Department of Justice

Nine men accused of selling drugs and guns in Fort Worth have been federally charged, announced U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton.

The defendants were charged in three separate criminal complaints with a variety of offenses, including conspiracy to distribute fentanyl and felon in possession of a firearm. During September, search warrants were executed, and eight of the nine defendants were arrested in Fort Worth by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Agents and Fort Worth Police Department Officers.

Those charged include:

• Dewayne Thomas, aka “DJ”, charged with felon in possession of a firearm (Glock 10mm pistol)
• Anthony Williams, aka “Fresh,” charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance (fentanyl)
• Marvis Jones, aka “Twin,” charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance (fentanyl)
• Marquon McClain, aka “Flame,” charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance (fentanyl)
• Antwon Crosby, aka “Twon,” charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance (fentanyl)
• AJ Anderson Williams, Jr., charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance (fentanyl)
• Regina McDowell, aka “Lil Reg,” charged with felon in possession of a firearm (Canik 9mm pistol)

According to the complaints, a series of ATF confidential informants, often accompanied by undercover agents, made undercover gun and drug purchases from the defendants.

Across more than a dozen transactions in June and July, confidential informants allegedly purchased more than 94 grams of fentanyl pills, more than 57 grams of methamphetamine, and nine firearms, including one privately made firearm, or “ghost gun.”

Most of the transactions were completed in convenience store and fast-food parking lots, motels, or smoke shops. On at least two occasions, defendants, who said they were suspicious of police vehicles in the area, met an informant in one location and then allegedly led him to another location to complete the purchase.

Criminal complaints are merely allegations of wrongdoing, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

If convicted, the defendants face up to twenty years in federal prison.

The ATF’s Dallas Field Division conducted the investigation with the assistance of the Fort Worth Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Levi Thomas is prosecuting all three cases.

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