Local News
Meth ring bust produces its first conviction
PALO PINTO – Palo Pinto County law enforcement and the district attorney’s office obtained their first conviction Thursday in the most recent round up of 14 people accused of conspiring to distribute over 400 grams of methamphetamine in the Mineral Wells area.
Erin Brown Smolin, 33, of Mineral Wells, pleaded guilty to engaging in organized criminal activity and was sentenced to 15 years in prison for her part in the drug distribution ring.
Fifteen years is the minimum sentence allowed for the first degree felony.
“[Smolin] was part of a rather significant conspiracy to distribute [more than 400 grams of meth],” District Attorney Mike Burns said. “I was pleased.”
Smolin was the 26th arrest in the narcotics sweep that began Sept. 3 after a year-long investigation by the City-County Narcotics Unit and led by the Texas Department of Public Safety Narcotics Unit.
Smolin’s probation for burglary of a habitation in 2006 was also revoked Thursday and she was sentenced to 10 years in prison for that offense, as well.
“This is once again indicative of the absolute wonderful job done by our [law enforcement agencies in combating drug dealers],” Burns said.
Smolin’s conviction comes days before the first trial to come before a jury trial in another large roundup of mid and top-level dealers last October, Burns said.
Timothy John Morris, 30, of Mineral Wells, is scheduled to appear before a jury during a trial beginning Nov. 2, according to Burns.
“He was part of the Hanna organization,” Burns said.
Morris was one of 17 defendants named in an indictment for engaging in organized criminal activity for allegedly conspiring to distribute more than 400 grams of methamphetamine.
Phillip Hanna, 60, of Perrin, allegedly picked up methamphetamine from his source in Dallas before distributing it to mid-level dealers in the Mineral Wells area, according to the indictment and Index records.
“On or about April, 2007, Timothy John Morris, together with Daria Price, met and planned the purchase and distribution of methamphetamine,” the indictment reads.
Price is accused of meeting with Phillip Hanna to coordinate the purchase and distribution of methamphetamine.
“This organization’s been responsible for a conservative estimate of 150 pounds of methamphetamine in the community over three years,” Burns told the Index last year. He estimated at least $6 million in “ice” was brought into the community by the group during that period.
According to court records, seven of the defendants have since pleaded guilty, including Price, and cases against two people named in the indictment have been dismissed.
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