9 people charged in Brownfield drug raid

BROWNFIELD, Texas (NEWS RELEASE) – Nine drug traffickers who allegedly operate out of Brownfield, Texas and surrounding areas have been federally indicted, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Leigha Simonton announced.

The defendants were arrested Thursday in a raid involving officers and agents from the Brownfield Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration's Dallas Field Office – Lubbock Resident Agency, the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office, the Lubbock Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety and Homeland were involved in security investigations. They made their first appearance Friday morning before U.S. Magistrate Judge Amanda “Amy” R. Burch.

“The success of this investigation highlights the DEA's excellent partnerships with federal, state and local authorities in the Caprock region,” said Special Agent in Charge Eduardo A. Chavez. “DEA Lubbock and its colleagues will continue to bring violent drug traffickers to justice in both small rural communities and large metropolitan areas.”

“The Brownfield Police Department takes the health and safety of our community seriously. We will continue to do everything necessary to investigate, arrest and prosecute those who distribute illegal drugs on our streets and in our neighborhoods,” said Brownfield Police Chief Chris Kotzur.

Those charged in six separate indictments include:

• Kirkland Ryan Longoria, charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine
• Sandra Kay Cavazos, charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and distribution of cocaine
• Arthur Lee Willingham is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime and felon in possession of a firearm
• Steven Blake Johnston is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine
• Steven Rene Rodriguez, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine
• Lorraine Riojas Davila, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine
• Dewayne Deshae Willis, charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute cocaine
• Larry Joe Franco Jr. is charged with conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and distribution of methamphetamine
• Demetrick Ward is charged with distribution of cocaine

An indictment is merely an allegation of criminal behavior, not evidence. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

If convicted, some could face life in federal prison.

The investigation was conducted by the Brownfield Police Department, the Drug Enforcement Administration's Dallas Field Office – Lubbock Resident Agency, the Lubbock County Sheriff's Office, the Lubbock Police Department, the Texas Department of Public Safety and Homeland Security Investigations. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Stephen Rancourt and Sean Long are prosecuting the cases.

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