KAUFMAN, Texas — A Kaufman man was named in a 10-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Dallas, Texas, last week for his alleged involvement in a violent North Texas drug trafficking operation.
KAUFMAN, Texas — A Kaufman man was named in a 10-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Dallas, Texas, last week for his alleged involvement in a violent North Texas drug trafficking operation.
The indictments charge 11 men and women from the Dallas area, including 34-year-old Rodney Wynn of Kaufman, Texas, with various conspiracy, drug trafficking, kidnapping, firearm, witness intimidation/tampering, and records destruction charges stemming from their involvement in a violent drug trafficking operation (DTO) that operated out of the Pleasant Grove area of South Dallas and the Dallas County Jail, according to the U.S. Attorney Sarah R. Saldaña of the Northern District of Texas.
Wynn was added to the Texas Department of Public Safety’s (DPS) Most Wanted list with a $5,000 reward in September. In November, DPS listed Wynn as the featured fugitive and raised the reward to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest of Wynn during the month of November.
Other named in the 10-count indictment include 33-year-old Patrick D. Lenard of Pleasant Grove, Juaquai Gregg of Dallas, 26-year-old Joshua Smart of Dallas, 33-year-old Shuntocqua Shine of Dallas, 30-year-old Brandon Florence of Dallas, 35-year-old Lashundra Rogers of Mesquite, Texas, 29-year-old Selena Ball of Desoto, Texas, 26-year-old Rory Minafee of Dallas, 50-year-old Bonner Ray Tutson of Dallas, and 38-year-old Christina Staton of Dallas.
Wynn and Staton were fugitives. Ball was an Electronic Monitoring Officer for the Dallas County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, and was assigned to monitor Lenard — the alleged leader of the drug operation.
The indictment alleges the group trafficked large quantities of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana between July 12, 2012, and November 4, 2014. Additionally, the group also allegedly engaged in violent acts, including kidnapping, assault, beatings, and torture — including family members — and intimidated and bribed individuals who might assist law enforcement in their prosecution.
If convicted, many of the defendants could face life in prison and up to several million dollars in fines.
The ongoing investigation is being led by the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Dallas Police Department.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Errin Martin and P. J. Meitl are prosecuting.