Update: Arrests Continue in Operation Tangled Web

Monday Update: According to officials at Brown County Sheriff’s Office, more arrests have been made in Operation Tangled Web.  On Friday, there were 45 defendants named in 49 cases.  As of 9 a.m. Monday, there were only 9 defendants at large in 9 cases.

Newly made arrests include 28-year-old Anna Jeanette Coffey of Brownwood for engaging in organized criminal activity; 48-year-old Irene Gomez Walls of Bangs on the charge of delivery of a controlled substance in a drug free zone; and Bridget King on the charge of engaging in organized criminal activity.

Those still at large include Kenneth Baker, Justin Barnhill, Chaplin Delarosa, Charles Dickey, Shanna Hughitt, Courtney Sallie, Kevin Sliger and Katrina Leann White.

From Original Story: Brown County Sheriff Bobby Grubbs held a press conference Friday afternoon announcing the arrests of dozens of suspects in an early morning law enforcement operation entitled, “Operation Tangled Web.”

According to Sheriff Grubbs, early Friday morning, July 18th, approximately 65 law enforcement officers began serving arrest warrants, seeking 45 defendants on charges including engaging in organized criminal activity and other drug trafficking related charges in Brown County.  In addition, one search warrant was executed and an additional 8 defendants were arrested for drug and other offenses during the roundup.  Various amounts of drugs were seized as officers detained or arrested defendants, Grubbs said.

As of mid-afternoon Friday, 41 defendants had been arrested and booked into Brown County Jail.   The total number of suspects has risen to 53 defendants on 62 charges with 12 defendants still at large.  One defendant was charged on a weapon offense as a small sawed-off shotgun was also seized in the operation.

Operation Tangled Web began approximately two years ago with investigators Carlyle Gover and James Stroope working the investigation along with their everyday case loads, according to Grubbs.  The operation specifically targeted a number of methamphetamine traffickers in Brown County.

“Methamphetamine is an especially dangerous drug and is the catalyst for a number of violent and theft related crimes in Brown County and across the state,” explained Grubbs.  “This drug is particularly devastating to the human mind and brings about life-long mental dysfunction in most users.  Use of methamphetamine is primarily introduced by marijuana and also other drugs such as cocaine or heroin.”

Grubbs stated that deputies used a number of investigative strategies including undercover, surveillance, technology, and suspect debriefings to target suspects.  The investigation was dubbed as “Tangled Web” because of the unique and complex connectivity of suspects and the drugs trafficked in Brown and surrounding counties.

“The primary traffickers in ‘Tangled Web’ were capable of selling up to a pound of methamphetamine per week to a significant number of buyers.  This investigation is ongoing and as information develops, additional suspects will be targeted, investigated and arrested.  Over half of the suspects have been or are currently on felony probation for various felony offenses,” Grubbs reported.  “As is common with methamphetamine trafficking, many of the suspects have extensive criminal histories which include violence, weapons, and prison gang affiliations.  Unfortunately, children are victims of persons involved in drug abuse.  In this investigation, CPS Investigators assisted deputies in the handling of six children.”  No ages of the children were available, according to Grubbs.

Various amounts of drugs were seized, totaling more than 50 grams of methamphetamine and approximately ¼ pound of marijuana.  The operation was focused on methamphetamine distributors that Grubbs labeled “mid-level players.”

“These are mid-level players, the major players are in the DFW and Waco area,” explained Grubbs.  “These guys are the distributors around here, the ones that put it out on the streets and into the kids’ hands.”

The defendants ranged from 17 to late 50s or early 60s, explained BCSO Captain Tony Aaron.  Most were from the Brown County area where they were arrested Friday, with a few others from surrounding counties.  The whereabouts of those considered at large are being investigated and Grubbs stated that he expected many to be in custody by the end of the weekend.

Grubbs and BCSO employees extend great appreciation to the agencies that adjusted manpower and schedules to assist in the arrests of these suspects.  These agencies included Brown County Sheriff’s Office (leading the investigation), Brown County District Attorney’s Office, Early Police Department, Texas Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol Service, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Brownwood Police Department, Brown County Adult Probation Department, Bangs Police Department and Texas Department of Family & Protective Services – Child Protective Services.

Grubbs commented on the scope of this operation and the methamphetamine problem in the county as being a common problem across the state and in many other states.

“Brown County is a great place to live and raise a family, but unfortunately, as in other good communities, there is a drug problem.  Because drug abuse fuels most of the crime we face today, we resolutely address the drug problem.  If not, it will erode the many reasons we love and believe in our community.  Over the past few years our successes in these operations have always made a significant impact on local criminal enterprise,” said Grubbs.  “With the many police functions we do so well, criminal enforcement is clearly where we strive to do our best in order to make our county a safer place for our citizens.  We will continue to be aggressive on drug traffickers and other criminal law violators with professional and proactive law enforcement.”

Pictured at top is Sheriff Grubbs during the press conference Friday afternoon with photos of those arrested and sought on the wall behind him.

For original story with more details click here.