Lead Defendant in Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracy Sentenced to 35 Years in Federal Prison

FORT WORTH, Texas — Cleto Tarin, 53, most recently of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge John McBryde to 420 months in federal prison, following his conviction at trial earlier this year on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine, announced U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas.

Co-conspirator Hector Saldivar, 33, of Wichita Falls, Texas, was convicted on the same offense at trial with Tarin, and is scheduled to be sentenced on September 2, 2016. He faces a statutory penalty of not less than five years or more than 40 years and up to a $5 million fine.

All 14 defendants in the conspiracy, which Tarin led, have been convicted.

Three defendants pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of methamphetamine. Miguel Antonio Martinez, 32, was sentenced to 232 months and Bobbie Frie, Jr., 31, was sentenced to 340 months. Defendant Marcus Caldwell, 32, is awaiting sentencing; he faces a statutory penalty of not less than five years or more than 40 years and up to a $5 million fine.

Seven defendants pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine. David Sheppard, 40, was sentenced to 235 months; Kendra Ward, 28, was sentenced to 220 months; Eric Overstreet, 28, was sentenced to 240 months; and Jonathan Morris, 31, was sentenced to 180 months. Three defendants who pleaded guilty to that offense, Robert Baggott, 45, Cecil Hindman, 51, and Oscar Melanson, 31, are awaiting sentencing; they each face a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine.

Two defendants, Susan Williams, 29, and Raymondo Acuna, 32, each pleaded guilty to one substantive count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, as charged in superseding informations. Acuna was sentenced today to 200 months in federal prison. Williams is awaiting sentencing and faces a maximum statutory penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Wichita Falls Police Department conducted the investigation.