Ten East Texans Arrested in Tyler Area Federal Roundup

February 12, 2010 - TYLER, TX—U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced today that 10 individuals have been arrested and charged with various crimes including drug trafficking, firearms violations, and counterfeiting in the Eastern District of Texas.

Seven men and three women were named in six separate indictments, which were returned by a federal grand jury on Feb. 2, 2010. The following individuals were arrested yesterday and today and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge John D. Love this afternoon for initial appearances:

• Mark Alan Lackey, 34, of Tyler, is charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine, and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime;

• Christopher John Hunnicutt, 38, of Tyler, is charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine;

• Christopher Shane Disanto, 36, of Tyler, is charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine; and

• Melvin Lee Davis, 28, of Ben Wheeler, Texas, is charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine, and possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine.

These defendants each face up to 40 years in federal prison if convicted.

Shawn Scott Starnes, 34, of Tyler, is charged with possession with intent to distribute and distribution of methamphetamine;

• Valerie Lynn Boggio, 34, of Tyler, is charged with possession with intent to distribute hydrocodone and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine;

• William Polk Vaught, 37, of Whitehouse, Texas, is charged with conspiracy to distribute and distribution of marijuana, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of an unregistered firearm, and felon in possession of a firearm;

• Summar Dawn Parker, 37, of Overton, Texas, is charged with counterfeiting, possession of counterfeit currency, and passing counterfeit currency; and

• Dana Michelle Blackburn, 40, of Holly Lake Ranch, Texas, is charged with counterfeiting, possession of counterfeit currency, and passing counterfeit currency.

These defendants each face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.

• Justin Ditmore, 25, Tyler, is charged with possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number and possession of an unregistered firearm;

Ditmore faces up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted.

The indictments and arrests are the result of an investigation which began in the Fall of 2008 led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, assisted by other federal, state and local agencies including the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms Enforcement, the U.S. Secret Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the East Texas HIDTA Violent Crimes Task Force, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Smith County Sheriff's Department and the Tyler Police Department. These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jim Middleton.

An indictment is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.