Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

BEAUMONT, Texas – A Nacogdoches man has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for drug trafficking violations in the Eastern District of Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Damien M. Diggs today.

Brandon Spears, 38, pleaded guilty on April 20, 2022, to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and was sentenced to 144 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Marcia A. Crone.

According to information presented in court, Spears was part of a trafficking organization responsible for trafficking at least 44 grams of methamphetamine in the Nacogdoches area. During the 2 ½ year investigation, law enforcement officers purchased methamphetamine from Spears on multiple occasions. During one attempted sale of methamphetamine, Spears and co-defendant, Angel Aguilar, were out of stock so they provided the buyer with a firearm and pills containing a mixture of cocaine and methamphetamine as collateral towards the future purchase of methamphetamine. The firearm given as collateral was later confirmed to be stolen. At sentencing, Spears forfeited three firearms seized by law enforcement during the investigation. Aguilar was previously sentenced to 180 months in federal prison.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Nacogdoches Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Donald S. Carter.