Operation Big Red Culminates in nine Arrests in Red River County

Approximately 100 law enforcement officers from across Texas converged on Clarksville, Texas, this morning to arrest nine men and women who now face federal and state drug charges, U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown announced today.

The operation today involved approximately 100 law enforcement officers. Seven entry teams, including four SWAT teams, executed search and arrest warrants throughout the Clarksville area. This operation comes at the culmination of a multi-year investigation that has already led to the arrest and prosecution of four federal defendants - Brian Bradley Beers, Kevin Wayne Guess, James Wayne Johnson, and Billy Carl Webb, Jr. - and two state defendants. The investigation also led to the identification, arrest, and conviction of Marvin Earl Baty for a murder he committed in Oklahoma.

The following agencies were involved in the operation today: Texas Department of Public Safety, including the Special Response Team, Special Weapons and Tactics Team, Criminal Investigation Division, Aircraft Operations Division, Highway Patrol Division, Victim Services, and Communications Services; Red River County Sheriff’s Office; Clarksville Police Department; Mt. Pleasant Police Department SWAT team; Texas Parks and Wildlife; Federal Bureau of Investigation; United States Marshals Service; and Texas Child Protective Services.

U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown also announced today that seven Clarksville, Texas, men have been charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute methamphetamine. Marvin Earl Baty, a 44-year-old man, Jacory Dewayne Coulter, a 33-year-old man, Gregory Lamont Dillard, a 48-year-old man, Victor Gonzales, a 44-year-old man, Miguel Angel Hernandez, a 57-year-old man, and Neopholis Dontray Scales, a 33-year-old man, were named in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury on February 20, 2019. Four defendants have been arrested and will appear today before Magistrate Judge Roy S. Payne in the Marshall Division of the Eastern District of Texas.

According to the indictment, beginning in or before January 2016, Baty, Coulter, Dillard, Gonzales, Hernandez, and Scales conspired to possess with intent to distribute fifty grams or more of methamphetamine. Additionally, the indictment alleges that during that time each defendant possessed methamphetamine with intent to distribute.

If convicted, Baty, Coulter, Dillard, Gonzales, Hernandez, and Scales, face a minimum of ten years and as much as life in federal prison.

This case is being investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Red River County Sheriff’s Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan R. Hornok.

The Red River County Sheriff’s Office in conjunction with Operation Big Red has so far obtained State Indictments for Manufacture or Delivery of Substances in Penalty Group 1 on twelve defendants. George Edward Proby Jr., a 43-year-old man, Evelyn Jean Owens Proby, a 51-year-old woman, Sarah Elizabeth Teas, a 33-year-old woman, Delbert Bernett King III, a 39-year-old man, Krystal Shantell Forte, a 38-year-old woman, Wiley Joe Bates, a 41-year-old man, and Edward Ellis Taylor, a 56-year-old man. All defendants are from the Red River County area. This is an on-going investigation which may result in additional charges and arrests.

These cases are also being investigated by the Texas Department of Public Safety, and the Red River County Sheriff’s Office. The cases are being prosecuted by Red River County Attorney Val Varley.

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