushed jury selection and the trial to January 7, 2019, at 9 a.m. in Tyler, Texas, according to federal records.
Thomas was arrested in Nevada and has been ordered to appear in the Eastern District of Texas.
"This investigation is another testament of the inter-agency cooperation with law enforcement on the continual battle against the drug trafficking in Van Zandt County," stated the release.