A Texas man has been sentenced to over 10 years in federal prison for involvement in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy, according to an announcement by U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei. Thomas East, a 39-year-old resident of Alice, Texas, pleaded guilty on November 21, 2024.
U.S. District Judge David Morales has sentenced East to 132 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. During the hearing, Judge Morales determined that East had a significant role in the conspiracy, which included multiple trips to acquire methamphetamine and personal gain through selling portions of the drugs.
The investigation into East's activities began in February 2024, revealing that he and his co-conspirator, Diana Contreras, were traveling to San Antonio to obtain large amounts of methamphetamine. A traffic stop during one of these trips uncovered nearly 500 grams of methamphetamine and a firearm. Both East and Contreras confessed to planning the San Antonio trip for narcotics acquisition, with intentions to sell the drugs in Alice and for East to distribute smaller quantities independently.
East will remain in custody until his transfer to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility is finalized.
Contreras, aged 37 and also from Alice, had previously pleaded guilty and received a 156-month sentence in federal prison.
The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation with Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Griffith leading the prosecution.